The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 2 · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII. Sathans temptations ſuggeſted againſt the tranſlations of holy Scriptures anſwered.
§. Sect. 1 ANd ſomuch for anſwering Sathans ſecond temptation whereby he laboreth to make men neglect the hearing of Gods word,That the Scriptures are truly tranſlated. that ſo they may neuer be effectually called. Now thirdly, if he cannot perſwade men that the Scriptures are not the word of God, that ſo he may take away all the authority thereof, then he will take exceptions againſt the tranſlation; ſuggeſting into their minds, that though the Scriptures bee the word of God as they were penned in their own proper languages, by men inſpired by his ſpirit, yet for ought they know being vnlearned, the Scriptures may be corruptly tranſlated, altered from their firſt originall, and things added and detracted at the tranſlators pleaſure. To this I anſwere, that not onelyonly profeſſors of religion, but alſo Pagans, Infidels, Epicures and Atheiſts, who are euen the very limmes of the diuell, hauehave been skilfull and learned in theſe languages; and therefore if the tranſlations were not neere the originall; who could ſtop their mouthes from inueighing againſt ſuch falſehood? Who could reſtraine them from declaiming againſt ſuch corruption, ſeeing they ſo hate and abhor this truth, as that they wiſh the vtter extirpation thereof, and with extreame malice oppoſe themſelues againſt it, perſecuting and murthering to their vttermoſt power, whoſoeuer imbrace and profeſſe it? Moreouer, we knowe that the Iewes who more malitiouſly maligne Chriſtians and chriſtianity than the Turkes and Pagans, doe notwithſtanding agree with vsus in the tranſlation of the old Teſtament, and can take no exception againſt the new. Thirdly, there hath been euer ſince Chriſts comming many ſectaries and heretikes, who for the maintenance of their opinions hauehave but ſought to corrupt ſome few places of the Scriptures, but ſtill God hath raiſed vp ſome godly learned in the originall tongues, who hauehave confuted them and cleered the text; how therefore in ſuch diuiſion and vehement diſcord ſhould ſuch a thing be concealed. How ſhould any corrupt the whole Scriptures, or any principall places; ſeeing there is ſuch controuerſies from time to time about eueryevery letter and ſyllable? Laſtly, this truth of the Scriptures hath been ſealed and confirmed with the blood of many Martyrs, who hauehave been excellently learned in the originall tongues: and who can imagine that they would hauehave been ſo fooliſh, as to hauehave giuen their liues for the maintaining that truth which is contained in the Scriptures as we hauehave them tranſlated, if they thought them corrupted and falſified in the tranſlation?
§. Sect. 2 But the tempter will obiect that the tranſlations exceedingly differ one from another,Of the difference of tranſlations. and therefore ſome of them muſt needs bee falſe, and who would ground his faith vponupon any, vntill hee know which is the beſt and trueſt? I anſwere, that though there be diuers tranſlations, and one better than another; yet euen that which is moſt corrupt and imperfect is ſufficient to inſtruct vsus in the knowledge of God, and in the principles of Chriſtian religion; neither is there amongſt them all, many errors which concerne the articles of our faith, or come neere the ſubſtance of doctrine which we are bound to beleeue, for all the tranſlatours hauehave laboured to conforme their tranſlations according to the analogy of faith; and though they hauehave not in all places deliuered the proper ſenſe, yet they hauehave endeauored to come as neere it as they can, and where they hauehave fayled, it is rather in circumſtances than in ſubſtance, in the proper and ſpeciall truth, than in the common and generall; and though in one place they do not ſo cleere the truth as they ſhould, yet they doe it in many other. And therefore let not Sathan perſwade vsus to neglect the Scriptures, becauſe there are wants and imperfections in the tranſlations; for if we ſtudie and meditate euen in the meaneſt, and conforme and frame our liues according to that trueth which wee learne out of them, wee ſhall attaine vntounto euerlaſting life and happineſſe. Men doe not vſe to neglect their buſineſſe, becauſe by reaſon of ſome cloude the ſunne doth not ſhine vponupon them in his full brightneſſe; for that light which they inioy is ſufficient, though not ſo gloriouſly bright as when it ſhineth in his full cleereneſſe: ſo we muſt not neglect the conforming of our ſelues to the Scriptures, becauſe we cannot ſee them ſhine in their own glorious brightneſſe, as they were penned by the inſpiration of the holy Ghoſt in the originall language (for as well may a painter expreſſe in his table with artificiall colours the glory of the Sunne, as any man liuing can expreſſe that perfect beautie and diuine glory which ſhineth in the naturall phraſe of holy Scriptures in a tranſlation) but rather wee are to inioy the benefit of this glorious ſhining Sunne of Gods word, though the brightneſſe bee as it were vayled and ſomewhat ſhadowed with the cloude of another language; for notwithſtanding, through it they ſhine and afford vsus ſuch light, as may be ſufficient to guide and direct vsus in the waies of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, which will bring vsus in the end to eternall glory and endleſſe felicity.