Of the Divine Originall AUTHORITY self-evidencing LIGHT and POVVER of the SCRIPTVRES With an Answer to that Enquiry How we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God Also A Vindication of the Purity and Integrity of the HEBREW and GREEK Texts of the Old and New Testament in some Considerations on the PROLEGOMENA Appendix to the late BIBLIA POLYGLOTTA Whereunto are subjoyned some Exercitations about the Nature and Perfection of the Scripture the Right of Interpretation internall Light Revelation c. By IOHN OWEN D. D. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 5. 39. OXFORD Printed by HENRY HALL Printer to the University for THO ROBINSON 1659. To my Reverend and Worthy Friends the PREBENDS of Ch Church Colledge in Oxford with all the STVDENT'S in Divinity in that Society THE reason of my inscribing the ensuing pleas for the Authority purity and perfection of the Scripture against the pretences of some to the contrary in these dayes unto you is because some of you value and study the Scripture as much as any I know and it is the earnest desire of my heart that all of you would so do Now whereas two things offer themselves unto me to discourse with you by the way of Preface namely the commendation of the Scripture and an exhortation to the study of it on the one hand and a discovery of the reproach that is cast upon it with the various wayes and meanes that are used by some for the lessening and depressing of its Authority and excellency on the other the former being to good purpose by one or other almost every day performed I shall insist at present on the latter only which also is more suited to discover my aime and intention in the ensuing discourses Now herein as I shall it may be seeme to exceed that proportion which is due unto a Preface to such short discourses as these following yet I know I shall be more briefe then the nature of so great a matter as that proposed to consideration doth require And therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall fall upon the subject that now lyes before me Many there have beene and are who through the craft of Sathan and the prejudice of their owne hearts lying under the power of corrupt and carnall Interest have ingaged themselves to decry and disparage that excellency of the Scripture which is proper and peculiar unto it The severall sorts of them are too many particularly to be considered I shall only passe through them in generall and fix upon such instances by the way as may give evidence to the things insisted on Those who in this business are first to be called to an account whose filth and abominations given out in gross◠others have but parcelled among themselves are they of the Synagogue of Rome These pretend themselves to be the only keepers and preservers of the Word of God in the world the only ground and pillar of truth Let us then a little consider in the first place how it hath discharged this trust for it is but equall that men should be called to an account upon their owne principles and those who supposing themselves to have a trust reposed in them do manifest a trecherous mind would not be one whit better if they had so indeed What then have these men done in the discharge of their pretended trust nay what hath that Synagogue left unattempted yea what hath it left unfinished that may be needfull to convince it of perfidiousnesse that saies the Scripture was committed to it alone and would if it were able deprive all others of the possession of it or their lives what Scripture then was this or when was this deed of trust made unto them The oracles of God they tell us committed to the Jewes under the Old Testament and all the writings of the New and that this was done from the first foundation of the Church by Peter and so on to the finishing of the whole Canon What now have they not done in adding detracting corrupting forging aspersing those Scriptures to falsifie their pretended trust They adde more bookes to them never indited by the Holy Ghost as remote from being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so denying the selfe evidencing power of that word which is truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by mixing it with things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of an humane rise and spring manifesting themselves to have lost the spirit of discerning promised with the Word to abide with the true Church of God for ever Isa 59. 21. They have taken from its fulnesse and perfection its sufficiency and excellency by their Massora their orall law or verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their unknowne endlesse bottomlesse boundlesse treasure of traditions that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all their abominations The Scripture its selfe as they say committed to them they plead to their eternall shame to be in the Originall Languages corrupted vitiated interpolated so that it is no stable rule to guide us throughout in the knowledge of the will of God The Jewes they say did it whilst they were busie in burning of Christians Therefore in the roome of the Originals they have enthroned a translation that was never committed to them that came into the world they know neither how nor when nor by whom So that one saies of its author Si quis percontetur Gallus fuerit an Sarmata Judaeus an Christianus vir an mulier nihil habituri sint ejus patroni quod expeditè respondeant All this to place themselves in the throne of God and to make the words of a Translation authentick from their stamp upon them and not from their relation unto and agreement with the words spoken by God himselfe And yet farther as if all this were not enough to manifest what Trustees they have been they have cast off all subjection to the authority of God in his word unlesse it be resolved into their own denying that any man in the world can know it to be the word of God unlesse they tell him so it is but inke and paper skin of parchment a dead letter a nose of wax a Lesbian Rule of no authority unto us at all O faithfull Trustees holy mother Church infallible chaire can wickednesse yet make any farther progresse was it ever heard of from the foundation of the world that men should take so much paines as these men have done to prove themselves faithlesse and treacherous in a trust committed to them Is not this the summe and substance of volumes that have even filled the world the Word of God was committed to us alone and no others under our keeping it is corrupted depraved vitiated the copies delivered unto us we have rejected and taken up one of our owne choice nor let any complaine of us it was in our power to do worse This sacred depositum had no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby it might be knowne to be the Word of God but it is upon our credit
Doctrine after a sufficient discovery of the insufficiency of all other meanes for that End and purpose And hence the malice of Satan hath raged no lesse against the Book then the Truth contained in it The dealings of Antiochus under the old Testament and of sundry persecuting Emperours under the new evince no lesse And it was no lesse crime of old to be Traditor libri than to be Abnegator fidei The reproach of Chartacea scripta and membranae Coster Enchirid Cap. 1. reflects on it's Authour It is true we have not the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Moses and the Prophets of the Apostles and Evangelists but the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we have or copies containe every iota that was in them Sect. 14. It is no doubt but that in the Copies we now enjoy of the old Testament there are some diverse readings or various lections The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are are of another nature the various lections of Ben-Asher or Rabbi Aaron the Son of Rabbi Moses of the tribe of Asher Ben Nepthali or R Moses the Son of David of the Tribe of Nepthali of the East and Westerne Jewes which we have collected at the End of the great Bible with the Masora evince it But yet we affirme that the whole Word of God in every Letter and Title as given from him by Inspiration is preserved without Corruption Where there is any variety it is alwayes in things of lesse indeed of no importance God by his Providence preserving the whole entire suffered this lesser variety to fall out in or among the copies we have for the quickning and exercising of our diligence in our search into his Word Sect. 15. It was an unhappy Attempt which must afterwards be spoken unto that a learned man hath of late put himselfe upon namely to prove variations in all the present 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the old Testament in the Hebrew Tongue from the Copies used of old merely upon uncertaine conjectures and the credit of corrupt Translations Whether that Plea of his be more unreasonable in it's selfe devoid of any reall ground of Truth or injurious to the Love and care of God over his Word and Church I know not sure I am it is both in an high degree The Translation especially insisted on by him is that of the LXX That this Translation either from the mistakes of it's first Authours if it be theirs whose name and number it beares or the carelessenesse or ignorance or worse of it's Transcribers is corrupted and gone off from the originall in a 1000 places twice told is acknowledged by all who know ought of these things Strange that so corrupt a streame should be judged a fit meanes to cleanse the fountaine That such a Lesbian Rule should be thought a fit measure to correct the originall by and yet on the account hereof with some others not one whit better or scarce so Good we have 1826 various lections exhibited unto us with frequent insinuations of an infinite number more yet to be collected It were desirable that men would be content to shew their learning Reading and diligence about things where there is lesse danger in Adventures Nor is the reliefe He provides against the charge of bringing things to an uncertainty in the Scripture which he found himselfe obnoxious unto lesse pernitious than the opinion he seeks to palliate thereby although it be since taken up and approved by others The Saving Doctrine of the Scripture He tells us as to the matter and substance of it in all things of moment it is preserved in the Copies of the originall and Translations that doe remaine Sect. 17. It is indeed a great Reliefe against the inconvenience of corrupt Translations to consider that although some of them be bad enough yet if all the Errours and mistakes that are to be found in all the rest should be added to the worst of all yet every necessary saving fundamentall truth would be found sufficiently testified unto therein But to depresse the sacred Truth of the originalls into such a condition as wherein it should stand in need of this Apologie and that without any colour or pretence from discrepancies in the Copies themselves that are extant or any tollerable evidence that there ever were any other in the least differing from these extant in the world will at length be found a work unbecoming a Christian Protestant Divine Besides the injury done hereby to the Providence of God towards his Church and care of his Word It will not be found so easy a matter upon a supposition of such corruption in the Originalls as is pleaded for to evince unquestionably that the whole saving doctrine its selfe at first given out from God continues entire and incorrupt The nature of this doctrine is such that there is no other Principle or meanes of it's discovery no other Rule or measure of judging and determining any thing about or concerning it but only the writing from whence it is taken it being wholly of divine Reevlation and that Revelation being expressed only in that writing Upon any corruption then supposed therein there is no meanes of rectifying it It were an easy thing to correct a mistake or corruption in the transcription of any Probleme or Demonstration of Euclide or any other antient Mathematician from the consideration of the things themselves about which they treate being alwaies the same and in their owne nature equally exposed to the knowledge and understanding of men in all Ages In things of pure Revelation whose knowledge depends solely on their Revelation it is not so Nor is it enough to satisfy us that the doctrines mentioned are preserved entire every Tittle and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Word of God must come under our care and consideration as being as such from God But of these things we shall Treat afterwards at large returne we now to the Apostle Sect. 17. This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this written Prophesy this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not of any private Interpretation Some thinke that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which according to Hesychius denotes Afflation inspiration conception within so Calvin In this sense the importance of the words is the same with what I have already mentioned namely that the Prophets had not their private conceptions or selfe fancyed Enthusiasmes of the things they spake To this Interpretation assents Grotius And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is reckoned amongst the various Lections that are gathered out of him in the Appendix to the Biblia polyglotta Thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the other side of that usuall expression 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Camero contends for the retaining of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
preheminence that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2. 3. it received it's beginning of being spoken by the Lord himselfe God spake in these last dayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Son Heb. 1. 1. Sect. 24. Thus God who himselfe began the writing of the Word with his own finger Exod. 31. 11 after he had spoken it Exod. 20 appointing or approving the writing of the rest that followed Deut. 31. 12. Josh 23. 6. 1 King 2 3. 2 King 14. 6. 2 King 17. 13. 1 Chron. 21. 15. 2 Chron. 25. 4 4. Ezek. 2. 9 10. Hab. 2. 2. Luk. 16. 29. Joh. 5. 39. Joh. 20. 31. Act. 17. 11 doth lastly command the close of the immediate Revelation of his Will to be written in a Book Re. 1. 11 and so gives out the whole of his Mind and counsell unto us in writing as a mercifull and stedfast reliefe against all that confusion darknesse and uncertainty which the vanity folly and loosnesse of the minds of men drawne out and heightned by the unspeakable alterations that fall out amongst them would otherwise have certainly run into Sect. 25. Thus we have laid down the Originall of the Scriptures from the Scripture it 's selfe and this Originall is the basis and foundation of all it's Authority Thus is it from God entirely from him As to the Doctrine contained in it and the Words wherein that Doctrine is delivered it is wholly his what that speakes He speakes himselfe He speakes in it and by it and so it is vested with all the morall Authority of God over his Creatures CHAP. II. The maine Question proposed to consideration How we may know assuredly the Scripture to be the word of God The Scripture to be received by divine faith The Ground and foundation of that faith enquired after The Answer in the Generall Thesis of this discourse The Authority of God that foundation The way whereby that Authority is evidenced or made knowne What is meant by the Authority of the Scriptures Authority is in respect of others First generall Evidence given to the Thesis laid downe The various wayes of Gods Revealing him selfe and his mind 1 By his works 2. By the light of nature 3. By his word Each of these evince themselves to be from him His word especially Sect. 1. HAving laid in the foregoing Chapter the foundation that we are to build and proceed upon I come now to lay downe the Enquiry whose Resolution must thence be educed That then which we are seeking after is How We and the rest of men in the world who through the mercifull dispensation of God have the Book or Books wherein the Scripture given out from him as above declared is contained or said to be contained who live so many Ages from the last Person who received any part of it immediately from God or who have not received it immediately our selves may come to be assertained as to all ends and purposes wherein we may be concerned therein that the whole and entire written word in that Book or those Books hath the original consequently the Authority that it pleads and avowes namely that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from God in the way and manner laid down and not the Invention of men attending 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 26 or to cuningly devised fables Sect. 2. Now seeing it is expected from us and required of us by God himselfe and that on the penalty of his eternall Displeasure if we faile in our duty 2 Thes 1. 8 9 10. that we receive the Scripture not as we doe other Books in relation to their Author with a firme Opinion built on prevailing probable Arguments prevalent against any actuall conclusions to the contrary but with divine and supernaturall faith omitting all such inductions as serve only to ingenerate a perswasion not to be cast out of the mind by contrary reasonings or objections it is especially inquired what is the foundatiō formall Reason of our doing so if we so do Whatever that be it returns an answer to this important Question why or on what Account do you believe the Scriptures or Books of the old and new Testament to be the word of God Now the formall Reason of things being but one what ever consideration may be had of other inducements or Arguments to beget in us a Perswasion that the Scripture is the Word of God yet they have no influence into that divine faith wherewith we are bound to believe them They may indeed be of some use to repell the objections that are or may by any be raised against the Truth we believe and so indirectly cherish and further faith its selfe but as to a Concurrence unto the foundation or formall Reason of our believing it is not capable of it Sect. 3. Having then laid downe the Divine Originall of the Scriptures and opened the manner of the Word 's coming forth from God an Answer shall now on that sole foundation be returned to the Enquiry laid down And this I shall do in the ensuing Position The Authority of God the supreame Lord of all the first and only absolute Truth whose Word is Truth speaking in and by the Penmen of the Scriptures evidenced singly in and by the Scripture its selfe is the sole bottome and foundation or formall Reason of our assenting to those Scriptures as his word and of our submitting our hearts and Consciences unto them with that faith and obedience which morally respects him and is due to him alone Sect. 4 God speaking in the Penmen of the Scripture Heb. 1. 1 his Voyce to them was accompanied with its own Evidence which gave Assurance unto them And God speaking by them or their Writings unto us his Word is accompanied with its own Evidence and gives Assurance unto us His Authority and Veracity did and do in the one and the other sufficiently manifest themselves that men may quietly repose their Soules upon them in believing and obedience Thus are we built 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 2. 20. on the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles in our believing Sect. 5. That then which to the establishment of the Soules of Believers I shall labour to prove and evince is plainly this namely that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament do abundantly and uncontroleably manifest themselves to be the Word of the living God so that merely on the account of their own proposall of themselves unto us in the Name and Majesty of God as such without the contribution of help or Assistance from Tradition Church or any thing else without themselves we are obliged upon the penalty of eternall damnation as are all to whom by any meanes they come or are brought to receive them with that subjection of soule which is due to the Word of God The Authority of God shining in them they afford unto us all the divine Evidence of themselves which God is willing to grant unto us
both opinions and Principles confirmed by suitable Practises that are of the nature and importance before mentioned 1 After a long dispute to that purpose it is determined that the Hebrew Points or Vowels and Accents are a novell Invention of some Judaicall Rabbins about 5 or 600 yeares after the giving out of the Gospell Hence 1. An Antiquity is ascribed to some Translations 2 or 3 at the least above and before the invention of these points whose agreement with the Originall cannot therefore by just consequence be tryed by the Present Text as now pointed and accented 2. The whole credit of our Reading and Interpretation of the Scripture as far as regulated by the present punctation depends solely on the faithfulnesse and skill of those Jewes whose invention this worke is asserted to be 2 The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which sort are above 800 in the Hebrew Bibles are various Lections partly gathered by some Judaicall Rabbins out of ancient copies partly their criticall amendments And therefore After these various lections as they are esteemed are presented unto us in their own proper order wherein they stand in the great Bibles not surely to increase the Bulke of divers Readings or to present a face of new variety to a lesse attentive Observer but to evidence that they are such various lections as above described they are given us over a second time in the method whereinto they are cast by Capellus the great patriarch of these mysteries 3. That there are such Alterations befallen the Originall as in many places may be rectified by the Translations that have been made of old And therefore Various Lections may be observed and gathered out of those Translations by considering how they read in their copies and wherein they differed from those which we now enjoy 4. It is also declared that where any grosse faults or corruptions are befallen the originalls men may by their faculty of criticall conjecturing amend them and restore the native Lections that were lost though in generall without the Authority of Copies this be not to be allowed And therefore A collection of various Readings out of Grotius consisting for the most part in such conjectures is in the Appendix presented unto us 5. The voluminous Bulke of various Lections as nakedly exhibited seemes sufficient to be get scruples and doubts in the minds of men about the Truth of what hath been hitherto by many pretended concerning the Preservation of the Scripture through the care and providence of God Sect. 8. It is known to all men acquainted with things of this nature that in all these there is no new opinion coyned or maintained by the learned prefacer to these Bibles The severalls mentioned have been asserted and maintained by sundry learned men Had the opinion about them been kept in the ordinary Sphere of mens private conceptions in their own private writings running the hazard of mens Judgments on their own strength and Reputation I should not from my former discourse have esteemed my selfe concerned in them Every one of us must give an account of himselfe unto God It will be well for us if we are found holding the foundation If we build hay and stubble upon it though our work perish we shall be saved Let every man in these things be fully perswaded in his own mind it shall be to me no offence It is their being laid as the foundation of the usefulnesse of these biblia polyglotta with an endeavour to render them catholick not in their own strength but in their Appendage to the Authority that on Good grounds is expected to this work that calls for a due consideration of them All men who will find them stated in these prolegomena may not perhaps have had leasure may not perhaps have the Ability to know what issue the most of these things have been already driven unto in the writings of private men Sect. 9. As I willingly grant then that some of these things may without any great prejudice to the Truth be candidly debated amongst learned men so taking them altogether placed in the advantages they now enjoy I cannot but look upon them as an engine suited to the destruction of the important truth before pleaded for and as a fit weapon put into the hands of men of Atheisticall minds and Principles such as this Age abounds withall to oppose the whole evidence of Truth revealed in the Scripture I feare with some either the pretended infallible Judge or the depth of Atheisme will be found to lye at the door of these considerations Hoc Ithacus vellet But the debate of the Advantage of either Romanists or Atheists from hence belongs to another place and season Nor is the guilt of any consequences of this nature charged on the workmen which yet may be fear'd from the worke its selfe CHAP. II. 1 Of the Purity of the Originals 2 The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Scripture lost 3 That of Moses how and how long preserved Of the book found by Hilkiah 4 Of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the New Testament 5 Of the first copies of the originalls the Scribes of those copies not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What is ascribed to them 9 The great and incomparable care of the scribes of it 7 The whole VVord of God in every Tittle of it preserved entire in the copies of the Originall extant 8 Heads of Arguments to that purpose 9 What various lections are granted in the Originall of the old and new Testament Sundry considerations concerning them manifesting them to be of no importance 10. 11. 12. 13. That the Jews have not corrupted the Text the most probable instances considered Sect. 1. HAving given an account of the Occasion of this discourse and mentioned the particulars that are all or some of them to be taken into further consideration before I proceed to their discussion I shall by way of Addition and Explanation to what hath been delivered in the former Treatise give a briefe account of my Apprehensions concerning the purity of the present Originall copies of the Scripture or rather copies of the Originall languages which the Church of God doth now and hath for many Ages enjoyed as her cheifest Treasure whereby it may more fully appeare what it is we plead for and defend against the insinuations and pretences above mentioned Sect. 2. First then it is granted that the individuall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Moses the Prophets and the Apostles are in all probability and as to all that we know utterly perished and lost out of the world As also the copies of Ezra The Reports mentioned by some to the contrary are open fictions The individuall Inke and Parchment the Rolls or books that they wrote could not without a miracle have been preserved from mouldring into dust before this time Nor doth it seeme improbable that God was willing by their losse to reduce us to a nearer consideration of his care
cap. 10 one of them is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if but one letter be wanting and an other if but one letter be redundant Of which more shall be spoken if occasion be offered Even among the Heathen we will scarse thinke that the Roman Pontifices going solemnly to transcribe the Sybils verses would doe it either negligently or treacherously or alter one Tittle from what they found written and shall we entertaine such thoughts of them who knew they had to doe with the living God and that in and about that which is dearer to him than all the world besides Let men then clamour as they please and cry out of all men as ignorant and stupid which will not grant the corruptions of the old Testament which they plead for which is the way of Morinus or let them propose their owne conjectures of the wayes of the entrance of the mistakes that they pretend are crept into the originall copies with their Remedies which is the way of Capellus we shall acknowledge nothing of this nature but what they can prove by undeniable and irrefragable instances which as to any thing as yet done by them or those that follow in their footsteps appeares upon the matter to be nothing at all To this purpose take our sense in the word of a very learned man Ut in iis libris qui sine vocalibus conscripti sunt certum constantémque exemplarium omnium tum excusarum scriptionem similémque omnino comperimus sic in omnibus etiam iis quibus puncta sunt addita non aliam cuipiam nec Discrepantem aliis punctationem observavimus nec quisquam est qui ullo in loco diversa lectionis Hebraicae exemplaria ab iis quae circumferuntur vidisse se asserat modo Grammaticam rationem observatam dicat Et quidem Dei consilio ac voluntate factum putamus ut cum magna Graecorum Latinorúmque ferè omnium ejusdem auctoris exemplarium ac praesertim manuscriptorū pluribus in locis varietas deprehendatur magna tamen in omnibus Hebraicis quaecunq nostro saeculo inveninutur Bib iis scriptionis aequalitas similitudo atque constantia servetur quocunque modo scripta illa sint sive solis consonantibus constent sive punctis etiam instructa visantur Arias Montan. Praefat. ad Bibia Interlin de varia Hebraicorum librorum scriptione lectione It can then with no coulour of probability be asserted which yet I find some learned men too free in granting namely that there hath the same Fate attended the Scripture in its transcription as hath done other Bookes Let me say without offence this imagination asserted on deliberation seemes to me to border on Atheisme Surely the Promise of God for the Preservation of his Word with his Love and Care of his Church of whose faith and obedience that word of his is the only Rule require other thoughts at our hands Sect. 7. 3ly We adde that the whole scripture entire as given out from God without any losse is preserved in the Copies of the Originalls yet remaining What varieties there are among the Copies themselves shall be afterwards declared in them all we say is every letter and Title of the Word These Copies we say are the Rule standard and touch-stone of all Translations antient or moderne by which they are in all things to be examined tryed corrected amended and themselves only by themselves Translations containe the Word of God and are the Word of God perfectly or imperfectly according as they expresse the words sense and meaning of those originalls To advance any all Translations concurring into an Equality with the Originalls so to set them by it as to set them up with it on even termes much more to propose and use them as meanes of castigating amending altering any thing in them gathering various lections by them is to set up an Altar of our owne by the Altar of God and to make equall the Wisdome care skill and diligence of men with the wisdome care and Providence of God himselfe It is a foolish conjecture of Morinus from some words of Epiphanius that Origen in his Octopla placed the Translation of the 70 in the middest to be the Rule of all the Rest even of the Hebrew its selfe that was to be regulated and amended by it media igitur omnium catholica editio collocata erat ut ad eam Hebraea caeter aeque editiones exigerentur emendarentur Excercit lib. 1. cap. 3. pag. 15. The Truth is he placed the Hebrew in Hebrew Characters in the first place as the Rule and standard of all the rest the same in Greeke Characters in the next place then that of Aquila then that of Symmachus after which in the fifth place followed that of the 70 mixed with that of Theodotion Sect. 8. The various Arguments giving Evidence to this Truth that might be produced are too many for me now to insist upon and would take up more roome then is allotted to the whole discourse should I handle them at large and according to the merit of this cause 1. The Providence of God in taking care of his Word which he hath magnified above all his name as the most Glorious Product of his Wisdome and Goodnesse his great concernement in this world answering his promise to this purpose 2ly The Religious care of the Church I speake not of the Romish Synagogue to whom these Oracles of God were committed 3ly The care of the first Writers in giving out Authentique Copies of what they had received from God unto many which might be Rules to the first transcribers 4ly The multiplying copies to such a number that it was impossible any should corrupt them all willfully or by negligence 5ly The preservation of the Authentique copies first in the Jewish Synagogues then in Christian Assemblies with Reverence and diligence 6ly The dayly Reading and studying of the Word by all sorts of Persons ever since it 's first writing rendring every Alteration lyable to immediate observation and discovery and that all over the world with 7ly The consideration of the many millions that looked on every Tittle and letter in this Booke as their inheritance which for the whole world they would not be deprived of And in particular for the old Testament now most Questioned 8ly The care of Ezra and his companions the men of the great Synagoue in restoring the Scripture to its purity when it had met with the greatest tryall that it ever underwent in this World considering the paucity of the Copies then extant 9ly The care of the Massorites from his dayes and downward to keep perfect and give an account of every syllable in the Scripture of which see Buxtorfius Com Mas with 10 The constant consent of all copies in the world so that as sundry learned men have observed there is not in the whole Mishna Gemara or either Talmud any one place of Scripture found otherwise read then as it is now in our copies 11.
coram eo Contrarium dicitur in praecedentibus DEUS scilicet venit ad Abraham dixit ad eum Num ego celo ab Abrahamo c. Clamor Sodomae Gomorrhae magnus est c. Ideoque Moses scribere debuit Et Dominus adhuc stabat coram Abrahamo At ita serviliter de DEO loqui non decuit Mosen unde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 correxit mutavit stylum sermonis honoris majoris causâ dixit Et Abraham adhuc stabat c. Hinc R Salamo adjicit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scribendum ipsi Mosi erat Sen scribere debebat Et Dominus stabat non quòd aliter sic scripserit anteâ postea id ab aliis Scribis correctum sit aut corruptum Hinc R. Aben Ezra ad aliquot loca irridet nasutos inquiens nullo Tikkun opus fuisse id est nihil esse quod nasuti isti sapientes put ârint autorem debuisse aliter ibi loqui vel scribere Vide eum Job 32. 3. Habes Mysterium prolixè explicatum in quo multi Hebraeorum impegerunt Thus farre Buxtorfius Sect. 12. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are insisted on by the same Galatinus but these are only about the use of the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foure or five times which seeme to be of the same rise with them foregoing 13. Sect. But that which makes the greatest cry at present is the corruption of Psal 22. 17 where insteed of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the 70 translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they digged or pierced that is my hands and feet the present Judaicall copies as the Antwerpe Bibles also read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a Lion so depraving the Prophesy of our Saviour's suffering they digged or peirced my hands my feet leaving it no sense at all as a Lion my hands and my feet Simyon de Mues upon the place pleads the substitution of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be a late corruption of the Jewes at least that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the Keri and was left out by them Johannes Isaak lib. 2. ad Lindan professes that when he was a Jew he saw 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a book of his Grandfathers Buxtorfe affirmes one to have been the Cethib the other the Keri and proves it from the Massora and blames the Antwerpe Bibles for printing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the line With him agree Genebrard Pagnin Vatablus Mercer Rivet c. Others contend that Cari as a Lion ought to be retained repeating 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they compassed me about affirming also that word to signifie to teare rent strike so that the sense should be they tare my hands and feet as a Lion So Voetius de insolubil Scripturae but that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot be here rendred sicut leo most evince partly from the anomalous position of the praefix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with Camets but chiefly from the Massora affirming that that word is taken in another sense then it is used Esa 38. 13 where it expresly signifies as a lion the shorter determination is that from the radix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Epenthesis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the change which is used often of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in the same manner it is Ezra 10 and the last in the third person plurall the preterperfect tense of Kal is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perfoderunt they digged or peirced through my hands and my feet but to what purpose is this gleaning after the vintage of Mr Pococke to this purpose in his excellent Miscelanies Sect. 14. The place of old instanced in by Justine Martyr Ps 96. v. 10. Where he charges the Jewes to have taken out those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the wood making the sense the Lord raigned from the wood or the Tree so pointing out the death of Christ on the Crosse is exploded by all For besides that he speakes of the 70 not of the Hebrew Text it is evident that those words were foisted into some few copies of that Translation never being generally received as is manifested by Fuller Miscellan l. 3. Cap. 13. And it is a pretty story that Arias Montanus tells us of a learned man I suppose he meanes Lindanus pretending that those words were found in an Hebrew Copy of the Psalmes of Venerable Antiquity beyoud all exception here in England which Copy coming afterwards to his hand he found to be a spurious corrupt novel Transcript wherein yet the pretended words were not to be found Arias Mont. Apparat. de variis lec Heb. Mass and I no way doubt but that we want opportunity to search and sift some of the copies that men set up against the common reading in sundry places of the new Testament we should find them not one whit better or of more worth than he found that copy of the Psalmes CHAP. III. Of various lections in the Greeke Copies of the new Testament Sect. 1. FOR Various Lections in the Greeke Copies of the new Testament we know with what diligence and industry they have been collected by some and what improvement hath been made of those Collections by others Protestants for the most part have been the chiefest collectors of them Stephanus Camerarius Beza Camero Grotius Drusius Hensius D'Dieu Capellus all folrowing Erasmus have had the prime hand in that worke Papists have plowed with their Heifer to disparage the originall and to cry up the vulgar Latine A specimen of their endeavours we have in the late virulent Exercitations of Morinus At first very few were observed What an heape or Bulke they are now swelled unto we see in this Appendix The collection of them makes up a Booke bigger than the new Testament it selfe Of those that went before most gave us only what they found in some particular Copies that themselves were possessors of some those only which they judged of importance or that might make some pretence to be considered whether they were proper or no Here we have all that by any meanes could be brought to hand and that whether they are tollerably attested for various lections or no for as to any contribution unto the better understanding of the Scripture from them it cannot be pretended And whether this worke may yet grow I know not Sect. 2. That there are in some Copies of the new Testament and those some of them of some Good Antiquity diverse Readings in things or words of lesse importance is acknowledged the proofe of it lyes within the reach of most in the Copies that we have and I shall not solicit the reputation of those who have afforded us others out of their own private furniture That they have been all needlesly heaped up together if not to an eminent scandall is no lesse evident Let us then take a little view of their
hand for their reliefe It is of the Text without such suppositions that this insinuation is made now to cast scruples into the minds of men about the integrity and sincerity of that without sufficient ground or warrant is surely not allowable It is not good to deale so with men or their writings much lesse with the Word of God Should any man write that in case of such a mans theft or murder who is a man of unspotted reputation it were good to take such or such a course with him and publish it to the world would their stirring of such rumours be looked on as an honest Christian and candid course of proceeding And is it safe to deale so with the Scripture I speake of Protestants for Papists who are growne bold in the opposition to the Originalls of the Scripture I must needs say that I look upon them as effectually manageing a designe of Sathan to draw men into Atheisme Nor in particular doe I account of Morinus his Exercitations one whit better It is readily acknowledged that there are many difficult places in the Scripture especially in the Historicall Bookes of the old Testament Some of them have by some been lookt at as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The industry of learned men of old and of late Jewes and Christians have been well excercised in the Interpretation and reconciliation of them by one or other a faire probable account is given of them all Where we cannot reach the utmost depth of truth it hath been thought meet that poore wormes should captivate their understandings to the truth and Authority of God in his word If there be this liberty once given that they may be looked on as corruptions and amended at the pleasure of men how we shall be able to stay before we come to the bottome of questioning the whole Scripture I know not That then which yet we insist upon is that according to all Rules of equall procedure men are to prove such Corruptions before they entertaine us with their provision of meanes for remedy Sect. 18. For the Specimen of various lections gathered out of Grotius his Annotations I shall not much concerne my selfe therein they are nothing lesse then various lections of that learned mans own observations set aside 1. The various lections of the 70 and vulgar latine of Symmachus Aquila and Theodotion wherein we are not concerned 2ly The Keri and Cethib which we have often times over and over in this Volume 3ly The various readings of the Orientall and Occidentall Jewes which we have also elsewhere 4ly Conjectures how the 70 or vulgar latin read by altering letters only 5ly Conjectures of his own how the Text may be mended and a very little roome will take up what remaines By that cursory view I have taken of them I see not one word that can pretend to be a various lection unlesse it belong to the Keri and Cethib or the difference between the Orientall and the Occidentall Jews so that as I sayd before as to my present designe I am not at all concerned in that collection those that are may further consider it Sect. 19. As short an account will seeme for the generall consideration of the whole bulkie collection of various lections that we have here presented unto us for those of the severall Translations we are not at all concerned in them where any or all of them faile or are corrupted we have a Rule blessed be God preserved to rectify them by For those of the Originalls I have spoken to them in particular I shall only adde that we have some of them both from the old and new Testament given us thrice over at least many of the Keri and Cethib after a double service done by them are given us againe the third time by Grotius so also are those of the new Testament by the same Grotius and Lucas Brugensis FINIS Errata Pag. lin 11 9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lege 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 20 13 for to read too 24 8 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 30 22 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 37 7 after 8 adde 20 38 19 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 41 ult for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 44 11 for Rationaâ—ll r. rationall ib. l. 14. r. Eternall 45 16 dele Au. 54 20 for as r. us 72 6 for pertaker r. partaker 84. 11 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 39 1 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 116 pen for de r. he 117 8 for no. r. on 135 3. undrtaking r. undertaking 186 2 for Posittion r. Position l. ult for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 209 2 foâ— Zimenius r. Ximenius 213 8 for tho r. the 219 13 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. a. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 221 4. f. is yet r. is not yet 226 18 on wards r. onwards 263 15 f. to r. too 256 10 f. or r. as 257 9 f. his r. is 271 12 f. miskna r. mishna  21 f. punctat r. puritat 272 2. speakes r. speake  11 word r. words 275 15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 288 24 things r. Kings 294 11 noted r. naked 296 23 tye us r. arise 299 23 nor r. or  24 superis r. capuis 308 22 worth r. worke 313 11 the volume r. that volume 316 7 that was r. it was Dr. OWEN Of the Divine Orig. of the Scriptures Erasmuâ— 1. Praef. in 5. lib. Mos 2. In August de Civit Dei lib. 15. cap. 13. 3 Defens Conc. Trid lib. 4. 4 Proleg Biblica 5 Praef. in Bibl in Lat passim 6 Praef. in Comment in Josh 7 Loc. Com. lib. 1. cap. 13. 8 De opt Gen. Interpr lib. 1. 9. Lib. 2. de verb. Dei 10 Tom. 1. D. 5 Q. 3. 11 De Translat Stae cum Comment in Jsa 12 Epito Controv Contr. 1. C. 8. 13. Dispunctio Calum Casaub Pined lib. 5. de Reb. Solom C. 4. S. 1. Morin Exercit de Sincerit Exerc. 1. c. 2. cap. 10. lib. Edm. Castel Praef. ad Animad Samar in Bib. Poly. Mich. le Jay Praefat ad opus Bibl Simeon de Muys Defens â—â—nc Text. Heb. * M. G. F. Mr. I. G. Dr. Henry Wilkinson publick Reader of Divinity in the University * Haebraea volumina nec in una dictione corrupta invenies Sant Pag. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 5. 18. a Reading in the margin and writing in the line b Correctio scribarum or the amendment of some small apicuâ—i in 18 places c Ablatio scribarum or a note of the â—edundancy of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 5 places Vid Raymond pugio fid Petruâ— Galat lib â— cap 8 Haebraei V. T. Codices per universum terrarum orbem per Europam Afiam A fricam ubique sibi sunt similes eodémque modo ab omnibus