A90280:274
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. 2. 1. To speak somewhat of them in General, I must crave leave to say, and it being but the Representation of mens avowed Judgments, I hope I may say without offence, that together with many high and honourable expressions concerning the Originals, setting aside the incredible figment, of the Jews corrupting the Bible out of hatred to the Christians, which being first supposed by Justin Martyr (though he speak of the Septuagint only) hath scarce found one or ⟨p. 204⟩two since to own it, but is rejected by the Universality of learned men, ancient and Modern, unless some few Papists mad upon their Idols, and the Thesis preferring in general this or that Translation above the Original, there is no opinion that I know of, that was ever ventilated among Christians, tending to the depression of the worth, or impairing the esteem of the Hebrew copies, which is not directly, or by just consequence owned in these Prolegomena. Thence it is contended that the Present Hebrew Character is not that used by God himself, and in the old Church before the captivity of Babylon, but it is the Chaldean, the other being left to the Samaritans; That the Points, or vowels and accents are a late invention of the Tiberian Massorites, long after sundry Translations were extant in the world; That the Keri Uketif are critical notes, consisting partly of various lections gathered by the late Massorites and Rabbins; That considering how oft times in likelihood Translators read the Text before the invention of the Points and accents, the Present ⟨p. 205⟩Reading may be corrected and amended by them, and that because the old Translators had other copies, or differing copies from them which we now enjoy. That where gross faults are crept into the Hebrew Text, men may by their own conjectures find out various lections, whereby they may be amended; and to this purpose an instance of such various lections, or rather corrections of the Original is in the Appendix exhibited unto us out of Grotius. That the Books of the Scriptures have had the fate of other Books; by passing through the hands of many Transcribers, they have upon them the marks of their negligence, ignorance and sloth.
Sect. 2. 1. To speak somewhat of them in Generall, I must crave leave to say, and it being but the Representation of mens avowed Judgments, I hope I may say without offence, that together with many high and honourable expressions concerning the Originalls, setting aside the incredible figment, of the Jewes corrupting the Bible out of hatred to the Christians, which being first supposed by Justin Martyr (though he speak of the Septuagint only) hath scarce found one or