sayd to him wherefore commeth this madde fellow 2 King 9. 11 they tooke the Prophets to be madde like unto the Heathish Prophets but they were inlightened by the Spirit when they prophesied and the Lord rectified their understanding and tooke not away from them the right use of their will It is sayd of Saul when he prophesied that the evill spirit of Lord came upon him 1 Sam. 18. 10. And the Chaldie Paraphrast paraphraseth it caepit furere he began to be mad the Divell stopping the passages of his body he wrought upon his melancholious humor which is called Esca diaboli the Divels baite and then it is sayd ijthnabbe impulit se ad prophetandum which is never spoken of the true Prophets in this Conjugation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Although the Lords Secretaries had libertatem exercitij yet they had not libertatem specificationis that is they might not leave that subject which they were called to write and write any other thing as they pleased they were necessitated onely to write that although they wrote it freely Againe these men when they wrote as the holy Ghost enspired them they did it not with paine and The Prophts did not write with paine and studie study as we doe but it came freely from them without any paine or vexation of their spirit The Princes when they heard Baruch read the prophesie of Ieremiah after that it was endited they asked how did he write all these words at his mouth and Baruch answered them He pronounced all these words to me with his mouth and I wrote them with inke into the Booke Iere. 36. 17. 18. Salomon saith Eccles. 12. 12. In making many bookes and in reading there is much wearinesse of the flesh but this was no wearinesse to them for they wrote this without any paine or labour and hence it followeth that those to whom their writing hath beene troublesome and painfull have not beene the Secretaries of the holy Ghost as Mac. 2. 26. He that assayed to abbridge the five Bookes of Iason sayd that it was not an easie thing to make this abridgement but it required both sweate and labon Seeing all that wrote the holy Scriptures were enspired Quest by the holy Ghost why was this Epithete appropriate Why was Iohn called a Divine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Iohn to be called a Divine Revela 1. 1. For they were all Divines who wrote the holy Scriptures The Greeke Fathers when they spake of Christ Answ and specially Chrysostome they distinguish betweene Quomodo differunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and they say Apud caeteros aeconomiae fulmen sed apud Iohannem theologiae tonitrua extare The rest when they discribe the humanity of Christ they doe it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but when Iohn discribeth the Divinity of Christ hee doth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and they say Mattheus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iohannes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incipit Observe a difference betwixt these speeches The The Lord came to the wicked but the word of the Lord came to his Prophets Word of the Lord came to Esay to Ieremiah and this phrase The Lord came to Balaam to Abimelech to Laban The first signifieth that the Lord put these holy men in trust with his Word to be his Prophets but he never concredited his word to these prophaine wretches therefore it is sayd onely He came to them but never the Word of the Lord came to them Hee concredited his Word to his Prophets as to Esay and Ieremiah 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as a pupill is concredited to the trust of his Tutor but he never concredited his Word to these wretches The Lord spake in his Prophets Hosea 1. 1. The Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Notat internam revelationem of the Lord spake in me that is inwardly revealed his secrets to me Marke a difference betwixt these two phrases Loqui in aliquo Loqui in aliquem Loqui in aliquo is when the Spirit of the Lord speaketh inwardly to the Prophets sed Loqui in aliquem est Loqui in alique loqui in aliquem vt differunt maledicere to raile against him thus Num. 12. Miriam loquuta est in Mosem id est maledixit Mosi The conclusion of this is Matth. 10. 20. It is not yee Conclusion that speake but the Spirit of our Father which speaketh in you So it was not they who wrote but the Spirit of the Lord in them 2 King 13. When Ioash the King of Israel tooke a Bow in his hand Elisha laid his hands upon the Kings hands and Elisha bad him shoote and he sayd the Arrow of the Lords deliverance and the Arrow of the deliverance from Syria it was not the Kings hand that directed the Arrow here but it was the hand of the Prophet laid upon the Kings hand which gave this mighty blow so it was the hand of the Lord laid upon the hands of his Secretaries which directed them to write the holy Word of God EXERCITAT IX Arguments proving the Scriptures to bee Divine 1 Thess 2. 13. Yee received it not as the Word of man but as it is in truth the Word of God THe Testimonies which prove the Scriptures to be Divine are first the Testimonie of God himselfe when he approved them by his Spirit and when they were laid before him by Vrim and Thummim Secondly arguments drawne out of the Scriptures themselves Thirdly the Testimonie of the Church Fourthly the Testimonie of those who were without the Church Deus testatur Scriptura contestatur Ecclesia subtestatur God beareth witnesse to the Scriptures two wayes Deus testatur First by the internall Testimony of his Spirit Secondly by his externall Testimony When the Spirit testifieth unto us such Bookes to be Quest his Word whether is this a publike or a private Testimony This is a publike Testimony which the Spirit Testifieth Ans to the whole Church and to the severall members of it that these Bookes are holy Scripture for the same Spirit which endited the Scriptures to the Church testifieth still to the Church and to the particular members thereof that the Scriptures are the Word of God The second Testimony which God gave to the Scriptures was his externall testimony given by Vrim and Thummim testifying these Bookes of Moyses and the Prophets to be the holy Scriptures What are we to thinke of these Bookes written and Quest set in order after the captivitie seeing they had not the approbation of the Lord by Vrim and Thummim These Bookes were called Ketubhim written Bookes Answ to put a difference betweene them and these Bookes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which were confirmed by Vrim and Thummim they who wrote these Bookes were inspired by the holy Ghost as well as these who wrote the former and they were confirmed by the
these Paraphrases cleare the Text then Paraphrases where they cleare the Text are to be used we are to make use of them Example Gen. 2. 24. He shall leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife Onkelos paraphraseth it thus he shall leave Domum cubilis where the Paraphrast alludeth to the ancient custome of the Iewes for the children lay in their fathers chamber before they were maried Luk. 11. 7. My children are with me in bed Example 2. Gen. 12. 5. And Abraham tooke all the soules which he had got in Charan Onkelos paraphraseth it thus Omnes animas quas subjecerat legi Example 3. Gen 49. Ruben excellens munere dignitate Onkelos paraphraseth it thus Excellens principatu Sacerdotio for hee that was the first borne at the first was both the Prince and the Priest in the Family Example 4. Gen. 49 27. Beniamin a ravening woolfe he shall eate the prey in the morning and shall divide the spoyle at night The Paraphrast paraphraseth it thus In his possession shall the Sanctuary bee built morning and evening shall the Priests offer their offerings and in the evening shall they divide the rest of the portion which is left of the sanctified things Of interpretation of Scripture THe third outward meane whereby the Lord maketh the Scripture cleare to his Church is Interpretation and this is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Interpretation of the Scriptures maketh the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 people to understand them for when the Scriptures are not interpreted they are like a Nut not broken The Scriptures not being interpreted to the people are like a Nut not broken When Gideon heard the dreame and the interpretation of of it Iud. 7. 15. In the Hebrew it is Veshibhro the breaking of it a speech borrowed from the breaking of a Nut for as we breake the shell that wee may get the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kernell So the Scriptures must bee broken for the people and cut up for their understanding It was the manner of the Iewes in their Synagogues after that the Law and the Prophets were read to Interpret the scriptures Act. 13. 15. And after the reading of the Law and Prophets the rulers of the Synagogue sent unto them saying ye men and brethren if ye have any word of exhortation for the people say on And therefore the Synagogue was called Beth midresh Domus expositionis we see the practise of this Nehem. 8. 8. Legerunt cùm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appositione intellectus They read the Law clearely to the people and caused them to understand those things which were read this was the fruite of their interpretation So they did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 16. 10. Conferre places with places The giving of the sense here is more than to give the grammaticall interpretation of the words they gave the sense and the spirituall meaning of them when they preached Noah was a Preacher of righteousnesse 2 Pet. 2. 5. The Church is not onely the keeper of the Scriptures but also an Interpreter of them This word Kara signifieth both to Reade and to Promulgate Esay 29. 12. 61. 12. Zach. 7 7. Act. 10. 20. So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Legit Proclamavit Mikra which signifieth Reading signifieth also an Assembly or Convocation to teach us that the holy Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Convocatio Scripturo sacra ought to bee read in the congregation and holy assemblies and ought likewise to be expounded The conclusion of this is The Lord useth so many meanes to make the Scripture cleare to the people and yet the Church of Rome goeth about to stoppe these Fountaines of living waters that the people may not drinke of them As the Spies raised a slander upon the Land of Canaan saying that it was unpossible to be won so doe they slander the Scriptures of God with obscurities and say that it is impossible for the people to understand them EXERCITAT XVI Of the division of the Scriptures They have Moses and the Prophets Luc. 16. 29. THe scriptures are divided into the old and New Testament The old Testament againe is divided into Moses and the Prophets and sometimes the Law is put for the whole old Testament Rom. 3. So Ioh. 7. 49. Esay 2. 3. And sometimes the Psalmes are called the Law Ioh. 15. 25. That the word might be fulfilled which is written in their Law they hated me without a cause So the Prophets are called the Law 1 Cor. 14. 21 In the Law it is written Moses is divided into Hammitzua Commandements Chukkim statutes and Mishpatim judgements that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pentateuchus in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in Morall Precepts Ceremoniall and Iudiciall The Iewes againe divide the old Testament into the Law the Prophets and Cetubhim which the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 holy writings all the Scriptures are holy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 propheta priores 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 posteriores writings but usually these that were not confirmed by Vrim and Thummim are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Prophets are divided in Rishonim Acharonim the former and the Latter the former Prophets are Ioshua Iudges 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings and 2 Kings They are called the former Prophets because they intreat of the historie past and present Act. 3. 24. Yea and all the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after Samuel is sayd to be the first of the Prophets therefore Iere. 15. 1. Though Moses and Samuel stood before me Samuel is the first of the Prophets then it is most probable that he wrote the bookes of Ioshua and Iudges Ioshua is the first in order of the Prophets therefore the Haptorath which is set upon it is called Haphtorah laetitiae legis They were glad when they ended the Law and began the Prophets But Samuel seemeth to bee the writer of this booke Others call them the first Prophets because they saw the first Temple and they call them the latter Prophets because they prophesied in the time of the second Temple as Haggai Malachi Zacharie But they are all rather to bee called Acharonim latter Prophets because they foretell things to come and they are divided into the great Prophets and into the small The great Prophets are Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel and Daniel The latter Prophets are called Teresar pro Tere gnasar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 duodecem that is two and ten and the Greekes called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is a Testimonie cited by Matthew cap. 2. 23. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets This Testimonie is found but in one of the Small prophets yet it is said to bee spoken by the Prophets and they gave this to be the reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because all these Twelve small Prophets were
letters of the Alphabet are wanting for the Lord fitted these letters to the matter onely and not the matter to the lerters and because the holy Ghost hath not set downe the matter here therefore the Letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is left out but not this wayes because the Letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is wanting here therefore the matter is wanting The five last Psalmes begin with Halleluia and end with it because they are the conclusion and summe of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole praises of God So the Church in the revelation concludeth after the victory with the same words Reve. 19. 1. Alleluia salvation and glory and honour and power unto the Lord our God The Conclusion of this is the Psalmes are generally Conclusion intituled Tehilim praises from the most excellent part of them Therefore our chiefe care should bee to praise God here in this life and then in the life to come we shall sing the song of Moyses the servant of God and the song of the Lambe Reve. 15. 3. EXERCITAT XVIII Of the division of the Law and the Prophets in parashoth and haphtaroth Act. 15. 21. For Moyses of old time had in every City them that preach him being read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day THe Scriptures were not divided into Chapters as we have them now divided therefore the Iewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 say that the whole Law is Instar vnius pesuk that is but as one verse The Old Testament was divided into parashoth and Haphtaroth this division into parashoth was most ancient Act. 8. 32. The place of Scripture which he read was this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greeke it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Section and the Syriacke calleth it pasuka They distinguished not these parashoth and haphtaroth by numbers as we doe our Chapters they sayd not the first parashah the second parashah but they distinguish them by the first words of the Section as the first parashah is called Bereshith the second Elle toledoth Noah c. They used to divide and distinguish these great parashoth and haphtaroth three wayes First they distinguished them with three great P P P. Secondly they distinguished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them with three great Samechs as Gen 20. 10. these Samechs or Semuchoth make not so great a distinction as when they are distinguished by three great P P P for there is some coherence when they are distinguished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Samech with that which goeth before So in the particular parashoth when yee see them distinguished by parashah or by Semuchah but onely with great letters as Gen. 32. 2. this word vaijshlahh beginneth the parashah in great letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ioh. 7. 37. In the last day that great day of the feast Iesus stood and cryed saying c. This was the eight day of the feast of the Tabernacles and it is called the great Sabbath This day they kept Festum laetitiae legis The They read three sections upon the eight day of the feast of tabernacles when the Law was ended feast of joy because they ended the reading of the Law that day and the next Sabbath they called it Sabbath bereshith because they began to reade the booke of Genesis againe And yee shall see that this day they read three Haphtaroth or Sections the first was haphtaroth elle pekudi lejom sheni shel Succoth and it began 1 King 7. 51. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So was ended all the words which King Salomon made c. And that day Salomon stood up and blessed the people So the true Salomon Iesus Christ blessed the people In that great and last day of the feast The second haphtarah which was read this day was Iosh 1. haphtaroth shimhhath torah Sectio laetitiae legis because the Law was ended and Ioshua began the Prophets The third 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 parashah which they read was Malac. 3. Haphtaroth sabbath hagadol and it ended thus Behold I will send you Eliah the Prophet and so they joyned the last Section 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Law and the last Section of the Prophets both together and it was in this day that Iesus Christ stood up and spake to them the true Salomon the true Ioshua the end of the Law and the Prophets And whereas the Iewes on this day delighted themselves much with banqueting and drinke Iesus Christ calleth all those to him who thirst and he promiseth to refresh them If any man thirst let him come unto me and drinke Scaliger holdeth that the Apostle Coloss 2. 16. Let no man Iudge you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in part◠Sabbathi signifieth that which the Hebrewes call Parashah and which In Elencho trihaeres cap. 21. pag. 217. the Talmud calleth Perek or Chelek or which the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Apostle meaneth onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here that he would not have the Iewes to condemne the Colossians for not observing their Iewish Sabbaths as he would have the Gentiles to abstaine from things strangled and blood Act. 15. 29. That they might not give offence to the weake Iewes The Iewes say that this division in Parashoth was most ancient but the division into Haphtaroth was later and they give this to be the reason why they reade these Haphtaroth they say when Antiochus Epiphanes forbad them under paine of death to reade the Law of Moses 1 Macch. 2. then they made choise of some parts of the Prophets answerable to these parts of the Law Example because they durst not reade Petorah beresith They read Esay 42. So saith the Lord Creator of heaven and earth Example 2. the second Parasha is Elle toledoth Noah now because they durst not read this they read Esay besiman that is at the signe 54. for that which we call a Chapter they call a signe Sing yee barren The reading of Moyses and the Prophets more ancient than Antiochus c. But is it likely that Antiochus that great Tyrant forbad them onely the reading of the five bookes of Moses wherefore the reading of Moses and the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath beene much more ancient than the time of Antiochus therefore Act. 15. 21. Moses is read of old A Phrase which signifieth a great antiquitie When they read Moses Law they divided it in fifty They read the whole Law in their Synagogues once in the yeere and two Sections and they finished it once in the yeere They had two sorts of yeeres there was Annus impraegnatus or Embolimaeus and Annus Aequabilis Annus Impraegnatus was that which wee call Leape yeare and it had fifty three weekes in this yeere they divided one Parashah in two parts and so they ended the reading Annus impragnatus embolimaeus of the Law within the yeare When it was Annus Aequabilis then it had but
but an application arising from it Fourthly something are neyther de fides nor de verbo fidei Secondly we may answer to this whether the word written be an article of our faith or not The articles Articles of our faith taken generally or specially of our faith are eyther taken generally or specially generally for all that is contained in the Scriptures or may be deduced by way of consequence from the Scriptures then it is not an article of our faith to beleeve the canon of the Scriptures Secondly specially for that which is contained in the Creede for the Creede is the substance of that which is contained in the Scriptures and then it is an article of our faith to beleeve the Cannon of the Scriptures The Scriptures of God are considered essentially The Scriptures considered essentially or accidentally or accidentally Essentially as they proceede from God accidentally againe as they were written by such and such men As they proceede from God we must beleeve them to be true and to be the meanes of our salvation for saving truth is onely from God But if we consider them but accidentally as they are written by such and such men then it is not an article of our faith to beleeve them for it maketh not to our salvation primariò to know that they were written by such and such men When the books in holy Scripture carry the names of those who wrote them as the bookes of Moyses carrie his name if a man should deny these bookes to be written by Moses then be ignorant altogether of the matter contained in them then his ignorance were damnable and the denyall of them hereticall they Ignorantia damnabilis negatio haretica have Moses and the Prophets Luk. 16. But if the writer of the booke be not set downe in the Scripture if a man should deny such a man to write it he should not be reputed as an hereticke for that and to be ignorant that such a man wrote it this Negatia est haerètica per accidens sed igneratio non est damnabilis were not damnable ignorance Example it is holden that Paul wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews now if a man should deny that Paul wrote this Epistle he were not to be holden a hereticke for that neyther were his ignorance damnable A man may be ignorant of this or that booke and yet be saved and many were saved before the bookes were written and now many are saved who cannot reade the Scriptures But when a man doubteth of the order and number Ignorantia hic est infirmitatis negatio est haeritica per accidens of the bookes in the Canon this argueth but his unskilfulnesse and infirmity and the denyall of the number and order of these bookes is but hereticall by accident and the ignorance is not damnable When we beleeve such a booke to be written by such Quest a man whether beleeve we this by a justifying faith or by an historicall faith When we beleeve that such a man wrote this booke Ans this is but an historicall faith and this we have by the Church but that which is dogmaticall in this booke that we must beleeve out of the word it selfe we being illuminate by the Spirit The conclusion of this is Seeing God hath revealed Conclusi his will in his word written to us and remitted us alwayes to the law and to the testimony Esay 10. 8. Ioh. 5. 49. search the Scriptures therefore those who leave the Scriptures and make choyse of traditions they forsake the fonntaine of living waters and digge Cisternes to themselves that can hold no water Ier. 2. 13. EXERCITAT IX Of the singular prerogatives which the secretaries of the holy Ghost had who wrote the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1. 21. And the holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost THe holy men of God who were inspired by the holy Spirit to write the Scriptures First they Prorogative 1 were immediatly called by God Gal. 1. 12. For the Gospel which I preached I received it not of man neyther was I taught but by the revelation of Iesus Christ they had not their calling from man but immediatly from God They had their calling intuitu Ecclesiae 1 Cor. 3. 2. sed non Vocatio vel est intuitu ecclesiae inter ventu eccle interventu Ecclesiae that is God ordained these offices for the good of the Church and it was for the Church cause that he appointed them but they had not their calling from the Church But Preachers now have their calling both intuitu Ecclesiae interventu Ecclesiae There Immediata suppositi virtutis is immedietas ratione suppositi immedietas ratione virtutis the first is when the person is immediatly separated by God to such a calling the second is when the graces and calling are immediatly given by God When Ministers are called they have their gifts immediatly from God and so they have their calling there interveneth no suppositum or midst betweene God and them but for the appointing and designing of them to such places that they have from the Church But the Apostles were called immediatly both ratione suppositi vÃrtutis they had their gifts immediatly from God neyther were they designed to such and such plaees as the Ministers are now The Prophets and Apostles were immediatly called by God and therefore Matthias was chosen by lot to be an Apostle because the lot is immediatly directed by the hand of God but Preachers now should not be chosen by lot Zeno the Emperor tempted God in this case laying a paper upon the Altar that God might write in the paper the name of him who should be Bishop of Constantinople but Flavitius corrupting the Nicephorus Lib. 2. Sexton of the Church caused him to write in his name and so was made Bishop of Constantinople But Moyses learned from the Egyptians and Daniel from the Chaldeans therefore it may seeme that they Object had not their calling immediatly from God They had the learning of humane sciences and trades Answ from men as Paul learned from men to be a Tent maker The Apostles and Prophets learned their humane Sciences and Artes from men but not their divine knowledge so Moyses learned these humane sciences from the Egyptians Daniel from the Chaldeans but their knowledge as Prophets Apostles imediatly was froÌ„ God Although they had their divine knowledge immediately from God yet they were to entertaine it by reading Simile As the fyre that came from heaven upon the Altar The Prophets know ledge was kept by reading Dan. 2. 9. and 1 Tim. 4. 13. was miraculous yet when it was once kindled they kept it in with wood as wee doe our fire So the Prophets knowledge was preserved by reading as ours is Their second pretogative was the measure of knowledge Prerogative 2 they had in matters Divine Their knowledge far The measure of
may be seene before in the postscripts added to the Syriacke translation Secondly they charge him that he tooke away the Calender for the reading of the Gospel upon holy dayes but neyther the Hebrew Calender nor the Syriacke Calender are Divine Scripture and that use for which they say this Calender served for reading of the Gospel upon holy dayes was onely used in the westerne Romish Churches but not in the Easterne Churches Thirdly they say that he committed Plagium in stealing his translation from Guido Fabricius and setting it out under his owne name but what diligence he used in translation of the Syriack he who wrote his life testifieth And will any man thinke that he who was a native Iew borne and trained up in these tongues was so ignorant that he had no skill but that which he did steall from another and Gretserus addeth that first he was a Iew and then he became a Monke thirdly a Calvanist or Hugonite and lastly that hee returned to his vomite againe and dyed a Iew. But that yee may perceive what a Railer this was who spared neyther the living nor the dead I will set downe a memorable proofe of his death he who wrote Apophthegmata morientium the notable sayings which sundry uttered at the last houre of their death relateth this of him When they demanded of him what confession hee would make of his faith he sayd Vivat Christus pereat Barabbas Whereas the rest of the Iewes cryed Vivat Barabbas pereat Christus this he sayd to signifie that he renounced Iudaisme and tooke him onely to the merites of Christ Was this to dye like a Iew the Name of this worthy man should smell to us as the Wine of Lebanon Hos 14. 7. Of a Paraphrase THe second way how God maketh the Scripture plaine unto us is by paraphrasing it which goeth in a larger circuit of words than a translation doth and this is called tirgam a Paraphrase An Ecphrasis is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an exposition of this Paraphrase The first Paraphrase was the Paraphrase of Ionathan the sonne of Vzziel who paraphrased the great Prophets thirty yeeres before Christ both plainely and without Allegories but upon the small Prophets hee runneth out more upon Allegories The seeond Paraphrase was the Paraphrase of Onkelos otherwise called Rabbi Aquila adding Nun and changing a into o as Aquila Onkelos as Bonarges Bannarges It was hee who translated the Old Testament into Greeke also he paraphrased the five bookes of Moyses ninety yeeres after Christ not long after the destruction of the Temple The third Paraphrase was Targum Hierosolymitanum upon the five bookes of Moyses most fabulous and most impure but because Targum Ionathan was in great request among the Iewes and not so fabulous as this Targum the Printers amongst the Iewes put these two letters Tau Iod before that Paraphrase to make the Reader beleeve that it was Targum Ionathan Ionathans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paraphase for these two letters stand both for Targum Ionathan and for Targum Hierosolymitanum Lastly Rabbi Ioseph Caecus paraphrased Cetubhim or the written bookes All these Paraphrases if yee will respect the language were eyther in the Babylonian or Hierosolymitan tongue three in the Babylonian and Turgum Hierosolymitanum in the Hierosolymitan tongue These Paraphrases where they paraphrase against Paraphrases when they are blasphemous are to rejected Christ are to be detested Exam. 1. Gen. 4. Incaeptum est nomen domini profanari but Targum Hierosolymitanum paraphraseth it blaspemously In diebus illis coeperunt Idola colere fecerunt sibi Deos erroneos quos cognominabant de nomine Sermonis domini And here he implyeth Christ who is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sermo dei This paraphrase is blasphemous against the Sonne of God and therefore to be detested Example 2 Can. 4. 5. Thy two breasts are like two young Roes Targum paraphraseth these two Roes to be two Messiases the one the sonne of Ioseph the other the sonne of David the one Poore and the other mighty that is a blasphemous Paraphrase and therefore to bee detested Example 2. Iob. 23. 9. He paraphraseth it this wayes Michael is upon his right hand and Gabriel upon his left hand Michael is upon his right hand and he is fire and Gabriel is upon his left hand and he is water and the holy creatures are partly fire and partly water This Paraphrase is blasphemous because it maketh the Sonne of God but a Creature and matcheth Gabriel with Michael Secondly where these Paraphrases are fabulous they Paraphrases when they are ridiculous are to be rejected are to be rejected Example 1 Gen. 3. 21. The Lord made coates of skin for Adam and Eve Targum Hierosolymitanum paraphraseth it this wayes The Lord made glorious cloathes which he put upon the skin of their flesh that they might cover themselves Example 2. Gen. 32. 26. Dimitte me quia ascendit aurora The Paraphrast maketh this to be one of the seven Angels who stand before the Lord singing continually holy holy Lord of Hoasts and he maketh this Angell to be cheefe of the Quire Example 3. Exod. 13. 19. And Moyses tooke the bones of Ioseph with him Targum Hierosolymitanum paraphraseth it thus Ascendere fecit Moses vrnam ossium Iosephi ex intimo Nili abauxit secum Hence the Talmudists make a great question how they could finde this Chest of Ioseph being sunke so deepe in the flood Nilus and they flye to their shift of Shem hamphorash and R Bechai upon this saith that Moyses tooke a plate and wrote 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon it and sayd ascende Be◠meaning Ioseph who was called Bos Dei Deut. 33. 17. did cast this plate into Nilus saying O Ioseph thy brethren which are redeemed are waiting for thee and the cloud of glory is waiting for thee if thou wilt not goe up with us now wee are free of our oath Example 4. Deut. 28. 18. Decaudicabat debiles Hee cut off the taile or the weake of the hoast but Targum Hierosolymitanum paraphraseth it this wayes sed accepit eos Amalek amputavit loca virilitatis corum projecitque sursum versus coelum dicens tolle quod elegisti meaning that part which was commanded by the Lord to be circumcised they threw it up into the heavens in contempt and spite against the Lord. Example 5. 1 Sam. 15. And he numbred them Battelahim but Targum paraphraseth it thus He numbred them by the lambes For Telahim is called lambes also and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they say that Saul would not number the people for feare of a plague upon him and his people as it fell out afterwards upon David and his people therefore he caused every one of them to bring a lambe and he numbred all the lambes and so he knew the number of the people such Iewish fables as these the Apostle willeth us to take heede of Tit. 1. 14. But where
joyned in one booke The Conclusion of this is First the Lord hath summed Conclusion up all that he requireth of us in one word Love Rom. 13 10. Love is the fulfilling of the Law Then hee hath enlarged this word in two Mat. 22. 37. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy selfe Thirdly hee hath enlarged these two into ten words Deut. 10. 4. And hee wrote on the Tables the ten words Fourthly hee hath enlarged them into Moses and the Prophets Mat. 22. 40. On these two Commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pendent even as wee hang a thing upon a Naile Esay 22. 23. So the Law and the Prophets hang upon these two EXERCITAT XVII Of the Division of the Psalmes Act. 13. 33. As it is also written in the second Psalme Thou art my Sonne this day have I begotten thee THe Psalmes are divided in five bookes as the five Bookes of Moses and the five Bookes joyned together called Quinque volumina as Canticles Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes and Esther The first booke of the Psalmes endeth with the 41. Psalme The second endeth with the 72 Psalme The third with the 89. The fourth with the 106. The fift with the 150. Psalme and these bookes end with the same words Baruch Iehova Elohe Iisrael mehagnolam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vegnad hagnolam Amen veamen Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel from Everlasting to Everlasting Amen Amen Psal 41. 13. so the rest of the bookes for the most part end thus And hence wee may gather that this verse was added by him who set the Psalmes in order and not by those who wrote the rest of the Psalmes This may appeare by the conclusion of Davids Psalme of thankesgiving 1 Chro. 16. 36. That they have borrowed their conclusion at the end of every booke from the conclusion of this Psalme The first two bookes were written by David and they David wrote the first two bookes of the Psalmes and set them in order end thus So end the Prayers of David the Sonne of lesse Psal 27. 30. That is here end the Psalmes which were both written and set in order by David The other three bookes were written by diverse Authors as by David Asaph the sonnes of Korah Ieduthun Moses Heman the Ezrite and when the writer of the Psalme is not set downe the Iewes hold that hee who wrote the former wrote that Psalme also Asaph wrote thirteene Psalmes Leasaph Lamed is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 somtimes a note of the genitive case and sometimes of the Dative case and therefore some have interpreted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aliquando est nota Genâ—tâ—vâ— aliquando Dativi the word Mizmor leasaph a Psalme dedicat to Asaph to be sung be him but it should be Translated a Psalme of Asaph for Asaph was a Prophet 2 Chron. 29. 30. Moreover Hezekiah and the Princes commanded the Levites to sing praises unto the Lord with the words of David and Asaph the Seer And the style of Asaph is harder then the Style of David The second who wrote these Psalmes were the Sonnes of Korah and they wrote ten in number the The sonne of Korah wrote some of the Psalmes posteritie of Korah died not in the rebellion with their Father Num. 26. 11. Some of his posteritie wrote before the captivitie and foretold of the captivitie as the Psal 73. 74. And some of them when they were in the captivitie So some when they were returning from the captivitie as 66. Some after they were returned as 85. and 147. So Moses wrote a Psalme of the shortnesse of the life of man this Psalme was written when they were Moyses wrote a Psalme in the Wildernesse and yet it was not registred in the Canon till after the captivitie Thus we see the watchfull eye of God that had a care to preserve these bookes which were to bee insert in the Canon that none of them should perish So these Psalmes which were written by Ieduthun Ieduthun and Ethan wrote some of the Psalmes and by Ethan the Ezrite who were of the posterity of the Levites The Levites dutie was to teach the People and so the Lord made those Levites teachers of the people by their songs Of the inscriptions of the Psalmes THe Psalmes generally are intituled Tebilim praises because the most of them are songes of prayse therefore the whole are so called The generall inscription of the Psalmes is Tehilim The particular Inscriptions of them are eyther easily understood or hardly to be understood at all The inscriptions easie to bee understood are these First Lamnatzeahh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the chiefe Musitian The singers were divided into so many orders and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one sang according to their courses and when it befell the chiefe Musitian to sing then he caused to sing this Psalme committed to him The next title is Maschil a Psalme for instruction These were Psalmes which David made out of his owne experience Peter when thou art converted strengthen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy brethren these were called Psalmi didascalici The third was Michtam Aurei Psalmi golden Luk. 22. 32 Psalmes all the Word of God is like fine gold Psal 119. And yet these Psalmes are called Golden Psalmes because there is some speciall and choyse matter in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them so all the word of God is faithfull all to bee trusted yet Paul saith Fidus est hic sermo This is a faithfull saying 2 Tim. 1. 15. Having some notable things in it and as all the Ring is Gold yet the Diamond is the most excellent So although all the Word of God be excellent yet these are most excellent So some are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intituled lehazcir Ad recordanduÌ„ to bring to remembrance as 38. 70. because they were made in remeÌ„brance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of some notable deliverance or of some great benefit Fourthly some are called Psalmes of degrees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When they brought the Arke from Davids house Psalmes which they sang when they carried the Arke out of the house of David to the Temple into the Temple they sang Psal 119. by the way it beginneth with these words Beaâ—i immaculati in via and intreateth especially of the Law of the Lord and there is not a verse in it except onely the 122. verse In omnibus versibus Psalmi 119. dempto versâ—â— 122. vna harum vndecem vocum invenitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which hath not some epithet of the Law of God in it as his Iudgements his Word his Statutes his Lawes his Testimonies his Commandements his Precepts his Covenant c And when they entred into the Court of the Gentiles with the Arke they sang the last part of this Psal 119. When they went further to the Court of the
excellent 8. Moses law divided in three parts 164. in fiftie two sections 175. read once in the yeare by the Iewes ibid. the law written in the heart 34. difference betwixt the law of nature and the law of nations 39. the breach of the law of nature worse then of the law of nations ibid. the law perpetuall where the reason of it is perpetuall 41. M Manna the bread of angells 2. it resembleth divinitie ibid. Mary and Martha resemble the naturall and spirituall life Moses came nearest to Adams knowledge of gods attributes 28. N Names fitted to the creatures at the beginning 30. names given to creatures at the beginning which are not found now in the scriptures ibid. many names in the scripture which are not Hebrew names 97. proper names of the Chaldeans Persians and Assyrians 98. Nathan wrote vntill the death of Salomon 121. O Obscuritie three fold 80. Order foure fold 82. order of the Evangelists 83. P Paraphrase what 158. Paraphrases of the Iewes how many 159. Blasphemous to be detested ibid. ridiculous to be rejected 160. paraphrases clearing the Text are to bee admitted 161. Parashah mistaken 174. division in parashoth most ancient 145. parashoth divided three wayes 173 how they distinguished the parashoth ibid. divided according to these who read them 176. Points not from the beginning 124. the Samaritan Copie hath not the Points ibid. they were not with the letters in the dayes of the Seventy ibid. other languages derived from the hebrew have no points 126. They were found out by the Masoreth ibid they are sometimes put in the text and the letters in the margent 128. poynts ommitted in some words 129. Present a thing present foure ways 181 Christ how present in the Sacrament Priest asked counsell for the people 54 wherein hee might erre 57. Prophets understood what they prophesied 47. their prophesies respect the second cause or the event 55. they had their humane learning from men 66. they had not their prophesie by habite 67. they erred not writing the scriptures 68. assisted by the spirit three wayes 72. difference betwixt them and other prophets 68. betwixt them and the Sybils 73. they were the mouth of god 68. they are called the men of the spirit 71. the lord spake in them 57. they wrote not with paine and studie 74. some things written by them not as they were prophets 120. why called the first prophets 164. why the latter ibid. the small prophets cited as one 165. Prophesie how long it endured 55. bestowed anew againe ibid. some prophesies not written 122. Psalmes divided in five bookes 166. psalmes written historically or prophetically 167. the authors of them 166. their inscriptions in generall 168 in particular ibid. some inscriptions are Notes of musicke 170. some instruments of musicke ibid. the diverse times when they were sung ibid. divided according to their subiect ibid. some alphabeticall 171. psalmes of degrees 169. the five last psalmes begin and end with halleluiah 172. Ptolomeus procured not the translation of the Seventy 144. his life 146. R Reading the marginall and line reading 127. marginall and line reading both put in the Text by interpreters 128. diverse readings make not up diverse senses Reason not a judge in matter divine not to be secluded from divinitie ib. she must not transcend her limits 14. Revelation two fold 49. how god revealed himselfe to his church 44. S Solomon compared with Adam 28. he was a holy man 72. his writings not profitable for the whole Church perished 121. Samaritan edition not the originall 112. it differeth as much from the originall as the Seventy ibid. it addeth and diminisheth from the originall Text 113. the writing of it in many parts Kabbalisticall 114. 115. 116. Sciences the birth of reason 3. Sciences fourefold ibid. Scriptures approved by Gods outward and inward testimony 76. reasons proving them to be divine 87. they are clearely set downe 80. they cohere well 104. the agreement of them 81. not written to satisfie mens curiositie 87 somethings in them bōrrowed from the heathen history 96. some things from the Iewish history ibid. Scriptures to be interpreted 162. their division 64. they were not divided in Chapters at the first 175. divided in Haphtaroth and parashoth by the Iewes ibid. of their sense 177. but one literall sense 178. how to finde out the literall sense 179. Seventy who and why so called 143. T Text the meaning of it knowne by the antecedent and consequent 130. threefold corruption 111. Translation what 131. the translation of the Seventy 142. what a translator should observe 132. 133. 134. vulgar Latine translation 153. by whom finished ibid. V Verity threefold 16. Vision twofold 45. fourefold 57. Vrim and Thummim what 51. what sort of revelation by them ibid. how the Lord taught the Priest by them 53. they asked counsell by them in weightie matters 55. they were not in the second Temple 59. W Word why God would have it written 6◠the certainety of it ibid. considered two wayes 61. World compared to Egypt Y Yere twofold 175. the Law read once in the yeare ibid. EXERCITATIONS DIVINE The first Booke containing diverse Questions for the understanding of the Scriptures in generall Exercitat Divine 1. Of the excellency of DIVINITIE above all other Sciences 2 TIMOT 3. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God c. HVmane Sciences and Arts have Humane Sciences and Arts compared to the dough brought out of Egypt and Divinity to Manna beene fitly compared to the dough which the Israelites brought out of Egypt Exod. 12. 34. which they fed upon untill they got Manna This dough was prepared by much labour by plowing by sowing by reaping by grinding kneading and baking So humane Sciences which are the birth of reason are bred below here but Divinitie is like unto Manna which was prepared or ready to their hand they neither plowed for it neither did sow it nor reaped it So Divinity is prepared in heaven and sent downe to teach the Church here below The dough which they brought out of Egypt Deut. 16. 3. is called panis pauperum the poores The dough the bread of the poore bread it is called the poores bread because the poore in their necessity could not bee at leasure to ferment it and it had not so pleasant a relish therefore it is called the poores bread but Manna is called the bread of Manna the bread of Angels Angels Psal 78. 25. It is called the bread of Angels because it was brought downe by their ministerie and it was so pleasant in taste that if the Angels had eaten bread it might have served them So 1 Cor. 13. 1. If I speake with the tongue of Angels that is if the Angels had tongues to speake with And as farre as Manna surpassed the poores bread as farre and farther doth Divinity surpasse humane Sciences and Arts. Againe the world hath beene well compared to Egypt The world compared to Egypt and
masters of the great Synagogue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a radice such as were Esdras Zacharie and Malachie The Greekes called these Bookes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Iewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abscondere distinguish them still froÌ„ the Apocryphall Bookes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gannazim abscinditi and the Greekes called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bookes of whose authority it was still doubted Reasons taken out of the Scriptures themselves proving them to be Divine the first reason is taken from Reason 1 the antiquity of the Scriptures all this time was tempus Scriptura contestatur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the heathen that is it was an hid or an unknowne time to them After the flood the Scriptures goe on and they set downe to us the history of the Church but the Heathen history is Tempus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fabulosum as that which we reade of Hercules and Tempus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Historicum Prometheus and nothing is set downe in the Heathen history before the Olympiads of the Graecians which was but in the dayes of Vzziah See how farre Gods Word exceedeth humane history in antiquity It beginneth with the world and endeth with it Luk. 1. 70. as he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have beene since the world began Secondly the matter contained in the Scriptures sheweth Reason 2 them to be Divine Many histories shew us the heavy wrath of God upon man for sinne yet the Scriptures only shew us morbum medicinam medicum it sheweth us both the sicknesse the physicke and the Physitian to cure it Thirdly the Scripture setteth downe things necessary Reason 3 onely for our salvation and nothing for our curiosity The Scriptures not written to satisfie mens curiosity It is often repeated in the Bookes of the Kings and Chronicles The rest are they not written in the Bookes of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iuda and Israel So Ester 10. 2. The rest are they not written in the Bookes of the Kings of Persia The holy Ghost would meete here with the curious desires of men who desire still to know more and more and to reade pleasant discourses to satisfie their humours as if the Spirit of God should say I have sufficiently told you here of the Kings of Iuda and Israel and of Persia and so farre as concerneth the Church and may serve for your edification it is not my manner to satisfie your curiositie if ye would know more go to your owne Scrowles and Registers where yee shall finde matter enough to passe the time with To bee short the Scriptures are not given to passe the time with but to redeeme the time Fourthly the prophesies set downe in the holy Reason 4 Scriptures shew them to be Divine for they distinguish the Lord from all the Idols of the Gentiles and the Divels themselves Esa 41. 22. Let them shew the former things what they be that we may consider them and set our hearts upon them and shew us the things that are to Renunciare proetâ—rita anunei are presentia pâ—enunciare futura come hereafter that we may know that yee are Gods Here the Prophet distinguisheth the true God from the false Gods and true prophesies from false If they could tell of things by-past and relate them from the beginning and joyne them with the things to come then he would confesse that they were Gods and that their prophesies were true To tell of things past is not in respect of time for the Angels and Divels can tell things fallen out from the beginning of time but it is in respect of the things themselves when they tooke beginning this is onely proper to God Psal 139. 16. In thy Booke all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there were none of them Hee can joyne things by-past with things that are to follow and can tell certainely of things to come There is a twofold beginning of things The first is exordium rei The second is exordium temporis The Angels know exordium Exordium temporis rei temporis but not exordium rei for the Lord onely knoweth things before the foundation of the world was laid Ephe. 1. 4. He who knoweth certainely the beginning of things can onely certainely fortell the event of things as though they were present Hos 12. 4. hee wept and made supplication to him he found him in Bethel and there he spake with us Here the thing past he applyeth to the generation which was present because hee knew exordium rei The plaine and cleare manner of setting downe the Scriptures sheweth them to be Divine Esa 8. 1. Take Reason 5 a great roule and write in it with a mans pen Behheret enosh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is cleerely that the simplest amongst the children of men may understand it Deut. 30. 11. This commandement which I command thee this day is not hidden from thee neyther is it farre off In the Hebrew it is Lo niphleeth non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 separatum a te that is it is not separated from thy knowledge that thou cannot understand it and it is not farre from thee for these things which are obscure and doubtfull which we cannot take up are sayd to be farre from us these things which wee understand againe are sayd to be neare us Rom. 10. 8. But it may be sayd that there are many things hard in Ob. the Scriptures and cannot well be taken up We must distinguish these three the obscurity in the Ans things themselves the perspicuity in the midsts as they are set downe and thirdly the dulnesse of our Obscuritaâ— est velâ—n rebus ipsis modo tradendi conceptione conception to take them up There are many matters handled in the Scripture which are hard to be understood and we are dull in conception to take up these things yet they are clearely and plainely set downe in the word Christ sheweth all these three Ioh. 3. 12. If I have told you earthly things and yee beleeve not how shall yee beleeve if I tell you of heavenly things If I have told you earthly things that is illustrated heavenly things to you by earthly comparisons here is Christs plaine manner in setting downe his word And yee beleeve not here is our dulnesse in taking up these things which are plainely set downe How shall yee beleeve if I shall tell you of heavenly things here is the obscurity of the heavenly matters contained in the Scriptures The Church of Rome confoundeth still these three Obscuritas rei nostri conceptus cum perspicuo modo tradendi the obscurity in the matter the dulnesse of our conception with the cleare manner of manifestation of these things in the Scriptures The Heavenly consent and agreement amongst the Reason 6 writers of the holy Scriptures sheweth them to be Divine There were
one language and of one speech THe Old Testament was written originally in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greeke The Character in which the Old Testament was In what character the Scriptures were written at the first written first was the Samaritane Character It was called the Samaritane Character not because the Samaritans used it first but because it was left to the Samaritans after the Iewes refused it This Samaritane Character was the first Character as may be seene by the inscriptions upon their shekels set Why called the Samaritane character downe by Arius Montanus Beza and Willet upon Ezekiel And sundry of the Iewes ancient monuments have these letters upon them The Character at the first was the Iewes and not the Samaritans as is proved by the inscriptions of the shekels The inscriptions upon the Shekels shew the Samaritane character to be the first The inscription is this Ierusalem hakkodesh but no Samaritan would have put this inscription upon it for they hated Ierusalem and the Iewes therefore this inscription must bee the Iewes and not the Samaritans Secondly most of these ancient shekels are found about Ierusalem therefore the shekel and letters upon it The Iewes kept the Samaritane character in the captivitie was at the first the Iewes and not the Samaritans This Samaritane Character the Iewes kept still in the time of the captivity when Belshasser saw fingers writing upon the wall Mene mene tekel c. Dan. 5. 25. These Characters were the Samaritan Characters therefore the Babylonians could not reade them because they knew not that Character neyther could the Iewes understand the matter although they knew the letters to the Babylonians it was like a sealed booke and to the Iewes it was like an open booke to an unlearned man because they understood it not Esa 29. 11. But Daniel read it and understood it both because he knew the letters and also understood the Chaldee tongue Esdras changed this Character after the captivity Hieron in â—erfat lib. regune and left it Idiotis to the Samaritans and he set downe this new Character which before was the Chaldee Character The reason why he changed it was this because being long in the captivitie they forgot their owne language that they could neyther reade it rightly nor write it rightly and therefore he changed the Characters in these which we have now But the ancient Samaritan Character seemeth to bee Why Esdras changed the Character kept still in Lamina sacerdotali in the plate of Gold which was upon the forehead of the Highpriest after the captivity for they might change none of the ornaments of the Highpriest So neyther that which was written upon the plate of Gold Kokesh Laihova holinesse to the Lord because the Lord commanded these cloathes and ornaments to be made for him and his seede after him Exod. 28. 43. The Inscription which was upon the Plate of Gold in the forehead of the Highpriest The New Testament was written originally in the Greeke Character and there were two translations of it Syriacke and Arabicke the Syriacke was written in the Syriacke Character which differed much from that which is called Alphabetum Salomonis or the Character which Salomon found out This Character Pineda setteth downe in his booke De rebus Salomonis These diverse Characters may be seene setdowne here as followeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Character Antiquier Mosis sive Samaritanorum Recentior Samaritanorum Hebraeorum sive Merâ—bha Ezrae recentior Chaldaeorum antiquorum nunc Rabbinorum Antiquorum Arabum seu Alphabetum Salomonis Arabum Recentior Syrorum Graecorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Old Testament was originally written in the Hebrew tongue and some of it in the tongues derived from the Hebrew as Chaldee We may know the Hebrew was the first originall tongue because it hath fewest Radicall letters whatsoever tongue is derived from thence it addeth some letters to the first originall as from the Hebrew word Galal commeth Golgotha the Syriacke word So Gabbatha Bethsaida from Gabha and Chased Secondly that language which the Lord spake to Adam Abraham and Moyses and they to him must be the originall language But God spake to them in the Hebrew and he wrote the two Tables with his owne hand in this language And thirdly that language which expresseth the nature of things and their affections most clearely and in fewest words that must be the originall language but the Hebrew doth this therefore it is the first language These tongues which were Propagines and Dialects of The Iewes understood these tongues which had affinity with the Hebrew the Hebrew the Iewes understood them when they heard them spoken and when they read them but they understood not the strange tongues which had but small affinity with the Hebrew When Laban and Iacob made a covenant Laban called the heape of stones jegar Sagadutha in the Aramean tongue which had small affinitie with the Hebrew but Iacob called it Galeed Gen. 31. 47. But if there was little affinity betwixt the Aramean Object language and the Hebrew how is it that they say 2. King 18. 26. Speake to thy servants in the Syrian language for we understand it They might understand it for they were Courtiours and States men and so learned it as we learne now the Answ The Hebrewes understood not the Syrian language but by learning Italians and French language And Abrahams servant spake to Nachor in the Aramean language hee being borne in Damascus which was in Cylo-Syria and wee may thinke that Nachor and his house understood the Hebrew tongue being of the posterity of Heber and keepe that tongue as Abraham did who came out of Vr of the Chaldees Assyria or Syria hebraice Aram comprehended all Palestina The large extent of the Syrian language Damascus the Kingdome of Assyria Chaldea babylon Arabia Cylo-Lyria and Antiochia Zoba Adiabena therefore all the languages which were spoken in these parts tooke their generall denomination from Syria as Syro-aramaea the language which Laban spake in Mesopotania Syro-Chaldaea or Babylonica was that which they spake in Babylon Syro-Antiochena which they spake in Antioch or Phoenicia although they were Propagines or Dialects of the Hebrew yet they understood them not while they were taught therefore Nabuchadnezzer caused to instruct the children of the Iewes in the Chaldee tongue Dan. 1 4. but the Syro-Arabean and the Palestine or Cananitish language they might understand it because it came nearer to their owne language The Aegyptian tongue differed much from the Hebrew The Iewes understood not the Egyptian tongue Psal 81. 5. Ioseph heard a language in Aegypt which he understood not Ioseph here is put for the whole people of the Iewes because there was no affinity betwixt the Hebrew and the Aegyptian tongue therefore they understood
with the first Verse of the fortieth Chapter and all the rest should be included in a parenthesis As we have spoken of the stile of the Scripture in generall so let us observe the stile of some of the writers in particular Esayes stile differed much from the stile of Amos he being a Courtiour and he but a Neat-herd So the stile of Ezekiel differed from the stile of the rest of the Prophets he calleth himselfe The Sonne of man not because it is a Chaldee phrase but because of the excellent visions which he saw therefore he is called the Sonne of man that is an excellent man as Iesus Christ in the New Testament is called The Son of man that is an excellent man So this is peculiar to Iohn the Evangelist to call Christ the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Chaldees and the Talmud usually call him so Iohn opposed himselfe to Ebion and Cerinthus two Iewes who denyed the divinity of Christ wherefore he hath usually the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Ioh. 7. 5. which was frequent in the Chaldee paraphrast and read often by the Iewes So there are some things peculiar to Paul for hee useth some words according to the manner of the speech in Tarshish and Cilicia as Collos 2. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in their language signifieth insidiose alteri praeripere palmam So 1 Cor. 4. 3. Mans day according to the phrase of Tarshish is put for the time of judgement because they had some appointed times for judgement The Conclusion of this is here we may admire the Conclusion wisedome of God who gave most excellent gifts to his Secretaries for the edification of his Church Moses was a man of a slow speech and of a slow tongue and Aaron God gave excellent gifts to his Secretaries for the good of his Church must be his spokesman Exod. 4. Yet Moyses was mighty in words and deeds Act. 7. 22. It is sayd of Paul that his bodily presence was weake but his letters were weighty 2 Cor. 10. 11. By his preaching he converted many from Ierusalem to Illiricum Rom. 15. 19. but by his letters hee converted moe both in Europe Africa and Asia such Paul converted moe by his writing than by his preaching was the majesty and grace in his writing that they acknowledged it to be from the Lord. EXERCITAT XII That the Hebrew Text is not corrupted Psal 119. 140. Thy word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it THe Church of Rome that they may advance the authority of the vulgar Latine translation which they The Church of Rome maketh the vulgar Latin translation to be canonicall have made canonicall doe labour to disgrace the originall Text the Hebrew and Greeke holding that they are corrupt in many things Master Iames Gordon our Country man observeth Controvers 1. Gordonij cap. 9. foure distinct periods of time The first period he maketh to bee the Iewes Synagogue before Christ came in the flesh he granteth that all this time the Hebrew Text was not corrupted by the Iewes The second period of time he maketh to be from the ascension of Christ untill the dayes of Hierome and Augustine and he saith that in this second period the Iewes went about to corrupt the translation of the Seventy because the Christians then began to use arguments taken out of that translation against them as Iustine Martyr testifieth writing against Tripho The third period he maketh to be after the death of Saint Hierome untill the time that the Talmud was composed and set together and then he saith there arose great contention betwixt the Orientall and Occidentall Iewes the Orientall Iewes were those who dwelt upon the East side of Euphrates in Babylon Media Persia those What Iewes were called orientall and what occidentall Peter called the Church at Babylon 1 Pet. 5. 13. The Occidentall Iewes were those to whom he wrote Scattered abroad in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia 1 Pet. 1. 1. because of the diversity of their reading and corruptions in the Text. He saith that the Iewes met at Tiberias Anno 508. and there set downe the Points and made their Masora to obviat this that no more corruption should enter into the Text. The fourth period he maketh to be after the Iewes had met at Tiberias they decreed that none should use any copy but such as were corrected by the Masoreth and so from this time he freeth the Text from corruption but hee laboureth much to prove that the Hebrew Text was corrupt before and that the vulgar Latine is sound and free from corruption which was translated by Saint Hierome under Pope Damasus and so continued in the Church of Rome The Iewes to whom The Oracles of God were committed The Iewes kept faithfull the booke of God without corruption Rom. 3. 2. therefore it was called Their Law Ioh. 8. 17. would they have corrupted their owne Evidents Augustine calleth the Iewes Capsarios nostros who faithfully kept the booke of God and reserved it unto us without corruption he saith Dispersos esse Iudaeos infideles ut testarentur Scripturas esse veras The unbeleeving Iewes were scattered through the world that they might testifie the Scriptures to be true and shall wee thinke that the Iewes would have corrupted the Text The Iewes numbred the Verses Words and Letters of the Bible who have numbred the words letters and verses of the Bible and R. Zaddias hath numbred the letters words and verses and summed up all the verses at the end of every booke and they have observed that all the letters are found in one verse Zeph. 3. 8. as also foure of the finall letters they carry such respect to the Law that if it but fall to the ground they institute a fast for it The superstitious Iewes at this day are so carefull to They would write no language but in Hebrew letters keepe the letters and words of the Law that they will have neither Chaldee Syriacke nor Hebrew words wrirten but in Hebrew letters and it greeved them when they saw in Origens Hexupla Hebrew words Vide Guiliel Scâ—ickardum de jure regio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 written in Greeke Characters when they saw the copie which was presented to Alexander the Great having the name Iehova still written in Golden letters they were much greeved at it and when they see any thing changed in our copies now in disdaine they call it Hhomesh pesul she l gelahhim that is Pentateuchus rasorum Monachorum the Pentateuch of the shaven Monkes The Iewes after the death of Christ were dispersed among many Nations and they never met together againe and albeit they would have corrupted the Scripture how could they have falsified all the Copies Bellarmin maketh this objection to himselfe Some Bellarm. lib. 2. Cap. 2. De verbo dei men will say that the Hebrew Text was corrupted after the dayes of Saint
none of these Bookes should perish which are canonicall That fable of Esdras then is to be rejected lib. 4. The fable of Esdras rejected cap. 4. 23. So cap. 14. 21. to the 24. verse he sheweth how the booke of God was lost in the Captivity and that Esdras the Scribe by holy inspiration wrote it all anew againe but this is false see we not how Daniel read out of the prophesie of Ieremie how long the captivitie should last Dan. 2. 9. The booke of God then was not lost in the captivity and written anew againe by Esdras but onely he set the bookes in order after Esdras wrote nothing of the Scriptures but onely set the bookes in order the captivity nihil ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fecit sed ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee did nothing in correcting the booke of God but onely set it downe in order But we reade often times in the Scriptures of many Bookes wanting now which were extant before as the Bookes of the battels of the Lord Num. 21. 14. By this it cannot bee inferred that any canonicall Ans booke is perished for this word Sepher signifieth a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 relation as well by word as by write Secondly although wee grant that it was a written booke yet it will not follow that it was a holy Booke Thirdly although we grant that it was an holy booke yet it will not follow that it was a canonicall booke The bookes of the Chronicles of the Kings of Iuda and Israel were but civill records and belonged nothing to the canon of the Scriptures Some things written by the Prophets not as they were Prophets Secondly some bookes that were written by the Prophets were not written by them as they were Prophets Salomon wrote of Hearbes Trees and Plants 1 King 4. 33. But what bookes were these They were but bookes of things which were under the Moone and of things corruptible and because they served not for the edification of the Church afterwards therefore the Hezekiah buried Salomons bookes of physick Lord suffered them to perish Suidas saith that the booke which Salomon wrote of Physicke was affixed upon the gate in the entrie of the Temple and because the people trusted too much in it neglecting the Lord as Asa put his trust in the Physitians 2 Chro. 13. therefore Hezekiah caused to pull away this booke and bury it And the Talmud saith that Hezekiah did two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 memorable things First Ganaz Sepher rephuoth Abscondit librum medicinarum He hid the bookes of Physicke which Salomon had written And secondly Cathath nahhash hannehhushoth shegnashe Moshe Comminuit aeneum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 serpentem quem fecerat Moses He brake the brasen Serpent which Moyses made Salomon spake three thousand Proverbes 1 King 4. 32. yet of all these Proverbes scarce eyght hundred are put in the Canon Some of these Proverbes the servants of Hezekiah King of Iuda copied out Prov. 25. 1. And as they saw the King their master bury Salomons booke which he knew was hurtfull to the Church so those servants copied out these Proverbes which were profitable Salomons Proverbs and Songs which were not profitable to the Church perished for the Church whereas the rest perished So Salomon wrote a thousand and five Songes of all which Songes the Lord made choyse but of one to be insert in the Canon which is called the Song of Songes or canticum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est utriusque numeri quae vel quod canticorum quae Salomonis rather then canticum canticorum quod Salomonis it was the most excellent Song of all Salomons Songs rather then the excellentest Song compared with other Songes But all bookes written by thē for the whole Church none of them are perished as the Prophesies of Nathan Ahija and Iddo For Burgensis observeth well upon 1 Chro. 29. That the first booke of Samuel is holden to be written by Samuel himselfe So the second Booke of Samuel and the second booke of the Kings were written by Nathan and Gad who lived with David and Salomon and wrote untill the death of Salomon then Iddo and Ahija wrote the historie following of Ieroboam interlacing somethings of Salomon and Rehoboam 1 Chron. 29. 29 Now the acts of David the King first Object and last behold they are written in the booke of Samuel the Seer and in the booke of Nathan the Prophet and in the booke of Gad the Seer with all his reigne and his might and the times that went over him and over Israel and all the Kingdomes of the Countries But these words cannot be understood of the bookes of Samuel for wee reade not in these bookes what David did abroad in these Countries therefore some other bookes must be understood here written by Gad and Nathan which are not extant Not onely the things which David did in Israel are Ans set downe in the booke of Samuels but also the things which he did abroad in other Countries as against Zoba King of Hadadezzar against the Moabites and against Tobh King of Hemath And where it is sayd over Hieron in Esa 13. all the kingdomes of the countries it is the manner of the Scripture as Hierome marketh by the whole Countries to understand the next adjacent countries whereof it speaketh and therefore in the originall it is Haaratzoth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of that earth 2 Chro. 33 19. The prayer of Manasseh and how God Ob. was intreated of him and all his sinne and his trespasse and the places wherein he built high places and set up groves and graven images before he was humbled behold they are written among the saying of the Seers or Hosai But in the whole booke of the Kings there is no mention made of his affliction or of the cause which mooved him to repent or of his prayers which he made to God in time of his affliction then this booke of the prophet is not now extant So the acts of Baasha Zimri and Omri are they not written in the Bookes of the Chronicles of Israel 1 Kings 16. 5. 27. But nothing concerning their actes are found in the bookes of the Kings or in the Chronicles therefore those bookes are perished when the Scriptures remit us to those bookes it giveth us to understand that these bookes are worthy to be trusted as written by the Seers of God neyther doth the Scripture cite them as it doth some short sentences out of the Heathen Poets The Apostle saith of those Poets that they sayd the truth Tit. 1. 13. But the Spirit of God remitteth us to these bookes that we may be fully instructed by them in the whole truth of the Acts of those Kings First we must know that there were many Prophets Answ who prophesied whose prophesies were never written as the prophesies of the children of the Prophets and the prophesies of those who prophesied from the Some
prophesies of the Prophets were not written dayes of Eli to David as some of Asaph Heman and Ieduthun Secondly all the things which were written by the Seers were not written by them as Seers Salomon wrote many things which he wrote not as a Prophet and so did David Thirdly many things which Something 's written by the Prophets profitable for the Church then but not profitable now they wrote then as Seers and were profitable to the Church for that time were not profitable for the Church now and the Spirit of God remitted them then to the civill records and to some prophesies which were then extant but are perished now because now they were not necessary for the Church but all these things which the Lord endited to them by his Spirit and which he thought to be necessary for his Church to be the Canon and rule of our faith all those the Lords watchfull eye hath kept and preserved that none of them are perished The Conclusion of this is The bookes of Emperours Conclusion and Kings are lost yet the Lord hath kept the register of the little Kings of Iuda and Israel both in whole and in parts although they were but Shepherds and banished men And the Church would rather spend her best blood then shee would part with that pretious Iewell or any part of it therefore they called those who delivered the booke of God to the persecuting Tyrants Traditores EXERCITAT XIIII That the points were not originally with the Letters from the beginning Neh. 8. 8. So they read in the Booke the Law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to vnderstand the reading of the Law WE have showne that the Scriptures are not corrupt and that no essentiall or integrall part is wanting in the holy Scriptures Now it resteth to show that the Points the accidentall ornaments were not from the beginning The Iewes who are faithfull keepers but bad interpreters of the Scriptures interpret these words Nehe. 8. 8. after this manner vaijkreu bassepher betorath They read in the booke of the Law this they expound to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the litterall sense which Ezra gave Mephorash distinctly that is adding the Points and distinctions Veshom Shecel Apponentes intellectum and gave the sense that is he added 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Targum or paraphrase to it Vajabhinu bammikra and caused them to understand the reading of the Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is he added the Kabbala But this is a false Glosse Ezra read the Law to them gave them not onely the grammaticall sense but also the spirituall and true meaning of the words he neither added points nor Targum or Kabbala to it The points were not then from the beginning as may be seene by these reasons following The first reason is taken from the Samaritan Character The Iewes acknowledge that the letters of the law Reason 5 which they have now are not the ancient Characters in which Moyses wrote the Law But to these ancient Characters there is no vowell subjoyned as we may see in the forme of the Shekell set downe by Arias Montanus Beza and Villalpand upon Ezekiel The second reason is taken from the first exemplar Reason 2 of the Iewes which they kept in their Synagogues and they have most exactly written and rouled up this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 booke which is the cheefe booke in their estimation and whereof they account more then of any other Hebrew Bible yet there is neyther Poynt nor Accent in this booke but onely Consonants This may be seene also in their ancient billes of divorce wherein are neyther Points nor Accents Therefore the Points were not from the beginning The third reason is taken from the names of the Reason 3 Points and Accents which are Chaldee names therefore they were imposed after the captivity But they who maintaine that the Poynts were from Object the beginning say that this reason holdeth not for the names of the Moneths are Chaldee names imposed after the captivity and yet the Moneths were from the beginning So the Points may be from the beginning although the Chaldee names were given to them after the captivitie As the Moneths were from the beginning and had Answ Chaldee names given unto them after the captivity so the value of the Points were from the beginning but the figures and the names of the Points were set downe a long time afterwards The fourth reason is taken from the translation of the Reason 4 Seventy for when the Seventy read the Hebrew Text wanting the Points they differed very farre from the Hebrew in many things The difference of their reading arose from this because the Hebrew Text wanted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 baculus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lâ—ctus the Poynts Example Gen. 47. 31. and Israel bowed himselfe gnal rosh hamitta upon bis beds head But the Apostle followeth the translation of the Seventy translating it He bowed upon the top of his rod Heb. 11. 21. So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Volumen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caput cranium Psal 40. 7. for Megilla the Seventy read gilgoleth in capite libri for in volumine libri because they wanted the Points and the Apostle followed this reading The fift reason is taken from Ketibh volo keri when Reason 5 the words are written one way and read another This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diversity of reading and writing arose because the letters wanted the Points from the beginning this made them to reade one way and write another way The Chaldee Arabian and Assyrian language which Reason 6 are but daughters proceeding from the Hebrew tongue have no Points therefore it is not probable that the Hebrew Text had Points from the beginning The seventh reason is taken out of the Talmud They Reason 7 write that Ioab killed his master because he taught him to read Zacar Masculus for Zecer Memoria and so made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 masculus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 memoria him to spare the females of the Amalekites whereas hee should have blotted out their memorie and killed them all Now if the points had beene from the beginning then Ioabs master could not have taught him to have read Zacar for Zecer The Points were not from the beginning then but found out afterwards by the Masorath There were three sorts of teachers amongst the Iewes The first was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who gathered the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vel traditions of the Fathers together such were the Pharisees The second were the Sopherim afterwards called the Masoreth these observed the letters and words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the reading The third sort were the Midroseth the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cabbalists who expounded the Scriptures allegorically The Scribes were from Moyses time who taught the people to reade the Law because the Law wanted the Points and Christ calleth these The
to the maine scope for then we may gather that the wicked in Hell have tongues now and the glorified have bodies now in the Heavens A third example Mark 14. 3. She brought a boxe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of liquid nard it should be translated Of upright and perfect nard for according to the phrase of the Seventy that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which excelleth in the owne kind of it and so they call the Temple of Salomon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An excellent Temple The Syriack hath it Pis from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The fourth thing that is to be considered here are they who translated the Scriptures Iunius saith that Lib. 1. contro vers cap. 5. contra Bellar. there are twelve translations of the Bible into the Greeke the first translation of the Ptolemies was Lagiana which Ptolemaeus Lagi caused to be translated The There were twelve translations of the Bible into Geeeke next translation was the translation of the Seventy which was translated in the dayes of Ptolomeus Philadelpus the third was Herodiana in the time of Ptolomie the last the fourth that of Aquila the fifth of Symmachus the sixt of Theodosion the seventh Hierichuntina found in Iericho the eight Nicapolitana found at Nicapolis the ninth Origenaria translated by Origen the tenth Luciana translated by the martyr Lucian the eleventh Hesychiana translated by Hesychius the twelfth Exhieromineana translated out of Ieromes translation into Greeke There is such a profunditie in the Scriptures that it is unpossible for any Interpreter to sownd the depth of them but as it fareth with the oyle of the widow 2 King 4. So long as the children brought vessels so long there was oyle to fill them So there is such plenty in the Scriptures when they have filled the wits and understanding of the best yet there is sufficient for these who goe about to translate anew againe to bee drawne out of them And it is no marvell why they differ so in their translations for one roote hath so many significations The cause of the difference in translations sometimes that all the Translators cannot agree in one Let us take but this one example Iob. 4. 18. Pagninus translateth it In angelis suis ponit lumen 2. In angelis suis indidit vesaniam Tigurin 3. In Angelis suis ponit lucem exactissimam vatablus 4. In angelis suis posuit gloriationem Regia 5. In angelis suis reperit vanitatem Symmachus 6. Adversus angelos suos pravum quid advertit Septuaginta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 laudare gloriari fulgere splendere insanire c. The diversity of these translations ariseth from the word Halal which signifieth Laudare gloriari fulgere splendere insanire The first translation which was in any account was Translations which were in estimation that which was in in the dayes of Ptolomeus Philadelpus The second that of Aquila who translated the Old Testament into Greeke an hundred and twenty yeares after Christ The third was that of Symmachus who lived in the time of the Emperor Severus fifty and sixe yeares after the translation of Aquila The fourth translation was that of Theodosion who lived under the Emperor Commodus as Symmachus lived under Severus and hee and Symmachus lived at one time These foure were joyned together by Origen and he called them Tetrapla And then he added the Hebrew Text and his How Origen made up his Tetrapla Hexapla Octupla owne translation and then he called them Hexapla And lastly he added that translation which was found in Iericho and at Nicapolis and then he called them Octupla or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because every Page contained eight Columnes as may be seene in this Table following Col. 1. Col. 2. Col. 3. Col. 4. Col. 5. Col. 6. Col. 7. Col. 8. heb heb lit heb grae lit Septua Aquila TheodosioÌ„ Symma Hieric Nicapol 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desiderat desiderat This was Origens last Edition but as he set them downe first he set his Tetrapla in the first place and next his Hexapla and last his Octupla as Scaliger hath set them downe Pag. 1. Aquila 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pag. 2. Symmachus Pag. 3. LXX Seniores Pag. 4. Theodosion Pag. 5. Editio Hierichuntis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pag. 6. Editio Nicap Pag. 7. Textus hebrae Hebrae lit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pag. 8. Textus hebrae Graec. lit Marke Origens farther diligence in this his worke The diligence of Origen in his edition for by sundry markes and notes he distinguished that which was extant in the Hebrew from that which was added by the Translators These things which were found in the translations and not in the Hebrew Text hee markes them Obelo thus ⸓ ὀβελίσκος These things againe which were in the Hebrew Text and not found in the translations hee marked them Asterisco with a starre this wayes Ü á¼€ÏƒÏ„ÎµÏίσκος Thirdly the divers readings confirmed by sundry Copies he marked them lemnisco this wayes ÷ λημνίσκος And lastly these things which were found but in few copies he marked them Hypolemnisco this wayes Ü‹ ὑπολημνίσκος This Edition of Origen was so generally followed afterwards that Augustine complained that in all the Libraries they could scarcely finde one Copie of the Seventy wanting these markes of Origen and The edition of Origen corrected by Lucian when sundry faults had crept into this his Edition Lucian an Elder at Antioch and afterwards a Martyr tooke all these Editions and conferred them together and hee set out a more axact and correct Edition then Origens was Of the Translation of the Seventy IT is commonly holden that Ptolomaeus Philadelpbus Ptolomaeus Philadelphus procured not this translation as some hold the sonne of Ptolomeus Lagi King of Egypt gathered a Library two hundred sixty and seven yeares before the birth of Christ in the City of Alexandria in Egypt and having gathered together divers Greeke writers he gathered also Hebrew Persian Syriack and Romane writers and caused to translate them into Greeke and put them in his Library and when he understood of Demetrius Phalaraus who had the charge of his Library that there were bookes in Ierusalem written by the Prophets amongst the Iewes which intreated of God and of the creation of the world and much hid wisedome was contained in them King Ptolomie wrote unto Ierusalem that they might send these bookes unto him and when they had read his Letters they sent these bookes written in Golden letters which Hebrew bookes when they were delivered unto the King he understood them not therefore he wrote to Eleazar the Highpriest the second time that he would send men unto him who would translate these Hebrew bookes into Greeke And Eleazar sent Seventy two sixe