A90280:26
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.
Of his [Greek or Hebrew] of Rabbena Haskadosh there is no more news as yet in the world, then what he is pleased to acquaint us withal. At the same time Erasmus, Reuchlin, Vives, Xantes, Pagninus, and others, moved effectually for the restoration of the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. But the work principally prospered in the hands of the first Reformers, as they were all of them generally skilled in the Hebrew, so some of them as Capito, Bibliander, Fagius, Munster to that Height and usefulness, that they may well be reckoned as the Fathers and Patriarchs of that learning. At that time lived Elias Levita, the most learned of the Jews of that Age, whose Grammatical writings ⟨image 10⟩were of huge importance in the studying of that tongue. This man as he was acquainted with many of the first Reformers, so he lived particularly with Paulus •agius, as I have else where declared. Now in one book, which in those days he published, called Massorech, Hammasoreth, he broached a new opinion, not much heard of, at least not at all received among the Jews, nor for ought that yet appears, once mentioned by Christians before, namely that the points or vowels, and accents used in the Hebrew Bible, were invented by some critical Jew or Massorite, living at Tiberias about 5 or 600 years after Christ: no doubt the mans •ime was to reduce the world of Christians to a dependence on the ancient Rabbins, for the whole sense of the Scripture; Hinc prima mali labes, Here lies the first breach in this matter. The fraud being not discovered, and this opinion being broached and confirmed by the great and almost only master of the language of that Age, some even of the first Reformers embraced his fancy. Perhaps Zuinglius had spoken to it before: justly I know not. After a while the poison of this error beginning to operate, the Papists waiting on the mouths of the Reformers, like the servants of Benhadad on Ahab, to catch at every word that might fall from them to their advantage, beg an to make use of it. Hence Cochlaeus, lib. de Auth. Scripturae, Cap. 5. applauds Luther, for saying the Jews had corrupted the Bible with Points and distinctions, as well he might, for nothing could be spoken more to the advantage ⟨image 10⟩of his cause against him. Wherefore other learned men began to give opposition to this Error; so did Munster, Junius, and others, as will be showed in the ensuing discourse.