Of the Divine Original Authority, Treatise 2 · Chapter 7

Of the Divine Original Authority · Treatise 2 · Chapter 7

p. 309CAAP. VII.

1 Of gathering various lections by the help of Tranſlations. 2 The proper uſe and benefit of Tranſlations. Their new pretended uſe. 3 The ſtate of the Originalls on this new pretence. 4 Of the Remedy tendred to the reliefe of that ſtate. 5 No copies of old differing in the leaſt from thoſe we now enjoy, from the Teſtimony of our Saviour. 6 No Teſtimony new or old to that purpoſe. 7 Requiſites unto Good Tranſlations. 8 Of the Tranſlations in the Biblia Polyglotta: of the Arabick. 9 Of the Syriack. 10 Of the Samaritan Pentateuch. 11 Of the Chaldee Paraphraſe. 12 Of the Vulgar Latine. 13 Of the Seventy. 14 Of the Tranſlation of the New Teſtament: of the Perſian. 15 Of the Aethiopian. 16 The value of theſe Tranſlations as to the work in hand. 17 Of the ſuppoſition of Groſſe corruption in the Originals. 18 Of various p. 310lections out of Grotius. 19 Of the Appendix in Generall.

Sect. 5. BEcauſe it is the judgment of ſome, that yet other objections may be raiſed againſt the Theſis pleaded for, from what is affirmed in the Prolegomena about gathering various lections by the help of Tranſlations, and the inſtances of that good work given us in the Appendix, I ſhall cloſe this diſcourſe with the conſideration of that Pretence.

Sect. 2. The great and ſignall uſe of various Tranſlations, which hitherto we have eſteemed them for, was the help afforded by them in Expoſitions of the Scripture. To have repreſented unto us in one view the ſeverall Apprehenſions and judgments of ſo many worthy and learned men, as were the Authors of theſe Tranſlations, upon the Originall words of the Scripture, is a ſignall help and Advantage unto men enquiring into the mind and will of God in his Word. That Tranſlations were of any other uſe formerly, was p. 311not apprehended. They are of late preſented unto us under another notion: namely, as means and helps of correcting the Originall, and finding out the Corruptions that are in our preſent copies, ſhewing that the Copies which their Authors uſed, did really differ from thoſe which we now enjoy, and uſe. For this rare Invention we are, as for the former, chiefly beholding to the learned and moſt diligent Capellus, who is followed, as in ſundry inſtances himſelfe declares, by the no leſſe learned Grotius. To this purpoſe the ſcene is thus laid. It is ſuppoſed of old there were ſundry Copies of the old Teſtament differing in many things, words, ſentences, from thoſe we now enjoy. Out of theſe Copies ſome of the Antient Tranſlations have been made. In their Tranſlations they expreſſe the ſenſe and meaning of the Copies they made uſe of. Hence by conſidering what they deliver, where they differ from our preſent copies, we may find out, (that is, learned men who are expert at Conjectures may do ſo) how thay read in theirs. Thus may we come to a further p. 312diſcovery of the Various Corruptions that are crept into the Hebrew Text, and by the help of thoſe Tranſlations amend them. Thus Capellus. The learned Author of our Prolegomena handles this buſineſſe Prol. 6. I do not remember that he expreſly any where affirmes, that they had other Copies then thoſe we now enjoy; But whereas (beſides the keri and ketib, the various readings of Ben Aſher, and Ben Napthali, of the Eaſt and Weſterne Jews) there are through the neglect, oſcitancy, and frailty of the Tranſcribers, many things befallen the Text, not ſuch failings as happening in one Copy, may be eaſily rectified by others, which are not to be regarded as various lections, nor ſuch as may be Collected out of any Antient Copies, but faults, or miſtakes in all the Copies we enjoy, or have ever been known, by the help and uſe of Tranſlations, conjecturing how they read in their books, either vvith other words, or letters, Conſonants or Points, vve may collect Various lections, as out of the Originall; What this Opinion upon the matter differeth from that of p. 313Capellus I ſee not; for the difference between our Copies, and thoſe of old, are by him aſſigned to no other Originall; nor doth Capellus ſay that the Jewes have voluntarily corrupted the Text; but only that alterations are befallen it, by the meanes and waies recounted in the Prolegomena. To make this evident by Inſtances! we have a great number of ſuch Various Lections gathered by Grotius in the Appendix. The truth is, how the Volume ſhould come under that name, at firſt View I much wondred. The greateſt part of it, gives us no Various Lections of the Hebrew Text as is pretended; but Various interpretations of others from the Hebrew. But the Prolegomena ſalve that ſeeming difficulty. The particulars aſſigned as Various Lections, are not differing readings collected out of any Copies extant, or ever knowne to have been extant, but Criticall conjectures of his own for the amendment of the Text, or at moſt Conjectures upon the reading of the words by Tranſlatours, eſpecially the 70 and Vulgar latine.

p. 314Sect. 3. Let us now Conſider our diſeaſe intimated, and the Remedy praeſcribed; together with the improbability of the one, and the unſuitableneſſe of the other as to the removeall of it; being once ſuppoſed. The diſtemper pretended is dreadfull, and ſuch, as it may well prove mortall to the Sacred truth of the Scripture. The ſumme of it as was declared before, is that there were of old ſundry Copies extant, differing in many things from thoſe we now enjoy, according to which, the ancient Tranſlations were made; whence it is come to paſſe, that in ſo many places they differ from our preſent Bibles even all that are extant in the world; So Capellus; or that there are Corruptions befallen the Text (Varieties from the foreign) that may be found by the help of Tranſlations, as our Prolegomena.

Sect. 4. Now whereas the firſt Tranſlation that ever was, as is pretended, is that of the 70, and that of all others, excepting only thoſe which have been tranſlated p. 315out of it, doth moſt vary and differ from our Bible, as may be made good by ſome 1000^ds of inſtances, we cannot but be exceedinly uncertaine in finding out wherein thoſe Copies, which as it is ſaid, were uſed by them, did differ from ours, or wherein ours are Corrupted; but are left unto endleſſe uncertaine Conjectures. What ſenſe others may have of this diſtemper I know not; for my owne part I am ſollicitous for the Arke; or the Sacred truth of the Originall; And that becauſe I am fully perſwaded that the Remedy and reliefe of this evill, provided in the Tranſlations, is unfitted to the Cure, yea fitted to increaſe the diſeaſe. Some other Courſe then muſt be taken. And ſeeing the Remedy, is notoriouſly inſufficient to effect the Cure, let us try whether the whole diſtemper be not a meere fancy, and and ſo doe what in us lye to prevent that Horrible and outragious violence, which will undoubtedly be offered to the Sacred Hebrew verity, if every Learned Mountibanke may be allowed to practiſe upon it, with his p. 316Conjectures from Tranſlations.

Sect. 5. It is well knowne that the Tranſlation of the Seventy, if it have the Originall pretended, and which alone makes it conſiderable, was made and finiſhed 300 years or nere thereabout, before the Incarnation of our Saviour, that was, in that time and ſeaſon wherein the Oracles of God were committed to the Jewes whileſt that Church and people were the only people of God, accepted with him, deſigned by him keepers of his Word for the uſe of the whole Church of Chriſt to come, as the great and bleſſed foundation of truth. A time when there was an Authentique Copy of the whole Scripture, as the Rule of all others kept in the Temple; now can it be once imagined that there ſhould be at that time ſuch notorious varieties in the Copies of the Scripture through the negligence of that Church, & yet afterwards neither our Saviour nor his Apoſtles take the leaſt notice of it; yea doth not our Saviour himſelfe affirme of the word that thē was amōg the Jews, that p. 317not foreign or foreign of it, ſhould paſſe away or periſh, where let not the points but the Conſonants themſelves with their Apices be intended or alluded unto in that expreſſion; yet of that word which was tranſlated by the Seventy, according to this hypotheſis, and which aſſuredly they then had if ever, not only letters and Tittles, but words, and that many, are concluded to be loſt. But that no Jew believes the figment we are in the conſideration of, I could ſay, credat Apella.

Sect. 6. 2. Waveing the conſideration of our refuge in theſe caſes, namely the good providence and care of God in the preſervation of his word, let the Authours of this Inſinuation prove the aſſertion; namely that there was ever in the world any other Copy of the Bible, differing in any one word from thoſe that we now enjoy; let them produce one Teſtimony, one Authour of credit, Jew or Chriſtian, that can, or doth, or ever did, ſpeak one word to this purpoſe. Let them direct us to any relick, any monument, any p. 318kind of Remembrance of them, and not put us off with weak conjectures, upon the ſignification of one or two words, and it ſhall be of weight with us? Is it meet that a matter of ſo huge importance, called into Queſtion by none but themſelves ſhould be caſt and determined by their conjectures? doe they think that men will part with the poſſeſſion of Truth upon ſo eaſy tearmes? that they will be caſt from their inheritance by divination? but they will ſay is it not evident that the old Tranſlatours did make uſe of other Copies, in that we ſee how they have tranſlated many Words, and places, ſo as it was not poſſible they ſhould have done, had they rendred our Copy according to what we now read; But will indeed this be pleaded? may it not be extended to all places, as well as to any? and may not men plead ſo for every variation made by the Seaventy from the Originall; they had other Copies then any now are extant; better all old Tranſlations ſhould be conſumed out of the Earth, then ſuch a figment ſhould be admitted. That there p. 319are innumerable other Reaſons to be aſſigned of the Variations from the Originall; as the Tranſlatours owne inadvertency, negligence, Ignorance, (for the wiſeſt ſee not all,) deſire to expound and cleare the ſenſe, &, as it was likely, of altering & varying many things from the Originall, with the innumerable corruptions & Interpolations that have befallen that Tranſlation, indifferently well witneſſed unto by the various lections exhibited in the Appendix, it were eaſy to manifeſt; ſeeing then, that neither the care of God over his Truth, nor the fidelity of the Judaicall Church whileſt the Oracles of God were committed thereunto, will permit us to entertaine the leaſt ſuſpicion, that there was ever in the world any Copy of the Bible differing in the leaſt from that which we enjoy, or that thoſe we have are corrupted as is pretended; and ſeeing that the Authours of that inſinuation cannot produce the leaſt teſtimony to make it good foreign through the mercy and goodneſſe of God in the entire unqueſtionable poſſeſsion p. 320of his Oracles once committed to the Jewes, and the faith therein once committed to the Saints.

But now to ſuppoſe, that ſuch indeed hath been the condition of the holy Bible in it's Originalls as is pretended let us conſider whether any reliefe in this caſe be to be expected from the Tranſlations exhibited unto us with much paines, care, and diligence in theſe Biblia-Polyglotta, and ſo at once determine that Queſtion, whether this be any part of the uſe of Tranſlations, be they never ſo ancient, namely to correct the Originals by, leaving further diſcuſſion of ſundry things in and about them to other Exercitations.

Sect. 7 1. That all, or any Tranſlation, may be eſteemed uſefull for this purpoſe, I ſuppoſe without any contention it will be granted. (1.) That we be certaine concerning them, that they are tranſlated out of the Originalls themſelves, and not out of the Interpretations of them that went before them; for if that appeare, all their Authority as to the p. 321buſineſſe enquired after, falls to the ground, or is at beſt reſolved into that former, whence they are taken, if they are at agreement therewith; otherwiſe they are a thing of naught; and this one conſideration, will be found to lay hold of one moiety of theſe Tranſlations:

2^ly That they be of venerable Antiquity, ſo as to be made when there were other Copies of the Originall in the world beſides that which we now enjoy.

3^ly. That they be knowne to be made by men of ability and integrity, found in the faith, and conſcientiouſly carefull not to adde or detract from the Originalls they made the Tranſlation out of; If all theſe things at leaſt, concurre not in a Tranſlation, it is moſt undenyably evident that it can be of no uſe, as to aſſiſt in the finding out what corruptions have befallen our Copies; and what is the true Lection of any place about which any differences do ariſe. Let us then, as without any prejudice in our ſelves, ſo without (I hope) any offence to others, very briefly conſider the ſtate and condition of the p. 322Tranſlations given us in the Biblia Polyglotta as to the Qualifications layd downe.

Sect. 8. Let us then take a view of ſome of the chiefeſt of them without obſerving any order; ſeeing there is no more Reaſon for that which is layd down in this Appendix then for any other that may be fixed on; I ſhall begin with the Arabick, for the honour I beare to the renounedly learned publiſher of it & the various lections of the ſeverall Copies thereof; and the rather becauſe he hath dealt herein with his wonted candor, giving in a cleare and learned account of the Originall and Nature of that Tranſlation, which I had for the ſubſtance of it, received from him in a diſcourſe before, wherein alſo he gave me a ſatisfactory account concerning ſome other tranſlations, which I ſhall not need now to mention; though I ſhall only ſay his judgment in ſuch things is to be eſteemed at leaſt equall, with any now alive.

Then he tells us upon the matter that this Tranſlation is a Cento made up of many ill ſuted pieces, there being no Tranſlation in that Language extant; I ſpeake of the old Teſtament; 2^ly. For the Antiquity p. 323of the moſt ancient part of it was made about the yeare 4700 of the Jews account, that is of Chriſt 950. 3^ly. It was as to the Pentateuch tranſlated by R: Saadias Haggaon. 4^ly. That it is interpreted & changed in ſundry things by ſome other perſō. 5^ly. That he who made theſe chāges ſeem'd to have ſo done that he might the better thereby foreign as to ſome particular Opinion of his own, whereof ſundry inſtances are given. 6^ly. That he ſeemes to have been a Mahumetan, or at leaſt much to have favoured them, as appeares from other Evidences, ſo from the inſcription of his worke with that ſoleme motto taken out of the Alcoran, in nomine Dei miſeratoris, miſericordis. 6^ly. It may be thought alſo that ſome other, a Jew, or a Samaritan had his hand in corrupting the laſt Tranſlation. 7^ly. Who thought to ſtamp a divine Authority upon his particular Opinions. 8^ly. That the foundation of this Tranſlation now printed bein that of Saadias, it is obſervable that he profeſſeth, that he did both adde and detract according as he thought meet, that ſo he might ſet out, the hidden (Cabbaliſticall) p. 324underſtanding of the Scripture. 9^ly. That the other Arabick Tranſlations that are extant, are out of the Seventy: either immediately, or by the Syriack which was Tranſlated out of it: on theſe and the like heads doth that Oracle of the Eaſterne learning, who hath not only (as ſome) learned the words of ſome of thoſe Languages, but ſearched with great diligence and judgment into the nature of the learning extant in them, and the importance of the Bookes we have, diſcourſe in that preface. It is the way of Scioliſts when they have obtained a little skill in any language or ſcience to perſwade the World that all worth and wiſdome lyes therein; men throughly learned, and whoſe learning is regulated by a ſound Judgment, know that the true uſe of their abilities conſiſts in the true ſuiting of men to a cleare acquaintance with truth. In that kind, not only in this particular are we beholding to this Worthy learned Perſon. I ſuppoſe there will not need much arguing, to prove that this Tranſlation though exceeding p. 325uſefull in its own place, and kind, yet is not in the leaſt a fit remedy to relieve us, againſt any pretended corruption in the Originall, or to gather various lections different from our preſent Copy by; Well may it exerciſe the ability of learned men, to conſider wherein and how often it goes, off from the Rule of faith; But Rule in in its ſelfe, and upon its own account, coming ſhort of all the neceſſary Qualifications layd downe before, it is none.

Should I now goe to gather inſtances of the failings of this Tranſlation, open and groſſe, and ſo proceed with the reſt, I think I might make a Volume neare as bigge as that of various lections, now afforded us: but I have another manner of account to give of my houres then ſo to ſpend them.

Sect. 9. Whether the Syriack Tranſlation be any fitter for this uſe, any one who ſhall be pleaſed to conſider & weigh it, will eaſily diſcover. It ſeemes indeed to have been made out of the Originall, at leaſt for ſome part of it; or that p. 326the Tranſlation of the 70 hath been in many things changed ſince this was made, which I rather ſuppoſe. But when, where, or by whom, it doth not appeare; nor doth it in many things ſeeme to have any reſpect at all unto the Hebrew; the note at the cloſe of the Prophets I ſuppoſe to proceed rather from the Scribe of that Individuall Copy, than the Tranſlatour; but that the Reader may ſee what hands it hath paſſed through, he may take it as its rendered by the learned Authour of the Annotations on that Tranſlation; Explicit Malachias ſive libri 12 Prophetarum, quorum oratio perpetuò nobis adſit, Amen; precibúſque ipſorum, precibúſque omnium ſanctorum, ſodalium ipſorum praeſertìm virginis, quae Deum peperit, omnium Sanctorum matris quae pro genere Adami intercedit, propitius ſit Deus Lectori & Scriptori Peccatori, & omnibus ſive verbo ſive opere, ipſis participantibus; but this good Concluſion is as I ſuppoſe from the Scribe, the uſuall negligence of whom in his worke is frequently Taxed in the collection of various readings, as pag. 8. & alibi.

p. 327Now though I confeſſe this Tranſlation to be very uſefull in many things, and to follow the Originall for the moſt part, yet being made as yet I know neither when nor by whom, in ſundry places evidently following another Corrupt Tranſlation, having paſſed through the hands of men ignorant and ſuſpitious, againſt whoſe frauds and folly, by the reaſon of the paucity of Copies we have no reliefe, I queſtion whether it may be eſteemed of any great uſe of importance, as to the End enquired after.

Sect. 10. Of the Samaritan Pentateuch both Originall and Tranſlation we ſhall not need to adde much; What the people from whom it hath its denomination were, is knowne; nor have the Enquiries of Scaliger, or Morinus, added any thing to what is vulgarly knowne of them from the Scripture, & Joſephus; In a word, an Idolatrous, Superſtitious, wicked people they were, before they were ſubdued by Hyrcanus; afterwards they continued in the Seperation from the true Church of p. 328God; & upon the Teſtimony of our Saviour had not Salvation among them. When they received their Pentateuch is uncertaine; Uncertaine alſo how long they kept it; that they corrupted it whileſt they had it, is notuncertaine; They are charged to have done ſo by the Jewes in the Talmud, and the inſtance they give abides to this day; Deut. 11. 30. They have added Sichem to the Text, to give Countenance to their abominations. And openly in Deut. 27. 4: where God gives a command that an Altar ſhould be ſet up on mount Ebal, they have wickedly and nefariouſly corrupted the Text and put in Gerizim. Now one ſuch voluntary corruption made on ſet purpoſe to countenance a ſinne, and falſe worſhip, is enough to lay low the Authority of any Copy whatever. The Copy here printed was brought out of the Eaſt from Damaſcus not long ſince. It appeares to have been 230 yeares old ſaith Morinus in the account of it, Opuſc. Samar. praefat: ad Tranſlat Samarat: As I ſayd before, that any Samaritans doe as yet remaine is uncertaine; ſome few Jews p. 329there are that walke in that way, here and there a few families. Now that this Pentateuch which was never as ſuch committed to the Church of God, that had its riſe no man knowes by whom, and that hath been preſerved no man knowes how, knowne by few, uſed by none of the ancient Chriſtians, that hath been voluntarily corrupted by men of corrupt minds to countenance them in their folly, ſhould be of any Authority upon its own ſingle account to any end or purpoſe, eſpecially to vye with the Hebrew Text, men that have not ſome deſigne that they publickly owne not, will ſcarce contend. The places inſtanced in by Morinus to prove its integrity above the Hebrew Copy,Morin: Cap. 1. Exercit: 4. as to the ſolution of difficulties by it, in Gen: 11. 29, 31. Exod. 12. 40; doe evedently prove it corrupt; any man that will conſider them will find the alterations purpoſely made to avoid the difficulties in thoſe places, which is one common evidence of Corruption, in Gen. 11. 31: 60 yeeres are cut off from the life of Tera p. 330to make the Chronologie agree; and that of Exod. 12. the dwelling of the Children of Iſrael and their Fathers, when they dwelt in the land of Canaan, and in the land of Aegypt, was 430 yeares, is a plaine Comment or Expoſition on the Text, nor would Hierome, who had this Copy, make any uſe of it, in theſe difficulties. Might I goe over the reſt of Morinus his inſtances whereby he ſeekes to credit his Samaritan Copy, which we have in theſe Biblia Polyglotta, I could manifeſt that there is ſcarce one of them, but yeelds a cleare Argument of Corruption in it, upon ſome of the beſt grounds that we have to judge of the ſincerity or corruption of any Copy; and if this Pentateuch had been of any credit of old, it would not have been omitted, yea as it ſeemes utterly rejected as a thing of nought, by Origen in his diligent collection of the Originall and Verſions.

But we are in a way and buſineſſe, wherin all things are carried to and fro by conjectures; and it were no hard taske to manifeſt the utter uncertainty of what is fixed p. 331on as the Originall of this Pentateuch, by the Authour of the Prolegomena, or to reinforce thoſe conjectures which he oppoſeth; but that is not my preſent work; nor do I know that ever it will be ſo. But I muſt for the preſent ſay; That I could have been glad, that he had refrained the cloſe of his diſcourſe, Sect. 2: wherein from the occaſionall mention of the Samaritan liturgie, and the pretended antiquity of it, he falls not without ſome bitterneſſe of ſpirit on thoſe who have laid aſide the Engliſh ſervice book; It were not (in the Judgment of ſome) imprudently done, to reſerve a triumph over the Sectaries; to ſome more conſiderable Victory, then any is to be hoped from the Example of the Samaritans: Were they all Barbars, and Porters, and Alehouſekeepers, yet they might eaſily diſcerne, that the example and preſident of a wicked people, forſaken of God, and forſaking of him, to whom the promiſe of the Spirit of Supplications, was never made, nor he beſtowed upon them, is not Cogent unto the people of Chriſt under the new p. 332Teſtament; who have the promiſe made good unto them. And much more unto the ſame purpoſe will ſome of them be found to ſay, when men of wiſdome and learning who are able to inſtruct them, ſhall condiſcend perſonally ſo to doe. But I ſhall forbeare, what might farther be ſpoken.

The Chaldee Paraphraſe is à Cento alſo. The Targum of Jonathan is ancient, ſo alſo is that of Onkelos; they are ſuppoſed to have been made before, or about the time of our Saviour. Some of the Jewes would have Jonathan to have lived not long after Ezra. Others that he was the chiefe Diſciple of Hillel about an 100 yeares before Chriſts Incarnation; ſome are otherwiſe minded, and will not own it to be much older than the Talmud: but as yet I ſee no grounds ſufficient to overthrow the received opinion. The other parts, of the Scripture were Paraphraſed at ſeverall times, ſome above 500 yeares after our Saviour, and are full of Talmudicall fancies, if not fables; as that on the Canticles. That all theſe Targums p. 333are of excelent uſe is confeſſed, and we are beholding to the Biblia Polyglotta for repreſenting them in ſo handſome an order and place, that with great facility they may be compared with the Originall. But as to the end under Conſideration, how little Advantage is from hence to be obtained theſe few enſuing obſervations will evince. 1. It was never the aime of thoſe Paraphraſts to render the Originall Text exactly verbum de verbo; but to repreſent the ſenſe of the Text, according as it appeared to their judgment; Hence it is impoſſible to give any true account how they read in any place, wherein they diſſent from our preſent Copies, ſince their endeavour was to give us the ſenſe as they thought rather than the bare and naked importance of the words themſelves; hence Elias ſaith of them foreign behold the Targumiſts obſerved not ſometimes the way of Grammar. 2^ly It is evident, that all the Targums agreed to give us often myſticall ſences, eſpecially the latter, and ſo were neceſsitated p. 334to goe off from the letter of the Text. 3^ly. It is evident that they have often made additions of whole ſentences to the Scripture, even the beſt of them, from their own Apprehenſions or corrupt Traditions, whereof there is not one tittle or Syllable in the Scripture nor ever was. 4^ly. What carefull hands it hath paſſed through, the bulky collection of various lections given in this Appendix doth abundantly manifeſt; and ſeeing it hath not laine under any peculiar care and mercifull providence of God, whether innumerable other faults and Errours, not to be diſcovered by any variety of Copies, as it is happened with the Septuagint, may not be got into it who call tell. Of theſe and the like things we ſhall have a fuller account when the Babylonia of Buxtorfe the Father, (promiſed ſome while ſince by the Sonne to be publiſhed, Vindic. veritat. Heb. p. 2. chap. 10. pag. 337; and as we are informed by the learned Annotator on this paraphraſe in his Preface in the Appendix, lately ſent to the publiſhers of this Bible (ſhall be put out; ſo that we p. 335have not as yet arrived at the remedy provided for the ſuppoſed diſtemper.

Sect. 12. Of the vulgar latine, its uncertaine Originall, its Corruptions and Barbariſmes, its abuſe, ſo much hath been ſpoken, and by ſo many already, that it were to no purpoſe to repeat it over againe: For my part I eſteem it much the beſt in the whole Collection exhibited unto us, excepting the Interlineary of Arias; but not to be compared to ſundry moderne Tranſlations, and very unfit to yeeld the reliefe ſought after.

Sect. 13. The 70 is that which muſt beare the weight of the whole. And good Reaſon it is indeed, that it ſhould anſwer for the moſt of the reſt; they being evidently taken out of it, and ſo they are oftentimes worſe, yet they are now better thē that is. But here againe all things are exceedingly uncertaine, nothing almoſt is manifeſt concerning it, but that it is woefully corrupt; p. 336Its riſe is uncertain; ſome cal the whole ſtory of that Tranſlation into queſtion as though there had never been any ſuch perſons in rerum naturâ, the Circumſtances that are reported about thē & their works, are certainly fabulous; That they ſhould be ſent for upon the adviſe of Demetrius Phalereus, who was dead before, that they ſhould be put into 72 Cells or private Chambers; that there ſhould be 12 of each tribe, fit for that worke, are all of them incredible. See Scal. ad Euſeb. fol. 123. Wouwer Syntag. cap. 11.

Some of the Jewes ſay that they made the Tranſlation out of a corrupt Chaldee Paraphraſe, and to me this ſeemes not unlikely. Joſephus, Auſtin, Philo, Hierome, Zonaras affirme that they tranſlated the Law or Pentateuch only; Joſephus affirmes this expreſly, foreign (ſaith he) foreign: Proem. ad Antiquit: and this is a received Opinion: whence we have the reſt p. 337is unknowne. Take to this purpoſe the enſuing Chapter out of Druſius, Obſervat, lib. 6. chap. 9.

Vulgatam Tranſlationem Graecam non eſſe LXX Interpretum, contrà quam olim exiſtimatum fuit.

Tranſlatio ea quae vulgo apud Graecos habetur, quin LXX Interpretum non ſit, nemini hodie dubium eſſe arbitror nam ſi nihilaliud, inumeri in ea loci ſunt, qui arguunt magnam Imperitiam ſermonis Ebraici; ſed & negligentiam ſingularem in legendo, & oſcitantiam tantis Viris indignam qui in câ editione non videt, nihil videt; etſi Euſebius, Hieron…mus paſsim in monumentis ſuis eam ſeptuaginta interpretibus attribuere videtur. Nos quo que cū aliquid indè proferimus uſitato magis quam vero nomine utimur, exemplo videlicet Hieronymi, quem ſuſpicamur, licet crederet Interpretationem eam à Viris illis elaboratam minime fuiſſe, ne offenderet Graecos voluiſſe tamen recepto nomine ſemper appellare. Certe quin dubetaverit ſuper iiſdem Authoribus, nihil dubitamus, p. 338nam vel hoc nos in eâ opinione confirmat, quod ſcribit Joſephum, omnémque adeò Scholam Judaeorum quinque tantùm libros Moſis à ſeptuaginta interpretibus tranſlatos eſſe aſſerere, ſcribit autem hoc non ſemel, ſed ſaepius, ut Ezech. 5. pag. 343, & pag. 301, & 372, & Mich. 2. pag, 150. Libris Antuerpiae vulgatis. Druſ. obſervat. lib. 6. Cap. 9.

Let it be granted that ſuch a Tranſlation was made, and that of the whole Bible, by ſome Alexandrian Jewes, as is moſt probable; yet it is certaine, that the foreign of it, if left in the Library of Alexandria, was conſumed to aſhes in Caeſar's wars; though Chryſoſtome tells us, that the Prophets were placed in the Temple of Serapis, foreign: ad Judaeos: and they abide there, ſaith he, unto this day; How unlikely this is, any man may gheſſe, by what Hierome, who made another manner of Enquiry after thoſe things than Chryſoſtome, affirmes concerning the incurable various Copies of that Tranſlation p. 339wanting an Umpire of their differences. We know alſo what little exactneſſe men in thoſe dayes, before the uſe of Grammar attained in the knowledge of Languages, in their relation to one another; and ſome learned men doe much Queſtion even the skill of thoſe interpreters, ſo Munſter. Praefat: ad Biblia; Videbat Hieronymus Vir pius & doctus, Latinos verâ & genuinâ legis atque Prophetarum deſtitutos lectione, nam LXX Interpretum editio, quae tunc ubi que locorum receptiſsima erat apud Graecos & Latinos nedum perperam pleríque in locis verſa fuit, verum per Scriptores atque Scribas plurimum corrupta, id quod & hodiè facile patet conferenti editionem illam juxta Hebraicam, veritatem, ut interim fatear illos non admodum peritos fuiſſe linguae Hebraicae id vel quod inviti cogimur fateri, alioquin in plurimis locis non tam foedè lapſi fuiſſent.

If moreover the ability be granted, what ſecurity have we of their principles and honeſty. Cardinall Ximenius p. 340in his preface to the edition of the Complutenſian Bibles, tells us, (that which is moſt true, if the Tranſlation we have be theirs) that on ſundry accounts they took liberty in Tranſlating according to their own mind; & thence conclude, Unde Tranſlatio ſeptuaginta duum, quandeque eſt ſuperflua, quandoque diminuta; it is ſometimes ſuperfluous, ſometimes wanting; but ſuppoſe all theſe uncertainties might be overlooked, yet the intollerable Corruptions, that (as it is on all hands confeſſed) have crept into the tranſlation, makes it altogether uſeleſſe as to the end we are enquiring after; this Hierome in his Epiſtle to Chromat: at large declares, and ſhewes from thence the neceſſity of a new Tranſlation. Yea Bellarmine himſelfe ſayes, that though he believes the Tranſlation of the Septuagint to be ſtill extant, yet it is ſo corrupt and vitiated, that it plainly appeares to be another, lib. 2, de Verbo Dei, Cap. 6.

He that ſhall read and conſider what p. 341Hierome hath written of this Tranſlation even then when he was excuſing himſelfe, and condeſcended to the utmoſt to wave the envy that was comeing one him, upon his new Tranſlation, in the ſecond Booke of his Apologie againſt Ruffinus, Cap. 8. 9; repeating and mollifying what he had ſpoken of it in an other place, will be enabled in ſome meaſure to gheſſe of what account it ought to be with us. In briefe he tells us, it is corrupt, interpolated; mingled by Origen with that of Theodotion marked with Aſterisks and Obeliſks; that there were ſo many Copies of it, and they ſo varying, that no man knew what to follow; tells us of a learned man who on that account interpreted all the Errours he could light on for Scripture; that in the Book of Job take away what was added to it by Origen, or is marked by him, and little will be left; his diſcourſe is too long to tranſcribe; ſee alſo his Epiſtle to Chromatius at large to this purpoſe. Let the Reader alſo conſult the learned p. 342Maſius in his Preface to his moſt learned Comment on Joſhua.

Sect. 14. For the Tranſlations of the new Teſtament that are here afforded us, little need be ſpoken; of the Antiquity, uſefullneſſe, and meanes of bringing the Syriack into Europe, an account hath been given by many, and we willingly acquieſce in it: the Aethiopian and Perſian are novell things, of little uſe or value, yea I ſuppoſe it may ſafely be ſayd they are the worſt and moſt corrupt that are extant in the world; The Perſian was not tranſlated out of the Greek, as is confeſſed by the learned Annotator upon it: Praeſens locus ſatis arguit, Perſam Graecum codicem haud conſuluiſſe; in Luc. 10. & 41. Yea in how many things he goes off from the Greeke, Syriack, Arabick, yea goes directly contrary to the truth; is both acknowledged by its Publiſher, and is manifeſt from the thing it ſelfe; I know no uſe of it, but only to ſhew that ſuch p. 343a uſeleſſe thing is in the world.

Sect. 15. Nor is the Aethiopian one whit better; a novell indeavour of an illiterate perſon: he tells us that John when he wrote the Revelation was Arch-Biſhop, of Conſtantia, or Conſtantinople, &c: It is to no purpoſe to goe over the like obſervations that might be made on theſe Tranſlations; if any man hath a mind to be led out of the way, he may doe well to attend unto them. Whether ſome of them be in uſe now in the world I know not, I am ſure it is well if they be not; had I not ſeene them, I could not have imagined any had been ſo bad: would I make it my buſineſſe to give inſtances of the miſtakes, Ignorance, falſifications, Errours & corruptions of theſe Tranſlatours, who ere they were (Jews or Chriſtians) for I am not without ſome ground of thinking that Jews have had their hands in them for money) my diſcourſe, as I ſaid before, would ſwell into a Volume, and p. 344unleſſe neceſſitated, I ſhall avoid it.

Sect. 16. From what hath been ſpoken it … abundantly appeare, that if there are indeed ſuch corruptions, miſtakes, and … crept into the Originall; as ſome have pretended, there is no reliefe in the leaſt provided for the ſecurity of Truth, by any of the Tranſlations exhibited unto us in theſe late editions of the Bible; themſelves being of an uncertaine Originall, corrupt, and indeed of no authority from themſelves, but merely from their Relation to that whoſe credit is called in Queſtion; for my owne part as I ſayd before, I allow them the proper uſe, and place; and am thankfull to them by whoſe Care and paines we are made … of them; but to endeavour by them to correct the Scripture, to gather various lections out of the Originall as ſay others, for my part I abhor the thoughts of it, let others doe as ſeeme good unto them. And if ever I be neceſſitated to ſpeake p. 345in particular of theſe Tranſlations, there are yet in readineſſe further diſcoveries to be made of them.

Sect. 17. There remaines only as to my purpoſe in hand that ſome briefe account be taken of what is yet further inſinuated, of the liberty to obſerve Various lections in the Bible upon ſuppoſition of groſſe corruptions that may be crept into it, as alſo of the ſpecimen of various lections gathered out of Grotius his annotations, and ſomewhat of the whole bulke of them, as preſented unto us in the Appendix.

For the Corruptions ſuppoſed, I could heartily wiſh that learned men would abſtaine from ſuch inſinuations unleſſe they are able to give them ſome pretence by inſtances; It is not ſpoken of this or that Copy, which by the Errour of the Scribes or Printers may have important miſtakes found in it. There is no need of mens criticall abilities to rectify ſuch miſtakes, other p. 346Copies are at hand for their reliefe. It is of the Text without ſuch ſuppoſitions, that this inſinuation is made; now to caſt ſcruples into the minds of men, about the integrity and ſincerity of that, without ſufficient ground or warrant, is ſurely not allowable. It is not good to deale ſo with men or their writings, much leſſe with the Word of God▪ Should any man write that in caſe of ſuch a mans theft, or murder, who is a man of unſpotted reputation, it were good to take ſuch or ſuch a courſe with him, and publiſh it to the world, would their ſtirring of ſuch rumours be looked on as an honeſt, Chriſtian, and candid courſe of proceeding? And is it ſafe to deale ſo with the Scripture? I ſpeake of Proteſtants; for Papiſts, who are growne bold in the oppoſition to the Originalls of the Scripture, I muſt needs ſay, that I look upon them as effectually manageing a deſigne of Sathan to draw men into Atheiſme. Nor in particular doe I account of Morinus p. 347his Exercitations one whit better. It is readily acknowledged, that there are many difficult places in the Scripture, eſpecially in the Hiſtoricall Bookes of the old Teſtament. Some of them have by ſome been lookt at as foreign. The induſtry of learned men of old, and of late Jewes and Chriſtians, have been well excerciſed in the Interpretation and reconciliation of them: by one, or other, a faire & probable account is given of them all. Where we cannot reach the utmoſt depth of truth, it hath been thought meet, that poore wormes ſhould captivate their underſtandings to the truth and Authority of God in his word. If there be this liberty once given that they may be looked on as corruptions, and amended at the pleaſure of men, how we ſhall be able to ſtay before we come to the bottome of queſtioning the whole Scripture, I know not. That then which yet we inſiſt upon, is, that according to all Rules of equall procedure, men are to prove ſuch Corruptions, p. 348before they entertaine us with their proviſion of meanes for remedy.

Sect. 18. For the Specimen of various lections gathered out of Grotius his Annotations, I ſhall not much concerne my ſelfe therein; they are nothing leſſe then various lections of that learned mans own obſervations; ſet aſide; 1. The various lections of the 70, and vulgar latine of Symmachus, Aquila, and Theodotion, wherein we are not concerned. 2^ly. The Keri and Cethib which we have often times over and over in this Volume. 3^ly. The various readings of the Orientall and Occidentall Jewes which we have alſo elſewhere. 4^ly. Conjectures how the 70, or vulgar latin read, by altering letters only. 5^ly. Conjectures of his own how the Text may be mended, and a very little roome will take up what remaines; By that curſory view I have taken of them, I ſee not one word that can pretend to be a various lection; unleſſe it belong to the Keri and p. 349Cethib, or the difference between the Orientall and the Occidentall Jews: ſo that as I ſayd before, as to my preſent deſigne I am not at all concerned in that collection; thoſe that are may further conſider it.

Sect. 19. As ſhort an account will ſeeme for the generall conſideration of the whole bulkie collection of various lections that we have here preſented unto us; for thoſe of the ſeverall Tranſlations we are not at all concerned in them: where any or all of them faile, or are corrupted, we have a Rule bleſſed be God, preſerved to rectify them by. For thoſe of the Originalls I have ſpoken to them in particular; I ſhall only adde, that we have ſome of them both from the old and new Teſtament given us thrice over at leaſt, many of the Keri and Cethib, after a double ſervice done by them, are given us againe, the third time by Grotius, ſo alſo are thoſe of the new Teſtament by the ſame Grotius, and Lucas Brugenſis.

FINIS.

Errata.

D^r. OWEN

Of the Divine Orig.

of the Scriptures.

End of the text · John Owen, Of the Divine Original Authority (1659)