even this authority; as, for inftance, when there is evidence that the original and the other versions have been corrupted in that place. 338. In like manner, if the present reading of the original be abfurd, or yield no fenfe, a fingle verfion may give probability to another reading, efpecially when from it the prefent reading might have naturally arifen. 339. The reading of a fingle ancient verfion may receive confiderable weight, from its being fuitable to the fenfe, the connexion, or parallel places. went, Num. xxii. 22, "And God's anger was kindled because he and the angel of the Lord ftood, &c. Arab. inferts" from greedinefs," according to 2 Peter ii. 15. Some Heb. MSS. Ken. in loc. & Diff. Gen. § 44, 155. Prov. xix. 1." Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, et infipiens. Confirmed by Prov. xxviii. 6. "rich.” Vulg. "dives Houbig. in loc. Ken. in loc. & Diff. 1. p. 509. Diff. 2. p. 287. Diff. Gen. § 179. 340. The concurrence of feveral independent ancient verfions in a reading, renders it highly probable; as it fhews the concurrence of at least as many very ancient MSS. perhaps of different ages and countries. 341. The concurrence of all the ancient verfions in a reading, is fufficient for establishing it, though it fhould not be found in any MSS. now extant; for it fhews that it took place in many MSS. fo ancient, that a few of them ought to outweigh a great number of fuch as are vastly more modern. 342. If a reading indicated by any, by several, or by all the ancient verfions, is likewife found in fome MSS. ftill extant, this will add to the authority of fuch reading, proportionably to the number or antiquity of the MSS., provided that neither have these been altered in conformity to the verfions, nor the versions in conformity to them. 343. If, in the books of Mofes, the reading followed by ancient verfions be likewife found in the Samaritan Pentateuch, this makes a great addition to the evidence which they would have otherwise had, and generally renders them certain, 344. When all the copies of the original, and all the versions, agree in a reading, it is certainly the true one; and, as that is, in general, the cafe, we have abfolute affurance of the authenticity and purity of the Scriptures in general, greater affurance than with regard to any other book whatever. SECT. SECT. X. Of the Use of Versions for Interpretation. 345. VERSIONS Contribute much to the interpretation of Scripture. 346. It is only by means of verfions, that they who are ignorant of the original languages can at all learn what the Scripture contains; and, every verfion, fo far as it is juft, conveys the fenfe of Scripture to those who understand the language in which it is written, 347. Though they who have the means of understanding the originals, especially the teachers of religion, ought not to fatisfy themselves with verfions, yet there is fcarcely any verfion which does not exprefs the fenfe of Scripture, fo far as it is abfolutely neceffary to be known by those, who have no other means of learning it, 348. Verfions give great affistance for understanding the fenfe of Scripture, even to those who are acquainted with the originals, wherever the tranflators were more skilful in thefe languages, or bestowed greater attention, or had fuperior advantages of any kind. 349. As fome verfions are made with greater skill and exactness than others, and fome parts of every verfion, with greater than other parts of it; the comparifon of different verfions, and the felection of the preferable renderings from them all, would contribute very much to our obtaining the true fenfe of Scripture. 350. Neither the ancient verfions, nor the modern, ought to be preferred abfolutely, and in all cafes; for the deviations of later tranflators from the renderings of the earlier, are fometimes to the better, and fometimes to the worse. 351. Though it be certain, that the authors of the ancient verfions often followed readings different from thofe in the present text; yet, in many cafes, we ought to conclude, that they only rendered the reading which we ftill have, in a sense not affixed to it by the moderns; as, when they frequently give the fame rendering of the fame word, or, when that word has still, in any of the kindred languages, the fame fignification which they affign to it. Houbig. Prol. c. 3. a. 4. 352. Significations of words, in this manner pointted out by the ancient verfions, are fignifications which we may be fure that the words really had; and we may, without fcruple, prefer them to the more modern and common renderings, when the fenfe or other circumftances give countenance to them. 353. The ancient verfions, being the works of men who had several advantages above the moderns for understanding the original languages, and the phrafeology of Scripture; and, those of the Old Testament, in particular, being one of the principal means by which the knowledge of the Hebrew was recovered, and, by more careful attention to which, it might be rendered ftill more perfect; there can be no doubt but they generally give us the true fenfe of Scripture, and that often in places where we could scarcely have difcovered it by any other means. Pocock, Porta Mofis, c. 1. Michael. § 46. 354. That a verfion may exhibit the true fenfe of Scripture, it must tranflate it as it really lies, without regard to any confequences which may feem to follow from a genuine tranflation, or to the prejudices or peculiar tenets of the translator; but very few versions are perfectly unexceptionable in this refpect. 355. A verfion of the Scriptures might be made, which would exhibit the fenfe of Scripture more truly and accurately than any now extant, though it would be attended with great difficulties; and none can, perhaps, be expected abfolutely unexceptionable. 356. Such a verfion fhould not fcrupulously adhere to the text, as commonly received, but follow thofe readings which appear to be moft genuine; and, for this purpose, it is prerequifite to our obtaining fuch a verfion, that the preferable readings fhould be everywhere afcertained, |