A90280:328
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. 10. A sixth Argument for the novelty of the Points is taken from their number; for whereas it is said all kinds of sounds may be expressed by 5 vowels, we are in the present Hebrew punctation supplied with 14 or 15: which as it is affirmed, manifests abundantly that they are not Coaevous or Connatural to the language it self, but the Arbitrary, artificial invention of men, who have not assigned a sufficient difference in their force and sound to distinguish them in pronunciation. But this objection seems of small importance. The ground of it is an Apprehension, that we still retain exactly the true pronunciation of the Hebrew Tongue, which is evidently false. It is now near 2000 years, since that Tongue was vulgarly spoken in its purity by any people or nation. To imagine that the True, exact, distinct pronunciation of every Tittle and syllable in it, as it was used by them, to whom it was ⟨p. 275⟩vulgar and natural, is communicated unto us, or is attainable by us, is to dream pleasantly whilst we are awake. Aben Ezra makes it no small matter that men of old knew aright how to pronounce Camets Gadol. Saith he [Greek or Hebrew] The men of Tiberias, also the wise men of Egypt and Africa knew how to read Camets Gadol. 2 Even the distinct force of one Consonant, and that always radical [Greek or Hebrew] is utterly lost, so that the present Jews know nothing of its pronunciation. 3 Nor can we distinguish now between [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew] between [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew]. Though the Jews tell us that the wise men of Tiberias could do so 1200 years ago; as also between [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew] & [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew] Nor is the distinct sound of [Greek or Hebrew] so obvious unto us. The variety of Consonants among many nations, and their Ability to distinguish them in pronunciation, makes this of little Consideration. The whole nation of the Germans distinguish not between the force and sound of T and D, whereas the Arabic Dal and Dhsal, Dad, Ta and Da manifest ⟨p. 276⟩how they can distinguish those •ounds. Nor are the Jews [Greek or Hebrew] answered distinctly in any other language; to distinguish some of which, Good old Hjerome had his Teeth filed by the direction of his* Nicodemus. 6.