[There is in our soul a kind of Triumvirate——that distracts the peace of our Commonwealth, not less than did that other the State of Rome.]] There were two Triumvirates, by which the peace of Rome was distracted; that of Crassus, Cæsar and Pompey, of which Lucan, l. 1.
——Tu causam aliorum——
Facta tribus Dominis communis Roma, nec unquam
In turbam missi feralia fœdera Regni.
And that other of Augustus, Antonius and Lepidus, by whom, saith Florus, Respublica convulsa est lacerataque, which comes somewhat near the Author's words, and therefore I take it that he means this last Triumvirate.
Sect. 19. Pag. 32.
[Would disswade my belief from the miracle of the brazen Serpent.]] Vid. Coqueum in, l. 10. Aug. de Civ. Dei, c. 8.
[And bid me mistrust a miracle in Elias, etc.]] The History is 18. 1 Reg. It should be Elijah. The Author in 15. cap. lib. 7. Pseudodox. sheweth it was not perform'd naturally; he was (as he saith) a perfect miracle.
[To think the combustion of Sodom might be natural.]] Of that opinion was Strabo, whereupon he is reprehended by Genebrard in these words: Strabo falsus est——dum eversionem addicit sulphuri et bitumini e terra erumpentibus, quæ erat assignanda Cœlo, i.e. Deo irato. Tacitus reports it according to the Bible, fulminis ictu arsisse.