Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	church_n	scripture_n	write_v	5,125	5	5.8373	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A42787	A sermon against corrupting the word of God preached at Christ Church in Manchester upon a publick occasion on the 11th day of July, 1696 / by Thomas Gipps.	Gipps, Thomas, d. 1709.	1697 (1697)	Wing G781; ESTC R26767	15,690	33

open their eyes in a very few words For not to take Notice of that absurd saying Original Copies which he would or should have said Copies of the Original what are we to think of the Greek That certainly is to be accounted One of the Originals if there be more than One as himself seems to intimate And there I read just as I read in the Liturgy Translation and as I read in St. Paul Again I might say with the learned Vossius that the Greek Copy for ought I know is of as good Authority as the Hebrew at this day is and for my Reasons I send you to his History of the 70 Translation Only take this along with you that as has been already noted St. Paul which also the other holy Writers of the New Testament generally do in other places follows the Greek and not the Hebrew Copy in citing this 14th Psalm which is no contemptible Argument for the Authority of the 70. Translation Briefly we have this further Advantage on our side that 't is more Probable the three controverted Verses might be left out of the Hebrew Copies by the carelesness of the Transcribers than thrust into the Greek by the Translators 'T is easier supposing 'em both honest and sincere for Transcribers to omit than Translators to add so much together of their own head 5. 'T is not adding to nor diminishing from nor corrupting the Word when we Translate it into Vulgar Tongues All Christians have done so Yea the Romanists ' emselves in former Ages did so tho' of late they have been contrary minded for fear forsooth of mistaking the Word or corrupting it O Fools and slow of heart One of the Ancients has affirm'd that the version of the Scriptures into many Languages is the best way to preserve 'em uncorrupt Besides why do they suffer the Word to be Transcribed or Printed at all or in any Language Doubtless the Word of God may be corrupted by Transcribing or Printing it as well as by Translating it Transcribing we know was Printing now a days is the Work often of ignorant mechanical Men who are more liable to mistakes but Translating is the business of the Learned Ay but St. Jerom confest himself subject to mistakes in Translating the Scripture Very good and yet he Translated it for the use of the Latine Christians and his Translation is for the most part read unto this day Why then may not a Learned Priest or Bishop now a days render it into the Italian as well as Jerom formerly did into the Latine and Dalmatick As St. Chrysostom into the Armenian As Ulphilas into the Gothick Or as the Ancients did every one into his own Tongue For it was anciently done into many different Tongues says Hesychius of Jerusalem Into 72. says Anastasius of Antioch Into innumerable Tongues says St. Chrysostom Into the Languages of all Nations of the Earth that had receiv'd the Faith says Theodoret Yea into every Tongue under the Sun says Eusebius In short even at this day we have a Noble Monument of the Judgment and Practice of Antiquity I mean the Polyglot Bibles So that the Catholick Church in the Primitive Times might have said as the Jews did 2d Acts That they heard and read every one in his own Tongue the wonderful Works and WORDS of God But setting aside this that it should be lawful and safe to have the Scripture Translated into Latin only is to me a strange Paradox For what Priviledge has God bestow'd on the Latin more than on other Tongues All certainly one as well as the other are capable of Mistakes and Corruptions The Hebrew indeed had once the Honour of being the Holy Language and as I may say the immediate Vehicle of the Divine Will The Greek succeeded next into it's Room The reason of both is obvious The Word of God was first directly intended for the Israelites only therefore first wrote in their Tongue Afterwards for the whole World therefore wrote in the most Vulgar and Common Language the Greek Yet so as that by degrees it was Translated into every Language to the end that the Knowledge of the Lord might cover the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea The Inscription on the Cross was wrote in Latin True But 't was by the command of Pontius Pilate that accursed Crucifier of our Lord in honour of his own Language and for the better information of the Romans Yet who can say that the Evangelists in their Greek and inspired Histories continu'd it afterwards in the same Latine Tongue I never yet somuch as heard of any M. S. or Printed Greek Testament with the Latin Inscription retain'd in it Moreover we know that as no Hebrew nor Greek so no Latin Bible is an Original nor indeed is there any such thing as an Original at this day All our Bibles in whatever Language are either Translations or Transcripts which is the same thing to our present purpose both as I said being liable to mistakes Finally then the Word of God is his Word be it in what Language it will and as much the Word of God in one as in another there being as I have said no Original at this day Briefly one may add or diminish in Transcribing and Printing as well as in Translating Therefore either both or neither are to be laid aside 6. It is not adding to the Word when a new Prophet arising delivers some further Messages to the Churches which are affixt to the Canon of Scripture For the Rule in the Text runs thus Thou shalt not add speaking unto us Men. Nevertheless God may add to it when ever he pleases and whatever he thinks fit So that all the following Books of Scripture were notwithstanding my Text added to the Canon unto the end of the Revelations where for ought we yet know the Book is shut up in these Words For I certifie unto every Man that heareth the Words of the Prophesie of this Book if any Man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any Man shall take away from the Words of the Book of this Prophesie God shall take away his Part out of the Book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things which are written in this Book Which brings me to the 2. Head sc To shew positively when we add or diminish ought from the Word of God And first of Diminishing 1. Then we diminish from the Word when we cast away any never so little Part of it Wonderful was the Care of the Jews herein and Religious they were to Superstition as may be thought counting the very Letters of the Bible to preserve it intire Hereunto our Lord alludes Till Heaven and Earth pass away not one jott or tittle shall pass from the Law Where tho' he is not speaking of the outward Letter as I now am but of the Intrinsick and Mystical Truths