[1]. The Jansenists (so called from Jansenius bishop of Ypres) explained the Doctrine of Grace after the Calvinistical or rather Methodistical manner, whilst the Molinists (so named from Molina a Spanish Jesuit) explained it after the Arminian or rather Semi-pelagian way. The Gallican clergy were divided between these two Opinions.
The reader may remember, there are three opinions concerning Grace. Says the Calvinist and Methodist, Grace does ALL. Says the Arminian and Semi-pelagian, Grace does HALF. Says the Pelagian, Grace does NOTHING.
[2]. The city of Ombi stood on the eastern side of the Nile, and Tentyra or Tentyris on the western; both in Thebais part of Upper Egypt. The Tentyrites were professed enemies of the Crocodiles, whilst the rest of the Egyptians held them in great veneration, especially the Ombites, who for their sake waged war with the Tentyrites.
[3]. Our author in this and the following chapter gives a very lively summary of the four great monarchies of the world.
I. The Assyrian or Babylonian founded by Nimrod (or Belus I.) soon after the dispersion at Babel, and which ended with the taking of Babylon (A. C. 538) by Cyrus who founded II. The Persian empire which ended with the defeat of Darius Codomannus (A. C. 334) by Alexander the Great who founded III. The Grecian or Macedonian empire which in about five years was divided among his successors, and at length (after the battle of Actium and death of Cleopatra) became subject to IV. The Roman empire under Augustus Cæsar, of which there are still some remains.
[4]. Arbaces governour of Media, and Belesis of Babylon.
[5]. After the death of Sardanapalus (who is said to burn himself, his wives and concubines, his eunuchs and riches, in one of the courts of his palace) the empire was divided into the Median over which Arbaces reigned at Nineveh, and the Assyrian over which Belesis reigned at Babylon. These were united under Cyrus about 210 years after. Belesis (the Baladan of Scripture) is called also Nabonassar. From the first year of his reign begins the famous Astronomical Æra of Nabonassar, containing 908 years from February 26 before Christ 747, to the 23d year of Antoninus Pius in the year of our Lord 161.
[6]. Nebuchadnezzer (A. C. 589) utterly destroyed Jerusalem, put out king Zedekiah’s eyes, killed his sons and erected the golden image in the plains of Dura.
[7]. By a solemn treaty Ptolemy had Egypt, &c. Cassander had Macedonia and Greece. Lysimachus had Thrace, Bithynia, &c. Seleucus had Syria, &c. Of these, the kingdom of Egypt (under 14 monarchs including Cleopatra) and of Syria (under 27 kings) subsisted till subdued by the Romans. The rest soon fell to pieces.
[8]. His Library is said to consist of above 200,000 volumes. Among the rest was the Septuagint or Greek translation of the Old Testament A. C. 267. done by Ptolemy’s order. This library was at last destroyed by fire.