4. 2. Language wherein Exercitatio IV. Of the Language wherein this Epiffle was Originally written. Suppofid to be the Flebrev, Grounds of that Stappofition. DPJjsroved. Not tranflated by Clemens. Written in Creek. Arguments fir the proof thereof. OfCitations out ofthe LXX. BEcaufe this Epifile was written to the Hebrews, molt of the Antientsgranted that it waswritten in Hebrew. Clemens Alexandrinus was theheft who afièrted it ; af- terwhom Origen gave it countenance, fromwhomEufebius received it , and from him Hierom, which is the moltordinary progreffionof old reports. The main Reafon which induced them to embrace this perfwafion, was a defire to free the Epijfle from anexceptionagainit its being written by Paul t taken from 'the diflimilitude of the Style ufed in it, unto that of his other Epiflles. This being onceadmitted, though can/lefty, they could thinkofno better anfwet, than that this fuppofed difference of Style, arofe, from the Tranflation of this Epi(lú, which by the Apofile himfèlf was firtl written inHebrew. ClemensRomanas is the perfon generally fixed on as the Author of thisTranflation ; though force do faintly intimate that Luke the Evangeliff might pof- fibly be the man that did it. But this ObjclIion from the diverfity ofStyL, which alonebegat this perfwafion, hath been already removedout of the Way, fo that it cannot beallowed tobe a Foundation unto any other thppofition. That which alone is added to give countenance unto thisOpinion, is that which we mentioned at the entranceof this Dtfcourfé; namely, that the Apoflle writing un- to the Hebrews, he did it in their own Native Language, which beingalso his own, it is no wonder, if he were more copiousandElegant in it, then he Was in the Greeks whereuntoOriginally hewas a (hanger, learning it as Hierom fuppofeth upon his Con- verfion. But a man maymodeflly fay unto all this, air Jyds. Every thing in this pretendedReafon, of that which indeed never was, is fofar fromCertaintythat indeed it is beneath all probability. For ( s.) I( this Epillle was written Original in Hebrew,whence comes it pars, that no Copy ofit in that Language, was everread; teen, or heard of, by the molt diligent Colle/tors of all Fragments of Antiquity in the Primitive times ? Had ever any filch thingbeen extant, whence came it in particular that Origen, that pridigie of Inds(try and Learning,(hould be able to-attain no knowledge or report of it ? ( 2.) If it were incumbent on Paul writing untothe Hebrews, to write in their own Language, why did he not alfo write inLatin unto theRomans i That hedid fo indeedGratimi affirms, but without pretence of prooforwitnefs, contrary to theTeltimonyof all Antiquity , the evidence of the thing it Pelf, andconfiantconfeflion of the Roman Church: ,And Eraf- mus (ayeswell on Rom. 1.7. Coarguendus vel ridendus magie error eorum, qui putant Paulsen: Romanis linguáRomand firipfifle. The error of them X to be reproved , , or rather taaítgbed at, who fuppofe Paul to have written unto the Romans in the Latin. Tongue. ('3.) It is molt unduly fuppofed that the Hebrew Tonguewas then the Vulgar common Language of the Jews, when it wasknown 'only to the Learned 'among(' them, and a corrupt Syriaekwas the common Dialed of the people even at 3erufalem. (g.) It- is as undulyaverred , that the Hebrewwas theMother TongueofPaulhimfelf, or that he was ignorant of the Greek; feeinghe wasborn atTarfur in Cilicia, where that was the Languagethat hewas brought up in, andunto. (q.) The Epilile was written for the life of all theHebrews in their feveral difperfions, efpecially that in the Raft, as Peter witneffeth,they beingall alike concerned in the matter of it, thoughnot fo immediately as thole in ?idea andJerufalem. Now 'unto thole the Greek Languagefrom the dayes of the Macedonian Empire, had been in vulgar ufe,and continued fo to be. (6.) TheGreek Tongue was fo well known and fo much ufed in Jrtdaa its fell that as a Learned man hath proved by fundry Teftimoniesout oftheir moleantient writings, it was called the Vulgar among(t them. I know among theRabbins thereis mention of a prohibition of learning the Greek Tongue ; and in theJerufálem Talmud its felf, Tit.Peah. cap. i. they-add a reafon of it; minor t ' let), itwas becaufeofTraytors, leaftthey thould betray their Brethren, and none
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