An Advertisement of Corruption in our Handling of Religion, Part 57 – Part 67
Of S. Paul, diſgraced with Moſes.
AND S. Paul diſputing of the promiſe made to Abraham which was made preſently vpō the death of Tarah faith, that the Law came but fourhunderth & thirty yeres after the promiſe: ſo we ſhould corrupt the fame of Saint Paul by our tranſlation: and deny that he wrote by the ſpirit of God. And no ſimple can reade S. Paul Gal. 3.17. and Exod. 12.40. But will ſay in his heart, Who can goe vp to Heauen to bring a ſolution of this knot: and who can goe beyond the ſea to fetch a reconciliation of ſuch diſagrement: whereas the word, as Moſes meant, for the peregrination which concerned Iſraell, which was ſpent in the land of the peregrination of their fathers, as in Iacobs ſtory it is named, and in Egypt when Iſraell had ended their dwelling there was fourhunderth and thirty yeares to the very exact day.
And our right Reverend fathers might hauehave learned ſo much of the Lxxij. tranſlaters, which tranſlated thus: The peregrination of the children of Iſrael while they and their Fathers dwelt in Egypt, and in the land of Chanaan: they & their Fathers, was four hundreth & thirty yeres. Here any may marveile that ſo learned men for Latin cōtroverſies,Obiections wt anſwere. ſhould never reade the Lxx. But they will ſay the Lxx. are not extant now. Pure and ſound they hauehave not bene theſe 1200. yeres: but are now infinitely maymed: with patches frō Aquilas, Simmachus, Theodotion, and two others whom Origene did ſet togeather with the Ebrewe double: in Ebrew letter, and in Greek letters but Ebrew wordes. This eightfolde worke was called Octaplun, and from ſundry tranſlations the Lxx. which now we hauehave, is corrupted. A freend of myne bought at Alexandria in Egypt for me a Lxx. writen in Diocletians time and the Arabique Bible thriſe over. But left all with our Engliſh proconſull, who turned Turke, ſeeing diſagrement in our Bibles trāſlation, and ſoone deſcended to Hell, and Turkes his executours reteyned the bookes, yet 40 poundes was ſent to buy thē again, and they are expected. Such a Lxx may be the true one:The Criſtiā Aarabique foloweth ye Lxx. euen where they hid theyr mind. to bring yeares a thouſand & many hū dereths in Gen. 5. and eleven, moo thenever the ſun meaſured. and the Arabique commonly, the Chriſtian Arabique foloweth it. But not R Sadaias Arabique.
But indeed as the Lxx. now ſtandes with vsus, it is corrupted: that well our learned Fathers might ſuſpect it. And in the Babylonian Thalmud in a pleading before Alexander the great, where Egyptians complayne that Iſraell robbed them, a Iew pleadeth deſert for wages of 430. yeres ſervice in Egipt. And Gilbert Genebrard holden a great Ebrician, placeth Iſraell 430. yeares in Egipt: defending the Latin tranſlation. Whom Adricomius in a braue worke doeth folow. And Genebrard ſaith that Moſes might leaue out ſome of his anceſters. And S. Paul might ſpeake of ſome later promiſe. And one Thaddaeus Dunus ſayth, that Moſes text for his fathers yeres might be corrupt. Seeing ſo many hauehave perverted the text and other Scriptuers: ſo much more dangerous is our learned fathers agreement with them. Whereas they might eaſily be anſweared. The Thalmudiques ieſted: as Heathen, that knew not Abrahams peregrination, would vnderſtand Moſes: & Genebrard forgate that S. Paul made the promeſſe of his accompt elder then circumciſion, and no ſence can beleeue that Moſes Chronicling his anceſtours yeres al to Adam, ſhould leaue out ſome perſonages: when the perſon is more then the time of a perſon. And Dunus blaming of the text would be hatefull to all the Maſſoreth: full of auctority, now 2000. yeres. And our Septuagint in this place, may not be ſuſpected. For the Thalmud Ieruſalemy in Megilah, fol. 71. Col. 4. teſtifieth that the Lxx. tranſlated the text of Ex. 12.40 in this manner. The peregrimation of the children of Iſrael while they dwelt in Egypt and in all lands, was four hundred and thirty yeres. So no colour of obiection can bee rightly brought. And S. Paul muſt be holden the right expounder: that the law of the paſſeouer was exactly 430. yeres, after the promeſſe of Chriſt drew Abraham from Charan to Chanaan.
Of the fourhundreth yeres of perſecution.
IF one member ſuffer, all ſuffer with it.The mocking is expounded by Saint Paul a perſecution. So here the ſtorie of the 400. yeares perſecution is perſecuted. As ſoone as Iſaak was come to iudgement, to heare of the bleſſing, Iſmael would be mocking him. And when he was in his ſixt yere, both he might know what a mocking meant, and then Iſmael might grieue him by mockes: and all the perſecution by Iſmael the Egyptian and Pharaoh is but of 400 yeres in the limits, and thirty full after the promeſſe it began: as S. Paul expounds the text. But by our Biſhops work, all that cometh to nothing.
Of an exceeding groſſe overſight.
ALſo a ſtranger impoſſibilitie cometh from our right RR.FF. notes vponupon Gen. 15.13. Know this of a ſuritie, An opē ro… ſing of the 430. yeares, ſpēt falſly by our Church-Bible, not at all by trueth of time in Egypt with a… othermo… groſſe imposſibility and dotage.that thy ſeed ſhalbe a ſtranger in a land that is not theirs: & ſhall ſerue them, & they ſhall entreat them euill (k) four hundred yeres. There the note is: K. reckon not theſe yeares from Iacobs going downe to Egypt but from Gods promeſſe to the promulgating of the law. This note is moſt ſenſeles: if it begin the time at the promeſſe, Iſmael ſhal afflict Iſaak long before ether was born. Iewes & Gentiles hold that Iſmaels mocking of Iſaaks is the beginning: which ſome referre Iewlike to Iſaaks birth: ſo the promeſſe that called Abraham ſhould be fiue yeares in his fathers life time: and again S. Stephen ſhould be croſſed. Others rightly referre it to the ſixt of Iſaak, or fift fully complet. Moreover if Iſraell dwelt in Egypt 430. yeres the promeſſe 215. yeares elder: can not be within 400. of the law. This groſſe contempt of trueth and iudgement hath cauſed our nation to loth Gods worde: and God to plague the nation. But your M. will heale all.
Of Gods harmonious diſpoſing of times, in other places and here
THE Lord who framed the world in ſuch order that al hath called and ſtirred arts: who made the world for the iuſt, ſheweth an order in their times pleaſant to conſider and eaſy to remember. So Moſes ſaved in his Ark, liued 120. as Noah ſpent ſo much about his Ark. And Moſes parted his life into three equall partes. He ſpent fourty in the court of Pharaoh. So much S. Stephen durſt affirme: from the vſuall manner of God to governe matters in ſortes equall, for equall matter. So Moſes had time enough to ſee what court life was, full 40. yeres. And the Rabbins agree with S. Stephen. As Symeon Ben Iochai, being nere S. Stephens time: in Siphri. fol. 63. & Col. 251. And Midras vponupon Gen. 50. fol. 115. Col. 3. of the Crake edition. And Midras Exod. fol. 118. Col. 4. and again, fol. 119. Col. 1. where this ſaying is added. Ben Ambaim Sanah Le Bynah. He ſhould be fourty yeres of age that ſhould be of ripe iudgement. Now ſeeing he ſpent forty with Pharaoh, and 40. with Iſraell, the remnant for Madian or Iobs nation was fourty: and well might he be acquainted with Iobs, Eliphaz, Sophar, Bildad and Elihu. For Iobs ſorowes fell about Moſes birth. Doubtleſſe he was not idle in the land of Madian: but vſed all meanes for mans ſalvation. So for court Moſes was tryed 40. yeares: for quietnes in tending ſimple ſhepe, 40. yeres: and 40. yeares in being a ſervant to Iſraell. That phraſe SIMMESS, he ſerved: is vſed Mat. 20. Let him that is the geateſt of you, bee the ſervant of all. And thus in Moſes God ſheweth how fitly for mans memory gracious wiſedome diuideth times.Who ca… … but 70. ſoules into Egypt. So God gaue Chanaan 215. yeres to learne faith of Abraham and Iſaak, and Iacob, and gaue Egypt 215. yeres to beholde multiplying vntounto ſix hūdred thouſand valiant men, beſides women and children. Theſe heavenly diſtinctions of times ſhould not be confounded. And the like be through the old Teſtament: and by vsus confuſed alike: though God be the God of order, and not confuſion.
Of the miracle of multiplying, extinct by our tranſlation.
WHereas of Abraham there were but 70 ſoules, of the line of grace and promiſe to ſee Egypt in 215. yeres: it was a great miracle that 600000. men ſprang in the ſame ſpace that only ſeaventy ſprange. So they muſt multiply like fiſh. But to multiply ſo in 430. yeares, that had bene no miracle at all. For after the flood 427. yeres was Abrahams calling: and many countreys were full of people. And many mighty Kings made warres with great companies. Now by vsus all this grace of multiplying like fiſh were extinct. And endles be our abſurdities that a ſimple reader may ſay that of Naſo:
Tot premor aduerſis, quae ſi comprendere coner
Icariae numerum dicere coner aqua.
For the ſea-waues may as well be numbred as the groſſe errours of our moſt reverend and right reverend Fathers. But ſo reverend and ſo learned Fathers will not ſtand in them, but yeeld a tranſlation, that ſhalbe ſquare: ſettled and ſure how ſoeuer it be turned, to be examined. And further warning in other matters will doe no harme.
Of S. Stephen croſſed by the Geneva: both the tranſlation and notes: where the Church-Bible hath the right.
OVr Church-Bible noteth very well that Abraham was not borne at the ſeaventieth of Tarach: (which yet the Geneva held:) but 130. yeres later, and ſo it tranſlateth that the promeſſe of Chriſt might well be after Tharahs death, as S. Stephen telleth that Abraham was called to goe himſelfe to Chanaan from Charan after his Fathers death preſently: being 75. yeres old: ſo his Father was 130. elder then hee. This matter is of great importance, to defend S. Stephen, where the Thalmudiques hauehave to this day moſt deadly conſpired to hauehave him counted a lyer: that he might be counted no martyr, and the N. Teſtament no Teſtament. They ſay truly, that if it hath any vntrueth it is not from God that cannot lye. But they, not S. Stephen, are the wicked. And their owne Greek Philo, the true, not the forged auctour, fighteth for Saint *Alſo Midras Rabba vponupon Gene. 11. fighteth for S. Stephē againſt their and our de…ea…ed.Stephen in this teſtimony following. foreign. Idē de Abrahami aetate. foreign. fol. 284. Which wordes in Britane ſound this much: It is not like that any who hauehave reade the law can be ignorant how Abraham first remooving from the Chaldean land ſtayd in Charan: and when his Father dyed there, hee remooved alſo from that land: that now he hath left two places. And ſoone after. Hee leaueth it being ſeaventy fiue yeares olde. This auncient teſtimony of old Philo, who was Ambaſſadour from his owne nation to Caius Caligula, and might as well hauehave ſeene S. Stephen as Paul did, doeth confute all the Thalmud: euen where they goe about to confute all Chriſtendome, and in perpetuall date of the worlds age, lay an accompt that being accepted, denyeth moſt ſurely the New Teſtament. To ioyne with the Atheiſt Iewes againſt our ſelues, this was in the Latin Church an exceeding blindnes.
Of two further errours, in the Genevah.
THey who place Abrahams birth at Tharahs 70. croſſe S. Stephen and deny the new Teſtament: So doe they that make Iſaak mocked of Iſmael at his birth, & 400. yeres before Iſraell came from Egypt: for ſo they aſcending thirty higher bring the promeſſe fiue yeres into Tharahs life. Yet by the promeſſe Abraham was called from Charan, as it hath bene ſhewed & after his fathers death. So theſe poinctes muſt be held all alike.
1 That Abraham was 130. yeres yonger then his Father.
2 That he liued foreign an idolater by S. Paul and Philo: and Maymony 40. yeres. Tom. 1. tract. de idol.
3 That God appeared vntounto him in the vale of the Chaldeans, and ſayd: Get thee from thy countrey and kinſfolk. S. Stephen gathered that ſpeach by the argument from Gen. 15. and citeth not Gen. 12.1.
4 That Abraham taught his Father of Gods appearance: that his Father took him, Sara and Lot, Harans children, and they two went furth with THEM two: Abraham being indeed principall of the iourney.
5 That Tharah going for Chanaan ſtayed in Charan ſome few miles off from V R: and not another countrey, (both were Abrahams countrey) & aged, & ſick, & dyed.
The Iewes diſgrace the N. Teſtam. among the blind by falſe date of the world: ſubducting 65. yeres in Ab. 17 in ye kings and 90. from Dan. 490. if wee dated in all our bookes 5531. with 1604. wee ſhould proteſt a right plain trueth of Chriſtianitie to comon good, and clearing of much Scripture.6 God continueth the iourney, ſaying to Abraham: Goe thy ſelfe from thy countrey, kinſfolk and Fathers houſe (that is from faithles Nachor) vntounto a land which I will ſheew thee.
7 That from this iourney to the Paſcha be 430. yeres.
8 That the firſt thirty are to the ſixt of Iſaak. & 400. thence from Iſmaels perſecutiō or mockage of Iſaak for his hope vntounto Pharoahs laſt perſecution.
9 That Abraham, Iſaak and Iacob, ſpent in Chanaan halfe 430.215. & encreaſed but vntounto 70. ſoules: Theirs in Egypt 215. & multiplied like fiſh into ſix hundred thouſands valiant men, beſides women and children. Theſe poſitions being holden, great light and delight cometh to the ſtory: and ſome to the tranſlation.
Of V R: that it is in the propre Meſopotania, and that our notes are idle for defending S. Stephen, where the Iewes defend him.
THE terme V R is foreign Act. 7. and in Philo: foreign in the Lxx. Ghemek or Bikeghah that is vale, or valley, in Salomoh S. to Melec Sat. a learned writer vponupon all the old Teſtament, & in *vponupon Eſ. 24.15.Kimchi and many moo. The Iewes ſay: The Chaldeans entroched vponupon Arams ground: as vponupon Aſſur: and encreaſed idolatry euen to force of deceaving Thara and Abraham. And no reaſon can be rendred why Abraham ſhould be ſo farr as Orchoe beyond Tigris: or take Charan in his way thence for Chanaan. And Don Barbinel, though full of rancour, yet herein defendeth S. Stephen: that the Chaldeans vale was very neare Charan: that both be called the countrey of Nachor. And the field of the Chaldeans they call Syria or Aram of the two Riuers, and Charan, Aram of Nachor: and againe they hauehave in Ebrew letters the Greeke word Meſopotania of V R, and Meſopotania of Charan. So the Rabbins defend S. Stephen, better then Europaeans: who by weake defence, would overthrow him.
A digreſsion to defend S. Luke for the 75. ſoules.
GRegory Martyn a Rhomiſt, but a man of our nation, ſayth: That Luc. Act. 7. for 75. cannot be reconciled with Gen. 46. where Iacob with his ſonnes are but 70. And Theod. Beza blameth Act. 7. and the Lxx. Gen. 46. as corrupted, and corrupt ſome what lately. Beza muſt thus be aunſweared: That not only the Lxx. in Gen. 46. hath 75. ſoules. but alſo in Exod. chap. 1. and yet not in Deu. but only 70. As Philo of olde teſtified, how the Greek ſtood: alluding vntounto the 75. yeres of Abrahams age: and Beza never heard of Greeke copy that in Gen. 46. or Ex. 2. ſtood otherwiſe, nor of any Greek, Act. 7. He would hauehave cited them if he might. And as he cōfeſſeth the Arabique and the Syriaque: and as I am ſure the Ethiopian hath ſeaventy fiue ſoules. And modeſty would not think that all ages would bee deceaved. Wherefore Beza and Gregory Martin ſhould hauehave confeſſed ignorance: and not hauehave blamed the providence of God, or iudgement of nations.
How S. Luke Act. 7. is defended.
THE Lxx. tranſlated as Paraphraſtes, who as commenters, may for explication take one text to explane an other▪ Ioſeph, Gen. 50. is noted to hauehave ſene ſonnes to the THIRD generation, and there a GREAT MEM is in the Ebrew. To make that plain, they bring beſides Manaſſes and Ephraim: which onelyonly were borne vntounto him when Iacob came to Egypt: fiue of their children & grand children. To Manaſſes, Machir & Galaad: To Ephraim, Sutale, Tahan and Eden. Fiue in all, (where four would hauehave ſerved:) in honour of Abrahams age, when he receaued the promeſſe of Chriſt. And none could be ſo dull, as to think that Ioſeph could in nine yeres hauehave the ſecond & third grand children: & any might note for explication of what text Ioſeph only hath addition, aboue the Ebrew. S. Luke was to folow this: and all nations of old might ſee the reaſon plain. Beza belonged not to my blame now. But as with Gregory Martin of our nation he was to be handled. And this much for diſturbance betwixt the promeſſe and the lambe. Many groſſe overſights muſt bee oomitted: as that Iochebed though ſhe had bene poſt-huma, ſhould at 257. yeares beare Moſes and Ezron, Aram, Aminadab, Ruth. 4. 1. Ch. 2. Mat 1. Luk. 3. ſhould hauehave incredible old age, at father-hood. The troupes of errours noted would weary any hart: and the Bibles ſhould be called in, or they will work much grief to God and man.
Of Sem made the Elder.
OVR Lord, making the younger brethren famous by his dignity, never cometh in Scripture record of the eldeſt. Seth was borne when Eue had borne children 130. yeres, Iapheth was 100 yeres old at the flood: and Sem 100 two yeres after, Abraham was 60. younger then Haran: Iacob and Iuda, had elder, and Zerah his hand came once to light afore Phares: And David was the ſeaventh, & Nathan was younger then Salomon, and Malchiram was elder then Zorobabels Father, Pedaiah, & Abiud, then Rheſa: yet againſt all grammer and plain accompt and the Lxx. 2000. yeres old we make Sem eldeſt, that all his bleſſings might be referred to naturall dignity: without the praerogatiue of Chriſt, and all the Greekes and moſt Iewes ſhould be deceaued, & moſt learned Greek homilies in this argument ſhould be nothing worth. This errour paſſeth all that can be ſpoken, yet this, which I am to ſpeak, matcheth it.