of Spelling and Orthography we are not to account for as they were then They then consisted of the Law Prophets and Psalms or Poetical books at least the third part was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or HAGIOGRAPHA wherein the Psalms are Luke xxiv 44. They consist of the same still and as far as can appear in the self-same order Act. xiii 33. It is written in the second Psalm Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee These words are in our second Psalm to this day And again he saith in another Psalm thou shalt not suffer thine Holy one to see corruption v. 35. these words are in that other Psalm viz. Psal xvi 10. And again David himself saith in the book of Psalms The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool Luk. xx 42. That passage is also in our Psalms and in a Psalm inscribed to David as the Author viz. in Psal cx Not to instance in more passages as might be done abundantly §. VIII Besides it is not credible as S. Hierom in his time out of Origen answered those who objected the falsification of the Old Testament it is not credible I say that our Lord and his Apostles who so sharply reproved the other crimes and vices of the Scribes and the several Sects of the Jews should have been silent of this which was the greatest of all being false in the greatest DEPOSITVM taking from or corrupting the Divine Oracles committed to their charge And this Argument though from Negative Authority is the more considerable upon the score of S. Austin's Doctrine who gives it as a general Rule that where there is a fit place in Scripture to say a thing if it were so and it is not said the argument is good though from Negative Authority that it is not so Now what more fit places can be imagined than where our Lord appeals to the Scriptures touching his Mission and Doctrine when he commands his hearers to search the Scriptures when he tells his Disciples and the multitude The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses's seat and requires them to observe and do what they bid them but not to do after their works for they say and do not In all appearance what they said as from Moses or sitting in his seat the Scripture as reported or delivered by them was genuin and sincere enough however vitious their practices were Who here can imagin that had the Scribes then and Scribes must do it or none could had they I say then falsified corrupted or curtail'd the Scriptures we should not in some of these and like places have heard of it Would not some Caution or other have been annext to this purpose Search but take heed of corruptions in such a place Know there are defalcations in such In a word and to speak out Our Lord had not been faithful in the house of God had he not warned the family of such an evil I know a certain Person has pretended to reply to this answer but his reply is empty and frivolous §. IX Lastly as to this Objection I say 't is morally impossible since our Saviours time and indeed for many hundred years before that that the Scriptures should have been corrupted for the multitude of Copies was then such has been since much more such and so far dispersed that neither one man nor one body of men could ever get them into their hands to corrupt them and if some few or many Copies had been corrupted but not all the sincere number would have detected the corrupt To give a parallel instance which will easily be understood by all who can read English Our English Bibles in sundry impressions of this age are corrupted in Act. vi 3. Chuse seven men whom ye may appoint YE falsly for WE 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The corruption may be found in the later Edinburgh Cambridge and since very ordinarily in divers indeed most London Editions Now this being done not till the Faction had crumbled it self into several minute parties all pretending Scripture for their several distinctive little opinions 't is not improbable it might be done at first with design and particularly of those who would establish the peoples power not only in Electing but even in Ordaining their own Ministers Mean while let it be done by whom it might Take an Edinburgh Edition of 1636. a Cambridge one of 16. a London one of 1642. being it was not possible for the Faction to get all these Copies and a multitude more in as being so vastly numerous the true old Copies examined and compared discover the Variation from them that is the Corruption and a more Authentick one than any of them that is the Original Greek if any doubt remain decides the whole Controversie In like manner there were amongst the Jews even in our Saviour's days and much more since a vast number of Copies of the Old Testament for they read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day both Law and Prophets Act. xiii 27 xv 21. wherefore besides what they had for private use they must at least have as many publick Books as Synagogues and Synagogues they had divers in every City 'T is incredible almost what their Authors report of the number of Synagogues in Jerusalem it self And there were amongst them several Sects too and Scribes of every Sect all sufficiently watching over one another had there been any false dealing of this kind Nay the very Ten Tribes upon their Secession and in probability much more after their dispersion had Copies of the Law to which we owe the present Samaritan-Hebrew Text. But it is certain the Jews and Samaritans were mortal enemies would not eat converse discourse together Now that all their several Sects and Synagogues that these two last named adverse and mutually incensed Nations should conspire to bring all their Copies together to vary or corrupt them all alike and the world never hear of this combination and the reconcilement of the Parties in order thereunto is not morally possible But if all were not brought together and altered alike as before said one must convince another of falshood And there being as shall be presently made out no Variations of any considerable moment betwixt the Copies of the Old Testament which we now have in common use and the most antient or sincere ones that can be produced at least none having made it appear there is any such Variation but in the stead thereof a marvelous agreement there can be no such corruption as the Objection pretends And this brings us to the §. X Second Objection There are in the Hebrew Originals actually produced say some different Readings and both cannot be true for truth is but one therefore the one of them must be corrupt Answ There are indeed different Readings and some too as pretended from famed different Traditions Rabbi Ascher setting up one way and R. Naphthali another and from them the
question of the Sacrifice of the Mass of the present Canon of the Mass of the Sacraments of Penance and Extreme Vnction in the Interdict of Priests marriage not to name more points of like nature For if indeed truly named that is Vniversal Tradition Quod ubique quod semper quod ab omnibus c. were the thing urged upon us we are and ever have been as much for it as any men To this day we cry Let us go to tryal on this issue in the name of God But such Tradition as this we shall find amongst all the controverted points only for Scripture I will be bold to say we have not so unvariable Tradition for the Articles of the Creed which we call the Apostles Creed as we have in behalf of the Books of the Old and New Testament So that according to these measures we are but where we were before Universal Tradition must prescribe our Faith and Universal Tradition we have for no point controverted but for the Original Scriptures nay indeed scarcely for any other point of Faith so uniformly Original Scripture therefore as before still stands unshaken §. XX But these Rules will some say are for Learned men who understand and can search Originals compare Versions and see wherein they agree What shall the unlearned Common people do I say still Keep to your English Translation good people keep to what you are Your English Bibles to you are the surest word of Prophecy and Gospel too that you can meet with The Translation of the Old Testament has been confest by Foreigners of excellent judgment usque ad invidiam aliarum gentium elaborata Accurate even to the envy of other Nations That of the Gospels is no less so especially taking in the Margin And though it were to be wisht the Epistles had been translated with that strictness according to the letter and so unbyast judgment with which the other parts of our Bibles are yet this may be said even as to them What the Text has less exact according to the Original or dubious not only the Margin but the very different Character of several words in the Text directs to a genuin or wholesome sense of My meaning is whereas it is not possible to translate Hebrew or Greek into English strictly word for word and to make such translation sense the Idiom or propriety of the languages so vastly differing that we must in English put in several particles or little words to make good sense with us all those words so put in or supplied are printed ordinarily in a different sort of letter from the rest by which means we may easily discover any word that is not in the Original and from such discovery know what weight to lay upon that text so translated So that there is no danger of peoples miscarrying in their Faith who humbly and soberly keep to their English Bibles which God be blessed now we have extremely cheap and frequent in our hands Only the people are here to be minded in case of doubts to have recourse to their spiritual Guides By these means then we are or may be as sure of our Faith from Scriptures as we are of the Scriptures themselves §. XXI Now To put a due Conclusion to this Discourse there are some Christian Practices which the scope of it does naturally recommend and some advices which it may occasion And First Let the reflexion on what has been discoursed touching the certainty of Holy Scriptures and their Authentick Verity raise in our hearts a due Esteem and Cordial Reverence of them as not being from Man nor meerly by man but given by inspiration of God and in a peculiar and marvellous manner preserved and transmitted by his special Providence from age to age through multitudes of hands down to us who live probably near the end of time It was once the great priviledge of the Jews that to them were committed the Oracles of God that priviledge is now common to us with them Though perhaps therefore we may not keep those Oracles with so superstitious a care and curiosity as they did yet let us both keep and treat them with as cordial adherence and as awful esteem But especially let us take care that we use not passages out of them in our ordinary discourse slightingly in Jest and Drollery to create Laughter to our selves and others Holy things should not be plaid with and we are to remember that if we do play with them we teach people to think we do not believe them to be Holy Secondly Let not a Prize be put into our hands and we such fools as not to have hearts to use it Have we the Word of Prophecy surer than other Miraculous Revelation Have we the Gospel of Truth too both mutually confirming and confirmed by one another and shall we be so idle and gross as to be any of us in a manner uncapable of using either Why should there be a person in a Christian Church or Nation to whom the Holy Scripture should be as a Book sealed who should know no more by the Book open and laid before him than if fast closed up I mean who should not be able himself to read the glad tidings and terms of his Salvation Good people deny not your selves that which an excellent Person has most justly stiled the CHRISTIANS BIRTH-RIGHT the use of Holy Scriptures Take care and endeavour that both you and yours be able to read And being so whatever Book you read not through or rarely look into let not the Bible be that neglected one Rather account such a day lost in which you have not attentively and considerately read some part thereof Thirdly Remember him who said Hold fast till I come that no man take thy Crown He sits at the right hand of his Father ready to give it and will in good time come and give it us if we faint not And Lastly As most excellent means to insure to our selves a right use of Scriptures and to preserve us from misinterpreting or misapplying them let us be careful of the two following particulars First To furnish our minds with a form of sound Doctrine gathered out of Holy Scripture This it is to be hoped we had in some degree in our early years by Catechism and without this both Scripture and Sermons are in a great measure unserviceable It is the Apostle's Rule that they who Prophesie that is in the New Testament notion of Prophesying interpret Scripture do it according to the proportion of Faith Rom. xii 6. his meaning seems to be that understanding first the several Articles of Christian Faith we should interpret or take Scripture in consistency therewith This rule will prevent the abuse of Holy Scripture to Errour and Novelty Secondly To endeavour the Honest and Impartial practice of what we know in the fear of God and as we shall answer the not Doing according to our Lords will when we have known That his will This most
Greek did to render their writings more unexceptionable to the Jews follow as much as they could the Jews Greek Translation that is the Septuagint yet we find in several Prophecies of the greatest moment as well as in other points they could not follow them and be true to their own Cause Sixthly It does not appear by any thing we have examined that any corruption or the least escape can be affixt to the Hebrew text It marvelously comports with the Evangelists Greek As to the great objection from Psalm xxii 16. that we have there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As a Lion for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they pierced in which say they the Septuagint has set us right besides that even P. Simon himself in his late Disquisitions confesses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in the very Text or is the Ketib in some antient Copies 't is enough to me if it were but the Keri or Marginal reading But I think more cannot be desired for satisfaction and in ample vindication of the Hebrew than the great Dr. Hammond has given us upon that Psalm Lastly In the Septuagints Version it is apparent there must be acknowledged gross Errours Five places are above marked and assigned where we must say either the Evangelists have erred or the Septuagint and I have found no one yet so hardy as to cast the Errours on the Evangelists ergo c. Those whom what I have said may a little surprise finding things thus notoriously otherwise than some have asserted and haply themselves too thought may be ready to ask what those Asserters have to say for themselves in case of these and such other Prophecies thus being perverted rather than translated My design permits me not to take notice of all Let it suffice to represent and animadvert upon their chief answers It is not to be denyed say some of them but that the books of the Septuagint are in many places Inquinati interpolati corrupted and vampt with the Versions of Symmachus Theodotion c. At another time Septuaginta Interpretes sic vertisse stultum est existimare 'T is a silly thing to imagine the Seventy thus rendred And as to that very Prophecy of Zech. xii Whether these Errours came in out of Aquila c. or any other or by casual misreading 't is needless to enquire It is enough to say the Septuagint undoubtedly rendred it otherwise These answers or defences are perhaps more wonderful than the first assertions The Septuagint say they did not translate thus 'T is a silly thing to think they did But the best Copies of the Septuagint extant do contain and exhibit these Translations In S. Jerom's days the Septuagints Version had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hieronym in loc They who at this time of day shall contradict S. Jerome and say he had only vitiatum interpolatum Codicem a corrupt and interlined book when he elsewhere tells us he had Origen's Hexapla corrected by himself according to the best Copy They who to boot shall when they list that is when they are not able to defend the Septuagints Version reject all the Copies of that Version which passes every where for the Septuagints and say 't is a silly thing to believe in this or that it is the Septuagints when in another breath they shall cry up the very worst Copy of the Septuagint far above all other Translations and even the Original it self are indeed persons to be admired but I will not say for what Only I will desire them if they expect to be believed to bring better Proofs than they have done that is than their own Word and Scorn But to wave what I might say more largely of this nature I only reply I accept the Answer Behold then good Reader how excellently we are helpt up by those who reject the Hebrew text and all Translations from it What will they reject all Scripture some of them would be at that if they durst but they ' I tell you By no means What then will they set up instead of the Hebrew The Septuagints Version Who now would not expect that this were most perfect subject to no various readings much less corruptions or interpolations No such matter besides infinite various readings these books are corrupted in many places interpolate with the Versions of Symmachus Theodotion Aquila and God knows what others This is their own confession Again they are Books which they will deny at their own pleasure Lastly Books which if we will believe the Holy Evangelists have in them many gross Errours inconsistent with the very History as well as Doctrine of the Gospel and which as has been proved the Evangelists could not have followed and together have been faithful to their Cause To conclude all We have seen the Assertion of a perpetual or even general Agreement of the Pen-men of the New Testament with the Septuagint to be groundless and false boldly advanced by some and too credulously taken up by others S. Paul perhaps a Person more conversant with the Hellenists mostly used the Septuagint though not constantly others much less Contrarily to the aforementioned Assertion The present Hebrew text is confirmed by the Evangelists Versions and agreement with it it is not impeached by their very recessions or siding with the Septuagint it stands therefore above blemish The Text of the Septuagint besides its disorders confusions and mutilations which we might have said much more of departs many times grosly from the truth It is indeed the Antientest and most honourable Version it gives excellent light and confirmation in most things to the truth but it is many times as said unhappy Perhaps it has been purer than it is yet above these thirteen hundred years it is sure it has had some of those gross Errours in it which we find at this day remaining and we cannot always hold to it and together hold to the Gospe The proof of Christianity chiefly and in some points as to Testimony solely relies on the Hebrew Text In which by all those passages which have been examined it does not appear that there is any defect errour or so much as rational pretence of any depravation Upon the whole then it remains That we adore and magnifie the Providence of our good God in restoring to lost mankind in general the knowledge of God and themselves when they had extinguisht that given by natural Reason in preserving to us in particular the Original Oracles of Salvation so intire as we see they are in raising up to us Persons so exquisitely skilled and verst in them as of old so especially within these two last Centuries by whose indefatigable labours we have many admirable Translations of those Oracles into the common speech of each Nation to none of which Translations blessed be the same good God is our last English one inferiour That therefore we keep close to these and stand unshaken in our Faith not suffering our selves to be imposed upon by the Cavils and subtle Sophisms of some or the specious pretences of more Necessaries than we find in Scripture from others nor lastly by a third sorts pompous ostentation of Learning Truly these last seem to have written only to shew the World how plausibly they can maintain the most mischievous Paradoxes I had many more things to have said especially as to that objection of the loss of the true old Hebrew speech I could shew the same pretences of reason may be brought for the loss of the old Greek nay even of the old Latin it self In all dead Tongues the true antient Pronunciation in process of time must needs be lost often also the first and true signification of many words whence words must necessarily grow equivocal or ambiguous c. Now it would be thought very extravagant to say upon these reasons the old Greek and Latin are both lost We dote if we say we have either Let the same Plea be admitted for the old Hebrew These and other things I thought once to have discours'd of in this Appendix But it is much swoln already and I conceive I have said enough to settle such who may be shaken but are desirous of satisfaction And as to Scepticks or men of an Inveterate Faction I have not such thoughts of my self as that I am able to recover them POST SCRIPT THESE notes ought to have been written in a Language more befitting Criticisms of this nature But the reason they speak plain English is because they are opposed for the main to Books which are made to speak English More Texts also should have been examined and the search of these carried further Both may be done in time if God give leisure and it appear this Essay does any good In the mean while the Candid Reader will take notice I deal with the People whom I thought next to Truth and Plainness which I have sacredly observed I could gratifie in nothing more than brevity God bless all to the end designed FINIS