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. 2. That we may not seem [Greek or Hebrew], or to contend de lana caprina, the importance of these points as to the right understanding of the Word of God, is first to be considered, and that from Testimony and the nature of the thing its self. Marinus in his preface to his Hebrew Lexicon, tells us that without the points, no certain truth can be learned from the Scriptures in that Language, seeing all things may be read diverse ways, so that there will be more confusion in that one tongue, than was amongst all those at Babylon. (Nulla igitur certa doctrina poterit tradi de hâc linguâ, cùm omnia possint diversimodò legi, ut futura sit major confusio unicae hujus linguae, quam illa Babylonis) Morinus plainly affirms that it is so indeed: instancing in the word [Greek or Hebrew], which as it ⟨p. 212⟩may be variously pointed, hath at least 8. several significations, and some of them as distant from one another, as heaven and earth. And to make evident the uncertainty of the language on this account, he gives the like Instance in c: r. s. in latin. Junius in the close of his Animadversions on Bellar: de verbo Dei. lib. 2. cap. 2, Commends that saying of Johannes Isaac against Lindan: he that reads the Scriptures without points, is like a man that rides an horse [Greek or Hebrew], without a bridle; he may be carried he knows not whither. Radulphus Cevallerius goes farther, Rudiment. ling. Heb. cap. 4. Quod superest de vocalium & Accentuum antiquitate, eorum sententiae subscribo, qui linguam Hebraeam tanquam omnium aliarum [Greek or Hebrew] absolutissimum planè ab initio scriptam confirmant: quandoquidem qui contra sentiunt, non modo authoritatem sacrae scripturae dubiam efficiunt, sed radicitùs (meo quidem judicio) convellunt, quod absque vocalibus & distinctionum notis, nihil certi firmique habeat. As for the antiquity of the vowels and Accents (saith he) I am of their opinion, ⟨p. 213⟩who maintain the Hebrew language as the exact pattern of all others, to have been plainly written (with them) from the beginning: seeing that they who are otherwise minded, do not only make doubtful the Authority of the Scriptures, but in my judgment wholly pluck it up by the roots. for without tho vowels and notes of distinction, it hath nothing firm and certain.

Sect. 2. That we may not seeme , or to contend de lana caprina, the importance of these points as to the right understanding of the Word of God, is first to be considered, and that from Testimony and the nature of the thing its selfe. Marinus in his preface to his Hebrew Lexicon, tells us that without the points, no certaine truth can be learned from the Scriptures in that Language, seeing all things may be read diverse waies, so that there will be more confusion in that one tongue, than was amongst all those at Babylon. (Nulla igitur certa doctrina poterit tradi de hâc linguâ, cùm omnia possint diversimodò legi, ut futura sit major confusio unicae hujus linguae, quam illa Babylonis) Morinus plainly affirms that it is so indeed: instancing in the word , which as it