An aduertisement of corruption in our handling of religion To the Kings Majestie. By Hugh Broughton.

Of S. Paul, disgraced with Moses.

AND S. Paul disputing of the promise made to Abra∣ham which was made presently vpō the death of Tarah faith, that the Law came but fourhunderth & thirty yeres

after the promise: so we should corrupt the fame of Saint Paul by our translation: and deny that he wrote by the spirit of God. And no simple can reade S. Paul Gal. 3.17. and Exod. 12.40. But will say in his heart, Who can goe vp to Heauen to bring a solution of this knot: and who can goe beyond the sea to fetch a reconciliation of such disagrement: whereas the word, as Moses meant, for the peregrination which con∣cerned Israell, which was spent in the land of the peregri∣nation of their fathers, as in Iacobs story it is named, and in Egypt when Israell had ended their dwelling there was fourhunderth and thirty yeares to the very exact day.

And our right Reverend fathers might haue learned so much of the Lxxij. translaters, which translated thus: The peregrination of the children of Israel while they and their Fathers dwelt in Egypt, and in the land of Chanaan: they & their Fathers, was four hundreth & thirty yeres. Here any may mar∣veile that so learned men for Latin cōtroversies, should ne∣ver reade the Lxx. But they will say the Lxx. are not ex∣tant now. Pure and sound they haue not bene these 1200. yeres: but are now infinitely maymed: with patches frō Aquilas, Simmachus, Theodotion, and two others whom Origene did set togeather with the Ebrewe double: in E∣brew letter, and in Greek letters but Ebrew wordes. This eightfolde worke was called Octaplun, and from sundry translations the Lxx. which now we haue, is corrupted. A freend of myne bought at Alexandria in Egypt for me a Lxx. writen in Diocletians time and the Arabique Bible thrise over. But left all with our English proconsull, who turned Turke, seeing disagrement in our Bibles trāslation, and soone descended to Hell, and Turkes his executours reteyned the bookes, yet 40 poundes was sent to buy thē again, and they are expected. Such a Lxx may be the true

one: and the Arabique commonly, the Christian Ara∣bique foloweth it. But not R Sadaias Arabique.

But indeed as the Lxx. now standes with vs, it is cor∣rupted: that well our learned Fathers might suspect it. And in the Babylonian Thalmud in a pleading before Alexander the great, where Egyptians complayne that Israell robbed them, a Iew pleadeth desert for wages of 430. yeres service in Egipt. And Gilbert Genebrard holden a great Ebrician, placeth Israell 430. yeares in Egipt: defen∣ding the Latin translation. Whom Adricomius in a braue worke doeth folow. And Genebrard saith that Moses might leaue out some of his ancesters. And S. Paul might speake of some later promise. And one Thaddaeus Dunus sayth, that Moses text for his fathers yeres might be corrupt. Seeing so many haue perverted the text and other Scriptuers: so much more dangerous is our learned fathers agreement with them. Whereas they might easily be answeared. The Thalmudiques iested: as Heathen, that knew not Abra∣hams peregrination, would vnderstand Moses: & Genebrard forgate that S. Paul made the promesse of his accompt elder then circumcision, and no sence can beleeue that Moses Chronicling his ancestours yeres al to Adam, should leaue out some personages: when the person is more then the time of a person. And Dunus blaming of the text would be hatefull to all the Massoreth: full of auctority, now 2000. yeres. And our Septuagint in this place, may not be suspected. For the Thalmud Ierusalemy in Megi∣lah, fol. 71. Col. 4. testifieth that the Lxx. translated the text of Ex. 12.40 in this manner. The peregrimation of the children of Israel while they dwelt in Egypt and in all lands, was four hundred and thirty yeres. So no colour of obiection can bee rightly brought. And S. Paul must be

holden the right expounder: that the law of the passeouer was exactly 430. yeres, after the promesse of Christ drew Abraham from Charan to Chanaan.

Notes

• Obiections w^t answere.
• The Cristiā Aarabique foloweth y^e Lxx. euen where they hid theyr mind. to bring yeares a thousand & many hū∣dereths in Gen. 5. and eleven, moo thenever the sun measu∣red.