A90280:36
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.
4. Suppose that this ground proves barren also, it is but going to an old Translation, the 70, or vulgar Latin, and where any word likes us, to consider what Hebrew word answers unto it, and if it discovers an agreement in any one Letter, in Figure or sound, with the word in that Text, then to say that so they read in that copy; yea rather then fail, be the word as far different from what is read in the Bible as can be imagined, aver it to yield the more convenient sense, and a various lection is found out.
4. Suppose that this ground proves barren also, it is but going to an old Translation, the 70, or vulgar Latin, and where any word likes us, to consider what Hebrew word answers unto it, and if it discovers an agreement in any one Letter, in Figure or sound, with the word in that Text, then to say that so they read in that copy; yea rather then faile, be the word as farre different from what is read in the Bible as can be imagined, averre it to yeeld the more convenient sense, and a various lection is found out.
And these are the chief heads and springs of the criticisms on the old Testament, which with so great a reputation of learning men have boldly obtruded on us of late days. It is not imaginable what prejudice the Sacred truth of the Scripture, preserved by the infinite love and care of God, hath already suffered hereby, and what it may further suffer, for my part, I cannot but tremble to think. Lay but these two Principles together, namely that the points are a late invention of some Judaical Rabbins, (on which account there is no reason in the world that we should be bound unto them) and that it is lawful to gather various Lections by the help of Translations, where there are no diversities in our present Copies, which are owned in the Prolegomena to the Biblia Polyglotta, and for my part I must needs cry cut [Greek or Hebrew], as not seeing any means of being delivered from utter uncertainty in and about all sacred truth. Those who have more wisdom & learning, & are able to look through all the digladiations that are likely to ensue on these principles, I hope will rather take pains to instruct me, and such as I am, then be angry or offended with us, that we are not so wise or learned as themselves. In the mean time I desire those who are shaken in mind by any of the specious pretences of Capellus and others, to consider the specimen, given us, of reconciling the difficulties, that they lay as the ground of their conjectures in the miscellany notes, or Exercitations of the learned Mr Pocock; as useful and learned a work as is extant in that kind, in so few sheets of paper. The dangerous and causeless attempts of men, to rectify our present copies of the Bible, the Reader may there also find discovered and confuted.