Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-09-09
THE UNCoRRUPTED PRESERVATION OF
THE SCRIPTURES.


That the Sacred Writings are not only genuine
but have been transmitted TO us entire and ancor
rupted and that they are, in all essential points
tie same as they came originally from the hands
CT their authors, we have the most satisfactory ev
idence that can be required.
With regard to the Old Tsstament the original
manuscripts were long preserved among the Jews,
who were always remarkable for being most faith
ful guardians Of their sacred books, which they
transcribed repeatedly, and compared most care
fully with the originals, Of which they even num-
bered the words and letters. That the Jews have
neither INITIATED nor corrupted these writings is
fully proved by the silence of the prophets as well
| as Of Christ and bis apostles, who, though they
bring many heavy charges against them, never
once accuse them of corruptng one of their sacred
writings; and also by the agreement, in every es-
sential ont of all the versions and manuscripts
amount ng to nearly ll50, which are now extant,
aid which furnishes a clear proof Of their uncOr-
rupted preservation. In fact the constant reading
of their sacred books (which were at once the rule
of their faith and of their political constitution in
public and private; the numerous copies of the
OTlElufl, hS WSlA as Vi IuC otptNuSiub fSAoLOu,
which was widely spread over the world; the va
rious seets and parties into which the Jews were
divided after the Cannon was closed, as well their
dispersion into every part Of the globe, concurred
to render any attempt at fabrication improbable
and impossible before the time of Christ; and af-
ter that period, the same books being in the hands
of the Christians, they would instantly have de-
,l,I,. e, Il, 7, t,a boI
ored to accomplish such design: while the silence
of the Jews, who would not have failed TO notice
the attempt if it had been made, is clear proof
that they were not corrupted by the Christians.
Eqlally satisfactory is the evidence for the in
tegrity of the New Testament The muldpliea-
tion of copies, both of the original and OF transa
tions into variety of foreign languages, which
we're read, not only in private bat publicly in the
religious assemblies of the early Christians the
reverence of the Christians for these writings the
variety of sects and heresies which soon arose in
the Christian Church. each Of whom appealed to
the Scriptures for the truth Of their doctrines, rem
tered any materol alterations in the sacred books
utterly impossible while the silence of their acut
est enemies, who would most assuredly have charg
ed them with the attempt if it had been made, aud
the agreement of all the manuscripts and versions
extant, positive proofs Of the integrity AID in
corruptness of the New Testament; which are fur
ther attested by the agreement with it of all the
quotations which occur in the writings OF the
Christians from the earliest ages 20 the present |
time In fact, so far from there having been any
gross adulteration in the sacred Volumes the best
and most able critics have asserted and proved that
even in lesser matters, the Holy Scriptures OF the
New Testament have su1 red less from the injury
OF time and the errors Of transcribers, than any
other ancient writings whatever; and that the very
worst manuscript extant would not pervert one |
article Of faith, destroy one moral pcecePt