Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/365

 of their Professions, the ancient Fathers or the Modern Divines.

The first thing required, is an exact Knowledge of the Text of the Old Testament. Herein even the LXX Interpreters themselves have often failed, as has been abundantly proved by Modern Criticks. The Copies they used were sometimes faulty, and since they did not mend those Faults, it is very probable they did not see them. It has been observed already, That scarce any of the Fathers understood Hebrew besides Origen and St. Hierom, who therefore were followed as Oracles by many of their Successors; even that alone will not suffice, because there are no other Books written in that Language: For which Reason Syriac, Chaldee, Samaritan and Arabic, have been studied by Modern Criticks; not to mention the Writings of the Rabbins and the Talmudists, to which the Ancients were utter Strangers. If we come to Particulars, who of the Ancients ever unravelled the Chronology of the Old Testament like Archbishop Usher, and Sir John Marsham? Though Eusebius's Chronicon is a standing Evidence how much he, and Julius Africanus before him, endeavoured to clear that Matter, which was of so great Use to confound the