A90280:366
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. 3. Let us now Consider our disease intimated, and the Remedy prescribed; together with the improbability of the one, and the unsuitableness of the other as to the removal of it; being once supposed. The distemper pretended is dreadful, and such, as it may well prove mortal to the Sacred truth of the Scripture. The sum of it as was declared before, is that there were of old sundry Copies extant, differing in many things from those we now enjoy, according to which, the ancient Translations were made; whence it is come to pass, that in so many places they differ from our present Bibles even all that are extant in the world; So Capellus; or that there are Corruptions befallen the Text (Varieties from the [Greek or Hebrew]) that may be found by the help of Translations, as our Prolegomena.
Sect. 3. Let us now Consider our disease intimated, and the Remedy praescribed; together with the improbability of the one, and the unsuitablenesse of the other as to the removeall of it; being once supposed. The distemper pretended is dreadfull, and such, as it may well prove mortall to the Sacred truth of the Scripture. The summe of it as was declared before, is that there were of old sundry Copies extant, differing in many things from those we now enjoy, according to which, the ancient Translations were made; whence it is come to passe, that in so many places they differ from our present Bibles even all that are extant in the world; So Capellus; or that there are Corruptions befallen the Text (Varieties from the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉) that may be found by the help of Translations, as our Prolegomena.
Sect. 4. Now whereas the first Translation that ever was, as is pretended, is that of the 70, and that of all others, excepting only those which have been translated ⟨p. 315⟩out of it, doth most vary and differ from our Bible, as may be made good by some 1000ds of instances, we cannot but be exceedingly uncertain in finding out wherein those Copies, which as it is said, were used by them, did differ from ours, or wherein ours are Corrupted; but are left unto endless uncertain Conjectures. What sense others may have of this distemper I know not; for my own part I am solicitous for the Ark; or the Sacred truth of the Original; And that because I am fully persuaded that the Remedy and relief of this evil, provided in the Translations, is unfitted to the Cure, yea fitted to increase the disease. Some other Course then must be taken. And seeing the Remedy, is notoriously insufficient to effect the Cure, let us try whether the whole distemper be not a mere fancy, and and so do what in us lye to prevent that Horrible and outrageous violence, which will undoubtedly be offered to the Sacred Hebrew verity, if every Learned Mountebank may be allowed to practise upon it, with his