Page images
PDF
EPUB

"would have been very well pleafed, if thofe of your "wretched and reprobate Sect, had obtained the "Victory, (and indeed you have always favoured "them,) they have condemned you to be beheaded, "and have confifcated your Eftate without any Exception. Hiftoire Ecclefiaftique des Eglifes Reformées au Royaume de France, &c. Vol. III. Book X. pag. 33, 34Antwerp, 1580. in 8vo.

[ocr errors]

ARTICLE III.

R. Mosis MAIMONIDIS Tractatus de VACCA RUFA Latinitate donatus, & fubjuncta ampliore hujus ritus explicatione quoad fingulas circumftantias illuftratus, ab ANDREA CRISTOPHORO ZELLERO, A. M. Maulbronnenfi. Adnexa in fine brevis de hujus Vaccæ ad Chriftum adplicatione Differtatiuncula. Accedunt Virorum Celeberrimorum ad Auctorem Epiftolæ. Amftelaedami, apud Ifaacum Trojel, Bibliopolam in Foffa vulgo dicta 't Rockin in Signo M. Antonini. M DCC XI.

That is,

ATRACT of Rabbi MOSES MAIMONIDE S, concerning the RED HEIFER, tranflated into Latin: With a Difcourfe, wherein all the Circumftances of that Ceremony are more largely explained. By ANDREW CHRISTOPHER ZELLER, A. M.

of

of Maulbrun in the Dutchy of Wirtemberg. To which are added a fhort Differtation, containing an Application of that Heifer to JESUS CHRIST, and two Letters written to the Author. Amfterdam, 1711. pagg. 544. in 8vo. Sold by P. Vaillant, in the Strand.

MRAH

R. ZELLER defigning to write aBook, pitched upon the Red Heifer, as being (fays he) an admirable Type of the Meffias. He makes feveral Obfervations to fhew the wonderful Agreement obfervable between the Old and the New Teftament, and quotes feveral Jewish Writers, who affirm, That all the Laws, and all the Ceremonies and Sacrifices appointed by Mofes, concern the Meffias. Thofe Authors maintain, That there is a Myftical Senfe concealed under the Literal; and it is faid in the Talmud of Babylon, That whoever explains a Text only in a Literal Senfe, is a Liar. Mr. Zeller adds, That many Chriftians, both ancient and modern, went upon the fame Principles: They undertook, in Imitation of the Jews, to explain theTypes of the Law of Mofes, and applied them to the Meffias. He cites, befides feveral Fathers, a prodigious Number of Modern Divines; and does not forget to take Notice of a French Book entitled, Mofes Unveiled, (Moyfe Devoilé). The Author informs us, that in order to write an exact Treatife concerning the Red Heifer, he took Care to confult several Řabbins in his Travels, being perfuaded that the Jews are best able to give a full Account of every thing relating to that Ceremony.

I fhall fay nothing of Maimonides's Tract, that I may the more enlarge upon Mr. Zeller's Discourse.

It appears from the Teftimonies of feveral Rabbins quoted by our Author, that the Jews look upon the Law concerning the Red Heifer, as a very deep My.

ftery,

ftery. Whoever prefumes to unfold it, is accounted a Rah Man by the Jewish Writers. Some of them maintain, That none but Mofes did ever know the true Reafon of that Law. Mr. Keller fays, The Red Heifer was bought at the Publick Charges; and affures us, that The was to be fo perfect, that no Private Man would have been Rich enough to make fuch a Purchase. The Jews are ftrangely puzzled to find out the Reafon, why God ordered to facrifice a Female; ince it was lawful to offer either a Male or a Female upon all other Occafions; and why the Heifer was to be Red, and not of another Colour. Mr. Zeller mentions feve ral Opinions of the Rabbins upon thofe Two Heads: They are too abfurd to be inferted here. According to fome Jewish Doctors, the Red Heifer could not have been offered, if any Body had got on her Back, or fwimmed over a River holding her by the Tail,

c.

The Prieft appointed to facrifice the Heifer, was not allowed to lie with his Wife, nor even to Sleep the Night before that Ceremony, for fear of fome Accident that might have made him unclean. The Heifer was laid upon a Pile of Wood made like a Tower, It was not lawful to receive the Blood of the Victim into any Veffel; and Mr. Zeller wonders Mr. le Clerc fhould fay, contrary to the Opinion of all the Jews, that the Blood was received into a Bafon. Our Author has collected whatever is to be found in the Jewifb Writers concerning the Red Heifer: His Book is full of Rabbinical Learning. I fhall not give a particular Account of all the Circumftances (either true or falfe) mentioned by the Rabbins: Such an Account would hardly be acceptable to the Readers.

Mr. Zeller draws a Parallel between the Red Heifer and Jefus Chrift, in order to fhew their Conformity; and appears very much displeased with Dr. Spencer for faying, That 'tis a hard matter for any one to digeft this Doctrine, viz, That all the Circumftances belonging to the Ceremony of the Red Heifer, do perfectly agree with the Circumftances of Chrift's Crucifixion: Validum requiri ftomachum ad concoquendum hanc fententiam, Quod omnes circumftantiæ in hoc ritu cum

Circum

circumftantiis crucifixionis Chrifti conveniant juxta & concordent. The Author owns, that it would be a very difficult thing to answer the Objections that may be raised against his Opinion, were it not for the 13th and 14th Verfes of the IXth Chapter of the Epiftle to the Hebrews. But that Paffage (fays he) is fo formal, that no Body can doubt but that the Sacrifice of the Red Heifer was defigned to represent the Sacrifice of Jefus Chrift.

Two Letters, written to the Author, have been inferted at the End of this Book. In the firft, Mr. Fecht, Superintendent of the Church of Reftoch, maintains, That the Old Teftament is full of Types and Figures relating to the Meffias. In the fecond, M. Lintrup, Profeffor at Copenhagen, deplores the prefent State of the Chriftian Church, and fays, It is in great Danger from Atheists, Deifts, Enthusiasts, Hereticks, &c.

ARTICLE IV.

AMSTERDAM.

HE following Book is newly come out!

THE

La Medecine Dogmatique Mechanique, en maniere d'Inftitution, expliquée par les Principes de Phyfique & de Mechanique, & par le mouvement circulaire du Sang & des humeurs qui en dependent. Avec la Pharmacopée Rationelle, contenant la defcription des Remedes, qui font en ufage dans la pratique de la Medecine Dogmatique Mechanique, les Raifonnemens fur chaque Preparation, les vertus & ufages des Medicamens. Par Louis Bellefontaine. Amfterdam, 1712. Two Volumes in large 12mo. pagg. 348, & 285.

A

PARIS.

Sixth Edition of a Book entitled, CountryHusbandry, and the French Gardener, &c. has been lately published.

Le Menage des Champs, & le Jardinier François, acCommodez au gout du temps, dans lesquels on peut apprendre facilement à apprêter tout ce qui eft neceffaire pour l' ufage de la vie, à la Campagne & même à la Ville, & la maniere de cultiver parfaitement les Jardins Fruitiers, Potagers, & Fleuristes, avec un Traité de la Chaffe & de la Pêche. Paris. 1711. in 8vo. Pagg. 536.

So many Alterations have been made in this Book, that it may be look'd upon as a new Work. The Style is much better than it was; and the new Difcoveries relating to Gardening, Cookery, and other Arts, have been carefully inferted in this new Edition. Any one, who compares it with the former Editions, will eafily perceive how much Luxury is increased among us.

The whole Work confifts of IV Books. The Firft treats of the moft common Food, Bread, Paftry, and the best Way of making Wine. The Second contains every thing relating to Sweet-Meats. The Third is, properly speaking, a French Cook a la mode. Gardening, Hunting, and Fishing, make the Subject of the Fourth Book.

ARTICLE

« PreviousContinue »