Masoretical text. Controversy respecting them. Perfection of the vowel system precludes the idea of its originality. The REMARKS ON THE PROPRIETY OF A NEW TRANSLATION CHAP. VI. Uniformity of sense in Scripture preserved by tradition. Vowels and accents applied to the text in conformity with the tradi- tional readings. Cappellus supposes these readings to have been preserved by the use of the Matres Lectionis before the invention of vowels. Version of Aquila conformable with the Masoretical text, as well with respect to vowels as to conso- nants. Various vowel readings of the Septuagint, contrasted with those of Aquila. Singular reading of the Septuagint Isaiah ix. 6. Theodotio's version less conformable with the Masoretical text, than Aquila's. Masoretical readings genu- ine. No other edition of the Hebrew text extant. Gries- bach's mode of detecting different editions. Masoretical text long anterior to the date of our most ancient MSS. Incontro- the New Test., if of high antiquity, would be greatly valued VII, Theory of elucidating Hebrew by the Cognate Dialects, particu- larly by the Arabic. Extract from Schultens, in exemplifica- tion of this theory. The verb . More ingenuity of in- vestigation, than solidity of reasoning in it. Languages derived from the same source, do not always use the same word in the The derivative sense more likely to occur in the more modern, and the primitive in the most ancient languages. Position, that the Hebrew tongue may be greatly illustrated by the study of the Dialects, contains some theoretical truth with much practical uncertainty. Difficulty of the illustration. Signification of words in a constant state of fluctuation. Im- provement in criticism often brings increase in perplexity. Oriental languages built upon the same foundation are some- times composed of different materials. Hebrew and Syriac. Restrictions prescribed by Baver. Lexicons improved only in Etymological investigations. A Translator not to be led astray by ingenious conceits, and theoretical novelties VIII. Recapitulation. Conclusion. English Established Version translated from the Hebrew. Style of it admired. Obsolete 453 OUTLINES OF HERMENEUTICS. SECTION I. ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND ITS HISTORY. I. THE art of interpreting the Sacred Writings, supposes the faculty, improved by cultivation and exercise, of discovering and exhibiting that sense, which the Sacred writers themselves attached to the words they used. The same rules, which regulate the explanation of other documents, are of authority in reference to the Scriptures: these rules, it is the business of Criticism and Hermeneutics to exhibit. Hence, Sacred Criticism, and Sacred Hermeneutics, demand our attention. The utility of attending to these subjects is the greater, because, from various causes, the interpretation of the sacred writings, is peculiarly difficult, and errors, are here more frequently committed, than in the exposition of other works. Gelbricht. Comm. qua docetur, interpretationem librorum divinorum ab interpretatione librorum humanorum nihil differre. Ciza, 1774. Jo. Asboth Comm. de interpretatione codicis sacri, ad communia om B nes libros interpretandi principia revocata, præmio ab ord. Theol. Gott ornata. Gætt. 1791. Guil. Nic. Freudentheil Comm. de codice sacro more in reliquis antiquitatis libris solemni ingenue interpretando, adjectis difficultalibus N. T. propriis. Chemn. 1791. May there not, however, be rules of interpretation, applicable to other books, which, in the New Testament, have no authority? and may it not be properly enquired, what influence the inspiration of the New Testament should have upon this subject? The earlier commentaries on the interpretation of the New Testament, taught that the sense was to be determined by the opinions of the ancient writers, from the judgment of the church-from a certain internal sense-from the analogy of faith--and from the formularies of Philosophy. Those of a later date, lay more stress upon the dictates of reason. Hermeneutics, in an extensive sense, includes Criticism, and is distinguished from Exegesis. The science of interpreting the Sacred Writings, belongs to what is called special Hermeneutics. Attention, therefore, to this subject, presupposes a knowledge of the rules of universal Hermeneutics, which prescribe the method of investigating the signification of words and modes of expressiondetermining the sense of every passage-estimating and explaining the sentiment, &c. The Hermeneutics of the Bible has two parts, the one general, the other special. On the causes of the difficulty of the interpretation of the SS., see J. S. Ernesti d. de difficultatibus N. T. recte interpretandi 1755. Opp. Critt. et Phill. The following writers have, more or less extensively, treated the subject of sacred Hermeneutics. J. S. Semler Vorbereitung zur Theolog. Hermeneutik, Halle 1760-69 J. Gottlieb Toellner Grundriss einer erwiesenen Hermeneutik des N. T. Zuell. 1765, |