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HOLY BIBLE,

CONTAINING THE

OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS:

TRANSLATED

OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TONGUES:

AND

WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS DILIGENTLY COMPARED
AND REVISED,

Bp His Pajesty's Special Command.

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Printed by GEORGE EYRE and ANDREW STRAHAN,
Printers to the King's Most Excellent Majesty,
FOR THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY,
Instituted in London in the Year 1804.
And sold, to Subscribers only, at the Depository,
Earl-Street, Blackfriars, London.

1822.

The Personal Appearance of Jesus.

As very little has been handed down to us in regard to His personal appearance, many different views are entertained on the subject. Inclosed you will find copy of a letter written by Publius Lentulus, president of Judea, and sent by him to the sens Rome, when the fame of Jesus began to be spread abroad in the world. These are his words:

of

"There lives at this time in Judea a man of singular virtue, whose name is Jesus Christ, whom the barbarians esteem a prophet, but His own followers adore Him as the offspring of the immortal God. He calls back the dead from their graves, and heals all sorts of diseases with a word or a touch. He is tall and well shaped, of an amiable, reverend aspect; his hair of a color that can hardly be matched, falling into graceful curls below His ears, and very agreeably touching on His shoulders, parted on the crown of His head, like the Nazarity. His forehead is smooth and large; His cheeks without other spot save that of a lovely red; His nose and mouth formed with exquisite symmetry; His beard thick and of a color suitable to the hair of His head, reaching an inch below His chin and parting in the middle like a fork; His eyes bright, clear and serene. He rebukes with majesty, counsels with mildness; whole address, whether in word or deed, being elegant and grave. No man has seen bim laugh, but he has wept frequently. He is very temperate, modest and wise. A man, for his excellent beauty and divine perfection, surpassing the children of men."

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TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE

JAMES

BY THE GRACE OF GOD,

KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND,

DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c.

The Translators of the Bible wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace,
through JESUS CHRIST our Lord.

GREAT 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 Word among us; which is that inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this transitory world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is ahore in Heaven.

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 of Your Highness did leave it: nay, to go forward with the confidence and resolution of a man in maintaining the truth of Christ, and propagating it far and near, is that which hath so bound and firmly knit the hearts of all Your Majesty's loyal and religious people unto You, that Your very name is precious among them: their eye doth behold You with comfort, and they bless You in their hearts, as that sanctified Person, who, under God, is the immediate Author of their true happiness. And this their contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe, that the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom, by writing in defence of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that man of sin, as will not be healed,) and every day at home, by religious and learned discourse, by frequenting the house of God, by hearing the Word preached, by cherishing the Teachers thereof, by caring for the Church, as a most tender and loving nursing Father.

There are infinite arguments of this right Christian and religious affection in Your Majesty; but none is more forcible to declare it to others than the vehement and perpetuated desire of accomplish⚫ing and publishing of this work, which now with all humility we present unto Your Majesty. For when Your Highness had once out of deep judgment apprehended how convenient it was, that out of the Original Sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own, and ther foreign Languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact Translation of the Holy Scriptures into the English Tongue; Your Majesty did never desist to Farge and to excite those to whom it was commended, that the work might be hastened, and that the business might be expedited in so decent a manner, as a matter of such importance might justly require.

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

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