A90280:313
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.
1 If the points; or vowels and Accents, be coaevous with the rest of the Letters, or have an original before all Grammar of that Language (as indeed languages are not made by Grammar, but Grammars are made by Languages) then the Grammar of it and them, must be collected from the observation of their use, as they ⟨p. 253⟩were found in all their variety before any such art, was invented or used; and Rules must be suited thereunto; The drawing into Rules all the Instances that being uniform would fall under such Rules, and the distinct observation of Anomalous words, either singly, or in Exceptions comprehending many under one head, that would not be so reduced, was the work of Grammar. But on the other side, if the Vowels and Accents were invented by themselves, and added to the Letters, then the Rule and Art of disposing, transposing, and changing of them, must be constituted and fixed before the disposition of them; for they were placed after the Rules made, and according to them. A middle way that I know of, cannot be fixed on. Either they are of the Original writing of the Language, and have had Rules made by their station therein, or they have been supplied unto it according to Rules of Art. Things are not thus come to pass by chance; nor was this world created by a casual concurrence of these Atoms. Now if the ⟨p. 254⟩Grammar or Art was the ground & foundation, not the product of their use, as I am confident I shall never see a tolerable answer given to that enquiry of Buxtorfius the elder in his Tiberias, why the Inventors of them left so many words Anomalous and pointed otherwise then according to Rule, or the constant course of the Language, precisely reckoning them up when they had so done, and how often they are so used, as " and ⸪ for ˜: and " for τ and the like, when they might, if they had so pleased, have made them all regular, to their own great ease, advantage of their Language, and facilitating the learning of it to all posterity, the thing they seem to have aimed at; so I cannot be satisfied why in that long operous and curious work of the Massorites, wherein they have reckoned up every word in the Scripture, & have observed the irregularity of every tittle and letter, that they never once attempt to give us out those Catholic Rules whereby they, or their masters proceeded in affixing the points;
1 If the points; or vowels and Accents, be coaevous with the rest of the Letters, or have an originall before all Grammar of that Language (as indeed languages are not made by Grammar, but Grammars are made by Languages) then the Grammar of it and them, must be collected from the observation of their use, as they