TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE JAMES, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, THE TRANSLATORS OF THE BIBLE WISH GRACE, MERCY, AND PEACE, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR Lord, G REAT and manifold were the blessings, most dread Sovereign, which Almighty God, the Father of all mercies, bestowed upon us the people of ENGLAND, when first he sent Your Majesty's Royal Person to rule and reign over us. For whereas it was the expectation of many, who wished not well unto our SION, that upon the setting of that bright OCCIDENTAL STAR, Queen ELIZABETH of most happy memory, some thick and palpable clouds of darkness would so have overshadowed this land, that men should have been in doubt which way they were to walk; and that it should hardly be known, who was to direct the unsettled State; the appearance of Your Majesty, as of the SUN in his strength, instantly dispelled those supposed and surmised mists, and gave unto all that were well affected exceeding cause of comfort; especially when we beheld the Government established in Your Highness, and Your hopeful Seed, by an undoubted Title, and this also accompanied with peace and tranquillity at home and abroad. But among all our joys, there was no one that more filled our hearts, than the blessed continuance of the preaching of God's sacred Then not to suffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to continue it in that state, wherein the famous Predecessor There are infinite arguments of this right Christian and religious affection in Your Majesty; but none is more forcible to declare it And now at last, by the mercy of God, and the continuance of our labours, it being brought unto such a conclusion, as that we have great hopes that the Church of ENGLAND shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principal Mover and Author of the work: humbly craving of Your most Sacred Majesty, that since things of this quality have ever been subject to the censures of illmeaning and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and patronage from so learned and judicious a Prince, as Your Highness is, whose allowance and acceptance of our labours shall more honour and encourage us, than all the calumniations and hard interpretations of other men shall dismay us. So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish Persons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make God's holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other side, we shall be maligned by selfconceited Brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil; we may rest secure, supported within by the truth and innocency of a good conscience, having walked the ways of simplicity and integrity, as before the Lord; and sustained without by the powerful protection of Your Majesty's grace and favour, which will ever give countenance to honest and Christian endeavours against bitter censures and uncharitable imputations. The Lord of heaven and earth bless Your Majesty with many and happy days, that, as his heavenly hand hath enriched Your Highness with many singular and extraordinary graces; so you may be the wonder of the world in this latter age for happiness and true felicity, to the honour of that great GOD, and the good of his Church; through JESUS CHRIST our Lord and only Saviour. H 1 The best EAL to promote the common good, whether it be by dethings have vising any thing ourselves, or revising that which hath been been ca lumniated. laboured by others, deserveth certainly much respect and esteem, but yet findeth but cold entertainment, in the world. It is welcomed with suspicion instead of love, and with emulation instead of thanks and if there be any hole left for cavil to enter, (and cavil, if it do not find an hole, will make one) it is sure to be misconstrued, and in danger to be condemned. This will easily be granted by as many as know story, or have any experience. For was there ever any thing projected, that savoured any way of newness or renewing, but the same endured many a storm of gainsaying or opposition? A man would think that civility, wholesome laws, learning and eloquence, synods, and Churchmaintenance, (that we speak of no more things of this kind) Bious should be as safe as a sanctuary, and out of shot, as they say, ix that no man would lift up his heel, no, nor dog move his tongue against the motioners of them. For by the first we are distinguished from brute beasts led with sensuality: by the second we boca are bridled and restrained from outrageous behaviour, and from doing of injuries, whether by fraud or by violence; by the third we are enabled to inform and reform others, by the light and feeling that we have attained unto ourselves: briefly, by the fourth, being brought together to a parley face to face, we sooner compose our differences, than by writings, which are endless: and lastly, that the Church be sufficiently provided for, is so agreeable to good reason and conscience, that those mothers are holden to be less cruel, that kill their children as soon as they are born, than those nursing fathers and mothers, (wheresoever they be) that withdraw from them who hang upon their breasts (and upon whose breasts again themselves do hang to receive the spiritual and sincere milk of the word) livelihood and support fit for their estates. Thus it is apparent, that these things which we speak of are of most necessary use, and therefore that none, either without absurdity can speak against them, or without, note of wickedness can spurn against them. Anacharsis, with others. witness any synod or meeting of the Clergy, but rather the contrary: 2 Sam. 11. 25, A the professors and teachers of Christianity in the Church of Rome, then a true Church, were liberally endowed, a voice forsooth was heard from heaven, saying, Now is poison poured down into the Church, &c. Thus not only as oft as we speak, as one saith, but also as oft as we do any thing of note or consequence, we subject ourselves to every one's censure, and happy is he that is least tossed upon tongues; for utterly to escape the snatch of them it is impossible. If any man conceit, that this is the lot and portion of the meaner sort only, and that Princes are privileged by their high estate, he is deceived. As the sword de voureth as well one as another, as it is in Samuel; nay, as the great commander charged his soldiers in a certain battle to strike at no part of the enemy, but at the face; and as the king of Syria commanded his chief captains to fight neither with small 1 Kings 22. nor great, save only against the king of Israel: so it is too true, 31. that envy striketh most spitefully at the fairest, and the chiefest. David was a worthy prince, and no man to be com pared to him for his first deeds, and yet for as worthy an act as ever he did, (even for bringing back the ark of God in solemnity) 2 Sam. 6. he was scorned and scoffed at by his own wife. Solomon was 16. greater than David, though not in virtue, yet in power; and by his power and wisdom he built a temple to the LORD, such an one as was the glory of the land of Israel, and the wonder of the whole world. But was that his magnificence liked of by all? We doubt of it. Otherwise why do they lay it in his son's dishy and call unto him for + casing of the burden, Make, say they +σuráxthe grievous servitude of thy father, and his sore yoke, lighter. buay. Belike he had charged them with some levies, and troubled them 1 Kings 12 with some carriages; hereupon they raise up a tragedy, and wish in their heart the temple had never been built. So hard a thing it is to please all, even when we please God best, and do seek to approve ourselves to every one's conscience.qprak Yet for all that, the learned know, that certain worthy men have been brought to untimely death for none other fault, but for or seeking to reduce their countrymen to good order and disIn Athens: cipline: And that in some Commonweals it was made a capital crime, once to motion the making of a new law for the abrogating of an old, though the same were most pernicious: And that certain, which would be counted pillars of the State, and patterns of virtue and prudence, could not be brought for a long time to e way to good letters and refined speech, but bare themselves as averse from them, as from rocks or boxes of poison: And fourthly, that he was no babe, but a great Clerk, that gave forth, (and in writing, to remain to posterity) in passion peradventure, but yet he gave forth, That he had not seen any profit to come by Libanius in Olynth. Demosth. Cato the elder. Gregory the Divine. give If we will descend to latter times, we shall find many the like! The highest examples of such kind, or rather unkind, acceptance. The first personages have been Roman emperor did never do a more pleasing deed to the learned, calumniatnor more profitable to posterity, for conserving the record of times ed. C. Casar in true supputation, than when he corrected the Calendar, and Plutarch) ordered, the year according to the course of the subs and 9 yet this was imputed to him for novelty, and arrogancy, and pro cured to him great obloquy,So the first Christened Emperor (at Constantine. the least wise that openly professed the faith himself, and allowed others to do the like) for strengthening the empire at his great Aurel. Victor. Theodosius. Zosimus. Justinian. THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER. charges, and providing for the Church, as he did, got for his labour Cyrill. 7. trine most fit for the refreshing and renewing of men's minds, and To be short, the most learned Emperor of former times, (at the least, the greatest politician,) what thanks had he for cutting off the superfluities of the laws, and digesting them into some order and method? This, that he hath been blotted by some to be an Epitomist, that is, one that extinguished worthy whole volumes, to bring his abridgments into request. This is the measure that hath been rendered to excellent Princes in former times, Cum bene facerent, male audire, for their good deeds to be evil spoken of. Neither is there any likelihood that envy and malignity died and were buried with the ancient. No, no, the reproof of Moses taketh Numb. 32. hold of most ages, Ye are visen up in your fathers' stead, an in14. crease of sinful men. What is that that hath been done? that which Eccles. 1.9. shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun, saith the Aets 7. 51. wise man. And St. Stephen, As your fathers did, so do ye. This, His Majes- and more to this purpose, his Majesty that now reigneth (and ty's constancy, not- long, and long, may be reign, and his offspring for ever, Himself, are not written. We omit to cite to the same effect St. Cyrill, withstand and children, and children's children always ! ) knew full well, accord-bishop of Hierusalem in his 4 Cateches. St. Hierómé against Heling calum niation, for ing to the singular wisdom given unto him by God, and the rare the survey learning and experience that he hath attained unto; namely, That of the En- whosoever attempteth any thing for the publick (especially if it glish translation. pertain to religion, and to the opening and clearing of the word of Aurès, zal God) the same setteth himself upon a stage to be glouted upon by παῖδες, καὶ παίδων πάνε every evil eye; yea, he casteth himself headlong upon pikes, to Tort raids. be gored by every sharp tongue. For he that meddleth with men's religion in any part meddleth with their custom, nay, with their freehold; and though they find no content in that "Ωσπερ τις which they have, yet they cannot abide to hear of altering. Notdidas art withstanding his royal heart was not daunted or discouraged for ρίτριπτος καὶ ἄκμων this or that colour, but stood resolute, as a statue immoveable, and ἀνήλατος. an antil 'not' easy to be beaten into plates, as one saith; he knew Suidus. who had chosen him to be a soldier, or rather a captain; and being assured that the course which he intended made much for the glory of God, and the building up of his Church; he would not suffer it to be broken off for whatsoever speeches or practices. It doth certainly belong unto kings, yea, it doth specially belong unto them, to have care of religion, yea, to know it aright, yea, to profess it zealonsly, yea, to promote it to the uttermost of their power. This is their glory before all nations which mean well, and this will bring unto them a far more excellent weight of glory in the day of the Lord Jesus. For the Scripture saith not in vain, Them that honour me I will honour neither was it a vain word that Eusebius delivered long ago, That piety toward God was the lib. 10. cap. weapons and the only weapon, that both preserved Constantine's 1 Sam. 2. 30. διασέβεια. Eusebius, 8. (4.9 * person, and avenged him of his enemies. But now what piety without truth? What truth, what saving The praise truth, without the word of God? What word of God, whereof we of the holy may be sure, without the Scripture? The Scriptures we are comScriptures manded to search, John 5 39. Isaiah 8. 20. They are 'com. mended that searched and studied them, Acts 17. 11. & 8. 28, 29. They are reproved that were unskilful in them, or slow to be Pada Tlieve them, Matt. 22. 29. Luke 24. 25. They can make us wise unto salvation; 2 Tim. 3, 15. If we be ignorant," they will in Jumma structans prif out of the way, they will bring us home; if out of S. August. order, they will reform us; if in heaviness, comfort us; if dull, Confess, libs quicken as if cold, inflame us. Tolley lege; tolle, lege; Take up and read, take up and read the Scriptures, (for unto them” was 8. August. the direction) it was I said unto St. Augustine by a supernatural § voice. Whatsoever is in the Scriptures, believe me, saith the same St. Augustine, is high and divine; there is verily truth, and a doc 16. ad 18 90019 saj gammaisgeantz rot (gaul sit on så rodic 8. cap. 12. De utilit. crelente, cap. 6. h Tertul. advers. Hermo. Tertull. de carne Christ. *Olóv TS, Justin. --Terr. Teis Ελλην. 'Eigen σύκα φέρει καὶ πίονας grous, i piλiv xosu an, xad ἔλαιον, &c. vidius, St. Augustine in his third book against the letters of Petilian, 211 1 8.36 Translation necessary. 11. 1 THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER. away. Happy is the man that delighteth in the Scripture, and But how shall men meditate in that which they cannot under- 2 Tom. Concil. ex edit. Petri Crab. Finibus. or apostolick men? Yet it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to so many:) so the Emperor of Constantinople calleth the Latin tongue barbarous, though Pope Nicolas do storm at it: so the Jews long before Christ called all other nations Lognazim, which is little better than barbarous. Therefore as one complaineth that Cicero 5. De always in the Senate of Rome there was one or other that called for an interpreter; so, lest the Church be driven to the like exigent, it is necessary to have translations in readiness. Translation it is that openeth the 'window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most holy place; that removeth the cover of the well, that we may come by the water, even as Gen. 29.10. Jacob rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, by which means the flocks of Laban were watered. Indeed without translation into the vulgar tongue, the unlearned are but like children at Jacob's well (which was deep) without a bucket or something to draw with: or as that person mentioned by Esay, to whom when a sealed book was delivered with this motion, Read this, I pray thee, he was fain to make this answer, I cannot, for it is sealed. John 4. 11. into Greek. cup. 32. whereof were not known. These with the Seventy made up the Christian. terpret. Translation out of Hebrew and Greek into Latin. Christ.lib.2 cap. 11. The trans- While God would be known only in Jacob, and have his name lation of the great in Israel, and in none other place; while the dew lay on Old Testa ment out of Gideon's fleece only, and all the earth besides was dry; then for the Hebrew one and the same people, which spake all of them the language See S. Au- of Canaan, that is, Hebrew, one and the same original in Hebrew There were also within a few hundred years after Christ gust. lib. 12. was sufficient. But when the fulness of time drew near, that the translations many into the Latin tongue: for this tongue also was contra Faust. Sun of righteousness, the Son of God, should come into the world, very fit to convey the Law and the Gospel by, because in those whom God ordained to be a reconciliation through faith in his times very many countries of the West, yea of the South, East, blood, not of the Jew only, but also of the Greek, yea, of all and North, spake or understood Latin, being made provinces to them that were scattered abroad; then, lo, it pleased the Lord to the Romans. But now the Latin translations were too many to stir up the spirit of a Greek prince (Greek for descent and lan- be all good, for they were infinite; (Latini interpretes nullo modo S. Augustin. guage) even of Ptolemy Philadelph king of Egypt, to procure the numerari possunt, saith St. Augustine.) Again, they were not de doct. translating of the book of God out of Hebrew into Greek. This is out of the Hebrew fountain (we speak of the Latin translations the translation of the Seventy interpreters, commonly so called, of the Old Testament) but out of the Greek stream; therefore which prepared the way for our Saviour among the Gentiles by the Greek being not altogether clear, the Latin derived from it written preaching, as St. John Baptist did among the Jews by must needs be muddy. This moved St. Hierome, a most learned vocal. For the Grecians, being desirous of learning, were not Father, and the best linguist without controversy of his age, or of wont to suffer books of worth to lie moulding in kings' libraries, any other that went before him, to undertake the translating of the but had many of their servants, ready scribes, to copy them out, Old Testament out of the very fountains themselves; which he and so they were dispersed and made common. Again, the Greek performed with that evidence of great learning, judgment, intongue was well known and made familiar to most inhabitants industry, and faithfulness, that he hath for ever bound the Church Asia by reason of the conquests that there the Grecians had made, unto him in a debt of special remembrance and thankfulas also by the colonies which thither they had sent. For the same causes also it was well understood in many places of Europe, yea, and of Africk too. Therefore the word of God, being set forth in Greek, becometh hereby like a candle set upon a candlestick, which giveth light to all that are in the house; or like a proclamation sounded forth in the marketplace, which most men presently take knowledge of; and therefore that language was fittest to contain the Scriptures, both for the first preachers of the Gospel to appeal unto for witness, and for the learners also of those times to make search and trial by. It is certain, that that translation was not so sound and so perfect, but that it needed in many places correction; and who had been so sufficient for this work as the Apostles ness. ་་ ་ ་ 1 Now though the Church were thus furnished with Greek and The transLatin translations, even before the faith of Christ was generally lating of the Scripture embraced in the Empire: (for the learned know that even in St. into the Hierome's time, the Consul of Rome and his wife were both vulgar tongues. Ethnicks, and about the same time the greatest part of the Senate. S. Hieron. also) yet for all that the godly learned were not content to have Marcell. the Scriptures in the language which themselves understood, Zosim. Greek and Latin, (as the good lepers were not content to fare well themselves, but acquainted their neighbours with the store 2 Kings *7 that God had sent, that they also might provide for themselves;) 9. but also for the behoof and edifying of the unlearned, which |