A treatise of the sibyls so highly celebrated, as well by the antient heathens, as the holy fathers of the church : giving an accompt of the names, and number of the sibyls, of their qualities, the form and matter of their verses : as also of the books now extant under their names, and the errours crept into Christian religion, from the impostures contained therein, particularly, concerning the state of the just, and unjust after death / written originally by David Blondel ; Englished by J.D.

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Author:	Blondel, David, 1591-1655.
Title:	A treatise of the sibyls so highly celebrated, as well by the antient heathens, as the holy fathers of the church : giving an accompt of the names, and number of the sibyls, of their qualities, the form and matter of their verses : as also of the books now extant under their names, and the errours crept into Christian religion, from the impostures contained therein, particularly, concerning the state of the just, and unjust after death / written originally by David Blondel ; Englished by J.D.
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Print source:	A treatise of the sibyls so highly celebrated, as well by the antient heathens, as the holy fathers of the church : giving an accompt of the names, and number of the sibyls, of their qualities, the form and matter of their verses : as also of the books now extant under their names, and the errours crept into Christian religion, from the impostures contained therein, particularly, concerning the state of the just, and unjust after death / written originally by David Blondel ; Englished by J.D. Blondel, David, 1591-1655., Davies, John, 1625-1693. London: Printed by T.R. for the authour, MDCLXI [1661]
Subject terms:	Oracula Sibyllina. Sibyls. Oracles.
URL:	https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A28402.0001.001
How to cite:	For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents

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title page

To the worthy of all Honour,Baronets.

BOOK 1.

CHAP. I. That the most earnest Pursuers of Truth, are (as others) subject to mistakes.

CHAP. II. Instances of certain misapprehensions of Justin Martyr.

CHAP. III. The supposititiousnesse of the Writings pretended to be Sibylline, ex∣emplified in severall particulars.

CHAP. IV. The judgement of Antonius Possevinus, concerning the Witings pretended to be Sibylline, taken into examination.

CHAP. V. The recommendation of the Writing, pretended to be Sibylline, attri∣buted by Clemens Alexandrinus to St. Paul, examined.

CHAP. VI. An accompt of severall instances of dis-circumspection in Clemens Alexandrinus.

CHAP. VII. Reflections on severall supposititious pieces, whereby many of the ancient Christians have been imposed upon and abused.

CHAP. VIII. The different opinions of the Ancients concerning the Sibyls.

CHAP. IX. The Precautions of Rome, while yet in Paganisme, to prevent the reading of the Books which she believ'd really Sibylline.

CHAP. X. The Motives which he might have gone upon, who was the first Pro∣jector of the eight books, which at this day go under the name of the Sibylline.

CHAP. XI. A Discovery of the mistakes of Constantine the Emperour, concerning the Sibyl and her Writings.

CHAP. XII. The sentiment of Cicero concerning the Acrostick attributed to the Sibyl, further clear'd up.

CHAP. XIII. The sentiment of Virgil in his fourth Eclogue examin'd and clear'd up and, that it hath no relation to the Writing pretendedly Sibylline, which was composed a long time after, made apparent.

CHAP. XIV. Remarks of some less Considerable Mistakes of the Emperour Con∣stantine, in the Explication of Virgil's fourth Eclogue.

CHAP. XV. That it cannot be said, That Virgil, in his Fourth Eclogue, disguised his own Sentiment.

CHAP. XVI. That Apollodorus had no knowledg of the Eight Books, called the Sibylline.

CHAP. XVII. That Pausanias hath not written any thing, which may give credit to the Books, mis-named the Sibylline.

CHAP. XVIII. That the Prohibition, made to read the Books, called the Sibylline, and that of Hystaspes, adds no Authority thereto.

CHAP. XIX. That the Letter, written by L. Domitius Aurelianus to the Senate, gives no Credit to the Sibylline Writings.

CHAP. XX. Other Remarks of Forgery, tending to shew the Supposititiousness of the Sibyilline Writing so called.

CHAP. XXI. That it cannot, with any likelihood of Truth, be maintained, That the Books, called the Sibylline, were written by Divine Inspiration.

CHAP. XXII. The Sentiment of Aristotle concerning Enthusiasts taken into Con∣sideration.

CHAP. XXIII. That it was unadvisedly done by the Author of the Sibylline Writings, to put himself into the number of the Enthusiasts.

CHAP. XXIV. That the Fathers, who were surprised by the pretended Sibylline Writings, supposed the Authour to have been an Enthusiast.

CHAP. XXV. The common Sentiment of the Fathers concerning Enthusiasts.

CHAP. XXVI. Consequences following upon the common Sentiment of the Fathers concerning Enthusiasm.

CHAP. XXVII. Certain Dis-circumspections of the Fathers, concerning the Writing mis-named the Sibylline, considered.

CHAP. XXVIII. That the Conjecture of Cardinal Baronius, concerning the Cor∣respondence between Virgil, and Herod, is not maintainable.

CHAP. XXIX. That the Opinion of Anthonius Possevinus concerning the Sibyls, and their pretended Writings, is not more rational, then that of Cardinal Baronius.

OF THE SIBYLS. The Second Book.

ADVERTISEMENT.

A TREATISE OF THE SIBYLS.

CHAP. II. The Sentiment of St. Epiphanius, concerning the Time of the Apo∣calyps, refuted.

CHAP. III. The Sentiment of the late Grotius, concerning the time of the Apoca∣lyps, refuted.

CHAP. IV. A Refutation of the Sentiment of Johannes Hentenius of Mae∣chlin, concerning the Time of the Apocalyps.

CHAP. V. A Refutation of Possevinus concerning the Time, when the Sibyl∣line Writing came first abroad.

CHAP. VI. Of the Time, when the Sibylline Books were written.

CHAP. VII. A Conjecture concerning the Authour of the Sibylline Writings.

CHAP. VIII. Divers Extravagances remarkable in the Sibylline Writing.

CHAP. IX. The first Principal Tenet of the Sibylline Writing.

CHAP. X. The second capital Tenet of the Sibylline Writings.

CHAP. XI. The Third main Tenet proposed by the Sibylline Writing.

CHAP. XII. The fourth Capital Tenet proposed by the Sibylline Writing.

CHAP. XIII. Inducements of Praying for the Dead, arising from the Hypothe∣ses proposed in the pretended Sibylline Writing.

CHAP. XIV. The Motives, proposed by Justin Martyr, disallowed; and those, which St. Epiphanius had to pray for the Dead, taken into Con∣sideration.

CHAP. XV. Of the Prayers made, and Alms given heretofore by the Christians for the damned.

CHAP. XVI. The Third, and Fourth Motives of Saint Epiphanius taken into consideration.

CHAP. XVII. Saint Epiphanius's fift Motive considered.

CHAP. XVIII. Saint Epiphanius's sixth Motive Considered.

CHAP. XIX. Saint Epiphanius's seventh Motive Considered.

CHAP. XX. The Motive of Dionysius, the pretended Areopagite, taken into consideration.

CHAP. XXI. The Motives of Tertullian examined.

CHAP. XXII. The Sentiment of St. Ambrose brought to the Test.

CHAP. XXIII. The Time, when Praying for the Dead was first introduced into the Service of the Church.

CHAP. XXIV. Whether the Prayers made by Christians for the Dead, are indeed grounded on the Second of the Maccabees, and the Examples of the Jews.

CHAP. XXV. Whether there be any reason to ground Prayer for the Dead upon the Second Book of the Maccabees.

CHAP. XXVI. That divers of the Fathers have expressed more respect towards the Book attributed to the Sibyl, then to the Apocalyps.

CHAP. XXVII. That the third Hypothesis of the Sibylline Writing so called is, at this day, abandoned by all Christians.

CHAP. XXVIII. That the second Hypothesis of the Sibylline Writing so called made way for the new Opinion of Purgatory.

CHAP. XXIX. Proofs of the Novelty of the precedent Opinion of Purgatory.

CHAP. XXX. Shewing, that the first Hypothesis proposed by the Sibylline Wri∣ting, so called is generally disclaimed.

CHAP. XXXI. That the Passage in the twelfth Chapter of the second Book of the Maccabees hath no relation to the Opinion of Purgatory, nor to the Service of the Churches.

CHAP. XXXII. That the Primitive Sence of the Prayers, whereby the Remission of Sins is demanded for the Dead, is not embraced by any.

CHAP. XXXIII. The Censures, pronounced by the Doctours of the Church of Rome against the Fathers, taken into Examination.

CHAP. XXXIV. The Uniformity of the Sentiment of the Fathers, and of the Protestants.

CHAP. XXXV. The Sentiment of the Protestants further proved by the Description, which the Fathers made of Abraham's Bosom.

CHAP. XXXVI. The same Sentiment confirmed by the Pomp and Ceremonies of the An∣tient Interments.

CHAP. XXXVII. A particular consideration of the Sentiment of St. Augustine, and his Prayers for his Mother.

CHAP. XXXVIII. The Sentiment of the Protestants confirmed by the Eloges anti∣ently bestowed on the Faithfull departed.

CHAP. XXXIX. The same Sentiment further confirmed from Sepulchral In∣scriptions.

CHAP. XL. The same deduced from larger Epitaphs.

CHAP. XLI. Of the Prayers contained in the Epitaphs of the Faithfull, whom the Surviving presupposed already received into Glory.

CHAP. XLII. Of the true Motives, which the Antients had to Pray for the Blessed Saints in Heaven.

CHAP. XLIII. The Obscurity, and Uncertainty of the Opinion of Purgatory.

CHAP. XLIV. That the Proofs, produced by Cardinal Bellarmine for Purga∣tory, are Weak, and Defective.

CHAP. XLV. That the Testimonies, produced by Jodocus Coccius for the Opinion of Purgatory, are also defective.

CHAP. XLVI. Of the Reasons, which might have moved the Antients to Interr their departed Friends in the Churches, consecrated to the Memory of the Saints.

CHAP. XLVII. The Sentiments of Saint Ambrose, and Paulinus, concerning the Burial of the Faithfull in Churches, Examined.

CHAP. XLVIII. The Sentiment of St. Augustine, concerning the Burial of the Faith∣full in Churches enquired into.

CHAP. XLIX. The Sentiment of Maximus Tyrius, concerning the Interment of the Faithfull Departed, in Churches, Considered.

CHAP. L. A Reflection on certain Followers of the Sentiment of the fore∣said Maximus.

CHAP. LI. Of the Lessons of Scripture contained in the Missal, and Breviary, in what regards the Office of the Dead.

CHAP. LII. Of the Prayers contained in the Missal, and Breviary used by the Church of Rome; and that Purgatory cannot be necessarily in∣ferred from any one of them.

CHAP. LIII. The Sentiment of the Modern Greeks, concerning the State of the Dead.

CHAP. LIV. The Conclusion of the whole Treatise.

A TABLE Of the Chapters.