[Vers. 30] VERS. 30. And there was a good way off from them, an herd of many Swine feeding.
Gordonus objects this verse, to prove that the vulgar translation (vulgarly called Hieromes) is Authenticall, and only to be adhered unto; [Object.] and not the Greeke Text: In the Greeke it is said, And a good way off from them, there was a herd of Swine; but in the Latine more truly (saith Gor∣donus) it is said, Non longè, and not farre off from them, &c. Nec dubito latinam lectionem incorruptiorem esse, Neither doe I make question (saith Maldonat) but the Latine Text is most true; becaus•• both Saint Marke, and St. Luke saith, Erant autem ibi; And there were there: that is, in that place: and Saint Luke saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, on the Mountaine, Luke 8.32. and Saint Marke saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, nigh unto the Mountaine, Marke 5.11. which was cer∣tainely neer unto the Sea, because the Swine run into it presently upon their possession, as also be∣cause Christ permitted, and consented, that the devils should go into the Swine; for this end, that those who were present with him, by the destruction of the hogs, might know how ma∣ny, and how cruell the devils were; which they could neither have knowne, if the Swine had not beene there, not have seene, if they had not beene neer: And therefore the Latine Bible, which saith; And not farre off from them there was a Herd of Swine feeding, is to bee preferred before the Greeke Testament, which here saith: And a good way off from them, &c.
First, all Greek Copies, (saith Beza) run thus; [Answ. 1] and therfore one latine translation from a lame, and uncertaine Translator, is not to be preferred before them all.
Secondly, there is no incongruity, or absur∣dity, [Answ. 2] or inconvenience in the Greeke text, and reading; and therfore no necessity of changing it. If the Swine (saith Maldonat) had been farre off, then those who were present with Christ could not have seene what was done: let him here define 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, longè, and see what space of ground it containes, whether one mile, or twen∣ty? for untill this be determined, nothing can be concluded. Are nothing longè, a good way off, but only those who are further then can be per∣ceived by the eye? I thinke the contrary; and that that may be said to be longè, which is with∣in sight: It is said, Luke 15. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And when he was yet afarre off, his Father saw him. So Mat 26. Peter al∣so followed Christ, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Procul, a farre off, but (I hope) the Papists will not say, out of sight. And therefore I hold the Greeke text to be most authenticall, and sincere.
Thirdly, the severall words used by these three [Answ. 3] Evangelists signifie one, and the same thing; namely, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which Saint Matthew useth, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which Saint Luke useth, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which Saint Marke hath; for it is not likely, that the hogs were mixed amongst the men; that is, that the Swine were feeding in the same place, where Christ, and the rest were; but some space distant from them; to wit, not feeding in the very shore, where Christ was, or at least neer unto the Tombes, but in the skirts of the moun∣taines.