Contrary apprehensions are made of the Erythræan or Red Sea; most apprehending a material redness therein, from whence they derive its common denomination; and some so lightly conceiving hereof, as if it had no redness at all, are fain to recur unto other originals of its appellation. [SN: _What the Red Sea is._] Wherein to deliver a distinct account, we first observe that without consideration of colour it is named the _Arabian Gulph_: The Hebrews who had best reason to remember it, do call it _Zuph_, or the weedy Sea; because it was full of sedge, or they found it so in their passage; the _Mahometans_ who are now lords thereof do know it by no other name then the _Gulph_ of _Mecha_ a City of _Arabia_. The stream of Antiquity deriveth its name from King _Erythrus_; so sleightly conceiving of the nominal deduction from Redness, that they plainly deny there is any such accident in it. The words of _Curtius_ are plain beyond Evasion, _Ab Erythro rege inditum est nomen, propter quod ignari rubere aquas credunt_: Of no more obscurity are the words of _Philostratus_, and of later times, _Sabellicus; Stulte persuasam est vulgo rubras alicubi esse maris aquas, quin ab Erythro rege nomen pelago inditum_. Of this opinion was _Andræas Corsalius_, _Pliny_, _Solinus_, _Dio Cassius_, who although they denied not all redness, yet did they rely upon the original from King _Erythrus_. [SN: _More exactly hereof_ Bochartus _and Mr._ Dickinson.] Others have fallen upon the like, or perhaps the same conceit under another appellation; deducing its name not from King _Erythrus_, but _Esau_ or _Edom_, whose habitation was upon the coasts thereof. Now _Edom_ is as much as _Erythrus_, and the red Sea no more then the _Idumean_; from whence the posterity of _Edom_ removing towards the Mediterranean coast, according to their former nomination by the Greeks were called Phœnicians or red men: and from a plantation and colony of theirs, an Island near Spain was by the Greek describers termed _Erithra_, as is declared by _Strabo_ and _Solinus_. Very many omitting the nominal derivation, do rest in the gross and literal conception thereof, apprehending a real redness and constant colour of parts. Of which opinion are also they which hold the Sea receiveth a red and minious tincture from springs, wells, and currents that fall into it; and of the same belief are probably many Christians, who conceiving the passage of the _Israelites_ through this Sea to have been the type of Baptism, according to that of the Apostle [SN: 1 _Cor._ 10. 2.], All were baptized unto _Moses_ in the cloud, and in the Sea: for the better resemblance of the blood of Christ, they willingly received it in the apprehension of redness, and a colour agreeable unto its mystery: according unto that of _Austin_, _Significat mare illud rubrum Baptismum Christi; unde nobis Baptismus Christi nisi sanguine Christi consecratus_? [SN: Aug. in Johannem.]