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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

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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
at least to the Continuance and Increase of it and that upon the following Accompts 1. Because the Alteration happen'd in the Year 38. Presbytery being then in the Ascendant I say just in that nick of time when all things were in Preparation and tended to the Subversion of Episcopacy Scotland having already made a Conspiracy and bound ' emselves under a Curse to Extripate it and England even a great part of the Universities ' emselves running into the same excess of riot So that here is a Concurrence of the Circumstance of time and a shrewd one too sufficient to ground a suspicion on 2. The Corruption in Appearance favours the Dissenters and their Design against Episcopacy If then any they may be suspected for being willing to have it at least continu'd and propagated 3. On the contrary it cannot with any Colour of Reason be imagin'd that the Episcopal Party design'd to Corrupt this Place or to Connive at it's Corruption except they shall be thought Felones de se and willingly and knavishly to destroy what they endeavour zealously to establish Satan as our Lord argues cannot be thought to cast out Satan and to throw down his own Kingdom Nor will any one of Sense believe that the Episcopal Party were willing to have that thrust out of the Scripture upon which their Church Government seems to be built Or to substitute in its room what in Appearance overthrows their Politie 4. That Party ought in all Reason to be Suspected of foul Play herein who admitting they did not at first on set purpose contrive the Corruption of this place yet now belike contribute to the Confirming and Vindicating it and under the Colour of this new Text of Scripture assert and support the new Popular Government of the Church as some of the Presbyterians do at this day For the Proof of which Charge upon 'em I need only to put you in mind of that memorable Story which doubtless ye have many of you heard of how that a Cameronian one of the most rigid Sects of the Scotch Presbyterians Preaching some years since concerning the Peoples Power of setting up their own Teachers having confirm'd his Point with some Reasons of his own the Principal whereof was I guess that it was most agreeable to the Inclination of the Scotch Nation which is just such another Reason as an Adulterer also might give for his Wantonness But I say having prov'd his Point as he thought no matter to us how at length bid his Audience not to believe him but to turn to their Bible and so sent them incontinently to the 6. Act. 3. v. where they might find their Character in these Words Whom YE the Multitude of Believers may appoint over this Business But whether this be a good Character or has on it the stamp of Divine Authority let the World judge by what has been already said For a Conclusion then I would crave leave to address 1. Unto all the Faithful in general Men Brethren and Fathers suffer me to entreat you in a few words with all diligence to preserve the Word of God pure and uncorrupt If once the Fountain-head be poyson'd the Streams will be so too and from thenceforth we shall never be able to distinguish between the Doctrines and Will of God and the Inventions and Inclinations of Men. The Adversaries of Christianity with design to overthrow the whole Frame of our Religion have already endeavour'd to take advantage of those numerous and various Lections which in times of darkness and ignorance heretofore stole into the Greek Testament as I find it taken notice of in a Learned Preface to a late Edition what then will they say when they observe the purest Kirk in the World as is pretended tempering with and refining upon the Word of God at this time of day But let not us to serve a Cause or to draw the simple People into our Interests let not us I say dare to suborn any false Witness whatever much less out of the Word of Truth Let us leave that vile Artifice to our Adversaries on both hands Truth needs not such feeble Supports but is indeed very much disparag'd and weaken'd thereby The brightest Truth will receive prejudice when we go about to establish it by a Lie much more Points in Controversy when they are varnish'd and washt over with false and fading Colours 'T is our Interest therefore as well as our Duty To lay aside all Guile and Hypocrisie and to feed our Flocks with the sincere Milk of the Word To put away Lying and to speak every Man Truth with his Neighbour Let us take to our selves the Example of St. Paul We are not says he reflecting upon the Corinthian Schismaticks as many which corrupt the Word of God But as of Sincerity but as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ And once more he saith We have renounced the hidden things of Dishonesty not walking in Craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth The Apostle not obscurely hinting in these Words that the Separatists at Corinth did so 2. But above all and with all Submission I would beg of those who are in Authority and do humbly propose that some effectual course be taken to make amends for this at first I am willing to believe unfortunate oversight committed I am asham'd to repeat where and to vindicate this Place in the Acts from the Injury it has suffer'd these Fifty Years past and upward How it may in some measure be repair'd is not hard to tell I have heard of a whole Impression of the Bible condemn'd to be burnt because the Negative Particle of a Commandment was casually left out What then if one of every Edition thus deprav'd or at least one for all were serv'd after the same manner in perpetuam rei Memoriam and to expose the craftiness of those Circumcellians among us who to advance their design do not stick it seems to promote it by Falshood and grounding ' emselves upon a meer Errour of the Press as we will suppose it was at first deceiving and being deceived do lie against the Holy Ghost and bring a Scandal upon the Word of God and our holy Religion To Conclude I may happily seem too Warm and Zealous in this matter Doubtless some will think so But upon Examination having found the first accidental slip repeated since in at least half a dozen Impressions of the Bible here in England and having now just Reason to suspect the Scotch Bibles generally faulty in this Passage I cannot Imagine but it has been a good while underhand countenanc'd and abetted For is it Possible to believe that One unhappy mistake should be so successful as to have got into so many Editions without the helping hand of some wily and undermining Schismatick But principally whereas now it begins to be avow'd for good and vendible Ware expos'd and sold publickly in the Market can any One continue to believe it still an Unwilling and Excusable Error Or rather is it not fit to be treated as Counterfeit and for bidden Commodities are That is in plain terms as I said cast into the Fire Moreover for any thing I can foresee it may if not timely prevented plead Prescription and set up for Authentic at least for a various Lection whereby the Popular Government of the Church may in a few more Years gain an Appearance of Divine Authority and the Scot's Inclination be thought Apostolical Institution All which consider'd the Warmth I have shew'd upon this Occasion if any before accounted it such will now I hope be allow'd Reasonable and not Unserviceable to the Word and to the Church of God to this Part of it especially among us by Law Divine Human Establish'd And long may it be so to the Glory of God to the Edification of the Church in Peace Love in Truth Unity Amen FINIS Champ. Chal. accepted by Dr. Hook late Vicar of Halifax v. 5. 1 Cor. 10. 11. Deut. 4. 2. 12. 32. Mr. De Laune in Lr. to Dr. Calamy page 43. In Metre and likewise sing 'em All which ought to be done if they are essential Parts of the Psalms Yea the whole Hebrew Bible De L. page 44. Vbi Supra 1 Cor. 15. 54 55. Isa 25. 8. Hos 13. 14. See Is 59. 7 8. Deut. 32. 33. Anastasius Patr. of Ant. apud Vserii Hist Dogma Multarum Gentium linguis Scriptura Translata docet falsa esse quae addita sunt Hieron Praefat ad 4. Evang S●e l. 4. c. 33. S●z l. 6. c. 37. phi●est l. 2. c. 6. apud Vissr ibid. Is 11. 9. His Country Men. Rev. 22. 18 19. Mat. 5. 18. Dial. cum Tryph. Council Trid. Bellarmin c. See 4th Col. 16. 17. Acts 11. v. ● Ep. 1. 19 20. no not of E●ter himself v. 18. Acts. 6. 3. We the Apostles By Tho. Buck and Rog. Daniel Printers to the Vniversity The latter of which was indeed the mannager of the Press and in the Interest of that Presbyterian Party Printed at Oxford Theater Anno 1675. 1 Pet. 2. 1 2. Eph. 4. 25. 1 Cor. 2. 17. c. 4. 2.