The truth of the Holy Scriptures a sermon preached at St. Martin's in the Fields, April 1, 1695 : being the fourth of the lecture for this present year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...
         Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
      
       
         
           1695
        
      
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             The truth of the Holy Scriptures a sermon preached at St. Martin's in the Fields, April 1, 1695 : being the fourth of the lecture for this present year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...
             Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
          
           [4], 32 p.
           
             Printed for Ri. Chiswell, and Tho. Cockerill ...,
             London :
             1695.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
             Errata: p. 32.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Revelation -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           D
           r
           
           WILLIAMS's
           FOURTH
           SERMON
           AT
           Mr.
           BOYLE'S
           Lecture
           ,
           1695.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           IMPRIMATUR
           ,
        
         
           
             
               April
               1.
               1695.
               
            
          
           
             Guil.
             Lancaster
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           The
           Truth
           of
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           at
           St.
           
             Martin's
             in
             the
             Fields
          
           ,
           April
           1.
           1695.
           
           BEING
           THE
           Fourth
           of
           the
           LECTURE
           For
           this
           present
           YEAR
           ,
           Founded
           by
           the
           Honourable
           
             ROBERT
             BOYLE
          
           ,
           Esquire
           .
        
         
           By
           
             JOHN
             WILLIAMS
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           His
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           Ri.
           Chiswell
           ,
           and
           Tho.
           Cockerill
           ,
           Sen
           r
           &
           Jun
           r
           :
           At
           the
           Rose
           and
           Crown
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           ;
           and
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Legs
          
           in
           the
           Poultrey
           .
           M
           DCXC
           V.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             HEB.
             I.
             1
             ,
             2.
             
          
           
             God
             who
             at
             sundry
             times
             ,
             and
             in
             divers
             manners
             spake
             in
             time
             past
             unto
             the
             Fathers
             by
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             hath
             in
             these
             last
             days
             spoken
             unto
             us
             by
             his
             Son
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           IN
           these
           words
           ,
           there
           is
           contained
           (
           as
           I
           have
           before
           shewed
           )
        
         
           1.
           
           A
           description
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           't
           is
           God's
           speaking
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Certainty
           of
           it
           ,
           't
           is
           by
           way
           of
           declaration
           ,
           
             God
             who
             at
             sundry
             times
          
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           Order
           observed
           in
           delivering
           this
           Revelation
           ,
           
             it
             was
             at
             sundry
             times
          
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           4.
           
           The
           perfection
           and
           conclusion
           of
           all
           ,
           't
           is
           in
           
             these
             last
             days
             by
             his
             Son.
             
          
        
         
           Under
           the
           Second
           I
           have
           shewed
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           God
           has
           actually
           revealed
           his
           Will
           
             at
             sundry
             times
             ,
             and
             in
             divers
             manners
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           What
           are
           the
           Characters
           of
           true
           Revelation
           .
        
         
         
           3.
           
           I
           am
           now
           in
           order
           to
           prove
           that
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           
             New
             Testament
          
           do
           contain
           the
           Matter
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           have
           upon
           them
           the
           Characters
           belonging
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           better
           disposing
           of
           what
           I
           have
           to
           say
           under
           this
           Head
           of
           Discourse
           ,
           I
           shall
           observe
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           'T
           is
           one
           thing
           to
           assert
           and
           prove
           the
           matter
           of
           Scripture
           to
           be
           true
           ,
           and
           another
           to
           prove
           it
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           'T
           is
           one
           thing
           to
           prove
           the
           matter
           of
           Scripture
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           another
           to
           prove
           these
           Books
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           'T
           is
           one
           thing
           to
           assert
           that
           there
           were
           once
           such
           Books
           so
           inspired
           ;
           and
           another
           thing
           to
           prove
           this
           Set
           of
           Books
           ,
           which
           now
           make
           up
           and
           compose
           the
           Canon
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           New
           Testament
           ,
           to
           be
           those
           very
           Books
           .
        
         
           From
           hence
           arise
           Four
           Questions
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
           Quest
           .
           1.
           
           How
           we
           can
           prove
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           to
           be
           true
           ?
        
         
           Q.
           2.
           
           How
           we
           can
           prove
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ?
           Books
           of
           mere
           Human
           Composition
           may
           contain
           nothing
           but
           Truth
           ,
           without
           any
           Supernatural
           Assistance
           ;
           
           and
           therefore
           though
           we
           were
           never
           so
           well
           able
           to
           maintain
           and
           prove
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Matter
           ,
           that
           is
           not
           sufficient
           ,
           unless
           we
           can
           advance
           higher
           ,
           and
           prove
           the
           Authority
           and
           Divinity
           of
           the
           Matter
           ?
        
         
           Q.
           3.
           
           How
           we
           can
           prove
           those
           Books
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ?
           The
           Epistle
           of
           
             Clemens
             Romanus
          
           was
           sometime
           read
           in
           the
           Church
           (
           as
           the
           Apocrypha
           anciently
           was
           ,
           and
           is
           now
           with
           us
           )
           because
           of
           the
           Excellency
           and
           Profitableness
           of
           the
           Matter
           ;
           but
           yet
           it
           was
           not
           esteemed
           to
           be
           Canonical
           ,
           and
           of
           immediate
           Inspiration
           from
           God
           ?
        
         
           
             Q
             ▪
          
           4.
           
           How
           we
           prove
           these
           Books
           ,
           that
           are
           now
           extant
           and
           received
           by
           the
           Christian
           Church
           as
           Canonical
           ,
           to
           be
           those
           Books
           which
           were
           once
           in
           time
           past
           wrote
           by
           Inspiration
           from
           God
           ?
        
         
           It
           will
           be
           of
           some
           use
           to
           us
           in
           the
           prosecution
           of
           this
           Argument
           ,
           to
           consider
           the
           First
           Question
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           by
           it self
           ,
           and
           apart
           from
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           Now
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           is
           of
           various
           nature
           ,
           such
           as
           Morality
           ,
           Doctrinal
           Revelation
           ,
           Institution
           ,
           Prophecy
           and
           History
           :
           Of
           which
           
           the
           greatest
           part
           will
           be
           here
           set
           aside
           :
           For
           it
           is
           not
           necessary
           to
           prove
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Moral
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           is
           no
           other
           than
           the
           Dictate
           of
           Nature
           ;
           and
           therefore
           ,
           though
           explain'd
           ,
           confirmed
           ,
           and
           illustrated
           in
           Scripture
           by
           many
           useful
           Rules
           ,
           Principles
           and
           Observations
           ,
           needs
           no
           proof
           .
        
         
           That
           of
           Doctrine
           and
           Institution
           ,
           falls
           in
           with
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           and
           so
           belongs
           to
           the
           Second
           Question
           .
        
         
           Prophecy
           ,
           if
           yet
           to
           be
           accomplished
           ,
           is
           not
           capable
           of
           other
           proof
           than
           Revelation
           ;
           and
           if
           already
           fulfilled
           ,
           by
           the
           Event
           following
           and
           correspondent
           to
           the
           Prediction
           ,
           it
           is
           the
           proof
           of
           it self
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           the
           Part
           now
           remaining
           to
           be
           proved
           more
           especially
           ,
           is
           Scripture
           ▪
           History
           ;
           which
           is
           a
           Relation
           of
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           of
           what
           has
           happened
           ,
           been
           declared
           ,
           or
           done
           ,
           in
           the
           several
           Periods
           and
           Ages
           of
           the
           World
           for
           Four
           thousand
           Years
           together
           ,
           and
           upwards
           .
        
         
           Under
           which
           Notion
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           question
           but
           it
           may
           be
           made
           appear
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           more
           to
           be
           said
           for
           the
           truth
           of
           Scripture-History
           ,
           than
           for
           any
           thing
           of
           that
           kind
           in
           the
           whole
           World.
           
        
         
           I
           don't
           question
           again
           ,
           but
           it
           may
           be
           made
           appear
           ,
           that
           no
           Authors
           had
           greater
           advantages
           for
           
           Information
           in
           the
           Subjects
           they
           treat
           of
           ;
           nor
           were
           there
           ever
           any
           Writings
           that
           bore
           upon
           them
           more
           ample
           marks
           of
           Ability
           ,
           Impartiality
           ,
           and
           Care.
           So
           that
           if
           after
           all
           that
           is
           to
           be
           suspected
           ,
           nothing
           of
           that
           kind
           is
           certain
           ,
           and
           we
           call
           in
           question
           all
           matters
           of
           the
           like
           nature
           whatsoever
           .
        
         
           But
           this
           is
           further
           to
           be
           inquired
           into
           .
        
         
           Now
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           there
           are
           some
           things
           to
           be
           found
           only
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           no
           where
           else
           .
           In
           which
           case
           we
           have
           no
           other
           way
           to
           judge
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           it
           ,
           than
           by
           the
           Credibility
           of
           the
           matter
           ,
           the
           Self-agreement
           ,
           its
           Concordance
           with
           time
           ,
           place
           ,
           and
           other
           circumstances
           of
           Action
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           Credit
           and
           Reputation
           of
           the
           Pen-men
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           there
           are
           other
           things
           which
           fall
           in
           with
           other
           Writings
           ;
           and
           then
           besides
           the
           former
           way
           of
           trial
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           have
           recourse
           to
           such
           Books
           ,
           to
           compare
           them
           ,
           and
           determine
           concerning
           the
           truth
           by
           such
           a
           comparison
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           we
           have
           three
           sorts
           of
           Proof
           before
           us
           ,
           or
           so
           many
           Characters
           by
           which
           we
           may
           judge
           concerning
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           the
           Scripture
           relates
           :
           viz.
           
        
         
         
           1.
           
           The
           Credibility
           of
           the
           Matter
           therein
           revealed
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Self
           consistence
           and
           Self
           agreement
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           It
           s
           concordance
           with
           other
           Books
           of
           good
           and
           sufficient
           Authority
           ;
           where
           such
           there
           are
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           this
           be
           made
           out
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           much
           Evidence
           for
           the
           Truth
           of
           Scripture
           as
           is
           possible
           to
           have
           ,
           in
           our
           circumstances
           ;
           and
           where
           the
           Matters
           related
           were
           transacted
           in
           place
           and
           time
           far
           remote
           from
           us
           .
           For
           all
           the
           Evidence
           we
           can
           have
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           resolved
           into
           Testimony
           ,
           and
           that
           Testimony
           into
           the
           Credibility
           of
           the
           Relators
           ,
           or
           of
           the
           Matters
           related
           :
           And
           if
           we
           have
           as
           much
           Evidence
           of
           this
           kind
           as
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           thing
           will
           bear
           and
           admit
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           much
           as
           is
           reasonable
           in
           it self
           ,
           and
           sufficient
           to
           ground
           a
           certainty
           upon
           .
           For
           according
           as
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           thing
           is
           ,
           and
           the
           ground
           upon
           which
           its
           Proof
           and
           Evidence
           depends
           ,
           such
           is
           the
           Certainty
           :
           And
           as
           in
           things
           Mathematical
           ,
           Demonstration
           is
           the
           Proof
           ;
           and
           in
           things
           Natural
           and
           Sensible
           ,
           Sense
           is
           the
           Proof
           ;
           and
           in
           things
           Rational
           and
           Moral
           ,
           Reason
           and
           Argument
           are
           the
           Proof
           ;
           so
           in
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           (
           where
           we
           our selves
           are
           not
           present
           )
           Testimony
           and
           Records
           are
           the
           Proof
           ;
           though
           for
           a
           further
           confirmation
           
           of
           it
           ,
           there
           is
           the
           collateral
           proof
           of
           Moral
           Evidence
           ,
           viz.
           the
           credibility
           of
           the
           Matter
           ,
           and
           the
           Persons
           ,
           into
           whose
           Testimony
           and
           Veracity
           the
           Matters
           are
           finally
           resolved
           .
           And
           beyond
           this
           we
           cannot
           go
           ,
           in
           the
           Evidence
           for
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           ;
           and
           consequently
           ,
           if
           we
           have
           this
           Evidence
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           great
           a
           certainty
           in
           things
           of
           this
           nature
           ,
           as
           Demonstration
           is
           in
           things
           Mathematical
           ,
           and
           Sense
           in
           things
           sensible
           ;
           I
           say
           ,
           beyond
           this
           we
           cannot
           go
           ,
           unless
           we
           advance
           to
           supernatural
           Evidence
           ;
           but
           that
           belongs
           not
           to
           this
           place
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           here
           we
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           doubt
           ;
           and
           where
           there
           is
           no
           reason
           to
           doubt
           ,
           there
           is
           certainty
           .
           And
           if
           we
           can
           be
           certain
           of
           any
           thing
           we
           our selves
           have
           not
           seen
           ,
           or
           been
           present
           at
           ,
           we
           may
           be
           certain
           of
           what
           is
           recorded
           in
           the
           Scripture
           :
           Since
           there
           is
           no
           Evidence
           for
           any
           thing
           of
           that
           kind
           ,
           which
           we
           have
           not
           for
           the
           Truth
           of
           Scripture
           ;
           and
           I
           may
           say
           we
           have
           that
           Evidence
           for
           it
           ,
           which
           no
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           besides
           have
           .
           If
           then
           there
           be
           any
           certainty
           in
           such
           things
           ,
           if
           any
           credit
           be
           to
           be
           given
           to
           them
           ;
           then
           there
           is
           here
           a
           sufficient
           Evidence
           to
           ground
           that
           Certainty
           and
           our
           Belief
           of
           it
           upon
           :
           And
           if
           there
           be
           no
           certainty
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           no
           ground
           to
           believe
           them
           ;
           then
           there
           is
           no
           certainty
           
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           no
           credit
           to
           be
           given
           to
           whatever
           is
           ,
           or
           has
           been
           allow'd
           by
           others
           in
           the
           world
           :
           Then
           there
           is
           no
           more
           credit
           to
           be
           given
           to
           the
           Commentaries
           of
           Caesar
           (
           which
           he
           wrote
           himself
           )
           nor
           to
           the
           Histories
           of
           the
           Four
           Empires
           ,
           nay
           to
           those
           of
           our
           own
           Nation
           ;
           than
           there
           is
           to
           
             Achilles
             Tatius
          
           or
           Heliodorus
           ,
           than
           to
           the
           Vainest
           Romances
           ,
           the
           Fables
           of
           Poets
           ,
           or
           the
           Legends
           of
           the
           most
           Superstitious
           and
           Credulous
           Ages
           of
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           And
           with
           all
           our
           Histories
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           famed
           ,
           and
           commonly
           received
           ;
           we
           are
           in
           no
           better
           a
           condition
           ,
           than
           if
           
           Varro's
           
             fabulous
             and
             obscure
             Age
          
           had
           been
           continued
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Ages
           were
           now
           this
           day
           what
           it
           was
           before
           the
           Olympiads
           ,
           wrapt
           up
           in
           Invention
           and
           Conjecture
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           there
           be
           any
           credit
           to
           be
           given
           to
           such
           Memorials
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           read
           approved
           Histories
           with
           another
           sort
           of
           appetite
           and
           assurance
           ,
           than
           we
           do
           Fables
           ;
           and
           that
           we
           read
           Lucan
           (
           a
           Poetical
           Historian
           )
           with
           another
           sort
           of
           relish
           than
           
             Ovid's
             Metamorphoses
          
           ;
           then
           the
           like
           Credit
           is
           to
           be
           given
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           as
           to
           any
           ;
           and
           so
           much
           the
           more
           ,
           as
           the
           Evidence
           proper
           to
           its
           kind
           is
           beyond
           the
           Evidence
           we
           have
           for
           any
           other
           Writings
           whatsoever
           .
        
         
         
           And
           this
           I
           shall
           undertake
           and
           prosecute
           ,
           by
           proving
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           the
           Scripture
           has
           sufficient
           Evidence
           of
           that
           kind
           to
           ground
           a
           certainty
           upon
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           it
           has
           all
           the
           Evidence
           that
           any
           Writings
           or
           Matters
           of
           this
           kind
           have
           ,
           and
           more
           .
        
         
           In
           order
           to
           which
           it
           may
           well
           serve
           as
           an
           Introduction
           to
           what
           is
           to
           follow
           ,
           briefly
           to
           reflect
           upon
           the
           Writers
           themselves
           and
           their
           Qualifications
           ;
           upon
           whose
           Credit
           and
           Authority
           there
           must
           be
           confessedly
           sometimes
           an
           absolute
           reliance
           .
           Since
           the
           Relators
           of
           matters
           of
           Fact
           profess
           not
           to
           Write
           out
           of
           their
           own
           Heads
           ,
           but
           to
           receive
           what
           they
           Write
           from
           a
           constant
           and
           uninterrupted
           Tradition
           ,
           or
           to
           Collect
           from
           the
           best
           Records
           and
           Memorials
           ,
           or
           to
           set
           down
           what
           is
           of
           their
           own
           Knowledge
           and
           Observation
           :
           And
           therefore
           the
           Reputation
           of
           their
           Reports
           and
           Narratives
           doth
           very
           much
           depend
           upon
           their
           Skill
           and
           Judgment
           ,
           that
           they
           be
           not
           abused
           by
           false
           Informations
           ,
           and
           upon
           their
           Honesty
           and
           Integrity
           in
           not
           putting
           abuses
           upon
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           ways
           of
           Information
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           of
           that
           kind
           wanting
           in
           the
           Sacred
           Pen-men
           .
           
           For
           the
           First
           Writer
           ,
           Moses
           ,
           lived
           so
           near
           upon
           the
           Traditionary
           Age
           ,
           and
           the
           things
           he
           Writes
           of
           are
           of
           such
           a
           nature
           ,
           as
           may
           well
           be
           supposed
           to
           be
           deliver'd
           down
           without
           any
           difficulty
           from
           Progenitors
           to
           Posterity
           ,
           had
           there
           been
           no
           other
           means
           of
           Conveyance
           ;
           and
           especially
           (
           as
           has
           been
           before
           suggested
           ,
           Sermon
           II.
           )
           if
           we
           consider
           the
           few
           hands
           they
           were
           to
           pass
           through
           ,
           when
           at
           the
           most
           Eight
           Persons
           only
           in
           succession
           continued
           the
           Line
           of
           above
           Two
           thousand
           five
           hundred
           years
           ,
           from
           the
           Deluge
           to
           the
           time
           of
           Moses
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Matters
           were
           snch
           as
           all
           those
           held
           themselves
           concerned
           to
           deliver
           them
           down
           as
           they
           had
           received
           them
           .
           Forasmuch
           as
           all
           the
           Prophecies
           they
           had
           receiv'd
           ,
           which
           concerned
           the
           Good
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           of
           their
           Posterity
           ,
           depended
           upon
           the
           careful
           and
           faithful
           preservation
           of
           these
           Memorials
           ;
           both
           as
           to
           Time
           and
           Pedigrees
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Matters
           which
           the
           Series
           of
           Times
           and
           Descents
           were
           to
           be
           the
           great
           Supporters
           of
           .
        
         
           From
           hence
           it
           was
           afterwards
           that
           these
           Chronological
           Tables
           ,
           and
           Genealogical
           Rolls
           were
           in
           all
           times
           exactly
           kept
           ,
           and
           which
           upon
           occasion
           they
           might
           have
           recourse
           to
           ;
           and
           that
           there
           were
           Annals
           in
           future
           Ages
           that
           were
           looked
           upon
           as
           Sacred
           Repositories
           :
           And
           from
           
           whence
           the
           Holy
           Writers
           drew
           their
           Materials
           ,
           and
           to
           which
           they
           do
           Refer
           ,
           as
           may
           be
           observed
           in
           the
           Books
           of
           Kings
           and
           Chronicles
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           we
           add
           hereunto
           ,
           That
           a
           great
           part
           of
           what
           is
           the
           Subject
           of
           Holy
           Writ
           ,
           was
           what
           the
           Writers
           themselves
           had
           the
           Personal
           Knowledge
           of
           ,
           bore
           a
           part
           in
           ,
           and
           what
           happened
           in
           their
           own
           Times
           ;
           it
           gives
           the
           greater
           Authority
           to
           what
           they
           have
           Written
           .
           And
           this
           was
           the
           case
           of
           Moses
           as
           to
           the
           Four
           last
           of
           his
           Books
           ;
           of
           Joshua
           ,
           of
           Samuel
           ,
           of
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Evangelical
           Writers
           .
           So
           that
           if
           we
           will
           grant
           any
           thing
           to
           be
           allowed
           to
           Tradition
           ,
           to
           Records
           of
           Ages
           ,
           to
           Reports
           of
           Eye
           and
           Ear-Witnesses
           ,
           there
           is
           the
           highest
           Credit
           to
           be
           given
           to
           the
           Divine
           Authors
           ,
           in
           what
           they
           have
           Collected
           and
           made
           Report
           of
           .
           And
           what
           has
           been
           done
           with
           so
           much
           Faithfulness
           ,
           Impartiality
           ,
           and
           Judgment
           (
           as
           their
           Composers
           testify
           )
           that
           even
           that
           what
           tends
           to
           the
           disparagement
           of
           their
           Nation
           and
           Ancestors
           ,
           their
           Families
           and
           Persons
           ,
           is
           not
           concealed
           ,
           when
           it
           might
           tend
           to
           the
           Glory
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           Reasons
           of
           the
           Divine
           Proceedings
           towards
           them
           ,
           or
           the
           giving
           any
           Life
           to
           the
           Matters
           they
           Relate
           .
           A
           practice
           rarely
           to
           be
           observed
           in
           other
           Authors
           ;
           and
           when
           it
           is
           ,
           doth
           give
           Credit
           to
           what
           they
           Report
           .
        
         
         
           But
           the
           chief
           thing
           is
           the
           Credibility
           of
           the
           Matter
           (
           which
           I
           shall
           now
           proceed
           to
           )
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Credibility
           of
           the
           Matter
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           standing
           Character
           that
           we
           are
           to
           judge
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           a
           Relation
           by
           .
        
         
           But
           then
           we
           must
           judge
           aright
           concerning
           the
           Credibility
           of
           it
           .
           For
           that
           at
           first
           sight
           may
           seem
           to
           be
           Incredible
           ,
           which
           upon
           farther
           consideration
           and
           examination
           may
           prove
           to
           be
           Credible
           :
           As
           St.
           Paul
           saith
           to
           Agrippa
           ,
           Acts
           ●6
           .
           8.
           
           
             Why
             should
             it
             be
             thought
             a
             thing
             incredible
             with
             you
             that
             God
             should
             raise
             the
             dead
             ?
          
           It
           might
           seem
           a
           thing
           Incredible
           at
           the
           first
           proposal
           ,
           as
           it
           did
           to
           the
           
             Athenians
             Acts
          
           17.
           32.
           but
           the
           Apostle
           states
           the
           Case
           right
           ,
           1
           Cor.
           15.
           35.
           in
           Answer
           to
           that
           Question
           ,
           
             Some
             man
             will
             say
             ,
             How
             are
             the
             dead
             raised
             up
             ,
             and
             with
             what
             body
             do
             they
             come
             ?
             thou
             fool
             ,
             that
             which
             thou
             sowest
             is
             not
             quickned
             except
             it
             die
             .
             And
             that
             which
             thou
             sowest
             ,
             thou
             sowest
             not
             that
             body
             that
             shall
             be
             ,
             but
             God
             giveth
             it
             a
             body
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           Where
           he
           first
           of
           all
           confirms
           it
           by
           a
           like
           Instance
           in
           Nature
           ,
           and
           then
           resolves
           it
           into
           the
           Power
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           'T
           is
           for
           want
           of
           these
           Two
           Considerations
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           of
           the
           Understanding
           of
           Nature
           ,
           the
           Order
           ,
           Power
           ,
           and
           Operation
           of
           second
           Causes
           ;
           and
           of
           the
           Power
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           Supreme
           Cause
           ,
           that
           we
           often
           mistake
           about
           the
           Credibility
           of
           
           things
           ;
           and
           judge
           that
           to
           be
           Impossible
           and
           Incredible
           ,
           which
           in
           it self
           ,
           and
           often
           in
           the
           Event
           proves
           to
           be
           Possible
           and
           Credible
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           it
           frequently
           fares
           in
           matters
           of
           Fact
           ,
           of
           the
           Credibility
           or
           Incredibility
           of
           which
           ,
           we
           are
           as
           liable
           to
           mistake
           ,
           as
           about
           the
           Possibility
           or
           impossibility
           of
           Effects
           in
           Nature
           ;
           when
           we
           judge
           of
           other
           Nations
           and
           Ages
           by
           our
           own
           ,
           and
           of
           what
           we
           do
           not
           know
           ,
           by
           what
           we
           do
           ;
           and
           sometimes
           are
           so
           vain
           as
           to
           reason
           against
           others
           Experience
           and
           Observation
           .
           Thus
           it
           was
           with
           the
           Ancients
           ,
           that
           thought
           the
           Torrid-Zone
           Uninhabitable
           ;
           and
           with
           others
           ,
           that
           accounted
           the
           Opinion
           of
           Antipodes
           Fabulous
           and
           Impossible
           .
           Hence
           it
           is
           that
           the
           Errors
           of
           former
           Writers
           are
           so
           often
           Corrected
           by
           Modern
           Observations
           .
           But
           this
           we
           may
           confidently
           affirm
           of
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           after
           it
           has
           stood
           the
           Test
           of
           above
           Three
           thousand
           Years
           in
           whole
           or
           in
           part
           (
           for
           so
           long
           is
           it
           since
           the
           time
           of
           Moses
           )
           and
           that
           nothing
           has
           been
           left
           unattempted
           by
           its
           Adversaries
           to
           overthrow
           its
           Authority
           ,
           it
           has
           yet
           maintained
           it
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           be
           the
           most
           Exact
           ,
           Faithful
           ,
           and
           Impartial
           Relation
           the
           World
           ever
           had
           .
        
         
           For
           the
           better
           Judging
           of
           whose
           Veracity
           ,
           and
           Confirming
           its
           Credibility
           ,
           we
           may
           observe
           ;
        
         
         
           1.
           
           That
           a
           great
           part
           of
           it
           carries
           with
           it
           its
           own
           Evidence
           ,
           and
           has
           the
           common
           Consent
           of
           Mankind
           to
           attest
           it
           .
           Such
           I
           account
           the
           History
           of
           the
           Creation
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           the
           Formation
           of
           Man
           ,
           and
           the
           Degeneracy
           of
           Human
           Nature
           ,
           to
           be
           .
           The
           first
           of
           these
           was
           universally
           acknowledged
           ;
           nor
           was
           the
           Creation
           of
           the
           World
           ever
           Questioned
           or
           Disputed
           ,
           till
           above
           a
           Thousand
           Years
           after
           the
           time
           of
           Moses
           (
           as
           Aristotle
           ,
           who
           was
           of
           that
           Opinion
           ,
           acknowledges
           ,
           
             de
             Coelo
             ,
             lib.
          
           1.
           cap.
           10
           ▪
           )
           .
           And
           the
           last
           was
           the
           Observation
           of
           all
           Ages
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           There
           is
           a
           Relation
           of
           such
           things
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           as
           have
           in
           them
           the
           face
           and
           appearance
           of
           Truth
           ;
           and
           of
           which
           no
           certain
           or
           tolerable
           account
           can
           be
           given
           by
           any
           other
           Monuments
           of
           History
           that
           are
           ,
           or
           ever
           were
           extant
           in
           the
           World.
           Such
           are
           the
           Age
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           the
           Dispersion
           of
           Nations
           ;
           the
           Variety
           of
           Languages
           ;
           the
           Distribution
           of
           Time
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           Now
           if
           the
           Account
           given
           of
           these
           things
           in
           Scripture
           be
           True
           ,
           we
           are
           capable
           of
           Solving
           the
           greatest
           Difficulties
           as
           to
           these
           Matters
           .
           And
           that
           they
           are
           True
           ,
           there
           is
           good
           Reason
           to
           conclude
           .
           As
           for
           Instance
           ,
           let
           us
           consider
           the
           Instances
           before
           given
           ,
           viz.
           
        
         
         
           (
           1.
           )
           The
           Origine
           of
           the
           World
           as
           it
           is
           in
           Genesis
           .
           I
           acknowlege
           there
           may
           be
           nothing
           in
           the
           Composition
           of
           it
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           Course
           of
           Nature
           ,
           to
           determine
           this
           Point
           more
           in
           favour
           of
           Moses
           ,
           than
           of
           the
           
             Egyptians
             ,
             Chaldeans
          
           ,
           or
           Chinese
           .
           But
           to
           lay
           aside
           all
           other
           Arguments
           from
           the
           Novelty
           of
           Arts
           and
           Sciences
           ,
           and
           the
           reputed
           Inventors
           of
           them
           ;
           it
           is
           certain
           that
           in
           the
           Account
           given
           by
           Moses
           there
           is
           an
           Exact
           Order
           ,
           the
           Narration
           begins
           and
           is
           carried
           on
           with
           a
           strict
           Coherence
           ;
           and
           let
           us
           trace
           it
           back
           from
           the
           Flood
           to
           Adam
           ;
           or
           from
           Abraham
           (
           suppose
           )
           to
           the
           Flood
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           very
           regular
           Relation
           of
           Persons
           and
           things
           .
           But
           besides
           the
           Incredibility
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           of
           the
           Thousands
           of
           the
           Egyptians
           ,
           the
           Hundred
           thousands
           of
           the
           Chaldeans
           ,
           and
           the
           Millions
           of
           the
           Chineses
           ;
           it
           all
           ends
           at
           last
           in
           Fable
           ,
           in
           Apotheoses
           ,
           or
           imaginary
           Gods
           and
           Heroes
           ,
           and
           Self-Contradictions
           (
           as
           has
           been
           shewn
           by
           many
           Learned
           Writers
           on
           this
           Argument
           )
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           As
           to
           the
           Dispersion
           of
           Nations
           ,
           and
           the
           Consequents
           of
           it
           ,
           the
           Pedigree
           of
           Moses
           is
           justified
           in
           the
           Names
           of
           Places
           agreeing
           with
           those
           of
           the
           Persons
           ;
           as
           has
           been
           abundantly
           proved
           by
           Bochart
           in
           his
           
             Geographia
             Sacra
          
           .
           And
           which
           would
           appear
           to
           the
           Eye
           of
           every
           Reader
           ,
           if
           a
           Table
           was
           made
           of
           the
           Tenth
           Chapter
           of
           Genesis
           ,
           
           and
           compared
           with
           the
           Ancient
           Geography
           ;
           and
           should
           have
           been
           here
           inserted
           ,
           were
           there
           a
           place
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           As
           to
           the
           Distribution
           of
           Time
           ,
           there
           is
           an
           orderly
           Progression
           ,
           both
           with
           respect
           to
           the
           Genealogies
           of
           Families
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           Periods
           from
           the
           Creation
           to
           the
           Flood
           ,
           from
           thence
           to
           the
           Law
           at
           Sinai
           ,
           from
           thence
           to
           the
           Rearing
           of
           
           Solomon's
           Temple
           ,
           from
           thence
           to
           the
           Captivity
           ,
           and
           from
           that
           to
           our
           Saviour's
           Death
           .
           Time
           and
           Place
           are
           good
           Characters
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           any
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           good
           Marks
           and
           Directors
           ;
           and
           carry
           in
           them
           a
           great
           appearance
           of
           Truth
           where
           they
           are
           to
           be
           found
           .
           And
           then
           none
           can
           be
           presumed
           to
           be
           more
           certain
           than
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           where
           the
           Relation
           these
           had
           to
           the
           Messiah
           ,
           and
           each
           Person
           had
           to
           his
           Tribe
           ,
           and
           each
           Tribe
           to
           its
           Place
           and
           Scituation
           ,
           made
           them
           to
           be
           scrupulously
           exact
           and
           Critical
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           There
           are
           other
           things
           that
           are
           highly
           Credible
           ,
           and
           have
           nothing
           difficult
           to
           be
           admitted
           ;
           and
           if
           admitted
           ,
           are
           a
           wonderful
           Instance
           of
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           ;
           as
           in
           the
           Punishment
           of
           profligate
           and
           incorrigible
           Wickedness
           ,
           in
           the
           Two
           Notorious
           Examples
           of
           the
           Deluge
           and
           Sodom
           ;
           2
           Pet.
           2.
           5
           ,
           6
           :
           So
           in
           the
           Preservation
           of
           Pious
           Persons
           ,
           such
           as
           
             Noah
             ,
             Abraham
             ,
             Lot
             ,
             Joseph
             ,
             David
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
         
           But
           above
           all
           is
           this
           evident
           in
           God's
           erecting
           ,
           establishing
           ,
           guiding
           and
           preserving
           his
           Church
           ,
           when
           in
           Egypt
           ,
           in
           Canaan
           ,
           though
           perpetually
           surrounded
           with
           watchful
           and
           malicious
           Adversaries
           ;
           and
           recovering
           so
           much
           of
           it
           out
           of
           Captivity
           as
           was
           sufficient
           in
           a
           continued
           Succession
           to
           answer
           the
           end
           of
           accomplishing
           all
           the
           Scripture-Prophecies
           in
           the
           Person
           of
           the
           Messiah
           ,
           that
           was
           to
           descend
           from
           the
           Lineage
           of
           Abraham
           ,
           the
           Tribe
           of
           Judah
           ,
           and
           the
           Family
           of
           David
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           as
           the
           Ancient
           Genealogies
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           Chronology
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           were
           carefully
           recorded
           ,
           to
           demonstrate
           to
           succeeding
           Generations
           that
           the
           World
           had
           a
           beginning
           ,
           and
           a
           late
           beginning
           in
           comparison
           :
           So
           the
           later
           Genealogies
           from
           Abraham
           were
           very
           exactly
           preserved
           ,
           that
           so
           it
           might
           appear
           to
           all
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           what
           had
           been
           foretold
           above
           1800
           years
           before
           ,
           was
           in
           its
           order
           and
           time
           punctually
           fulfilled
           :
           Which
           if
           the
           Genealogies
           had
           been
           lost
           or
           confounded
           ,
           could
           not
           have
           been
           observed
           ;
           and
           so
           we
           had
           been
           wanting
           in
           a
           considerable
           Evidence
           of
           the
           Descent
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           and
           consequently
           of
           his
           being
           the
           Messiah
           .
        
         
           Indeed
           the
           whole
           Scripture
           History
           is
           little
           else
           than
           the
           History
           of
           Divine
           Providence
           ;
           where
           there
           is
           an
           admirable
           concatenation
           of
           Relations
           
           of
           various
           kinds
           ,
           but
           all
           subservient
           to
           the
           same
           End
           ;
           and
           were
           there
           an
           Extract
           made
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Events
           rehearsed
           ,
           and
           Operations
           therein
           described
           ,
           brought
           into
           one
           entire
           Body
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           the
           best
           Commentary
           on
           that
           Divine
           Subject
           in
           the
           whole
           World
           ,
           and
           infinitely
           beyond
           any
           Human
           Composure
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           There
           are
           ▪
           other
           things
           that
           are
           difficult
           ,
           either
           as
           to
           the
           Relations
           themselves
           ,
           or
           the
           manner
           and
           circumstances
           of
           them
           ;
           but
           what
           should
           no
           more
           prejudice
           us
           against
           the
           truth
           and
           certainty
           of
           the
           things
           related
           ,
           and
           much
           less
           of
           the
           whole
           ,
           than
           the
           Difficulties
           of
           Divine
           Providence
           should
           warrant
           us
           to
           deny
           it
           ;
           and
           for
           want
           of
           not
           understanding
           some
           of
           its
           Operations
           ,
           or
           Events
           ,
           we
           should
           take
           encouragement
           to
           deny
           what
           we
           do
           understand
           .
           'T
           is
           an
           excellent
           Saying
           of
           St.
           
             Austin
             ,
             De
             Doctrina
          
           ,
           l.
           4.
           c.
           6.
           (
           speaking
           of
           the
           Divine
           Writers
           )
           
             Where
             I
             do
             understand
             them
             ,
             there
             is
             nothing
             seems
             to
             me
             more
             wisely
             or
             more
             eloquently
             expressed
             :
             But
             where
             I
             do
             not
             understand
             them
             ,
             there
             to
             me
             appears
             less
             of
             their
             Eloquence
             ;
             but
             yet
             I
             do
             not
             doubt
             it
             to
             be
             such
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             where
             I
             understand
             it
             .
          
        
         
           We
           ought
           rather
           to
           suspend
           our
           Censure
           ,
           with
           the
           modesty
           of
           this
           Father
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           sake
           
           of
           what
           we
           do
           understand
           ,
           think
           the
           more
           favourably
           of
           what
           we
           do
           not
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           ,
           as
           when
           we
           have
           uncontroulable
           Reason
           to
           believe
           a
           Providence
           ,
           the
           difficulties
           about
           it
           are
           no
           sufficient
           reason
           to
           call
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Divine
           Providence
           into
           question
           :
           So
           when
           we
           have
           so
           great
           reason
           to
           believe
           the
           Scripture's
           Relation
           of
           things
           to
           be
           true
           ,
           the
           Difficulties
           about
           it
           ought
           not
           to
           derogate
           from
           its
           Veracity
           ;
           nor
           give
           us
           the
           confidence
           any
           more
           to
           question
           the
           Truth
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           than
           the
           Certainty
           of
           Providence
           .
           For
           by
           this
           way
           of
           proceeding
           ,
           not
           only
           the
           Truth
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           but
           of
           all
           other
           Books
           whatsoever
           will
           be
           overthrown
           ;
           nay
           the
           plainest
           and
           most
           obvious
           appearances
           in
           Nature
           .
           And
           yet
           of
           this
           kind
           are
           many
           of
           the
           Objections
           that
           are
           brought
           into
           the
           Field
           ,
           and
           are
           made
           to
           serve
           in
           the
           Cause
           of
           Impiety
           :
           Such
           as
           these
           ,
           
             That
             we
             don't
             know
             into
             whose
             hands
             those
             Books
             have
             fallen
             ,
             nor
             in
             what
             Copies
             such
             various
             Readings
             have
             been
             found
             ;
             or
             whether
             there
             are
             not
             more
             of
             that
             kind
             in
             other
             hands
             .
          
           
             Theol.
             Polit.
             c.
          
           7.
           
        
         
           The
           issue
           of
           all
           which
           is
           ,
           That
           if
           this
           will
           invalidate
           the
           Truth
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           it
           will
           also
           invalidate
           that
           of
           all
           Writings
           whatsoever
           ;
           and
           so
           is
           no
           more
           to
           be
           regarded
           ,
           than
           an
           Argument
           against
           
           Motion
           ,
           which
           is
           rather
           to
           be
           contemned
           than
           answered
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           but
           reasonable
           then
           that
           we
           should
           give
           the
           same
           quarter
           to
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           we
           allow
           to
           other
           Writings
           .
           And
           therefore
           all
           Objections
           levell'd
           against
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           which
           will
           equally
           be
           managed
           against
           any
           others
           ,
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           allowed
           ,
           unless
           we
           will
           give
           credit
           to
           nothing
           but
           what
           we
           our selves
           hear
           and
           see
           :
           And
           then
           to
           carry
           on
           the
           Cause
           ,
           We
           must
           recede
           again
           ,
           since
           there
           are
           thousands
           of
           Cases
           happen
           ,
           where
           even
           our
           own
           Senses
           may
           be
           subject
           to
           Error
           and
           Mistake
           .
        
         
           II.
           Another
           Character
           for
           the
           proof
           or
           discovery
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           History
           ,
           is
           Self-consistence
           and
           Agreement
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           a
           necessary
           Character
           ,
           and
           absolutely
           requisite
           to
           all
           true
           History
           ;
           for
           nothing
           more
           shews
           the
           weakness
           and
           injudiciousness
           of
           a
           Writer
           ,
           than
           that
           he
           comprehends
           not
           his
           own
           Design
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           a
           sign
           he
           doth
           not
           comprehend
           it
           ,
           that
           contradicts
           himself
           ,
           and
           makes
           one
           part
           to
           disagree
           with
           another
           .
        
         
           I
           grant
           that
           this
           alone
           is
           not
           an
           infallible
           Character
           of
           Truth
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           self-consistent
           ;
           for
           where
           the
           Plat
           is
           wholly
           fictitious
           and
           imaginary
           ,
           
           there
           may
           be
           an
           exact
           agreement
           throughout
           the
           whole
           :
           The
           Model
           may
           be
           so
           regularly
           squared
           ,
           and
           laid
           out
           ,
           that
           there
           may
           be
           a
           becoming
           Symetry
           ;
           and
           Place
           ,
           and
           Time
           ,
           and
           all
           Circumstances
           made
           to
           concur
           ,
           to
           set
           it
           off
           with
           the
           greater
           advantage
           .
           But
           though
           this
           may
           be
           ,
           where
           Truth
           is
           not
           ;
           yet
           that
           cannot
           be
           true
           ,
           which
           is
           without
           it
           ,
           Truth
           being
           always
           consistent
           with
           it self
           .
           But
           there
           is
           this
           above
           all
           others
           observable
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           a
           System
           of
           several
           Books
           ,
           wrote
           by
           several
           Persons
           ,
           in
           several
           Ages
           ,
           on
           several
           Subjects
           ;
           and
           yet
           however
           different
           in
           Style
           and
           Phrase
           ,
           Method
           and
           Order
           ,
           are
           like
           the
           several
           Features
           in
           the
           Face
           ,
           that
           besides
           the
           sweetness
           in
           each
           alone
           ,
           there
           is
           what
           we
           call
           Beauty
           ,
           that
           arises
           from
           the
           mixture
           of
           all
           .
        
         
           Thus
           it
           is
           in
           the
           Sacred
           History
           ,
           which
           has
           a
           great
           variety
           in
           it
           of
           matter
           ,
           dispersed
           up
           and
           down
           sometimes
           to
           quicken
           the
           Appetite
           ,
           and
           excite
           the
           Diligence
           of
           the
           Reader
           ,
           where
           each
           has
           its
           Order
           and
           Use
           :
           But
           when
           considered
           in
           one
           complex
           Body
           ,
           and
           compared
           and
           shewn
           together
           ,
           there
           is
           such
           a
           wonderful
           Agreement
           between
           the
           
             Old
             Testament
          
           and
           the
           New
           ,
           the
           Types
           and
           Anti-Types
           ,
           the
           Predictions
           and
           the
           Events
           ,
           &c.
           that
           it
           makes
           a
           very
           beauteous
           ,
           
           lively
           ,
           and
           admirable
           Appearance
           ,
           without
           any
           such
           inconsistencies
           as
           may
           make
           it
           liable
           to
           have
           its
           Veracity
           questioned
           ,
           if
           duly
           consider'd
           ,
           and
           seriously
           examined
           .
        
         
           I
           say
           ,
           if
           duly
           consider'd
           ,
           and
           seriously
           examin'd
           ;
           for
           else
           it
           must
           be
           acknowledged
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           some
           appearances
           of
           this
           kind
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           But
           I
           account
           not
           those
           to
           be
           Inconsistencies
           ,
           which
           in
           other
           Authors
           may
           justly
           be
           esteemed
           Errors
           of
           the
           Transcribers
           ;
           and
           for
           which
           no
           Author
           suffers
           in
           his
           Reputation
           .
           As
           for
           instance
           ,
           When
           the
           Famous
           Historian
           Herodotus
           in
           one
           
           place
           saith
           ,
           That
           Homer
           lived
           about
           Four
           hundred
           Years
           before
           his
           Time
           ;
           and
           in
           another
           place
           ,
           That
           it
           was
           about
           Six
           hundred
           .
           This
           escape
           doth
           not
           lessen
           his
           Reputation
           among
           Judicious
           Persons
           ;
           but
           for
           all
           that
           ,
           he
           preserves
           the
           Character
           of
           
             Pater
             Historiarum
             ▪
          
           and
           is
           esteemed
           as
           no
           injudicious
           or
           careless
           Writer
           .
           And
           so
           if
           a
           greater
           number
           in
           Scripture
           is
           taken
           for
           a
           less
           ,
           or
           a
           less
           for
           a
           greater
           ,
           when
           there
           are
           sufficient
           Directions
           therein
           for
           the
           Correction
           of
           it
           ;
           't
           is
           not
           reasonable
           to
           charge
           this
           as
           an
           inconsistency
           ,
           and
           to
           urge
           it
           as
           a
           reason
           for
           the
           overthrowing
           the
           Credit
           and
           Veracity
           of
           it
           .
        
         
         
           If
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           How
           doth
           it
           appear
           that
           they
           are
           the
           Faults
           of
           the
           Transcriber
           ?
        
         
           A.
           I
           Answer
           ,
           'T
           is
           apparently
           so
           sometimes
           ,
           as
           may
           be
           observed
           in
           the
           various
           Readings
           ;
           which
           could
           not
           be
           ,
           were
           there
           not
           such
           mistakes
           in
           the
           Transcriber
           :
           And
           where
           it
           doth
           not
           appear
           so
           to
           be
           ,
           we
           ought
           in
           reason
           so
           to
           judge
           ,
           where
           there
           are
           all
           the
           appearances
           of
           Faithfulness
           ,
           Diligence
           ,
           and
           Observation
           in
           the
           Writers
           themselves
           .
           As
           for
           instance
           ,
           What
           can
           be
           more
           exactly
           Penn'd
           than
           the
           Book
           of
           Joshua
           ,
           in
           which
           there
           is
           a
           punctual
           account
           of
           the
           Scituation
           and
           bounds
           of
           each
           Tribe
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           set
           out
           and
           describ'd
           by
           Joshua
           himself
           ,
           the
           Chief
           Arbiter
           and
           Director
           of
           all
           ;
           and
           if
           there
           should
           be
           found
           in
           his
           Book
           any
           Literal
           Errors
           ,
           one
           Name
           put
           for
           another
           ,
           or
           a
           different
           Reading
           of
           the
           same
           Names
           ,
           we
           cannot
           in
           reason
           judge
           it
           to
           be
           an
           oversight
           of
           so
           Sufficient
           ,
           and
           so
           Careful
           a
           Writer
           ,
           but
           that
           it
           might
           proceed
           from
           some
           one
           that
           Transcribed
           it
           after
           the
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           or
           Original
           Copy
           ,
           in
           some
           successive
           Generations
           ,
           and
           which
           in
           reason
           't
           is
           impossible
           wholly
           to
           prevent
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           not
           here
           necessary
           for
           me
           to
           enter
           upon
           a
           debate
           ,
           how
           far
           the
           Providence
           of
           God
           doth
           herein
           concern
           it self
           in
           preserving
           the
           Text
           free
           
           from
           all
           Corruptions
           :
           I
           am
           now
           Treating
           upon
           this
           Argument
           humanly
           speaking
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           separately
           from
           its
           Divine
           Authority
           .
           And
           admitting
           there
           are
           such
           petty
           Errors
           that
           creep
           in
           by
           such
           imperceptible
           ways
           ,
           though
           we
           cannot
           tell
           when
           or
           how
           they
           came
           in
           ,
           and
           have
           been
           disseminated
           into
           all
           Copies
           ,
           for
           ought
           we
           know
           ,
           that
           are
           Extant
           ;
           yet
           I
           don't
           know
           any
           reason
           why
           they
           should
           be
           charged
           upon
           the
           Original
           and
           the
           Compiler
           of
           it
           ;
           nor
           how
           the
           main
           Cause
           is
           herein
           concerned
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           a
           respect
           due
           and
           given
           to
           all
           Authors
           of
           any
           Repute
           for
           their
           Care
           and
           Fidelity
           ,
           that
           Write
           consistently
           as
           to
           the
           main
           ,
           to
           pass
           the
           most
           favourable
           Construction
           upon
           any
           such
           little
           Errors
           ;
           which
           if
           theirs
           ,
           were
           not
           voluntary
           ;
           or
           rather
           ,
           not
           to
           make
           them
           theirs
           ,
           without
           an
           apparent
           necessity
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           surely
           we
           should
           not
           then
           press
           the
           case
           with
           the
           utmost
           severity
           ,
           and
           make
           that
           ,
           which
           is
           in
           it self
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           Books
           besides
           ,
           a
           Venial
           Error
           ,
           to
           be
           no
           less
           than
           a
           Mortal
           one
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           to
           stab
           its
           Veracity
           to
           the
           heart
           ,
           and
           spoil
           its
           Credit
           for
           ever
           for
           the
           future
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           said
           there
           is
           more
           reason
           for
           this
           in
           the
           case
           of
           Scripture
           than
           in
           any
           other
           Book
           ;
           because
           That
           alone
           pretends
           to
           Divine
           Authority
           .
        
         
         
           I
           Answer
           ,
           That
           for
           the
           present
           is
           not
           the
           matter
           under
           Consideration
           ;
           we
           are
           now
           upon
           the
           Point
           of
           its
           Truth
           ,
           and
           content
           our selves
           to
           enter
           upon
           this
           Debate
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           had
           no
           pretence
           to
           Divine
           Authority
           and
           Inspiration
           .
        
         
           And
           so
           we
           claim
           the
           same
           Favour
           and
           Right
           on
           its
           behalf
           ,
           as
           we
           do
           for
           any
           other
           Author's
           Credit
           and
           Repute
           ,
           of
           great
           Antiquity
           ;
           and
           general
           Reception
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           there
           ought
           no
           such
           Arguments
           or
           Objections
           to
           be
           urg'd
           for
           the
           Invalidity
           of
           its
           Authority
           ,
           which
           it
           is
           not
           decent
           or
           reasonable
           to
           offer
           against
           other
           Writings
           ;
           and
           we
           may
           reasonably
           claim
           the
           same
           allowance
           for
           that
           which
           all
           Mankind
           do
           give
           ,
           or
           in
           reason
           ought
           to
           give
           ,
           in
           things
           of
           this
           nature
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           don't
           account
           these
           to
           be
           Inconsistencies
           or
           Contradictions
           ,
           which
           do
           not
           affect
           the
           main
           body
           or
           part
           of
           the
           History
           ;
           but
           that
           are
           like
           a
           Parenthesis
           in
           a
           Sentence
           ,
           that
           whether
           inserted
           or
           omitted
           ,
           the
           sence
           is
           perfect
           and
           compleat
           .
           And
           therefore
           when
           the
           History
           of
           Jacob
           blessing
           his
           Sons
           is
           the
           Subject
           under
           Consideration
           ;
           whether
           it
           was
           as
           Gen.
           47.
           31.
           
           
             He
             bowed
             himself
             upon
             the
             bed's-head
             ,
          
           or
           as
           Heb.
           11.
           21.
           
           
             He
             worshipped
             —
             upon
             the
             top
             of
             his
             staff
          
           ;
           is
           not
           material
           .
        
         
         
           And
           so
           it
           may
           be
           in
           many
           cases
           besides
           ;
           But
           what
           real
           prejudice
           will
           redound
           to
           the
           Reader
           by
           the
           mistake
           of
           any
           thing
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           or
           what
           prejudice
           is
           there
           to
           the
           Relation
           ,
           when
           a
           thing
           of
           no
           moment
           is
           omitted
           or
           inserted
           ,
           exchanged
           or
           altered
           ?
           I
           say
           not
           this
           as
           if
           I
           despaired
           of
           having
           an
           account
           given
           of
           these
           matters
           (
           for
           that
           I
           am
           sensible
           is
           to
           be
           done
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           Case
           before-recited
           )
           but
           to
           shew
           how
           unreasonable
           it
           is
           to
           condemn
           Scripture
           for
           that
           which
           we
           will
           let
           others
           go
           away
           with
           ,
           free
           from
           all
           Blame
           and
           Censure
           ;
           and
           they
           shall
           be
           good
           and
           laudable
           Writers
           ,
           and
           their
           Histories
           admitted
           to
           be
           true
           and
           exact
           ,
           though
           they
           have
           many
           Errors
           of
           this
           kind
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           mean
           while
           the
           other
           shall
           be
           sifted
           to
           the
           very
           bottom
           ,
           and
           every
           Molehill
           be
           a
           Mountain
           ;
           and
           upon
           every
           little
           supposed
           defect
           ,
           it
           shall
           be
           said
           ,
           
             It
             has
             been
             weighed
             in
             the
             balance
          
           of
           Reason
           and
           Examination
           ,
           and
           has
           been
           
             found
             too
             light
          
           .
        
         
           Thus
           partial
           are
           these
           sort
           of
           persons
           ,
           while
           they
           malevolently
           lay
           the
           Right
           hand
           upon
           the
           youngest
           ,
           and
           their
           Left
           upon
           the
           eldest
           .
        
         
           If
           indeed
           the
           inconsistency
           were
           like
           a
           Disease
           in
           the
           Vitals
           ,
           that
           affects
           the
           Heart
           or
           the
           Brain
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           be
           accounted
           Mortal
           ;
           if
           it
           did
           affect
           the
           
           main
           Body
           of
           the
           Relation
           ,
           and
           had
           originally
           proceeded
           from
           the
           Author
           ,
           it
           would
           have
           been
           a
           just
           Allegation
           ,
           and
           his
           Truth
           and
           Fidelity
           ,
           his
           Knowledge
           ,
           and
           his
           Care
           might
           with
           good
           reason
           be
           called
           in
           question
           .
           But
           that
           we
           deny
           ;
           and
           appeal
           to
           all
           the
           various
           Readings
           and
           Observations
           on
           Scripture
           as
           our
           Compurgators
           in
           this
           point
           .
           And
           consequently
           the
           Scripture
           will
           so
           far
           remain
           as
           a
           true
           Relator
           of
           matters
           of
           Fact
           ,
           and
           may
           compare
           with
           ,
           and
           be
           deservedly
           set
           above
           all
           other
           Writings
           whatsoever
           ;
           in
           which
           no
           one
           Man
           ,
           whose
           hand
           pass'd
           through
           the
           whole
           Work
           ,
           can
           compare
           with
           that
           to
           which
           so
           many
           Hands
           in
           various
           Circumstances
           ,
           at
           several
           times
           did
           so
           exactly
           concur
           and
           agree
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           been
           wrote
           by
           one
           Hand
           and
           at
           one
           Time
           ,
           and
           were
           but
           one
           intire
           Argument
           running
           through
           the
           whole
           .
        
         
           III.
           Another
           Character
           is
           the
           Agreement
           of
           Scripture
           with
           other
           Authors
           ;
           when
           such
           there
           are
           .
        
         
           I
           may
           well
           say
           ,
           when
           such
           there
           are
           .
        
         
           Since
           it
           is
           evident
           that
           there
           are
           no
           Writers
           can
           pretend
           to
           the
           like
           Antiquity
           with
           Moses
           ;
           and
           then
           we
           must
           wholy
           rely
           on
           his
           Authority
           for
           what
           he
           relates
           .
           But
           however
           ,
           though
           the
           
           most
           ancient
           among
           the
           Heathens
           are
           much
           later
           than
           him
           ,
           and
           so
           wanted
           those
           Advantages
           for
           Information
           which
           he
           had
           ;
           yet
           they
           (
           so
           far
           as
           they
           agree
           with
           him
           )
           give
           a
           Confirmation
           and
           Credibility
           to
           what
           he
           relates
           ,
           since
           they
           deliver
           it
           as
           the
           Sense
           of
           the
           Ages
           before
           ,
           and
           of
           those
           in
           which
           they
           themselves
           lived
           .
           It
           is
           not
           here
           so
           much
           to
           our
           purpose
           to
           enquire
           from
           whence
           they
           derived
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           things
           they
           relate
           ,
           whether
           from
           the
           Jews
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           general
           Tradition
           (
           which
           was
           best
           to
           be
           known
           from
           the
           Eastern
           Parts
           of
           the
           World
           )
           as
           it
           is
           to
           observe
           their
           concurrence
           in
           them
           with
           the
           Sacred
           Writers
           .
           It
           is
           indeed
           probable
           that
           the
           Ancient
           Writers
           of
           the
           Heathens
           were
           (
           if
           at
           all
           )
           less
           beholding
           to
           the
           Jews
           for
           their
           Information
           ,
           and
           the
           Later
           more
           ;
           as
           may
           be
           observed
           from
           the
           great
           difference
           between
           the
           one
           and
           the
           other
           ,
           the
           later
           being
           much
           plainer
           in
           many
           things
           than
           the
           former
           :
           For
           the
           higher
           we
           ascend
           from
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Olympiads
           ,
           the
           more
           intricate
           ,
           obscure
           ,
           and
           fabulous
           they
           are
           .
           So
           that
           generally
           speaking
           ,
           it
           is
           with
           them
           as
           Plutarch
           saith
           of
           Geographers
           ,
           That
           rather
           than
           leave
           any
           vacant
           places
           in
           their
           Maps
           ,
           fill
           them
           up
           with
           inaccessible
           Mountains
           ,
           Frozen
           Seas
           ,
           or
           Monsters
           .
           So
           when
           such
           Historians
           would
           
           compleat
           their
           Narratives
           ;
           rather
           than
           be
           deficient
           in
           it
           ,
           they
           insert
           wonderful
           and
           tragical
           Stories
           ;
           and
           like
           Nations
           that
           can
           give
           no
           account
           of
           their
           Pedigree
           and
           Original
           ,
           derive
           themselves
           from
           the
           gods
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           Earth
           ,
           and
           become
           Aborigines
           .
        
         
           But
           however
           ,
           though
           this
           be
           too
           truly
           the
           state
           of
           the
           World
           for
           about
           3000
           Years
           from
           the
           Creation
           ;
           yet
           there
           is
           a
           mixture
           of
           fine
           Gold
           with
           the
           greater
           dross
           ;
           and
           from
           whence
           we
           may
           extract
           so
           much
           as
           may
           serve
           to
           confirm
           what
           the
           Scripture
           advances
           for
           Truth
           ,
           and
           we
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           it
           receive
           as
           such
           ;
           as
           might
           be
           shewn
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           a
           Tract
           has
           been
           often
           beaten
           by
           Ancients
           and
           Moderns
           ,
           by
           Aristobulus
           and
           Josephus
           among
           the
           Jews
           ;
           by
           several
           of
           the
           Fathers
           ,
           such
           as
           
             Justin
             Martyr
             ,
             Tertullian
             ,
             Eusebius
             ,
          
           &c.
           and
           by
           many
           in
           these
           Days
           .
           And
           it
           were
           easy
           
           to
           form
           a
           History
           out
           of
           them
           ;
           especially
           if
           we
           change
           but
           the
           Names
           ,
           and
           instead
           of
           Saturn
           ,
           read
           Adam
           ;
           and
           instead
           of
           
             Pandora
             ,
             Eve
          
           ;
           instead
           of
           the
           Garden
           of
           
             Jupiter
             ,
             Eden
          
           ;
           instead
           of
           Ogyges
           or
           
             Deucalion
             ,
             Noah
          
           ,
           &c.
           for
           we
           should
           find
           more
           of
           the
           Truth
           under
           the
           disguise
           of
           the
           Fable
           than
           at
           the
           first
           appears
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           former
           gave
           occasion
           frequently
           to
           the
           later
           .
        
         
         
           But
           over
           and
           above
           this
           ,
           we
           have
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           Ancient
           History
           of
           Scripture
           confirm'd
           by
           the
           express
           Testimony
           of
           some
           of
           their
           gravest
           and
           strictest
           Writers
           ,
           as
           the
           Collection
           that
           has
           been
           made
           in
           that
           way
           by
           several
           of
           the
           Learned
           ,
           shews
           .
           To
           go
           no
           further
           than
           that
           of
           Moses
           ,
           who
           is
           placed
           by
           some
           of
           them
           in
           the
           first
           rank
           of
           the
           chiefest
           Lawgivers
           ,
           and
           whose
           Wonders
           in
           Egypt
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           Red-Sea
           ,
           are
           not
           obscurely
           referr'd
           to
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           When
           there
           is
           a
           Disagreement
           between
           the
           Scripture
           and
           other
           Authors
           ,
           there
           is
           sufficient
           reason
           to
           prefer
           the
           former
           before
           the
           later
           ,
           and
           to
           rectify
           these
           by
           that
           .
           As
           for
           the
           first
           3000
           Years
           it
           is
           acknowledged
           ,
           That
           there
           was
           elsewhere
           little
           else
           than
           Fable
           and
           Conjecture
           ,
           Confusion
           and
           uncertain
           Tradition
           ,
           as
           has
           been
           before
           observed
           :
           And
           who
           is
           there
           that
           is
           not
           able
           to
           see
           the
           difference
           between
           an
           Adam
           and
           a
           Saturn
           ,
           a
           Noah
           and
           Bacchus
           ,
           a
           Moses
           and
           Mercury
           ;
           between
           the
           Building
           of
           the
           Babylonish
           Tower
           ,
           and
           the
           War
           of
           the
           Giants
           with
           the
           gods
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           between
           the
           true
           History
           and
           the
           Fable
           ?
        
         
           Who
           can
           observe
           the
           various
           Accounts
           amongst
           the
           Pagan
           Writers
           ,
           their
           inconsistencies
           one
           with
           another
           ,
           their
           apparent
           ignorance
           of
           what
           they
           write
           about
           ,
           especially
           when
           it
           concerns
           other
           
           Nations
           or
           Ages
           ,
           than
           those
           in
           which
           themselves
           liv'd
           ;
           but
           must
           needs
           surrender
           up
           the
           Cause
           ,
           and
           own
           that
           the
           one
           has
           much
           the
           advantage
           of
           the
           other
           in
           point
           of
           Credibility
           ?
        
         
           So
           that
           setting
           aside
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           yet
           it
           has
           upon
           it
           all
           the
           Characters
           of
           Truth
           ,
           which
           any
           Book
           or
           Books
           in
           the
           World
           can
           pretend
           :
           And
           if
           there
           be
           any
           thing
           necessary
           more
           than
           what
           those
           have
           ,
           to
           establish
           its
           certainty
           and
           Credibility
           ,
           that
           is
           not
           wanting
           .
           In
           conclusion
           ,
           After
           all
           the
           attempt
           made
           to
           weaken
           its
           Authority
           ,
           it
           is
           with
           no
           better
           success
           than
           that
           of
           Celsus
           or
           Hierocles
           ,
           who
           endeavoured
           to
           set
           up
           an
           Aristeas
           or
           an
           Appollonius
           ,
           in
           Competition
           with
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           ;
           and
           opposed
           their
           pitiful
           Shifts
           and
           Impostures
           ,
           to
           his
           approved
           and
           incontestable
           Miracles
           .
        
         
           But
           there
           is
           somewhat
           farther
           to
           be
           respected
           .
           Hitherto
           we
           have
           consider'd
           the
           Scripture
           as
           able
           and
           sufficient
           to
           support
           it self
           without
           any
           supernatural
           Aid
           ;
           and
           by
           the
           sole
           evidence
           of
           Humane
           Testimony
           ,
           and
           such
           Characters
           as
           belong
           to
           other
           Writings
           in
           common
           with
           that
           :
           But
           there
           is
           a
           further
           point
           in
           reserve
           ,
           and
           which
           I
           had
           chiefly
           in
           my
           Eye
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           an
           Authority
           superior
           to
           all
           others
           ,
           and
           peculiar
           to
           Scripture
           ,
           That
           I
           mean
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ▪
           and
           what
           for
           the
           matter
           
           of
           it
           was
           inspired
           from
           above
           .
           And
           this
           ,
           the
           due
           Consideration
           of
           it
           as
           an
           excellent
           History
           will
           open
           a
           way
           to
           ;
           when
           we
           find
           not
           only
           all
           the
           Principles
           ,
           Precepts
           ,
           and
           Means
           ,
           that
           are
           necessary
           to
           a
           virtuous
           Life
           therein
           taught
           and
           prescribed
           ;
           but
           also
           admirable
           Examples
           of
           it
           in
           Fact
           ,
           that
           nothing
           might
           be
           wanting
           to
           animate
           and
           incourage
           us
           to
           the
           like
           practice
           .
           See
           it
           in
           the
           
           Noah's
           ,
           the
           
           Abraham's
           ,
           the
           
           Joseph's
           ,
           the
           
           Job's
           ,
           the
           
           Moses's
           ,
           the
           
           David's
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Patriarchs
           of
           old
           .
           See
           it
           in
           the
           Holy
           Apostles
           ,
           the
           Martyrs
           and
           Confessors
           ;
           but
           above
           all
           in
           the
           Example
           of
           Examples
           ,
           our
           Blessed
           Saviour
           .
        
         
           Here
           is
           a
           History
           ,
           that
           fills
           the
           Mind
           with
           the
           best
           Ideas
           and
           Images
           of
           things
           ,
           that
           represents
           the
           Instances
           of
           our
           Duty
           with
           all
           the
           advantage
           to
           our
           Thoughts
           ,
           that
           recommends
           it self
           to
           our
           Attention
           by
           the
           importance
           and
           profitableness
           of
           the
           Argument
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           force
           of
           its
           Authority
           .
           Upon
           this
           therefore
           let
           us
           dwell
           ,
           and
           make
           it
           the
           delightful
           Subject
           of
           our
           most
           serious
           Hours
           ,
           which
           will
           abundantly
           reward
           all
           our
           Pains
           ,
           and
           is
           sufficient
           to
           
             furnish
             us
             throughly
             unto
             all
             good
             Works
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           PAge
           11.
           l.
           19.
           for
           Composers
           r.
           Composures
           ,
           ibid.
           l.
           23.
           after
           
             Glory
             of
             God
          
           ,
           add
           
             to
             the
             manifestation
             of
          
           ,
           p.
           16.
           l
           ▪
           19.
           for
           them
           r.
           
             the
             Jews
          
           ,
           p.
           18.
           l.
           3.
           after
           events
           add
           
             therein
             ▪
          
        
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A66429-e280
           
             Euterpe
             .
             c.
             53.
             
             Vita
             Hom.
             
          
           
             Bochart
             ,
             Huetius
             ,
             Dr.
             Stillingfleet
             ,
             &c.