Still, he
evidently yielded to the general view. In the Roman Church at the
same period we have a typical example of the theologic method
applied to philology, as we have seen it applied to other
sciences, in the statement by Luther's great opponent, Cajetan,
that the three languages of the inscription on the cross of
Calvary "were the representatives of all languages, because the
number three denotes perfection."
In 1538 Postillus made a very important endeavour at a
comparative study of languages, but with the orthodox assumption
that all were derived from one source, namely, the Hebrew.
Naturally, Comparative Philology blundered and stumbled along
this path into endless absurdities. The most amazing efforts were
made to trace back everything to the sacred language. English and
Latin dictionaries appeared, in which every word was traced back
to a Hebrew root. No supposition was too absurd in this attempt
to square Science with Scripture. It was declared that, as Hebrew
is written from right to left, it might be read either way, in
order to produce a satisfactory etymology.
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