Hear the Church, Postscript – Title page
Poſt-Script. Concerning the Original Manuſcripts of the Holy Scriptures.
BRETHREN,
BEcauſe our Learned Adverſaries are wont to amuſe weak Chriſtians, by telling them they knew not the Originals, &c. I thought fit to tranſcribe part of what I have formerly printed in Anſwer to this ſpecious Objection; In the Introduction of my Book of Primitive Chriſtianity, how vain and pernicious this Talk is about the Original, will appear, when you conſider, That no man living ever ſaw the very Papers in which the Prophets and Apoſtles did write the firſt Draughts of the Holy Scriptures, and therefore none have the Originals, but only Copies of Scripture. And let not this offend any Man: for,
It ſeems to have been the beſt for all Chriſtians, that after many Copies are taken and ſpread in many Nations, theſe firſt Draughts ſhould not continue long; for had any now but ſo much Confidence, as to ſay they have theſe very firſt Sheets of Paper to ſhow, how might they trouble the whole World with ſuch a Report? and how might they abuſe the World, and all the Churches in the World at pleaſure? as by adding or taking away, and who ſhould correct the Original?
Suppoſe the Roman Church had thoſe Manuſcripts in their Hands, what Miſts might they caſt upon the Nations, and who could come to the ſight of them to diſcover any ſuch abuſe? and the ſame may be ſaid of any other potent Party.
But now the Originals being no where to be found, but yet a multitude of Copies extant, and the ſame tranſlated by multitudes of Men into ſeveral Languages; by this means all are forced to be more peaceable than perhaps they are willing to be, ſince they have only Copies of the Divine Oracles, and others have Copies as well as they, ſo that they can none of them pretend to have ever ſeen the Original, and therefore can they leſs quarrel about their Copies. Thus hath God's Wiſdom diſpoſed herein, better for his Church than She could have thought or deſired.
And it is worth obſervation, that ſcarce any of the Churches to whom St. Paul wrote, had the Original ſent to them, (except the Galatians) but had only certain Copies written by divers Hands. For Inſtance, The Epiſtle to the Hebrews was written by Timothy, as 'tis ſaid in the Post-Script. The Epiſtle to the Romans was written by Tertius. Four Perſons wrote the firſt Epiſtle to the Corinthians, Post-Script. Two Brethren wrote the Second Epiſtle, Post-Script. Tichicus and Oneſimus wrote that to Coloſſus. All theſe Churches had only Copies, and for ought appears, never ſaw the Originals.
And what if ſome of theſe Copies did accidentally vary ſome Word or Tittle, are the Sacred Epiſtles ever the worſe, ſo long as the Holy Doctrine therein contained, was not injured? Can we think that when the Holy Apoſtles preached, that they had ſtill the very ſelf-ſame Phraſes? This were idle to imagine, and yet they had the ſelf-ſame Goſpel to preach in every Place.
I ſpeak not this, as if I approved of altering the Holy Writings; no, not in the least iota; yet if accidentally, in Tranſcribing, or Printing, there ſhould be ſome ſuch Failure, I do not think that by and by that Copy were to be rejected, or the Authority of the Scriptures therefore to be called in queſtion, that men might ſet up themſelves above it. Some under pretence of being the Church, and others pretending the Spirit, whilſt they both reject the Church and the Spirit, as held forth in, and ſpeaking by the Holy Scriptures. A plain Instance of this, we have in the Papiſts, and most Paedo-Baptiſts, who whilst they ſeem to admire General Councils, Fathers, &c. they regard not the Decrees of the beſt Councils and Fathers, which were held by the Apoſtles and Elders, and Brethren at Jeruſalem, who among other things, forbid the eating of things ſtrangled, and Blood, which the Church obſerved for ſeveral hundred of years after [for indeed they were delivered to the Churches to be kept, not to be broken, Acts 16. 1, 2.] and yet without all Conſcience of theſe Decrees, they feed upon Blood, &c. And on the other ſide, how ridgidly do they impoſe the Decrees of the Trent Councils, in the Caſe of Tranſubstantiation (though never heard of before it was there invented) inſomuch as they have puniſhed with the cruelest Death, ſuch as in Conſcience could not ſubſcribe unto it. God give them a better Ʋnderſtanding, and more Moderation for the future.
But ye, Brethren, as you have received theſe Holy Decrees among the rest of the Heavenly Rules left unto us by the most Antient Fathers, even the Apostles of our Lord, ſo walk in them, and keep the Ordinances as they were delivered by them, who received them of the Lord. Now the Lord increaſe our Faith, that we may be able to stand fast in the Truth, and to overcome all Difficulties. So prays your Brother,
Thomas Grantham.
Hear the Church, &c. OR, AN EPITOME OF THE CHIEF CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN THE PAPISTS, AND THE Baptized Believers. By THOMAS GRANTHAM.
Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the Beginning: if that which ye have heard from the Beginning ſhall remain in you, ye alſo ſhall continue in the Son, and in the Father, and this is the Promiſe which he hath Promiſed us, even Eternal Life,
1 John.
Unto the perfect Words of the New-Teſtament nothing may be added, and from which nothing may be taken away, by him that will lead a Life agreeable to the Goſpel.
Apollinar. l. 5. c. 14.
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1687.