On the Ancient Synagogue

DEDICATION.

You wish to be praised by your son-in-law Son-in-law: original "Gener." In the 17th-century academic world, familial ties often doubled as professional networks.; yet you have no need to be praised, seeing as there has always been such high regard for your Learning, Prudence, and Eloquence, that the most flourishing Churches of Holland The "flourishing Churches" refers to the Dutch Reformed Church during its Golden Age of scholarship and influence. have never possessed you without the envy of others—even those of Amsterdam and Leiden original: "Amstelædamensis & Lugdunensis." These were the primary intellectual and commercial hubs of the Dutch Republic; Leiden was home to the nation's most prestigious university.. Nor is it fitting for us, as Ministers of Christ, to receive glory from one another original Greek: "δόξαν παρὰ ἀλλήλων λαμβάνειν"; a reference to the Gospel of John 5:44, where Jesus critiques those who seek human approval rather than the approval of God.. Therefore, I will express in few words the one thing I can say without offending your modesty: you are my father-in-law Father-in-law: original "Socer.", a fellow laborer with me in the same Sacred Rites, and indeed most fond of me. Many years ago, you received me with singular kindness into your most honorable Family, and from that time you have embraced me with the most tender love and have consistently treated me with an affection so great that no greater could be felt by a Father. Furthermore, you have bestowed upon me so many and such great benefits for your sake and mine, that I would be the most ungrateful of mortals if I did not acknowledge myself most strictly bound to you in all duties of reverence, love, and gratitude which can be expected from a son-in-law toward a father-in-law, or a son toward a father.

Since I desire as much as possible that some public proof of this matter should exist in the world, I thought it necessary to declare it once again in this Dedicatory Letter; so that if by chance that Ruler of the Synagogue original: "Archisynagogus"; likely the title or central figure of the author's previous publication, which he feels this new book continues or replaces. of mine should be examined by the hands of men through this Book, which has been substituted for it,