Of the Divine Original Authority, Treatise 2 · Chapter 5

Of the Divine Original Authority · Treatise 2 · Chapter 5

p. 259CHAP. V.

1 Arguments for the novelty of the Hebrew points, propoſed to conſideration. 2. The Argument from the Samaritan letters conſidered and Anſwered 3. Of the copy of the Law preſerved in the Synagogues without points: 4. The teſtimony of Elias Levita, and Aben Ezra conſidered. 5. Of the ſilence of the Miſhna, Talmud and Gemara about the points. 6. Of the Keri and Chethib. 7. Of the number of the points. 8. Of the Ancient Tranſlations, Greek, Chaldee, Syriak. 9. Of Hierome. 10. The new Argument of Morinus, in this cauſe: The concluſion about the neceſsity of the points.

Sect. 1. BUT Becauſe this ſeemes to be a matter of great importance, wherein the truth formerly pleaded for, appeares to be nearly concerned, p. 260I ſhall foreign very briefly conſider the Arguments that are uſually inſiſted on (as in theſe Prolegomena) to prove the points to be a novell Invention; I meane of the men, & at the time before mentioned. Particular Inſtances I ſhall not inſiſt upon: nor is it neceſſary I ſhould ſo doe; it hath been done already. The heads of Arguments which yet containe their ſtrength, are capable of a briefe diſpatch; which ſhall be given them in the order wherein they are repreſented by the Prolegomena; Proleg. 3. 38, 39, 40.

Sect. 2. 1 It is ſaid then, that whereas the old Hebrew letters, were the preſent Samaritan, the Samaritan letters having been alwayes without points as they yet continue, it is manifeſt that the Invention of the points muſt be of a later date than the change of the letters, which was in the days of Ezra, & ſo conſequently be the work of the poſtalmudical Maſſorites. Pergula Pictoris! This whole Objection is made up of moſt uncertaine conjectures. This is not a place to ſpeake at large of the p. 261Samaritans, Their Pentateuch and its Tranſlation. The Originall of that nation is knowne from the Scripture, as alſo their Worſhip of God, 2 Kings. 17. Their ſolemne Excommunication and caſting out from any intereſt among the people of God, is alſo recorded, Ezra. 9. Nehem. 6: and c. 13. Their continuance in their abominations after the cloſing of the Canon of the ſcripture is reported by Joſephus Antiq. lib. 11. c. 8. In the dayes of the Machabees they were conquered by Hyrcanus, and brought into ſubjection by the Jewes. Joſeph. Antiq. lib. 13: cap. 17. Yet their Will worſhip upon the credit of the tradition of their Fathers continued to the dayes of our Saviour, and their hatred to the people of God, Joh. 4. When, by whom, in what Character they firſt received the Pentateuch, is moſt uncertaine; not likely by the Prieſt ſent to them; for notwithſtanding his inſtructions they continued in open Idolatrie; which evidences that they had not ſo much as ſeen the booke of the Law. Probably this was done when they were p. 262quered by Hyrcanus, and their Temple razed after it had ſtood 200 yeares. So alſo did the Edomites. What Diligence they uſed in the preſervation of it, being never committed to them by God, we ſhall ſee afterwards. That there are any of them remaining at this day, or have been this 1000 yeares paſt, is unknowne. That the Letters of their Pentateuch were the ancient Hebrew letters, as Euſebius, Hierome and ſome of the Rabbins report, ſeemes to me (on the beſt enquiry I have been able to make) a groundleſſe Tradition and meere fable. The evidences tendred for to prove it, are much to weak to beare the weight of ſuch an Aſſertion. Euſebius ſpaeks only on report; affirmatur; it was ſo affirmed, on what ground he tels us not. Hierome indeed is more poſitive; but give me leave to ſay, that ſuppoſing this to be falſe, ſufficient inſtances of the like miſtakes may be given in him. For the Teſtimony of the Talmud, I have often declared, that with me it is of no weight, unleſſe ſeconded by very good evidence. And indeed the foundation of p. 263the whole ſtory is very vaine. The Jews are thought and ſaid to have forgot their own Characters in the Captivity, and to have learned the Chaldean, upon the account whereof they adhered unto it after their returne; when the ſame men were alive at the burning of one, and the building of the other Temple; that the men of one and the ſame generation ſhould forget the uſe of their own letters, which they had been exerciſed in, is incredible. Beſides they had their Bibles with them alwaies, and that in their own character only; whither they had any one other book or no we know not: and whence then this forgetting of one Character, and learning of another ſhould ariſe, doth not appeare. Nor ſhall I in ſuch an improbable fiction lay much weight on Teſtimonys, the moſt antient whereof is 600 years later then the pretended matter of fact.

Sect. 3. The moſt weighty proofe in this caſe is taken from the ancient Judaicall coines, taken up with Samaritan Characters upon them. We are now in the high p. 264road of forgeries and fables: in nothing hath the world been more cheated. But be it granted that the pretended coines are truly Ancient; muſt it needs follow, that becauſe the Letters were then known, and in uſe, that they only were ſo: that the Bible was written with them, and thoſe now in uſe unknown. To ſalve the credit of the coynes, I ſhall crave leave to anſwer this conjecture with another. The Samaritan Letters are plainly praeternaturall (If I may ſo ſay) a ſtudied inventiō; in their frame and figure fit to adorne, when extended or greatned by way of engraving or emboſſing any thing they ſhall be put upon, or cut in. Why may we not think they were invened for that purpoſe: namely to engrave on veſſels, & to ſtamp on coyne, & ſo came to be of ſome uſe in vvriting alſo. Their ſhape and frame promiſes ſome ſuch thing. And this is rendred the more probable from the practiſe of the Aegyptians, foreign. Clem. Alex. ſtromat. lib. 5.vvho as Clement Alexan: tells us, had 3 ſorts of letters, one vvhichwhich he calls foreign, p. 265vvith vvhichwhich they vvrote things of common uſe; another termed by him foreign, uſed by the Prieſts in the ſacred vvritings: and the other foreign: vvhichwhich alſo vvas of tvvo ſorts, ſimple and ſymbolicall. Seeing then it was no unuſuall thing to have ſundry ſorts of letters for ſundry purpoſes, it is not improbable that it vvas ſo alſo among the Jevvs: Not that they vvrote the ſacred vvritings in a peculiar character, as it vvere to hide thē, which is declaimed againſt, but only that the other Character might be in uſe for ſome purpoſes vvhichwhich is not unuſuall: I cannot think the Greeks of old uſed only the unciall letters, vvhichwhich yet vve knovv ſome did; though he did not, vvho vvrote Homers Iliads in no greater a volume, then would go into a nutſhell.

Sect. 4. But if that ſhould be granted, p. 266that cannot be proved, namely that ſuch a Change was made; yet this prejudices not them in the leaſt, who affirme Ezra and the men of the great Congregation to have been the Authors of the Points, ſeeing the Authors of this rumour affixed, that as the time wherein the old Hebrew letters were excommunicated out of the Church; together with the Samaritans. Nay it caſt a probability on the other hand, namely that Ezra laying aſide the old letters becauſe of their difficulty, together with the new, introduced the points to facilitate their uſe. Nor can it be made to appeare that the Samaritan letters had never any vowels affixed to them. Poſtellus affirmes that the Samaritans had points in the dayes of Hierome, and that their loſſe of them is the cauſe of their preſent corrupt reading. Punctis hodie quae habebant Hieronimi temporibus carent: legunt que ſine punctis admodum depravatè. Poſtell. Alphab. 12. lingua: There were alwaies ſome copies written without vowels, which might be preſerved, and the other loſt. That people (if we have any thing from p. 267them,) being wicked, ignorant, ſottiſh, ſuperſtitious, Idolatrous, rejectors of the greateſt part of the Scripture, Corruptors of what they had received, might neglect the taske of tranſcribing Copies with Points, becauſe a matter of ſo great Care and diligence to be performed aright. Nor is it improbable, what ever is pretended to the contrary, that continuing in their ſepation from the people of God, they might get the Law written in a Character of their own chooſing, out of hatred to the Jews. Now let any man judge, whither from this heap of Uncertaintyes any thing can ariſe with the face of a Witneſſe, to be admitted to give Teſtimony in the cauſe in hand. He that will part with his poſſeſſion on ſuch eaſy Tearms, never found much benefit in it.

Sect. 5. 2 The Conſtant Practice of the Jews in preſerving in their Synagogues one Book, which they almoſt adore, written without points, is alleadged to the ſame purpoſe; for what do they elſe hereby but tacitely acknowledge the Points p. 268to have an humane Originall. An: But it is certaine they do not ſo acknowledge them, neither by that practiſe, nor by any other way; it being the conſtant Opinion and perſwaſion of them all, (Elias only excepted) that they are of a divine extract; And if their Authority be to be urged, it is to be ſubmitted unto in one thing, as well as in another. 2 The Jews give a threefold account of this practiſe. Firſt, the difficulty of Tranſcribing Copies without any failing, the leaſt rendring the whole book as to its uſe in their Synagogues, profane. 2 The liberty they have thereby, to draw out various Senſes,, more eminent as they ſay, indeed more vaine and curious, then they have any advantage to doe, when the reading is reſtrained to one certaine ſenſe by the vowels and accents. 3 To keep all Learners in dependance on their Teachers, ſeeing they cannot learn the mind of God, but by their Expoſition: Rab: Azarias: lib. Jmre Bina: cap. 59. If theſe Reaſons ſatiſfie, not any as to the ground of that practiſe, they may be pleaſed to enquire of them for others, p. 269who intend to be bound by their Authority; That the Points were invented by ſome late Maſſorites, they will not informe them. For Jeſuiticall ſtories out of China, they are with me for the moſt part of the like credit with thoſe of the Jews in their Talmud; He that can believe all the miracles, that they worke, where men are not warned of their jugling, may credit them in other things. However, as I ſaid, I do not underſtand this Argument; the Jews keep a book in their Synagogues without points, therefore the points and accents were invented by the Tiberian Maſſorites; when they never read it, or rather ſing it, but according to every point and accent in ordinary uſe. Indeed the whole profound myſtery of this buſineſſe ſeems to be this; that none be admitted to read or ſing the Law in their Synagogues, untill he be ſo perfect in it, as to be able to obſerve exactly all points and Accents, in a book wherein there are none of them.

Sect. 6. 3. The teſtimony of Elias p. 270Levita, not only as to his own judgment, but alſo as to what he mentions from Aben Ezra and others, is inſiſted on. They affirme, ſaith he, that we have received the whole Punctation from the Tiberian Maſſorites. An. It is very true, that Elias was of that judgment; and it may well be ſuppoſed, that if that Opinion had not fallen into his mind, the world had been little acquainted with it at this day. That by receiving of the punctation from the Tiberians, the Continuation of it in their School, not the invention of it is intended by Aben Ezra, is beyond all exception evinced by Buxtorfius. De Punct. Antiq. p. 1. cap. 3. Nor can any thing be ſpoken more directly to the contrary of what is intended, than that which is urged in the Prolegomena from Aben Ezra, comment. in Exod. 25. 31. where he affirmes that he ſaw ſome books examind in all the letters, and the whole punctation by the wiſe men of Tiberias; namely to try, whether it were done exactly, according to the patterns they had. Beſides all Elias Arguments are notably anſwered by Rabbi Azarias; p. 271whoſe Anſwers are repeated by Joſeph de Voyſin in his moſt learned obſervations, on the Proemium of the Pugio fidei, pag. 91. 92. And the ſame Azarias ſhews the conſiſtency of the various opinions that were among the Jews about the vowels, aſcribing them as to their virtue and force, to Moſes, or God on mount Sinai; as to their figure and character to Ezra; as to the reſtauration of their uſe, unto the Maſſorites.

Sect. 7. 4. The ſilence of the Miskna Gemara, or whole Talmud concerning the Points is further urged. This Argument is alſo at large diſcuſſed by Buxtorfius, and the inſtances in it anſwered to the full: nor is it needfull for any man to adde any thing further, untill what he hath diſcourſed to this purpoſe be removed. See part. 1. cap. 6. See alſo Glaſsius lib. 1. Tract. 1… de Text. Hebrai punctat: who gives inſtances to the contrary; yea and the Talmud its ſelfe in Nedarim, or of vowes chap. 4. on Nehem. 8. 8▪ do plainly mention them: and Treatiſes antienter than the Talmud p. 272cited by Rabbi Azarias in Jmre Binah expreſly ſpeaks of them. It is to me a ſufficient evidence, able to overbeare the conjectures to the contrary, that the Talmudiſts both knew, and in their Readings were regulated by the points now in uſe, in that, as many learned men have obſerved, there is not one Text of Scripture to be found cited in the Talmud, in any other ſenſe, as to the literall reading and meaning of the word, then only that which it is reſtrained unto by the preſent punctation: when it is known that the Patrons of the Opinion under Conſideration, yeeld this conſtantly as one Reaſon of the 70 Tranſlators reading words and ſentences otherwiſe then we read them now in our Bibles; namely, becauſe the books they uſed were not pointed, whereby they were at liberty to conjecture at This or That ſenſe of the Word before them. This is one of the maine Pillars of Capellus his whole fabrick in his Critica Sacra. And how it can be fancied there ſhould be no variety between our preſent reading and the Talmudiſts, upon ſuppoſition p. 273they knew not the uſe of Points, I know not. Is it poſſible, on this ſuppoſition, there ſhould be ſuch a Coincidence between their and our preſent punctation; whereon the ſame principle, it ſeems, there are ſo many variations by the 70 and the Chaldee Paraphraſt?

Sect: 9. 5. Of the foreign which are pleaded in the next place to this purpoſe, I ſhall ſpeak afterwards. The difference in them is in the Conſonants, not in the Vowels, which yet argues not that there were no vowels, when they were collected, or diſpoſed as now we find them. Yea that there were no vowels in the Copies from whence they were collected (if they were ſo Collected) may be true; but that that Collection was made any later for the maine of it, then the daies of Ezra, doth not appeare. Now whatever was done about the Scripture in the Judaicall Church, before the times of our Saviour, is manifeſt to have been done by Divine Authority, in that it is no where by him reproved: but rather the integrity of every word is by p. 274him confirmed. But of theſe things diſtinctly by themſelves afterwards we are to ſpeak.

Sect. 10. A ſixth Argument for the novelty of the Points is taken from their number; for whereas it is ſaid all kinds of ſounds may be expreſſed by 5 vowels, we are in the preſent Hebrew punctation ſupplied with 14 or 15: which as it is affirmed, manifeſts abundantly that they are not Coaevous or Connaturall to the language it ſelfe, but the Arbitrary, artificiall invention of men, who have not aſſigned a ſufficient difference in their force and ſound to diſtinguiſh them in pronunciation. But this objection ſeems of ſmall importance. The ground of it is an Apprehenſion, that we ſtill retaine exactly the true pronuntiation of the Hebrew Tongue, which is evidently falſe. It is now neer 2000 years, ſince that Tongue was vulgarly ſpoken in its purity by any people or nation. To imagine that the True, exact, diſtinct pronunciation of every Tittle and ſyllable in it, as it was uſed by them, to whom it was p. 275vulgar and naturall, is communicated unto us, or is attainable by us, is to dreame pleaſantly whilſt we are awake. Aben Ezra makes it no ſmall matter that men of old knew aright how to pronounce Camets Gadol. Saith he foreign The men of Tiberias, alſo the wiſe men of Aegypt and Africa knew how to read Camets Gadol. 2 Even the diſtinct force of one Conſonant, and that alwaies radicall foreign is utterly loſt, ſo that the preſent Jews know nothing of its pronuntiation. 3 Nor can we diſtinguiſh now between foreign and foreign between foreign and foreign. Though the Jews tell us that the wiſe men of Tiberias could do ſo 1200 years agoe; as alſo between foreign and foreign & foreign and foreign Nor is the diſtinct ſound of foreign ſo obvious unto us. The variety of Conſonants among many nations, and their Ability to diſtinguiſh them in pronuntiation, makes this of little Conſideration. The whole nation of the Germanes diſtinguiſh not between the force and ſound of T and D, whereas the Arabick Dal and Dhſal, Dad, Ta and Da manifeſt p. 276how they can diſtinguiſh thoſe …ounds. Nor are the Jews foreign anſwered diſtinctly in any other language; to diſtinguiſh ſome of which, Good old Hjerome had his Teeth filed by the direction of his**Veni rurſum Hieroſ…lymam, & Bethlehem ubi labore pretii Bartemium Judaeum nocturnum habut praeceptorem, timehat enim Judaeos, & exhibebat ſe mibi, alium Nicodemum. Hieron: Epiſt. ad Oceanum. Nicodemus. 6. The truth is, the Hebrews have but 10 vowels, 5 long, and 5 ſhort, or 5 great and 5 leſſe; Sheva is but a ſervant to all the reſt; and its addition to Segol and Patha makes no new vowels. To diſtinguiſh between Camets Hateph, and Hateph Camets there is no Colour. Seven only of them, as Morinus hath manifeſted out of R. Jehuda Chiug, one of the firſt Grammarians among the Jews, namely, foreign they called (of old) Kings, or the chiefe Rulers of all the motions of the letters. So that indeed they have not ſo many figures to diſtinguiſh ſounds by, with all their vowels, as have the Greeks. Beſides the 7 vowels they have twelve dipthongs, and three of them as to any peculiar p. 277ſound as mute as Sheva. Literas ſemper arbitror Aſſyrias fuiſſe, ſed alii apud Aegyptio… à Mercur…o, ut Gelbus; alii apud Tyros repertas volunt: uti que in Graeciam intuleſſe è Phoenice Cadmum …exdecem numero, quibus …rojano bello adjeciſſe quatuor hāc figurâ foreign. Palimedem totidem, poſt eum Simonidem Melicum foreign, quarum omnium vis in noſtris cognoſcitur; Plinius Nat. Hiſt. lib. 7. cap. 56. quae quis in vitâ …nvenerit.It is true, Pliny tells us that Simonides Melicus found out two of the vowels, foreign and foreign, as he did alſo two Conſonants foreign & foreign: but ſurely he did ſo, becauſe he found them needfull to anſwer the diſtinct ſounds uſed in that language, or he had deſerved little thanks for his invention. Speaking lately with a worthy learned friend, about an univerſall Character, which hath been mentioned by many, attempted by divers,Dr. Walkins Ward: of Wad. Col. and by him brought to that perfection, as will doubtleſſe yeild much, if not univerſall ſatisfaction unto learned and prudent men, when he ſhall be pleaſed to communicate his thoughts upon it to the world; we fell occaſionally on the difference of apert ſounds or vowells, which when I heard him with good Reaſon affirme to be 8 or 9, remembring this Argument p. 278about the Hebrew points, I deſired him to give his thoughts in a few words the next day, which he did accordingly; now becauſe his diſcourſe ſeems evidently to diſcover the vanity of this pretence, that the Hebrew vowels are an arbitrary invention from their number, I have here inſerted it.

Apert ſounds are either

Simple. Vowels.

Double. Dipthongs.

1 Apert ſimple ſounds are diſtinguiſhable

Formally.

Acccidentally.

1 The Formall difference is that which doth conſtitute ſeverall letters, and muſt depend upon the various Apertion, required to the making of them, together with the Gravity or Acuteneſse of the tone which is made by them. According to which there are at leaſt eight ſimple vowels, that are by us eaſily diſtinguiſhable. viz.

1

2

E

magis Acutum, as in He, me, ſhe, ye, &c.

minus Acutum, as the Engliſh, The: the Latine, me, te, ſe, &c.

3 I or Y, which are both to be accounted of one power and ſound. Shi, di: Thy my:

4

5

A

magis Apertum. All, tall, gall, wall.

minus Apertum. Ale, tale, gale, wele.

p. 2796

7

O

Rotundū, minus grave, as the Engliſh. Go. ſo. no. the Latine. De.

magis grave & pingue. as the Engliſh. Do. to. who.

8 U as in Tu. uſe, us &c.

So many apert ſimple ſounds there are evidently diſtinguiſhable, I would be loth to ſay that there neither are, nor can be any more; for who knowes, how many other minute differences of Apertion, and Gravity, may be now uſed, or hereafter found out by others, which practiſe and cuſtome, may make as eaſy to them as theſe are to us.

2 But beſides this formall difference, they are ſome of them Accidentally diſtinguiſhable from one another, with reference to the quantity of time required to their prolation, whereby the ſame Vowell becomes ſometimes

Long

Short

So E. min. Acute.

Long

Short

mete ſteme

met ſtem

p. 280I

L alive, Give, Drive, title, Thine.

S Live, give, Driven,—☞ ie tittle, Thin.

A

L Bate,A, min. Apert. hate, cate, ſame, dame—ae

S Bat, hat, cat—Sam. dam.

O. Rotund.

L. one, none, note &c. …oe veloa

S. one (non Lat.) not.

U

L. uſe, Tune, pule, acute.—ue

S. us, Tun. pull, cutt.

The other remaining vowels. viz. E. magis Acut. A. magis Apert. & O. magis grave, doe not change their Quantities but are alwaies long.

2 Dipthongs are made of the Complexion of two Vowels in one Syllable, where the ſounds of both are heard. Theſe are,

1 Ei. Ey.—Hei Lat. They.

2 Ea. eate, meate, ſeate, Teate, yea, plea.

3 Eu, ew. Few, Dew. Heu. Lat.

4 Ai, Ay. Aide, ſaide, pay, day.

5 Au, Aw. Audience, Author, Law, Draw.

6 Oi, Oy. Point, ſoile, Boy, Toy.

p. 2817 Ou, Ow. Rout, ſtout. How, now.

8 Ui, Uy. Bui, juice.

9 Eo, Yeoman, People.

How other dipthongs (which have been uſed may be ſignificant for the expreſsion of long Vowels, ſee noted above. ☞

There is then very little weight to be ventred upon the ſtrength of this Objection

Proleg. 8. 46. Sect. 11. 7: It is further pleaded that the ancient tranſlations the Greeke, the Caldee and the Syriack, doe manifeſt that at the time of their Compoſing the points were not invented; And that becauſe in ſundry places it is evident that they read otherwiſe, or the words with other points (I meane as to the force and ſound, not figure of them) than thoſe now affixed. For this purpoſe very many inſtances are given us out of the Seventy eſpecially by Capellus: Grotius alſo takes the ſame courſe. But neither is the Objection of any force to turne the Scale p. 282in the matter under Conſideration. Somewhat will in the cloſe of this diſourſe be ſpoken of thoſe Tranſlations. The differences that may bee obſerved in them eſpecially the former, would as well prove, that they had other Conſonants, that is that the Copies they uſed had other letters and words then ours, as other vowels. Yea if we muſt ſuppoſe where they differ from our preſent Reading, they had other and better Copies, it is moſt Certaine that we muſt grant ours to be very Corrupt. Hoc Ithacus vellet; nor can this inference be avoided, as ſhall God willing be further manifeſted if Occaſion be adminiſtred. The truth is, the preſent Copies that we have of the Seventy doe in many places ſo vary from the Originall, that it is beyond all Conjecture what ſhould occaſion it. I wiſh ſome would try their skill upon ſome part of Job, the Pſalmes and the Prophets, to ſee if by all their inquiries of extracting various lections, they can find out how they read in their Books, if they rendered as they read; and we enjoy what they rendred. Symeon de Muys tels us a p. 283very pretty ſtory of himſelfe to this purpoſe; Aſſert. Heb. Vind. Sect. 1: as alſo how ridiculous he was in his attempt. But I ſhall recall that deſire; The ſcripture indeed is not ſo to be dealt withall; we have had too much of that work already. The Rabbinicall foreign is not to be Compared, with ſome of our Criticks Temura and Notaricon. Of the Chaldee Paraphraſe I ſhall ſpeake afterwards. It ſeemes not to be of the Antiquity pretended. It is not mentioned by Joſephus, nor Origen, nor Hierome; but this will not impeach its Antiquity. But whereas it is moſt certaine that it was in high eſteeme and reverence among all the Jewes before the time aſſigned for the punctation of the points, it ſeemes ſtrange that they ſhould in diſpoſing of them, differ from it voluntarily in ſo many places.

2^ly. Beſides, though theſe Tranſlatours or any of them, might uſe Copies without vowels, as it is confeſſed that alwayes ſome ſuch there were, as ſtill there are, yet it doth not follow at all, that therefore the points were not found p. 284out nor in uſe. But more of this, when we come to ſpeake diſtinctly of theſe Tranſlations.

Sect. 12. 8 Of the ſame importance is that which is in the laſt place inſiſted on, from the ſilence of Hierome and others of the Ancients, as to the uſe of the points among the Hebrewes. But Hierome ſaw not all things, not the Chaldee Paraphraſe, which our Authors ſuppoſe to have beene extant at leaſt 400 yeares before him; So it cannot be made Evident that he mentioned all that he ſaw. To ſpeak expreſly of the Vowels he had no Occaſion, there was then no Controverſy about them. Nor were they then diſtinctly knowne by the names wherby they are now called. The whole Current of his Tranſlation argues that he had the Bible as now pointed. Yea, Learned men have manifeſted by inſtances that ſeeme of irrefragable evidence, that he had the uſe of them. Or it may be he could not obtaine a pointed Copy, but was inſtructed by his Jew in the right pronuntiation of words. Copies were then ſcarce, p. 285and the Jewes full of envy: all theſe things are uncertaine. See Munſter: Praefat. ad Bib. The Truth is, either I cannot underſtand his words, or he doth poſitively affirme, that the Hebrew had the uſe of Vowels; in his Epiſtle to Evagrius, Epiſt. 126: nec refert utrum Salem an Salim nominetur, cū vocalibus in medio litteris perrarò utantur hebraei; if they did it perrarò, they did it; and then they had them; though in thoſe dayes to keep up their credit in teaching, they did not much uſe them; nor can this be ſpoken of the ſound of the Vowels, but of their figures. for ſurely they did not ſeldome uſe the ſounds of Vewels, if they ſpake often: And many other Teſtimonies from him may be produced to the ſame purpoſe.

Sect. 13. Morinus in his late Opuſcula Hebraea Samaritica, in his Digreſſion againſt the Hebrew points and Accents the firſt part pag: 209: brings in a new Argument to prove that the puncta vocalia were invented by the Jewiſh Gramarians, however the diſtinction of ſections p. 286might be before. This he attempts out of a diſcourſe of Aben Ezra concerning the ſucceſſive meanes of the preſervation of the Scripture: firſt by the men of the great Synagogue, then by the Maſſorites, then by the Grammarians. As he aſſignes all theſe their ſeverall workes, ſo to the Grammarians the skill of Knowing the progreſſes of the holy tongue, the generation of the Kingly points and of Sheva, as he is by him there cited at large. After he labours to prove by ſundry inſtances, that the Puncta vocalia are by him called Reges, and not the Accents as is now the uſe. And in the Addenda to his booke praefixed to it, he triumphs upon a diſcovery that the vowels are ſo called by Rabbi Jehuda Chiug the moſt Antient of the Jewiſh Grammarians. The buſines is now it ſeemes quite finiſhed; and he cryes out; Oculis aliorum non egemus amplius, foreign nunc ſumus. A ſacrifice is doubtleſſe due to this dragge of Morinus. But quid dignum tanto.

Sect. 14. 1 The place inſiſted on by him out of Aben Ezra, was ſome p. 287yeares before produced, weighed and explained by Buxtorfe out of his foreign or the ſtandard of the holy tongue, De punct. Orig. Part. 1. pag. 13. 14. cap. 3: and it is not unlikely, from Morinus his Praeface to his Conſideration of that place, that he fixed on it ſome yeares agoe, that he learned it from Buxtorfius, by the proviſion that he layes in againſt ſuch thoughts; for what is it to the Reader when Morinus made his Obſervations; The manner of the men of that ſociety in other things gives ſufficient grounds for this ſuſpicion. And Simeon de Muys intimates that he had dealt before with the Father as he now deales with the Son. Cenſur. in Excercitat. 4. cap. 7. pag. 17: himſelfe with great and rare ingenuity acknowledging what he received of him. Aſſ. Text. Heb. ver. cap. 5. Dicéſve me haec omnia mutuatum à Buxtorfio? quidni verò mutuor, ſi neceſſe erit. But what is the great diſcovery here made? That the puncta vocalia are ſome of them called Reges; The accents have now got that Appellation; ſome of them are Reges, p. 288and ſome miniſtri: So that the preſent ſtate of Things, in reference to Vowels and Accents is but Novell. 2^ly. That the Grammarians invented theſe regia puncta as Aben Ezra ſayes.

Sect. 15. But I pray what cauſe of Triumph or boaſting is in all this goodly diſcovery? was it ever denyed by any, that the caſting of the names of the vowels and accents, with the Titles was the worke of the Grammarians; was it not long ſince obſerved by many that the 5 long Vowels with foreign and foreign were called of old Reges? And that the diſtinction of the Vowels into long and ſhort was an invention of the Chriſtians rather than Jewiſh Grammarians; the Jewes calling them ſome abſolutely reges, ſome great and ſmall, ſome matres & filias. But then ſaith he, the Grammarians were the Inventours of theſe points, why ſo? Aben Ezra refers this unto the worke of the Grammarians, to know the progreſſes of the holy tongue, the generation of thoſe things, &c: but can any thing be more evident againſt his deſigne than his owne teſtimony? p. 289It was the worke of the Grammarians to know theſe things, therefore not to invent them; Did they invent the Radicall and ſervile Letters? Surely they alſo then invented the tongue; for it conſiſts of letters Radicall and Servile, of points and accents; & yet this is alſo aſcribed to them by Aben-Ezra. But it is well that Morinus hath at length lighted upon R. Jehuda Chiug: His Opinion before was collected out of Kimchi, Ephodius, Muſcatus and others. But what ſayes he now himſelfe? for ought appeares by what we have quoted by Morinus, he is like to prove a Notable witneſſe of the Antiquity of the points. It may be well ſuppoſed that Morinus writing on ſet purpoſe againſt their Antiquity would produce that Teſtimony which in his whole Authour was moſt to his purpoſe; And yet he fixes on one, wherein this Antient Grammarian who lived about the yeares of Chriſt. 1150, or 1200; gives us an account of the points with their names without the leaſt intimation of any thing to the impeachment of their Divine Originall; p. 290So alſo the ſame Aben Ezra on Pſal. 9. verſ. 7: tels us, of one Adonim Ben-lafrad who long before this R. Jehuda found foreign for foreign in an ancient Copy. And therefore when Morinus comes to make the Concluſion of his Argument, diſcovering it ſeemes himſelfe the folly of the pretence, that the points were invented by the Grammarians, the laſt ſort of men mentioned by Aben Ezra, he ſayes, procul omni dubio eſt, & luce meridianâ clarius Aben Ezram ſenſiſſe omnium Vocalium punctationem à Maſſorithis Tiberienſibus, & Grammaticis, qui hos ſequuti ſunt Originem ducere. But of theſe Maſſorites there is not one word in the premiſes, nor is any ſuch thing aſſigned unto them by Aben Ezra; But quite another imployment, of making an hedge about the Law by their obſervations on all the words of it; And had he dreamed of their inventing the points, he would ſure enough have aſſigned that worke to them; and for the Grammarians, his owne Teſtimony lyes full to the Contrary.

p. 291Sect. 16. And theſe are the heads of the Arguments inſiſted on by Capellus and others, and by theſe Prolegomena, to prove the Hebrew punctation to be an invention of the Jewes of Tiberias 500 yeares or more after the incarnation of Chriſt. Brevis Cantilena, ſed longum Epiphonema. As I have not here deſigned to anſwer them at large, with the various inſtances produced to give Countenance unto them, (Nor is it needfull for any ſo to doe, untill the Anſwer already given to them be removed) ſo by the ſpecimen given of their nature and kind, the ſober and pious Reader may eaſily judge whether there be any force in them, to evert the perſwaſion oppoſed by them; Grounded on the Catholicke tradition and conſent of the Jewes, The uncontradicted reception of them abſolutely, without the leaſt Oppoſition all the world over by Jewes and Chriſtians, the very nature of the punctation it ſelfe following the Genius of the language not ariſing or flowing from any Artificiall Rules, the impoſſibility p. 292of aſſigning any Authour to it ſince the dayes of Ezra, but only by ſuch looſe conjectures and imaginations as ought not to be admitted to any plea and place in this weighty Cauſe; All attended with that great uncertainty, which without their owning of theſe points to be of divine Originall we ſhall be left unto, in all Tranſlations and expoſitions of the Scripture. It is true; whileſt the Hebrew language was the Vulgar tongue of the nation, and was ſpoken by every one uniformely every where, It had been poſſible, that upon a ſuppoſition that there were no points, men without infallible guidance and direction might poſſibly affix notes and figures, which might with ſome exactneſſe anſwer the Common pronuntiation of the Language, and ſo conſequently exhibit the true and proper ſenſe and meaning of the words themſelves. But when there had been an interruption of a 1000 yeares in the Vulgar uſe of the language, it being preſerved pure only in one Booke; to ſuppoſe that the true and exact proauntiation of every p. 293letter, tittle and ſyllable was preſerved alive by or all Tradition, not written any where, not Commonly ſpoken by any, is to build Townes and Caſtles of imaginations, which may be as eaſily caſt downe as they are erected, Yet unleſſe this be ſuppoſed, (which with no Colour of reaſon can be ſuppoſed, which is yet ſo, by Capellus and the learned Authour of the Prolegomena) it muſt be granted, that the great Rule of all preſent Tranſlations, expoſitions, and Comments, that have been made in the Church of God for ſome 100^d. of yeares, is the Arbitrary invention of ſome few Jewes, living in an obſcure Corner of the world under the Curſe of God, in their unbeliefe and blindneſſe. The only Reliefe in the Prolegomena, againſt this amazing inference, is, as was ſaid, that the Maſſorites affixed not the preſent punctation arbitrarily, (ſo alſo Capellus) but according to the Tradition they had received. What weight is to be laid upon ſuch a Tradition for neere a Thouſand yeares (above according to Morinus) is eaſily to be p. 294imagined. Nor let men pleaſe themſelves with the pretended facility of learning the Hebrew language without Points and Accents, and not only the language, but the true & proper reading and diſtinction of it in the Bible. Let the Points and Accents be wholy removed, and all Apprehenſions of the ſenſe ariſing, by the reſtraint and diſtinction of the words as now pointed; and then turne in the drove of the Learned Criticks of this Age upon the noted Conſonants, and we ſhall quickly ſee what wofull worke, yea Havocke of ſacred Truth will be made amongſt them. Were they ſhut up in ſeverall Cells, I ſhould ſcarcely expect the Harmony & agreement amongſt thē, which is fabulouſly reported to have been in the like caſe among the 70. The Jewes ſay, & that truly foreign No man can lift up his tongue to read without punctation. And, ſi rationi in his & ſimilibus dominium concedamus, toti mutabuntur libri, in literis, vocibus, & ſententiis, & ſic res ipſa quoque mutabitur. lib. Coſri. 1. Par. 3. pag. 28. And thus have I p. 295with all poſſible brevity vindicated the poſition formerly inſiſted on, from this grand exception, which might be juſtly feared from the principles laid downe in the Prolegomena.