Jvinity.
Lewis Tena is, particularly, very well esteemed. He understood neither Greek nor Hebrew, as he himself confesses. His design was to furnish young Divines with Proofs and Answers, to confute the Arguments proposed to them in publick Disputations; and resolve such Difficulties as should be urged to them, relating to any part of Scripture, and particularly to the Epistle to the Hebrews. His Method is to propose divers Questions, which sometimes have very little relation to St. Paul’s Text. He handles them, generally, in a scholastick manner, and with some learning: But, as there were not at that time many good Editions of the Fathers, the Author makes use of Arguments, rather than Authorities. His great Comment was printed first of all at Toledo, in 1611, in fol. it was afterwards made the tenth Tome in the Sacred Criticks of London, the first Edition; and in that of Frankfort, 1698, 1700. He excels particularly in the Preambles of this Comment, because he is more concise than in the body of the Work; wherein he proposes many Questions, which are often out of place, and follows the generality of the Commentators of the ninth Century, as M. Simon says, in his Critical History of the New Testament. He was of Cadiz, a Doctor, and Canon of Alcala; was made Bishop of Tortosa about 1622. and died the same Year. Nicholas Antonio commends him, both for his Wit and Learning.
Dom. Bernard de Montfaucon, in his new Edition of St. Athanasius, has put out some Fragments of this Father, in Greek and Latin, upon this Epistle; tom. 2. p. 1272. They make us regret the loss we have had of the whole Comment.
Adam Sasbout has also written, with success, on this Epistle. We may add Laurentius Valla, Erasmus, and Lucas Brugensis, who are in the large Criticks.
Constantine Buccafocus, an Italian, a Cordelier, Bishop of Verceil, and Cardinal about 1587. made a Comment, which was printed at Rome, the same Year, in 4to.
Matthew Galen, of Zealand, and Canon of the University of Doway, who died in by us upon Ezekiel, was printed at Amsterdam, in 1705, in 4to.
Christoph. Wittichii, Investigatio Epistolæ ad Hebræos, ibid. 1692, in 4to. We should observe, that he perform’d the same upon the Epistle to the Romans, and with it join’d a Comment printed at Leyden, 1685, in 4to. He was a German of Cleves, a Calvinist, and Professor at Leyden. He died in 1687.
Petri Van Hoeke Commentarius Analyticus; printed at the same Place, in 1693, in 4to. He was a Calvinist, Minister at Leyden.
That of Gaspar Strezo was printed at the Hague, 1661, in 4to. It is both analytical and practical, as the Title sets forth. We should take notice of the same upon the Acts, printed at Amsterdam, 1658, 1669. in two Volumes in 4to. He was a German, a Calvinist, and Minister at the Hague. He died in 1664.
John Owen made a large English Comment, or rather Exercitation, in two Volumes in fol. at London, 1668. and in Latin at Amsterdam, 1701. He was an Englishman of London, and Head of the Independents: He died in 1684. He wrote several other Works, which are in good esteem.
James Altingius explained the nine first Chapters of this Epistle. See upon the Epistle to the Colossians.
Sebastian Schmid, his Comment was printed at Lipsick, in 1698, in 4to. the second Edition. See above.
John Henry Maïus wrote a Paraphrase, which was printed at Giessen, 1700, in 4to. It may be reckoned a good Comment, says Theodore Hasæus, in his Bibliotheca Philologica, tom. 5. p. 306. See above, upon the Harmonies.
John Christopher Schomer, his Exegesis is comprehended in that which he wrote upon all St. Paul’s Epistles; printed at Rostock, in 1698, 1701. in three Volumes in 4to. He was a German of Lubeck, a Lutheran, Professor at Rostock, and Minister-General of Mecklemburg. He died in 1693.
Gaspar Erasmus Brochman, his Comment was printed at Copenhagen. He was a Danish Lutheran, Bishop of Zealand; and died in 1652.
Parœus, and Gerhard, have their Comments; which are with those on the preceding Epistles. See above.
That of William Gouge is in English, printed at London, 1655, in fol. the second Edition. He was an Englishman of the Church of England; and died in 1653.
Philip Codurque, his Notes are only upon the 16th, 17th, and 18th Verses of the 9th Chapter. They were printed in the Great Criticks, tom. 7. with those of others, who have been mentioned by us. He was a Protestant Convert, as we have observed in another place.