practice as may most naturally comport with the design of the Discourse it may be hoped the pious Readers patience will not be tired in that last so short Stage And First That the word of §. III. Prophecy is sure or the Scriptures of the Old Testament a more demonstrative evidence that Christ was the Messias than was that miraculous voice from Heaven For a foundation we will take it for granted what cannot be denyed that no man of common reason who reads the Old Testament can question but that these things were explicitly and as good as in terms foretold that the Messias should be born of a Virgin that the place of his birth should be Bethlehem the time while the second Temple was standing that he should live a most holy modest and humble but yet a mean and despised life that he should make his soul an offering for sin and be cut off but not for himself that he should rise again before his body could see corruption that he should ascend into heaven and give gifts to men impower sundry sorts of people to supernatural acts by a miraculous effusion of the Holy Ghost that some time after this the City of Jerusalem and the Sanctuary should be destroyed and desolations were determined upon them the nation of the Jews should be disperst and live as vagabonds and accursed upon the face of the earth The Original and generally all Translations agree in these and such like material Prophecies of the Messias as these nor can it be pretended there are such ambiguities of Words varieties of Senses and Versions or discrepancies of Copies that all these and many other like points predicted of the Messias are uncertain Now this being admitted I say that these things being thus foretold of Jesus Christ so many hundred years before his Nativity and being also exactly verified of him in the fulness of time the Records which predict them are a greater and surer proof of his being the Son of God and Saviour of the world than the miraculous voice from heaven For 1. This Prediction was no less a §. IV. miracle than that immediate voice By a Miracle we mean a sensible effect surpassing the power of nature Now what power especially at such a vast distance of time could foretel these particularities but his by whose counsel they were effected that is they were Divine that is Supernatural and Miraculous Besides 2. These Predictions are a more publick and lasting Miracle That voice was only heard by a few Peter James and John attested but by three or four witnesses and transient This known to thousands to myriads an evident miracle in actual being to this day and likely to continue such as long as men shall live on the face of the earth or indeed to survive the world 3. In these Predictions there is no possibility of our being or of mens pleading that we can be imposed upon Collusion Fiction or Mistake might be at least pleaded in case of the immediate voice In one instance of it John xii 29. the people that heard it said it thundered others that an Angel spake to him but neither could thunder promulge nor Angel either foretel or verifie these things 1 Pet. i. 12. Angels desired to look into these things but knew them not till revealed In summ then these predictions being no less a Miracle than that immediate voice upon the Mount and as a Miracle having these three advantages of the other that they are a more publick more lasting and more unexceptionable miracle than that we may say with the Apostle in having the Scriptures of the Old Testament we have a more sure word of Prophecy than was the voice from heaven And having thus proved the §. V. certainty of the Old Testament by way of Corollary we may infer the truth of the New. For this containing partly the History of the things predicted partly a Scheme of Doctrine asserted in the Old by reason of its accord with the Old must be true if that be true At least nothing can be justly pretended against its truth except the matter of Fact should be deny'd viz. that such a person lived as Jesus of Nazareth and that he did such things and had such things done unto him as are there recorded Now as to this besides the undeniable credit of Histories there are in being a people disperst over all the world who profess such a person to have been of their Nation and that they executed him and prosecuted his followers and still execrate both as indeed we read in those books Now this matter of fact being admitted it is sure no power could effect such things for fulfilling of those Prophecies but that Divine power from whence the Prophecies first came To predict things hundreds of years before they come to pass and in pursuance of those Predictions at such distance to effect them are both of the same omnipotence Therefore the Relations contained in the New Testament are true therefore the historical Records of them must be true because containing a relation of things truly done and by the finger of God. And the Doctrinal part must be true because according with and asserted by the Old Testament which was before proved true Therefore seeing both Historical and Doctrinal parts are true the whole New Testament is a sure word We have then God be blessed both a sure word of Prophecy and a sure word of Gospel too and they do well who take heed thereto But I conceive I may upon the §. VI. Apostles authority affirm they do not so who imploy their wits and learning to traduce and overthrow the certainty of this sure word of Prophecy For if the surer be uncertain what will become of the other Nay what of all evidences of Christianity May I therefore take leave to answer the new-form'd at least new-trim'd Objections against the certainty of the Old Testament which it is therefore now more necessary to do because the books that proclaim those Objections to the world are made English and in the hands of the very common people The summ of those Objections I may reduce to three heads the Imputations of Corruption of different Readings and of the none or indeterminate Sense of the Originals Objection I. We have not the §. VII books of the Old Testament as they were written by the first Authors but certain pieces and contractions of them and those too very mutilate and corrupt Answ I crave leave to make answer for the Scriptures of the Old Testament out of those of the New. The Apostles pronounced the Scripture as extant in their days A surer word of Prophecy as we have seen given by inspiration of God able to make men wise unto Salvation perfect throughly furnished to all good works 2 Tim. iii. 15 16 17. Now we say They are the same at present as to all substantial points variations 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 Besides it is not credible as §. VIII 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 DEPOSITUM 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 Lastly as to this Objection I §. IX 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 Second Objection There are in §. X. 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 Oriental Jews observing one Lection the Occidental
A PLAIN DISCOURSE Proving the DIVINE AUTHORITY OF THE Holy Scriptures WHEREIN The late Bold Attempts and Aspersions of Jesuits and other Missionaries of the Church of Rome are Confuted And all their OBJECTIONS Against our English Bible Are fully and clearly Answered By a Reverend Prelate of the Church of England LONDON Printed and Sold by Randall Taylor near Stationers-Hall 1688. To His GRACE The DUKE of ORMOND May it please Your GRACE I Have presumed to Intitle Your Grace to this small Piece not out of conceit of its Merits but sense of mine own Obligations People use to pay their debts as they are able and when All they can do is in effect Nothing to have publickly acknowledged themselves Insolvent is to have aimed at being Just May then Your GRACE please to Accept of my having intended well both in the Book and Dedication And to believe amongst the Numerous Votaries to Your Illustrious Self and Family he who brings only this mite of Gratitude has as much Zeal to approve his full Duty and as industriously watches opportunity to do so as any man living MY LORD I shall never fail daily till Your GRACE shall be above such Services to offer up to that God whom You have imitated in humbling Your self to raise the poor out of the dust my most cordial Supplications for the encrease of Your Glories and Felicities The Supreme Lord the Master of the whole Family in Heaven and in Earth will repay what his poor Menials cannot all the Good Your GRACE has done to his House and therein to the unworthiest of his Vassals YOUR GRACES Ever Bounden Orator and Servant E. Cork and Rosse THE PREFACE WHILE the late Attempts made on Scripture by two or three Persons of some Learning but too much Leisure remained in the Language wherein they were written I hoped that for the main they would only be read by men of Judgment past the danger of a shock or at worst by some young Students in the Vniversities where the Profound Judgment and Vigilance of those who preside would soon stifle any mischief that could proceed from them But when they began to fly about in English and that even in these remoter parts into the hands of all sorts considering how greedily most Men catch at Novelties what Patience the most curious and delicate Tempers have for Discourses which pretend to Relax the Obligations that some Priests say lye on Mankind and withal how great the Number of those who are or are ready to be Tainted every where is I could no longer totally temperate either Tongue or Pen. I thought no Wounds to Religion more dangerous than those which fall on Scripture for that these affect the very Vital Fountains of the common Christianity Hence still my concernment grew on me which I desire may be admitted in excuse for Exposing this Remedy how weak soever It is what for the present I had I ought not to be wanting to my Duty and if what I thus have done should prove effectual to the staying up but one Tottering Person I am assured the Righteous Judge of all will one day acquit me from the Imputation of having been Impertinent or over-busie My extreme Brevity is from Design not Sloth I look upon the Cause I defend as such which Pleads its self when once heard nor needs more words than just suffice to Open it And besides I had a mind to Gratifie those who cannot obtain from themselves Leisure or Patience for perusing Books on this Subject were they of length proportionable to those they answer The Time the Reader adventures on this Discourse is very little the Argument and Concern very great and he may without Imposition on himself conclude such Person must write very ill indeed who pretending to entertain men for an hour on this Theme should therein give them occasion to repent of loss of time Be pleased therefore to resolve to go through the whole with a placid free and unbyast Mind and then judge as you list God guide us all above Error and our present Crepuscular Knowledge into Light and Glories Eternal ERRATA PAge 42. line 18. read false In Pag. 52. lin 21. blot out so absolutely pag. 79. lin 15. and 21. for xxxviii read xlviii pag. 105. l. 6. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 121. l. 20. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 122. l. 1. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. ibid. l. 7. for Hezekias r. Hesychius p. 129. l. 10. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 SCRIPTURE AUTHENTICK AND FAITH CERTAIN THE most Sacred sort of §. I. Oracle among the Jews was reputed a voice immediately from Heaven and therewith was our Saviour own'd several times and particularly at his Transfiguration on the Mount Matt. xvii 5. 2 Pet. i. 17. Then and there he received from God the Father honour and glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased With which miraculous attestation the Apostle S. Peter there comparing the proofs that the Scriptures of the Old Testament and especially the Prophetical ones gave of his being the Son of God the Messias or Saviour of the World affirms in the 19th verse those Scriptures to be the surer and stronger evidence of the two and commends the believing Jews for attending to them and admitting them as such And yet so bold a vein of Scepticism shall I say or Atheism has possest some who would appear to be of the most knowing if not infallible part of the Christian world as that it has been publickly contended and now of late with fresh earnestness and new-started Pleas some endeavour to justifie that there is no certainty at all in Scripture especially in that of the Old Testament and all persons are reproached as fools illiterate and of short judgment who pin their Faith on Holy Writ For neither Original say some nor any Version whether old or new cry others are to be depended upon The Language in which the Scriptures were written is lost the Copies corrupt the Versions imperfect and the newest which some believe to be the exactest are really say they the worst so that nothing of them must be relied upon but Tradition that is what a Party of cunning men have agreed to tell us is the only sure foundation of Faith. On occasion of these importunate instances I crave leave to say after the Apostle and speak a few words for the Old sure word of Prophecy and I hope I shall make it out that they do well who take heed thereto To which purpose I shall endeavour §. II. 1. Positively to establish the certainty of the Scripture and chiefly of the Old Testament or the demonstrative Evidence it bears 2. To answer the new-devised or fresh-started Objections against its certainty 3. To lay down such Rules by which we may from Scripture be certain of our Faith. And if the conclusion be by urging or advising such