A compleat history of the canon and writers, of the books of the Old and New Testament, by way of dissertation, with useful remarks on that subject ... by L.E. Du Pin ... ; done into English from the French original.

SECT. I. Of the Latin Versions of the New Testament: Of the Ancient Vulgar, the New Vulgar, and the Modern Versions.

THE reading of the New as well as of the Old Testament, being necessary for all Christians, both in general and particular, it cannot be question'd, but that, at the very beginning of the Establishment of the Western Churches, it was translated and read commonly in Latin in all the Latin Churches. But whereas the Greek was very common, several took upon them to translate it, or to add to or alter the Versions already made. This multiplicity and variety of Latin Versions of the Holy Scriptures, was, according to Saint Jerome's, and Saint Augustine's attestation, much greater in the New than in the Old Testa∣ment; as is apparent from that Variety to be seen in the ancient Latin Fathers, and in the ancient Latin Copies. It cannot therefore be doubted but that there was one Version more commonly us'd than the rest, call'd the Italian, or the Vul∣gar: But the Copies of this very Version were, and still are so different, that they may pass for almost so many distinct Versions.

Father Martinay has furnish'd us with an Instance of this, in the Gospel ac∣cording to Saint Matthew, which he has given us lately from two Manuscripts of eight hundred Years standing: for there is almost as much difference be∣tween these two Manuscripts as there is between two distinct Versions; and if one compares them with the Version of the Cambridge Manuscript, and with the Citations of the Ancient Fathers, one shall meet with a great many Varieties throughout. If likewise one should compare the Latin Version of the Epistles of Saint Paul, which is in Manuscript in the French King's Library, and in the Library of the Abbey of Saint Germain des Prez, with the Text that is in the Commentaries of Ambrosiastres and Pelagius, we shall find a great deal of diffe∣rence between them.

Saint Jerome did not undertake to made a New Version of the New Testament, but only to reform the Old one by the Greek Text: Novum Testamentum Graecae fidei reddidi, (says he in the Catalogue of his Works:) which in general com∣prehends not only the Gospels, but also the other Books of the New Testament. He likewise cites in his Epistle to Marcellus, the Epistles of Saint Paul, when he speaks of his new Edition of the New Testament. In his Letter to Pope Da∣masus, which we have already related, he explains more at large after what manner he has made his Correction. He only corrected the Places which made any difference in the Sense, that he might not absolutely change the Text of the Vulgar Latin; tho' in his Commentaries on the New Testament, he has taken notice of several Faults which were in the Ancient Vulgar.

'Tis certain that the Vulgar Latin Version, at present, is very different from the Ancient Italian, and that therein are to be found most of the Things which Saint Jerome had reform'd in the Vulgar Version of his Time. However, it must be own'd, That in Saint Jerome's Commentaries there are several Passages, which that Father would have to be read otherwise than they are in the Vulgar Latin. Which has induc'd some to believe, that the Vulgar was not the same Version which was reform'd by Saint Jerome, but the Work of another Author.

This Opinion might have had some shew of Probability, had there been any other Author since Saint Jerome, who had undertaken such a Task, but this would be somewhat hard to prove. How comes it then that the Vulgar Latin, in present Use, is not entirely conformable to the Version which Saint Jerome thought sit to correct? For this, Two plain Reasons may be assign'd.

1. First, That Saint Jerome did not correct all the Places which he thought deserv'd to be corrected; and this either through Inadvertence; or else he left them uncorrected on purpose, that he might not introduce too great an Alte∣ration into the Text.

2. Secondly, This might be occasioned through the Carelesness of the Copiers of Saint Jerome's Version, and thro' that Liberty which the Correctors took to re∣form it. 'Tis from hence that so many Varieties have proceeded in the Copies and Editions of the Vulgar Latin.

Saint Jerome's Correction of the Text of the New Testament met with several Opposers, but not with so many as his New Version of the Old Testament. Saint Augustin, who at first did not approve of this latter, yet highly commended the other Undertaking. For in his Letter written to Saint Jerome, wherein he blames his New Version of the Hebrew Text, which is the Seventieth Letter in the last Edition, he uses these Expressions:

We return God our hearty Thanks for your Translation of the Gospel, written in Greek: because there is nothing in it which offends us when we have compar'd it with the Greek: and should any in Opposition hereto stand up for the Ancient Falsity, he would easily be bet∣ter inform'd or refuted, when the Manuscripts should be shewn him. If there is any thing to hinder this so useful a Work from being commended according to its just desert, it must be a Man, who is so very stiff as not to pardon the Er∣rors that are therein.

Saint Augustin himself has to some good purpose made use of the Version as 'tis reform'd by Saint Jerome.

However, the Ancient Vulgar continu'd still for some time to be generally us'd in the Churches. But by degrees it was regulated according to Saint Jerome's Version; and at last that Father's Version is become not only the most common, but also the only One in use, as well with respect to the New, as to the Old Te∣stament. This has not prevented some particular Persons in these last Times, from undertaking either to make new Latin Versions of the New Testament, or to reform the Vulgar by the Greek Text.

Laurentius Valla was the first who conceiv'd such a Design, and had put it in execution, had not the Pope put a stop thereto. He only made some Critical Remarks on the Ancient Interpreter; wherein he noted the places, where he thought that the Interpreter had not render'd the Propriety of the Words, nor follow'd the Sense, or had made use of Barbarous Terms.

James Le Févre d'Estaples, compos'd a New Version of the Epistles of Saint Paul, which he caus'd to be Printed on the Side of the Vulgar, with his Com∣mentaries, at Paris, 1531. He was set upon for this Version by Lopez Stunica.

But Erasmus was the first, who undertook a new Latin Version of the whole New Testament, and has done it with Success. He dedicated it to Pope Leo X. and caus'd it to be printed at Basil, in the Year 1516. He revis'd it afterwards, and printed it again in the Year 1518. with a Bull of Leo X. in commendation of his Version.

How severe soever the Inquisition is, especially upon the Account of the Books of Authors who are otherwise suspected, yet It found no fault with the Version of Erasmus, as is observ'd in the Preface of the New Testament, printed at Ant∣werp, in the Year 1616. with the Licence of the Superiors, whose Title runs thus; Novum Jesu Christi Testamentum complectens praeter Vulgatam Guidonis è Sy∣riaco, & Benedicti Ariae Montani Translationes, insuper Desiderii Erasmi Auctoris damnati Versionem permissam.

The Censor Librorum, in the Preface before the Version of Erasmus, call'd in the Title above-mention'd, Auctoris damnati Versionem permissam, The Allow'd Ver∣sion

of a condemn'd Author; hath these Words:

Nothing hinders us from se∣riously recommending the Version of Erasmus of Rotterdam; Would to God we could say as much of his other Books.—As for this Version, it has been esteem'd so excellent by all the Learned, that the General Inquisition of Spain has found nothing therein that ought to be corrected, or struck out: and tho' it inter∣dicts all the Books of the Authors of the First Class, yet it allows that this Ver∣sion of Erasmus of the New Testament, should be in every Body's Hands, call∣ing it, The Allow'd Version of a condemn'd Author.

This Censor adds, That four Famous Doctors of Divinity, whom he there names, have pass'd the same Judgment upon it.

But notwithstanding the Pope's Approbation, yet Erasmus had very violent Adversaries to engage with. Stunica and Sutor wrote very sharply against him, and he was oblig'd to reply to them. Tho' it cannot be said that his Version is exempt from Faults; yet it must be own'd that 'tis a very neat Work.

Pagninus has annex'd to his Version of the Old Testament from the Hebrew, a Version of the New Testament from the Greek. It were well if his Version equall'd that of Erasmus. 'Tis to be found in the Bible of Pagninus, printed in the Year 1528.

Arias Montanus made an Interlineary and Literal Version, which can hardly be of any use, but to those who would understand the Greek.

The Version of Leo Judas is more Elegant and freer, but yet is not very exact.

As for Sebastian Castallio's Version, we shall add nothing to what we have al∣ready said of the Character of that Author's Translation, which does not at all suit with a Version of the Holy Scriptures.

The Translation of Theodore Beza, is that which the Protestants esteem most. It must be own'd that there is a great deal of Learning in Beza's Work; tho' he has affected sometimes to make use of certain unusual Terms, and to abstain from others, which Custom has, as it were, consecrated. His withdrawing from the Church of Rome, and the Heresy wherein he was engag'd, may make the Romanists to suspect him: but for all this, his Version may (says Du Pin) be made use of by them to good purpose, as Origen, Saint Jerome, and several other Ecclesiastical Writers, formerly made use of the Versions of Theodotion, Aquila, and Symmachus, who were Judaizing Hereticks; tho' they were suspected (as Saint Jerome observes in his Preface to Job) to have render'd the Mysteries of JESUS CHRIST obscure.

John Piscator has copy'd Beza's Version, tho' he has alter'd it in several Places.

The Modern Roman Catholicks do not trouble their Heads in making New Ver∣sions of the New Testament, but only stick to the use of the Vulgar, which is declar'd Authentic by the Council of Trent. But for all that, they have set down in their Notes and Commentaries, the Various Lections of the Greek, and the Faults which they suppos'd to have found out in the Vulgar Latin.