888 INTEGRITY AND PURITY OF THE HEBREW AND GREEK TEXT.
evidenced, since the Socinians^ as well as the Jews have driven the dispute about the satisfaction of Christ to the utmost scrutiny and examination of every word in that 53d of Isaiah. But yet, as the text stands now pointed and accented, neither Jews nor Socinians (notwithstanding the relief contributed to them by Grotius wresting that whole blessed prophecy to make application of it unto Jeremiah, thinking therein to outdo the late or modern Jews; Abrabanel and others applying it to Josiah, the whole people of the Jews, Messiah Ben Joseph, and I know not whom) have been able, or ever shall be able, to relieve themselves from the sword of the truth therein. Were such exercitations on the word of God allowable, I could easily manifest how, by changing the distinctive accents and vowels, much darkness and perplexity might be cast on the contexture of that glorious prophecy. It is known, also, that the Jews commonly plead that one reason why they keep the copy of the law in their syna- gogues without points is, that the text may not be restrained to one certain sense, but that they may have liberty to draw out various, and, as they speak, more eminent senses.
CHAPTER VL
Arguments for the novelty of the Hebrew points proposed to consideration — The argument from the Samaritan letters considered and answered — Of the copy of the law preserved in the synagogues without points — The testimony of Elias Levita and Aben Ezi-a considered — Of the silence of the Mishna, Tal- mud, and Gemara, about the points — Of the Keri and Ketib— Of the num- ber of the points — Of the ancient translations, Greek, Chaldee, Syriac — Of Jerome — The new argument of Morinus in this cause — The conclusion about the necessity of the points.
But because this seems to be a matter of great importance, where- in the truth formerly pleaded for appears to be nearly concei'ued, I shall, ojg h rrapodoj, very briefly consider the arguments that are usually insisted on (as in these Prolegomena) to prove the points to be a novel invention; I mean of the men and at the time before men- tioned. Particular instances I shall not insist 'upon, nor is it necessaly I should so do; it hath been done already. The heads of arguments, which yet contain their strength, are capable of a brief despatch, which shall be given them in the order wherein they are represented by the Prolegomena, Prolog. 8, sect. 88-40.
1. It is said, then, "That whereas the old Hebrew letters were the present Samaritan,^ the Samaritan letters having been always without
' Faustus Socin. de Jesu Christo Servatore ; Crellius Cont. Grot. p. 62.
^ Pietro Delia Valle had discovered, in his travels through the east, a copy of the
ARGUMENTS FOR THE NOVELTY OF HEBREW POINTS REFUTED. 389
points, as they yet continue, it is manifest that the invention of the points must he of a later date than the change of the letters, which was in the days of Ezra ; and so, consequently, be the work of the post- Talmudical Masoretes." " Pergula Pictoris !" This whole objection is made up of most uncertain conjectures. This is not a place to speak at large of the Samaritans, their Pentateuch, and its translation. The original of that nation is known from the Scripture, as also their worship of God, 2 Kings xvii. Their solemn excommunication and casting out from any interest among the people of God is also re- corded, Ezra ix. x., Nehem. xiii. Their continuance in their abomi- nations after the closing of the canon of the Scripture is reported by Josephus, Antiq. lib. xi. cap. viii. In the days of the Maccabees they were conquered by Hyrcanus, and brought into subjection by the Jews, Joseph. Antiq. lib. xiii. cap. x. Yet their will-worship, upon the credit of the tradition of their fathers, continued to the days of our Saviour, and their hatred to the people of God, John iv. 9, 22. When, by whom, in what character, they first received the Pentateuch, is most uncertain; — not likely by the priest sent to them; for notwith- standing his instructions, they continued in open idolatry, which evi- dences that they had not so much as seen the book of the law. Probably this was done when they were conquered by Hyrcanus, and their temple razed, after it had stood two hundred years. So also did the Edomites. What diligence they used in the preservation of it, being never committed to them by God, we shall see afterward. That there are any of them remaining at this day, or have been these thousand years past, is unknown. That the letters of their Penta- teuch were the ancient Hebrew letters, as Eusebius, Jerome, and some of the Rabbins, report, seems to me (on the best inquiry I have been able to make) a groundless tradition and mere fable. The evi- dences tendered to prove it are much too weak to bear the weight of such an assertion. Eusebius speaks only on report; affi^rmatur, — it was so affirmed, on what ground he tells us not. Jerome, indeed, is more positive; but give me leave to say, that supposing this to be false, sufficient instances of the like mistakes may be given in him. For the testimony of the Talmud, I have often declared that with me it is of no weight, unless seconded by very good evidence. And indeed the foundation of the whole story is very vain. The Jews are thought and said to have forgot their own characters in the captivity, and to have learned the Chaldean, upon the account whereof they adhered unto it after their return, when the same men were alive at