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…

Sect. 3. That the Grecian, was once as it were the vulgar language of the whole world of Christians is known. The writing of the new Testament in that language in part found it so, and in part made it so. What Thousands? yea what ⟨p. 191⟩millions of copies of the new Testament were then in the world, all men promiscuously reading and studying of the scripture, cannot be reckoned. That so many Transcriptions, most of them by private Persons, for private use, having a standard of correction in their public Assemblies ready to relieve their mistakes, should be made without some variation, is, [Greek or Hebrew]. From the copies of of the first Ages, others in the succeeding have been transcribed, according as men had opportunity. From those which are come down to the hands of learned men in this latter age, whereof very few or none at all, are of any considerable Antiquity, have men made it their business to collect the various Readings we speak of; with what usefulness & serviceableness to the Churches of God, others that look on must be allowed their liberty to Judge. We know the Vanity, Curiosity, Pride, and naughtiness of the heart of man: How ready we are to please our selves, with things that seem singular and remote from the observation of the many; and ⟨p. 192⟩how ready to publish them as evidences of our Learning and diligence, let the fruit and issue be what it will. Hence it is come to pass, not to question the credit of any man speaking of his M S S, (which is wholly swallowed in this Appendix) that whatever varying word, syllable, or Tittle, could be by any observed, wherein any Book, though of yesterday, varieth from the common received copy, though manifestly a mistake, superfluous, or deficient, inconsistent with the sense of the place, yea barbarous, is presently imposed on us as a various lection.

Sect. 3. That the Grecian, was once as it were the vulgar language of the whole world of Christians is knowne. The writing of the new Testament in that language in part found it so, and in part made it so. What Thousands? yea what ⟨p. 191⟩millions of copies of the new Testament were then in the world, all men promiscuously reading and studdying of the scripture, cannot be reckoned. That so many Transcriptions, most of them by private Persons, for private use, having a standard of correction in their publicke Assemblies ready to releive their mistakes, should be made without some variation, is, . From the copies of of the first Ages, others in the succeeding have been transcribed, according as men had opportunity. From those which are come downe to the hands of learned men in this latterage, whereof very few or none at all, are of any considerable Antiquity, have men made it their businesse to collect the various Readings we speake of; with what usefullnesse & serviceablenesse to the Churches of God, others that look on must be allowed their liberty to Judge. We know the Vanity, Curiosity, Pride, and naughtinesse of the heart of man: How ready we are to please our selves, with things that seeme singular and remote from the observation of the many; and