THE Prefaces of Cornelius à Lapide, and ours.
See our Dissertation concerning the Author of the Book of Wisdom, and another on the Origin of Idolatry, before our Comment on the Wisdom of Solomon; and in our Collection, tom. 1. p. 423. In our Preface to this Book, we reply to some difficulties in it; and, in our Dissertation, we prove it to be Canonical, tho it be not certain who is the Author of it. See also the second Volume of Fabricius’s Bibliotheca Græca, tom. 3. c. 29. 3. p. 735. He shews here that this Book is writ by some very antient and inspired Author, tho it be not Solomon’s.
We may add John Maur Stohr, a German Lutheran, who has described the contagious Fruits of Sodom mentioned in ch. 10. ver. 7. at Lipsick, 1695, in 4to.
A Dissertation upon the Divinity of the Book of Wisdom, which we find in Latin in the 5th tome of Select Observations printed at Hall. We see now what the force of Truth has extorted from the Mouth of a Lutheran Protestant, contrary to the Opinions of those of his Sect, in favour of the Book of Wisdom.
For, he believes this Book to be the Work of Solomon himself, and that it was written at first in Chaldee. This last Conjecture he supports with the Authority of Maimonides. It is objected to him, that the Stile is very far from the noble Simplicity of the other Books of Scripture; and that there is more of the Declaimer in it, than of the King or Prophet. That the Ideas of the Greek Philosophers, who were later than Solomon, were to be discern’d in it. Our judicious Critick does not think the Stile of it more elevated than that of the Book of Job, and many Psalms. And if we suppose, as we may with probability enough, that the Book here in question was written first of all in Verse, the Objection vanishes. As to the Sentiments of some Greek Philosophers, which certain learned Men discern in it, the Author of the Dissertation advises them to agree first among themselves, if they would prove any thing. While one discovers Platonism in it; another the Doctrine of Aristotle, another the Principles of the Stoicks, another the Tenets of Epicurus, and lastly, another the Visions of Pythagoras, they will be set in opposition one to the other; and sensible People will conclude that the Principles of none of these Sects are express’d clearly in the Book we are speaking of; and that a slight resemblance of the Doctrine it contains with Opinions which were not invented by the Greek Philosophers, is a weak argument for robbing Solomon of this Book.
From these general Objections, our sincere and learned Critick descends to the particular Objections of some distinguish’d Protestants. Turretin, more clear-sighted, or more imaginary than others, thinks he sees Allusions to the Combats of Wrestlers, in ch. 4. ver. 2. Nor is this all: What we read concerning the Original of Idolatry, in ch. 4. he declares to be false. The Allusion to the Encounters of Wrestlers is far from being evident; it appears more manifestly to be hinted at in Isaiah ch. 2. 3. Psal. 21. 3. As to what relates to the original of Idolatry, which the Author of the Book of Wisdom imputes to the Grief of a Father procuring his Son to be adored, as a Consolation for his Death; it is true, that many Authors pretend on the contrary, that the first Idolater was Ninus, who had his Father Belus worshipped. But were we to look upon the Book we are speaking of only as a profane one, the Authority of it is preferable. It was written in both Time and Place nearer to the Source of Idolatry. Besides, Diophantus of Lacedæmon, and Fulgentius Placiades, speak as this Book does of the beginning of Idols.
The Objection of Limborch, the Remonstrant Divine, turns upon a mistaken Supposition. He believed the Author to say, that in his time the Israelites were oppressed; which could not agree with the Reign of Solomon. He says only, that the Friends of God are always persecuted by the Wicked. Vandale, a profess’d Unbeliever, rejects this Book with great Assurance. The 17 ch. is displeasing to him, because there is mention in it of Spectres which appeared to the Egyptians, during the continuance of that Darkness, which God spread over this Kingdom. But is it impossible that any should appear? And is the Opposition of a Book to our Opinions, sufficient for rejecting it? The Author of the Dissertation concludes, that such weak Objections ought not to hinder us from respecting the Word of God, in the Book of Wisdom.