A90280:291
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. 7. The founders of this story of the Invention of the Hebrew points, tell us, that it was the Work of some Rabbins, living at Tiberias a City in Galilee, about the year of Christ 500, or in the next Century, after the death of Hierome, and the finishing of the Babylonian Talmud; The improbability of this story or Legend, I am not now to insist upon. Morinus makes the lye louder. He tells us that the Babylonian Talmud was finished but a little before the yeare 700, Ex. 2. Cap. 3. par poster: that the Massorites (to whom he ascribes the invention of the points) wrote a long time after the finishing of the Talmud, and the year 700 p: p: 5. cap. 3; this long time cannot denote less than some 100d, of years. And yet the same man in his preface to his Samaritica ⟨p. 223⟩opuscula; boasting of his finding Rab: Judah Chiug. manifests that he was acquainted with the present punctation, and wrote about it. Now this Rabbi was a Grammarian; which kind of learning among the Jews succeeded that of the Massorites. And he lived about the year 1030; so that no room at all seems to be left for this work. That there was formerly a School of the Jews, and learned men famous at Tiberias is granted. Hierome tells us that he hired a learned Jew from thence for his assistance. Epist:ad Chromat: Among others,1 Dr Light foot hath well traced the shadow of their sanhedrin with their presidents in it, in some kind of succession to that place. That they continued there in any esteem, number or Reputation, unto the time designed by our Authors for this Work, is not made to appear from any History or record of Jews or Christians; yea it is certain, that about the time mentioned the chiefest flourishing of the Jewish Doctors was at Babylon, with some other ⟨p. 224⟩Cities in the East, where they had newly completed their Talmud, the great Pandect of Jewish Laws and constitutions as themselves every where witness & declare. That any persons considerably learned were then in Tiberias is a mere conjecture. And it is most improbable, considering what destruction had been made of them at Diocaesaria and Tiberias, about the year of Christ 352, by Gallus at the command of Constantius. That there should be such a collection of them, so learned, so Authorised; as to invent this Work, and impose it on all the world, no man once taking notice that any such persons ever were, is beyond all belief.