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1 Generall Premises. 2 Opinions prejudi∣ciall to the Authority of the Originals in the Prolegomena, enumerated. 4 The just consequences of those Premi∣ses. 5 Others ingaged in these opinions: of Capellus. 6 Of Origen, Cimenius, Arias Montanus Editions of the Bi∣ble.
Sect. 1. HAving now declared in what sense, and with what Al∣lowance
as to various lections, I maintaine the Assertion laid down in the foregoing Treatise, concerning the providentiall preservation of the whole Book of God, so that we may have full Assurance, that we enjoy the whole Revelation of his will, in the copies abiding amongst us, I shall now proceed to weigh what may be objected further, (beyond what hath already been insisted on) against the Truth of it, from the Prolegomena and Appendix to the Bib∣lia Polyglotta, at the entrance of our dis∣course proposed to consideration.
Sect. 2. 1. To speak somewhat of them in Generall, I must crave leave to say, and it being but the Representation of mens avowed Judgments, I hope I may say without offence, that together with many high and honourable expressions concerning the Originalls, setting aside the incredible figment, of the Jewes cor∣rupting the Bible out of hatred to the Christians, which being first supposed by Justin Martyr (though he speak of the Septuagint only) hath scarce found one or
two since to own it, but is rejected by the Universality of learned men, antient and Moderne, unlesse some few Papists mad upon their Idols, and the Thesis preferring in generall this or that Translation above the Originall, there is no opinion that I know of, that was ever ventilated among Christians, tending to the depression of the worth, or impairing the esteeme of the Hebrew copies, which is not directly, or by just consequence owned in these Prolego∣mena. Thence it is contended that the Pre∣sent Hebrew Character is not that used by God himselfe, and in the old Church before the captivity of Babylon, but it is the Chaldean, the other being left to the Samaritans; That the Points, or vowels and accents are a late invention of the Tibe∣rian Massorites, long after sundry Transla∣tions were extant in the world; That the Keri Uketif are criticall notes, con∣sisting partly of various lections gathered by the late Massorites and Rabbins; That considering how oft times in likelyhood Translators read the Text before the in∣vention of the Points and accents, the Pre∣sent
Reading may be corrected and amen∣ded by them, and that because the old Translators had other copies, or differing copies from them which we now enjoy. That where grosse faults are crept into the Hebrew Text, men may by their own con∣jectures find out various lections, whereby they may be amended; and to this purpose an instance of such various lections, or ra∣ther corrections of the Originall is in the Appendix exhibited unto us out of Groti∣us. That the Books of the Scriptures have had the fate of other Books; by passing through the hands of many Transcribers, they have upon them the marks of their negligence, ignorance and sloth.
Sect. 3. Now truly I cannot but wish that some other way had been found out to give esteem and reputation to this no∣ble collection of Translations, then by espousing these opinions, so prejudiciall to the Truth and Authority of the Origi∣nalls. And it may be justly feared, that where one will releive himselfe against the Uncertainty of the Originalls, by the con∣siderations
of the various Translations here exhibited unto us, being such, as upon triall they will be found to be, many will be ready to question the foundation of all.
Sect. 4. It is true, the Learned Prefa∣cer ownes not those wretched consequen∣ces, that some have laboured to draw from these Premises; yet it must be ac∣knowledged also, that sufficient security against the lawfull deriving those conse∣quences from these Premises, is not ten∣dred unto us; He saies not, that, because this is the state of the Hebrew Language and Bible, therefore all things in it are du∣bious and uncertaine, easy to be turned un∣to various senses, not fit to be a Rule for the Triall of other Translations, though he knows full well who thinks this a just consequence from the opinion of the no∣velty of the vowells; and himselfe grants that all our knowledge of the Hebrew is taken from the Translation of the 70, as he is quoted to that purpose by Morinus; Praefat. ad opuse: Hebrae: Samarit. He con∣cludes
not, that on these accounts we must rely upon as infallible living Judge, and the Translation that he shall commend unto us; though he knows full well who do so; & himselfe gives it a for rule, that at the correction of the Originall, we have the consent of the guides of the Church: I could desire then I say, that sufficient se∣curity may be tendred us against these in∣ferences, before the premises be embraced; seeing great and wise men, as we shall fur∣ther see anon, do suppose them naturally and necessarily to flow from them.
Sect. 5. It is confessed that some lear∣ned men, even among the Protestants, have heretofore vented these or some of these paradoxes: especially Capellus in his arcanum punctationis revelatum, Critica sacra, and other Treatises: in the defence whereof, as I heare, he still laboureth, being unwilling to suffer losse in the fruit of so great pains. What will become of his reply unto Buxtorfius in the defence of his Critica, I know not: reports are that it is finished; And it is thought he must once
more fly to the Papists by the help of his Son, a great zealot amongst them, as he did with his Critica to get it published. The generality of learned men among Pro∣testants are not yet infected with this lea∣ven. Nor indeed do I find his boldnesse in conjecturing approved in these Prolego∣mena. But let it be free for men to make known their judgments in the severalls mentioned. It hath been so, and may it abide so still. Had not this great and usefull VVork been prefaced with the stating of them, it had not been of publick Con∣cernment (as now it seems to be) to have taken notice of them.
Sect. 6. Besides it is not known whi∣ther this inconvenience will grow. Origen in his octupla, as was declared, fixed the Hebrew originall as the Rule and measure of all Translations. In the reviving of that kind of work by Zimenius in the Complu∣tensian Bibles, its Station is left unto it. Arias Montanus who followed in their steps (concerning whose performances under his master the King of Spaine) I may
say for sundry Excellencies, nil oriturum alias, nil ortum tale) was religiously care∣full to maintaine the purity of the Origi∣nalls, publishing the Hebrew verity (as it is called by Hierome, Austin, and others of the Ancients) as the rule of Examining by it all translations whatever; for which he is since accused of Ignorance by a petulant Jesuite, that never deserved to carry his books after him. Michael le Jay hath given a turne to this progresse, and in plaine termes exalts a corrupt Trans∣lation above the Originalls; and that upon the principle under consideration, as is a∣bundantly manifest from Morinus. And if this Change of judgment which hath been long insinuating it selfe, by the curiosity and boldnesse of Criticks, should break in also upon the Protestant World, and be avowed in publick works, it is easy to con∣jecture what the End will be. We went from Rome under the conduct of the puri∣ty of the Originalls, I wish none have a mind to returne thither againe, under the pretence of their corruption.
Morln. Exerci: de Heb. Text. sinc. lib. 1. Ex. 1. cap. 4.