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join'd, by Perfons of all Sects and Opinions, to the reft of the Books, which we efteem Canonical.

ancient

We readily grant again, that, in the The Cafe primitive Times, there were other Books of other befides the Holy Scriptures, wrote by Books. pious and learned Men, and held in fuch high Efteem, as to be read in Christian Affemblies; but then we are to confider, that how justly foever we may value them, yet, upon Enquiry, we shall find, that there is fomething Humane, fomething of Infirmity, fomething of Fallibility in them, which makes them inferior to what is Apoftolical; that the best approv❜d Piece of them all (I mean the Epiftle of Clemens to the Corinthians) was, for many Ages, fuppofed to be loft, and though, upon its appearing again, the best Criticks thought they had good Reason to pronounce it Genuine, yet, they could not be sure, that it was entirely free from Corruption or Interpolation ; that though these Ecclefiaftical Writers (as they were called) were, for fome time, read in Churches, yet they were not read as Canonical Scripture, but only in the Nature of Homilies, and Exhortations to Virtue and Piety; and that in Process of Time, even this Practice came to be laid afide, and no

E 4

Clarke's Reflections on Amyntor.

thing

The Canon of the New Tefta

mentcon

tinu'd en

tire.

thing allow'd to be read publickly, but what was of undoubted apoftolick Authority.

This is the true Hiftory of the Canon of Scripture, in fome of the earliest Times of Chriftianity: And that it continued the fame in fucceeding Ages, without any Addition or Mutilation, its being tranflated into fo many Tongues, in the four firft Centuries, and difpers'd into fo many Hands, in fo many different Countries, as well as y the Copies of great Antiquity ftill extant among us, are a convincing Argument; especially confidering, that the feveral Sects of Chriftians were, all along, fo jealous and watchful over each other, that no fpurious Piece could be introduced, or genuine Piece fuppreffed, without their Knowledge and Remonftrance; nor can we imagine, how any Catalogue of Books

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Such are the Cambridge Copy, in Greek and Latin, containing the four Gofpels, and the A&s of the Apoftles; that in the French King's Library, containing St.Paul's Epiftles; and that in the Library of the Benedictins of St. Germains, all supposed to be above a thousand Years old. The Alexandrian Copy is believed to have been written by Thecla, above 1300 Years ago; a Syriack Manufcript, in the Library of the Duke of Florence, and a Gothick Tranflation, of the four Evangelifts, formerly belonging to the Abbey of Werdin, are each of them of above a thousand Years Antiquity; befides many more, which are in private Hands. Jenkin's Reasonablenefs, vol. 2.

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Books fhould be received, (exclufive of all others,) but upon the cleareft Evidence and Conviction of their containing the true, and only authentick Rule of Faith and Practice.

57

its vari

We acknowledge once more, that Notwiththe Number of various Lections in the ftanding New Teftament is far from being fmall; ous Readbut then it ought to be confidered, ing.. 2 either that moft of these are of no moment, confifting chiefly of fynonimous Words, or expletive Particles; or, that if they be, they are fuch apparent Errata, as may eafily be discover'd and corrected; that there is hardly one Text, which contains any Article of Faith, fubject to fuch various Readings, as are contrary to found Doctrine; or that, if there be, there is fuch a multitude of other Places, wherein the fame Doctrines are plainly and undoubtedly taught, that the different Readings of· one or two Places can be no Prejudice to the conftant Tenour of the whole. Confidering, then, what a multitude of Copies and Verfions have been made of the New Teftament, more certainly than of any other Book extant, instead of wondering at the Differences found among them, which were occafion'd, in a great Measure, by the Ignorance or Negli

Jenkin's Reafon. Vol. 2.

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Negligence of the Tranflators, or Tranfcribers, we ought to account it no fmall Inftance of Providence, that it has efcap'd, with fo inconfiderable Variations, from thofe Corruptions and Alterations, which are fo frequent in humane Writings.

Upon a Review then of what has been pitulati- faid on this Subject, we may refolve our felves in this Queftion-" What

on of the

whole Anfwer.

Security, at this Distance of Time, "have we, that the true and authentick "Canon of the New Teftament has "defcended to us?" For if the primitive Chriftians had fufficient Means and Opportunities of knowing what Books were Genuine, or of apoftolick Writing; if, in the latter End of the firft Century, the Canon of the New Teftament was fettled by St. John, a Perfon every way qualified for that Purpose, and, not long after that, recommended to the Churches every where, and recogniz'd by Synods and Councils; if thefe apoftolick Books were mention'd and recited in the Works of the moft ancient Fathers, and acknowledg'd to be fuch, in the Writings of those, who bore no good Will to the Chriftian Caufe; if fome few of thefe, whofe Pretenfions were at firft difputed, were allowed to be Genuine by the beft Judges; were receiv'd

into

into the Canon much fooner than is pretended; and fuffered no Difcredit, but had rather their Authority confirmed, by their late Admiffion; if, after fuch Admiffion, they were, all along, appeal'd to, as decifive in Controverfies, by Parties of every Denomination, who kept too jealous a Watch upon one another, to fuffer any notorious Corruption or Interpolation to affect them; then is the Canon of the New Teftament, as it is tranfmitted to us, entire, notwithstanding the great Variety of its Lections, which have been occafion'd by the Number of its Copies and Editions, and which, if carefully look'd into, will be found to make no confiderable Alteration in it.

*****

SECT. IV.

The Evidence of MIRACLES and
PROPHESIES compar'd.

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UT be the Canon of Scripture The Obnever fo entire, and its Authors jection. 66 never fo honeft, and never fo much infpir'd; yet how fhall we know the "Truth of the Chriftian Religion, and

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