the world should stand any long time, we must receive againe (which he thought absurd) the Decrees of Councels, for preserving the unitie of faith, because of so divers interpretations of the Scripture. And Beza (in the place above mentioned) noteth the itching ambition of his fellow-translatours, that had much rather disagree and dissent from the best, then seeme themselves to have said or written nothing. And Beza’s translation itself, being so esteemed in our countrie, that the Geneva The new Te. prin the yeare 1580. in the title.* English Testaments be translated according to the same, yet sometime goeth so wide from the Greek & from the meaning in the holy Ghost, that themselves which protest to translate it, dare not follow it. For example, Luc. 3, 36. They have put these words The sonne of Cainan, which he wittingly and wilfully left out: and Act. 1, 14. they say, With the women, agreably to the vulgar Latin: where he saith, Cum uxoribus, with their wives.
It is truer then the vulgar Greek text itself.10. It is not only better then al other Latin translations, but then the Greek text it-self, in those places where they disagree.
The proofe hereof is evident, because most of the ancient Heretikes were Grecians, and therfore the Scriptures in Greek were more corrupted by them, as the ancient Fathers often complaine. Li. 5. cont. Marcio.Tertullian noteth the Greek text which is at this day (1 Cor. 15, 47) to be an old corruption of Marcion the Heretike, and the truth to be as in our vulgar Latin, Secundus homo de cœlo cœlestis, The second man from heaven heavenly. The ancient Fathers for proofe therof, and the Adversaries themselves.So read other Ambr.
Hierom.* ancient Fathers, and Erasmus thinketh it must needs be so, and Calvin himself followeth it Instit. li. 2. c. 13. parag. 2. Againe S. Hierom noteth that the Greek text (1 Cor. 7, 33.) which is at this day, is not the Apostolical veritie or the true text of the Apostle: Li. 1. cont. Jov. c. 7.but that which is in the vulgar Latin, Qui cum uxore est, solicitus est quæ sunt mundi, quomodo placeat uxori, & divisus est. He that is with a wife, is careful of worldly things, how he may please his wife, and is divided or distracted. Li. 12. c. 4.The Ecclesiastical historie called the Tripartite, noteth the Greek text that now is (1. Jo. 4, 3.) to be an old corruption of the ancient Greek copies, by the Nestorian Heretikes, and the true reading to be as in our vulgar Latin, Omnis spiritus qui dissolvit Jesum, ex Deo non est. Every spirit that dissolveth Jesus, is not of God: Li. 7. c. 32.& Beza confesseth that Socrates in his Ecclesiastical historie readeth so in the Greek, παν πνεῦμα ο λοεὶ τοῦ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν &c.
The Calvinists themselves often forsake the Greek as corrupt, and translate according to the ancient vulgar latin text.But the proofe is more pregnant out of the Adversaries themselves. They forsake the Greek text as corrupted, and translate according to the vulgar Latin, namely Beza and his scholers the English translatours of the Bible, in these places. Hebr. chap. 9. vers. 1. saying, The first covenant, for that which is in the Greek, διαθήκη
σκηνήThe first tabernacle. Where they put, covenant, not as of the text, but in an other letter, as to be understood, according to the vulgar Latin, which most sincerely leaveth it out altogether, saying, Habuit quidem & prius justificationes &c. The former also indeed had justifications &c. Againe, Ro. 12, vers. 11. they translate not according to the Greek text, καιρῷς
κύριοTempori servientes, serving the time, which Beza saith must needs be a corruption: but according to the vulgar Latin, Domino servientes, seruing our Lord. Againe, Apoc. 11, vers. 2. they translate not the Greek text, Atrium quod intra templum est, the court which is within the temple, but cleane contrarie, according to the vulgar Latin, which Beza saith is the true reading, Atrium quod est foris Templum, the court which is without the Temple. Only in this last place, one English Bible of the yeare 1562, followeth the errour of the Greek. Againe, 2 Tim. 2. vers. 14. they adde, but, more then is in the Greek, to make the sense more commodious and easie, according as it is in the vulgar Latin. εἰς ὑπόκρισιςAgain, Ja. 5, 12. they leave the Greek, and follow the vulgar Latin, saying, Lest you fal into condemnation. I doubt not (saith Beza) but this is the true and sincere reading, and I suspect the corruption in the Greek came thus &c. It were infinit to set downe al such places, where the Adversaries (specially Beza) follow the old vulgar Latin and the Greek copie agreable therunto, condemning the Greek text that now is, of corruption.
Superfluities in the Greek which Erasmus calleth trifling and rash additions.Againe, Erasmus the best translatour of al the later, by Beza’s iudgement, saith that the Greeke sometime hath superfluities corruptly added to the text of holy Scripture, as Mat. 6. to the end of the Pater noster, these words, Because thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glorie, for ever-more. See No. Test. gr. Ro. Stephan, in folio, & Crispini.Which he calleth, nugas, trifles rashly added to our Lord’s prayer, and reprehendeth Valla for blaming the old vulgar Latin because it hath it not. Likewise Ro. 11, 6. these words in the Greek, and not in the vulgar Latin: But if of workes, it is not now grace: otherwise the worke is no more a worke: and Mar. 10, 29. these words, or wife, and such like. Yea the Greek text in these superfluities condemneth it-self, and justifieth the vul-
