:

to guels the ductus literarum, as Learned Men have long ago obferved. I own indeed, that all the various Lections, which may be collected in their Tranflation, are not owing to a vitious Manuscript, and that several of them perhaps ought to be imputed to their Conjectures. As (b) Gen. 2. 2. Chap. 8. 4, 7. and in abundance of other places: But then that very liberty they affume to themselves of gueffing, is a plain Demonstration that it was not generally believed at that time, that the Copies were free from Faults, fince they were fuppofed to stand in need of Correction fo often.

* Text.

*

Befides we find that the Book which the Maforites made ufe of, and was of venerable Antiquity without queftion, has frequently faults in the Chetib, which are a+ Marglo. mended in the † Keri, and which are often wanting in the Samaritan Copy. As for inftance the Finalis, which is to be found in the Samaritan, is often omitted in the word Naharah, a Girl, which ought not to be left out; and hi is frequently read for hou, which (generally speaking)is amended in the Samaritan Book. 'Tis true,these and some others of the like nature, are but small inconfiderable Mistakes

(b) In the fecond Chapter of Genefis v. 2. the Hebrew reads it On the feventh day God ended his Work; but the Septuagint, On the fixth day. And fo Gen. 8.4. the Hebrew is, The Ark rested on the feventeenth day of the month; but the LXX fay, The twenty fe venth day of the month; and below v. 7. in the Hebrew, 'tis the Raven went forth and returned; but the LXX infert a Negation, x avispeper, he did not return.

how

however they fhew that Miftakes might creep in, and indeed did creep into the Text, and if they did it in a word fo common and eafie as Naharah, certainly they would much fooner do fo in an obfcuré, difficult, and rare word, efpecially where the Sence was abrupt,and the Series of the Oration did not help out the Transcri bers, who did not understand it.

Nevertheless, because the Books of the Law were more frequently read than any of the reft, and are more eafie to be understood, I must own there were but few Faults in them, and those of fmall Importance: And moreover that our Copy, I mean that of the Maforites, feems to be more Correa than the Samaritan, for which reafon I have all along Faithfully fet it down, not fo much as changing a Letter. As hinted above, fome Faults are left by the Maforites, which might have been amended, but 'tis better, in my Opinion, that thofe very Faults fhould be left in the Copy, than that it fhould fmell too much of a Critical hand, which I have often obferved in the Samaritan, though it is not without its Faults, as Learned Men have long fince taken notice.

After all, to deliver my own Sentiments, upon a ferious Examination of the whole Matter, I am clearly of opinion that no Books of great Antiquity, have arrived to our hands fo correct as are the Holy Writings of the Hebrews, although 'tis certain they are much the oldeft of any; I mean those that were copied out by the Dili gence of the Mafarites, and fo transmitted to E Pofte

Pofterity. And that this did not happen without a particular Providence, which has hitherto fo miraculously preferved the Sacred Hiftories, and the Revelations of the Prophets, for the common Benefit and Ufe of Mankind, no Man is better satisfied than my felf. I have likewise frequently in this Book defended the common Readings against the Conjectures of Learned Men, as any one may fee that will perufe my Annotations. At the fame time I freely own, that the most indefatigable and judicious Lud. Cappel, has infinitely deferved of the Sacred Learning, by his Critica Sacra, and Arcanum Punctuations. To fpeak ingenuoufly, most of his Opinions do extreamly

"have let them do please me, and I

as if they had been fo many Demonftrations, But fince I was obliged to chufe one certain Edition to follow, and that the moft accurate, I have only followed the Maforitick Copy in my Tranflation, as being the moft correct of all, and yet I have not neglected to fet down in my Commentary, all the various Lections out of the Samaritan, and the Ancient Interpreters, that feem'd to be of any Moment. But I fhall fay more of this Matter in the following Differtation.

Differta

51

Differtation II.

Of the beft Manner of Interpreting the Bible.

ཧི

1. The End of this Differtation. II. What it is to Interpret, and the Principal Heads of that Method which we have follow'd. Ill. How Difficult a Matter it is to Interpret the Holy Writings. IV. What feems the best way to attempt it. V. Hebraifms, after what manner they are to be tranflated. VI. The Difficulty of turning the Hebrew Particles into Latin. VII. What trouble there is in a Narration that confifts of Preterperfect or Future Tenfes joyn'd together by the Conjunction Vau. VIII. The Maforite Copy to be follow'd as the most correct. IX. What Affiftances are to be had out of the Old and Modern Interpreters. X. What helps the neighbouring Languages afford. XI. Of what great use the comparing of feveral places of Scripture is. XII. What helps may be fafely bor rowed from Etymologies. XIII. That the Errors of fome later Interpreters may be more cafily avoided now than in the last Age.

SIN

INCE after the Labours of fo many Learned Men, who both in this, and especially the last Age, have endeavoured to Interpret the

E 2

Holy Scriptures, 'tis my Lot alfo to undertake the fame Province; I think it but neceffary to acquaint the Reader upon what Motives I attempted,and after what manner I have perform'd it. I am fenfible that I have engaged not only in a very difficult, but a moft invidious Affair, by reafon of the different Parties and Factions that disturb the Repofe of the Christian World. For in a Bufinefs of this nature, if a Man does, not do fomething fingular to diftinguish him from the reft, he muft expect to meet with the Contempt and Laughter of the Learned and Unlearned, and if he advances, any thing unheard of and untouch'd before, (which I dare prefume to fay is no, eafie matter) for his Recompenfe he's fure to incurr the Hatred and Malice of the World, efpecially as 'tis manag'd by the Divines now a days. Nevertheless alter I had ferioufly revolv'd all this in my Mind, I was at laft determin'd by the Authority of Philo Judæus, who after he has commended the Divine Volumes of Mofes as they deferve, and fhown what a Fatigue and Trouble his Interpreters must expect, ev, fays he, da 780 hou Xastov, &c. Tet we must not therefore defift, but for the fake of Piety, strive to say something above our Power, and advance as far as 'tis lawful for Humane Minds to afpire, that are poffeß'd with the Love and defire of Wisdom. In the beginning. of his Book Περὶ κοσμοποίιας.

Having therefore with God's Affiftance, as I hope, undertaken this difficult Affair, I have all

along