A90280:243
Of the divine original, authority, self-evidencing light, and power of the Scriptures. With an…Of the divine originall, authority, self-evidencing light, and povver of the Scriptures. With an…
Of the divine original, authority, self-evidencing light, and power of the Scriptures. With an answer to that enquiry, how we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God. Also a vindication of the purity and integrity of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Old and New Testament; in some considerations on the prolegomena, & appendix to the late Biblia polyglotta. Whereunto are subjoined some exercitations about the nature and perfection of the Scripture, the right of interpretation, internal Light, revelation, &c. / By John Owen: D.D.Of the divine originall, authority, self-evidencing light, and povver of the Scriptures. With an answer to that enquiry, how we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God. Also a vindication of the purity and integrity of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Old and New Testament; in some considerations on the prolegomena, & appendix to the late Biblia polyglotta. Whereunto are subjoyned some exercitations about the nature and perfection of the Scripture, the right of interpretation, internall Light, revelation, &c. / By Iohn Owen: D.D.
Oxford: printed by Henry Hall for Tho, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Sect. 6. The Jews have a common saying among them, that to alter one letter of the Law is no less sin, then to set the whole world on fire; and shall we think that in writing it, they took no more care then a man would do in writing out Aristotle or Plato, who for a very little portion of the world, would willingly have done his endeavour to get both their works out of it? Considering that the Word to be transcribed was every Title and [Greek or Hebrew] of it the Word of the great God, that, that which was written, and as written was proposed as his, as from him, that if any failings were made, innumerable Eyes of men, owning their eternal concernement to lye in that Word, were open upon it to discover it, and that thousands ⟨p. 170⟩of Copies were extant to try it by▪ and all this known unto, and confessed by every one that undertook this work; it is no hard matter to prove their care and diligence to have out gone that of other common scribes of Heathen Authors. The Truth is, they are prodigious things that are related of the exact diligence and reverential care of the ancient Jews in this work, especially when they entrusted a Copy to be a Rule for the trial and standard of other private copies. Maimonides in [Greek or Hebrew] Chap. 8. 3, 4; tells us that Ben Asher spent many years in the careful exact writing out of the Bible. Let any man consider the 20 things, which they affirm to profane a Book or Copy, and this will farther appear. They are repeated by Rabbi Moses. Tract at. de libro Legis. cap. 10; one of them, is [Greek or Hebrew] if but one letter be wanting; and an other, if but one letter be redundant. Of which more shall be spoken if occasion be offered.
Sect. 6. The Jewes have a common saying among them, that to alter one letter of the Law is no lesse sinne, then to set the whole world on fire; and shall we thinke that in writing it, they took no more care then a man would doe in writing out Aristotle or Plato, who for a very little portion of the world, would willingly have done his endeavour to get both their workes out of it? Considering that the Word to be transcribed was every Title and 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 of it the Word of the great God, that, that which was written, and as writen was proposed as his, as from him, that if any failings were made, innumerable Eyes of men, owning their eternall concernement to lye in that Word, were open upon it to discover it, and that thousands