A treatise of the necessity of humane learning for a Gospel-preacher shewing the use of I. Languages, II. Rhetoric, III. Logic, IV. Natural philosophy, V. Moral philosophy, VI. History, VII. Chronology, VIII. Arithmetic, IX. Geometry, X. Astronomy, XI. Geography, and the benefits of learning in all ages : also this question is determined, whether grace be essential to a minister of the Gospel? / by Edward Reyner ...

SECT. VIII. Of the Syriac.

THe knowledge of the Syriac is of good use in two respects.

1. To understand the New Testament, because it was the Native Language of Christ and his Apostles, which in the New Testament is called Hebrew, (being the Language of the Hebrews, and in part de∣scended of the ancient Hebrew) as appears from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the pavement, John 19.13. and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the place of a skull, ver. 17. both these were Syriac words, yet called by John, Hebrew. Which manifestly shew∣eth, (saith Beza in locum) that the Syriac Tongue was then Vernacula Judaeis, Na∣tive to the Jews.

There are many more Syriac words in the New Testament, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Besides, there are divers Phrases there, (called Syriasms or Syriacisms) yea the Stile it self savours of that Idiome: which must needs be so, if we consider, that ma∣ny speeches of Christ, and his Apostles there recorded, were delivered in Syriac; and that the sacred Pen-men themselves conceived that in Syriac, which they ex∣pressed in Greek, but so, as that by framing it to set forth the emphasis, and propriety of their own Language, they make it much different from other Greek.

Hence it is, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 stands for

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (b) Matth. 6.12. & Debtors for sin∣ners. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Mat. 25.25. Luke 15.21. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Heb. 1.2. and 11.3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Rev. 6.8. (c) because the same Syriac word denotes both; as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies both sins and debts.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 both Heaven and God: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 both an age and the world: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 both death and the pestilence. Hence also, because 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Hebrew, to be clear, in Syriac sig∣nifies to overcome; therefore the Apostle after the LXX. renders 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Psal. 51.4. (thou mightest be clear) by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, thou mightest overcome, Rom. 3.4.

There seems also to be a Syriasm in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Luke 14.18. which expresseth that usual Syriac Adverb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ilicò, continuò (and so that place should be rendered, — And they all presently began to make ex∣cuse) for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies una and also prima. Therefore 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is several times in the New Testament put for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Rev. 9.12. Mar. 16.2. with 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the first day of the week; the whole Phrase is Syri∣ac, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies both a Sabbath and a week, as Luke 18.12.

It is also observable, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (d) and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, nisi, are sometimes put for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sed, because the Syriac 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 denotes both. See Mat. 12.4. and 24.36. Gal. 2.16. upon

(e) the same account 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (f) is put for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mar. 9.8. Joh. 17.12. Matth. 20.23. which our Translators, and others, not considering, have feigned a defect, and created a difficulty in that place, which should be rendred thus—is not mine to give, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, except to whom it is prepared of my father. See Grotius on that place, and De Dieu on Mar. 10.40.

Lastly, (g) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 stands for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 openly, Joh. 7.4. and 11.54. Col. 1.15. according to the use of the Syriac 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

II. The knowledge of the Syriac is useful for the understanding of that very ancient Translation, made out of the Hebrew of the Old, and Greek of the New Testament, into Syriac: which for the most part keeps close to the Original (whose Idiotisms, by reason of its Assinity thereto, it can excellently express) and represents it the most exactly of all others, as Dr. Walton, in his Prolegom. to the Oriental Bible, pag. 92. And in the judgement of Tremellius, (as he delivers it in his Epistle before the Syriac Testament, set forth, and Translated by him) there is scarce greater difference between the Greek and the Syriac, then there is between several Copies of the New Testament.

This Version helps much to vindicate

those places of the Original; which diverse cry out against, as if they were corrupted, and would thence infer the Scripture unfit to be a Rule of Faith. See Instances here∣of in Glassius's Philol. Sacr. lib. 1. and Hot∣tinger's The saurus Philologicus, pag. 147. &c.

Notes

• See Fuller's Miscellan. l. 3. c. 20. & Dr. Hammond's Annot. in Ioh. 19.13.
• See Pasor's Lex. in fine.
• (b)

  See Canin. de locis obscur. N.T. p. 86.
• (c)

  See Drus. Praeter, in loc. & Fuller's Miscel. lib. 1. c. 7.
• Fuller's Miscel. lib. 1. cap. 1.
• (d)

  See de Dieu on Mar. 4.22. & Drus. Praeter. in Gal. 2.16.
• (e)

  See De Dieu, on Mar. 4.22. & Drus. Praeter. in Gal. 2.15.
• (f)

  See Heins. Exer. in 2 Cor. 2.5.
• (g)

  See De Dien on Joh. 7.4. and Heins. Aristar. cap. 22.