A90280:306
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.
To draw then to the close of this discourse; I must crave liberty to profess, that if I could be throughly convinced, that the present Hebrew punctation were the figment and invention of these men, I should labour to the utmost to have it utterly taken away out of the Bible, nor should (in its present station) make use of it any more. What use such an Invention might be of under catholic rules in a way of Grammar, I shall not dispute; but to have it placed in the Bible, as so great a part of the Word of God, is not tolerable. But blessed be God, things are not as yet come to that pass. I shall only add, that whereas some of the most eminently learned and exercised persons in all the learning and Antiquity of the Jews, that these latter ages have produced, have appeared in the confutation of this fancy of the Invention of the points by some Posttalmudicall Massorites, I am sorry their respect to the Rabbins hath kept them from the management of this consideration, which is to me of so great Importance.
To draw then to the close of this discourse; I must crave liberty to professe, that if I could be throughly convinced, that the present Hebrew punctation were the figment and invention of these men, I should labour to the utmost to have it utterly taken away out of the Bible, nor should (in its present station) make use of it any more. What use such an Invention might be of under catholick rules in a way of Grammar, I shall not dispute; but to have it placed in the Bible, as so great a part of the Word of God, is not tolerable. But blessed be God, things are not as yet come to that passe. I shall only adde, that whereas some of the most eminently learned and exercised persons in all the learning and Antiquity of the Jews, that these latter ages have produced, have appeared in the confutation of this fancy of the Invention of the points by some Posttalmudicall Massorites, I am sorry their respect to the Rabbins hath kept them from the mannagement of this consideration, which is to me of so great Importance.
Sect. 16. To what I have spoken, I shall add the words of learned Dr Lightfoot in his late Centuria Chorograph. which came to my hands since the finishing of this discourse, cap. 81. p. 146. sunt qui punctata Biblia credunt à sapientibus Tiberiensibus; (he means Elijah only, for other Jews of this opinion there are none) Ego impudentiam Judaeorum, qui fabulam invenerunt non miror: Christianorum credulitatem miror, qui applaudunt. Recognosce (quaeso) nomina Tiberiensium, à sita illic primum Academia ad eam expirantem: & quidnam tandem invenies, nisi genus hominum, prae Pharisaismo insaniens, traditionibus fascinans & fascinatum, coecum, vafrum, delirum; ignoscant, si dicam Magicum, & monstrosum? ad opus tam divinum homines quàm ineptos, quàm stolidos! Perlege Talmud Hierosolymitanum, et nota qualiter illic see habeant R. Judah, R. Chamnath, Z. Judan, R. Hoshaia, R. Chaija Rubba, R. Chaija bar Ba, R. Jochananan, reliquique inter Tiberienses grandissimi doctores, quàm seriò nihil agunt, quàm pueriliter