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J

To the Most High and Mightie Prince,

AM

E

S

BY THE GRACE OF GOD, KING

OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE AND

IRLAND, Defender of the Faith, &c.

The translatours of the Bible, wish Grace, Mercie, and peace, through
JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

Judi 4.5.6.

Reat and manifold were the blessings (most dread sove raigne) which almighty G O D,the father of all mercies, bestowed upon us the people of ENGLAND, when first he sent your Majesties Royall person to rule and reigne over us For whereas it was the expectation of many, who wished not well unto ourSION,that upon the setting of that bright occidentall starre queen ELISABETH of most happy memory, fome thick and palpable clouds of darknesse would fo 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 unfetled state: the appearance of yourMAJEST IE,AS of the sunne in his strength, instantly dispelled those supposed and furmised mists, and gave unto all that were well affected, exceeding caufe of comfort, especially when we beheld the government established in your HIGHNES, & your hopefull feed, by an undoubted title, and this also accompanied with peace and tranquillitic at home and abroad. But amongst all our joyes there was none that more filled our hearts, then the bleffed continuance of the preaching of Gods facred word amongst us, which is that ineftimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the carth, because the fruit thereof extendeth it self, not onely to the time spent in this transitory world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternall happinesse which is above in

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Then not to fufer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to continue it in that state, wherein the famous predeceffour of your HIGHNES did leave it: nay, to go forward with the confidence and refolution of a man in maintaining the truth of CHRIST,and propagating it farre and neare,is which hath so bound and firmly knit the hearts of all your MAJESTIES loyall & religious people unto you, that your very name is precious among them. their eye doth behold you with comfort, and they blefle you in their hearts, as that fanctified person, who under God, is the immediate authour of their true happinesse. And thistheir contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe that the zeal of your MAJE STIE towards the house of GOD, doth not flack or go backward, but is more and more

42

kindled

kindled, manifesting it self abroad in the furthest parts of Christendome, by writing in defence of the truth, ( which hath given such a blow unto that man of finne, as will not be healed) and every day at home, by religious and learned difcourse, 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 nurfing Father.

There are infinite arguments of this right Christian and religious affection in your MAJESTIE: but none is more forcible to declare it to others, then the vehement and perpetuated defire of the accomplishing and publishing of this work, which now with all humilitie we present unto your MAJESTIE. For when your Highnesse had once out of deep judgement apprehended how convenient it was, that out of the originall sacred tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own and other forrein languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact tranflation of the holy scriptures into the English tongue; your MAJESTIE did never desist to urge and to excite those to whom it was commended, that the work might be haftened, and that the businesse 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 fuch a conclufion, as that we have great hope that the Church of Eng land shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to your MAJESTIE, not onely as to our king and foveraigne, but as to the principall mover and authour of the work: Humbly craving of your most sacred MAJESTIE, that since things of this quality have ever been subject to the cenfures ofill-meaning and discontented perfons, it may receive approbation and patronage from so learned and judicious a prince as your HIGHNES is, whose allowance and acceptance of our labours, shall more honour and incourage us, then all the calumniations and hard interpretations of other men shall dismay us. So that, if on the one fide we shall be traduced by popish persons at home or abroad, who therefore will maligne us, because we are poore instruments to make Gods holy truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they defire still to keep in ignorance and darkneffe: or if on the other fide, we shall be maligned by felf-conceited brethren, who run their own wayes, and give liking unto nothing but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvilc; we may rest secure, supported withinby the truth and innocency of a good confcience, having walked the wayes of fimplicitie and integritie, as before the LORD; and sustained without, by the powerful protection of your MAJESTIES grace and favour, which will ever give countenance to honeft and Christian endeavours, against bitter censures, and uncharitable imputations.

The LORD of heaven and earth blesse your Majeftie with many and happy dayes, that as his heavenly hand hath enriched your Highnesse with many fingular and extraordinary graces; so you may be the wonder of the world in this latter age, for happinesse and true felicitie, to the honour of that great GOD, and the good of his Church, through JESUS CHRIST Our Lord and onely Saviour.

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THE TRANSLATOURS TO THE READER.

EAL to promote the common good, whether it be by devifing any thing our selves,
or revising that which hath been laboured by others, deferveth certainly much re-
Spect and esteem, but yet findeth but cold entertainment in the world. It is wel-
comed with fufpicion in stead of love, and with emulation in stead of thanks: and if
there be any bole left for cavill to enter, (and cavill, if it do not finde an bole, will
make one) it is fure to be misconstrued, and in danger to be condemned. This will
eafily be granted by as many as know storie, or have any experience. For, was there
ever any thing projected, that favoured any way of newnesse or renewing, but the

Safe as

a

Same endured many a storm of gainsaying, or opposition? A man would think that civilitie, wholesome
laws, learning and eloquence, Synods, and Church-maintenance, (that we speak of no more things of this
kinde) should be as
a fanctuarie, and * out of shot, as they say, that no man would lift up his keel, εξω βέλες
no, nor dog move his tongue against the morioners of them. For by the first, we are distinguished from
bruce beasts led with fenfualitie: By the second, we are bridled and restrained from outragious behaviour,
and from doing of injuries, whether by fraud or by violence: By the third, we are enabled to inform and
refrom others, by the light and feeling that we have attained unto our felves: Briefly, by the fourth, be-
ing brought together to a parley face to face, we fooner compose our differences, then by writings, which
are endlesse: And lastly, that the Church be sufficiently provided for, is so agreeable to good reason ad
confcience, that those mothers are holden to be lesse cruel, that kill their children afsoon as they are born,
then 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 spirituall and fincere 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 necessarie use, and therefore that none, either without absurditie can speak against
them, or without note of wickednesse can spurn against them.

banius in O

Gregorie the

Nawolersis

Yet for all that, the learned know that certain worthy men have been brought to untimely death for none other fault, but for feeking to reduce their countrey-men to good order and difcipline: And that in with others. Anacharsis, Some Common weals it was made a capitall crime, once to motion the making of a new law for the In Athens abrogating of an old, though the same were most pernicious : And that certain, which would be count-witnoffe Lied pillars of the State, and patterns of versue and prudence, could not be brought for a long time to lint. Degive way to good letters and refined speech; but bare themselves as averse from them, as from rocks or mosth, Cate boxes of poyfon: And fourthly, that he was no babe, but a great Clerk, that gave forth (and in writing the elder. to remain to posteritie) in passion peradventure, but yet be gave forth, That be bad not seen any profit to diviners come by any fynode or meeting of the Clergie, but rather the contrarie: And lastly, against Church-maintenance and allowance, in such fort, as the ambassadours and messengers of the great King of kings should be furnished, it is not unknown what a fiction or fable (So it is efteemed, and for no better by the reporte himself, though fuperftitious) was devised: namely, That at such time as the professours and teachers of of Chriftianitie in the Church of Rome, then a true Church, were liberally endowed, a voice (forfooth) was heard from heaven, saying, Now is poyson poured down into the Church, &c. Thus not onely as oft as we speak, as one faith, but also as oft as we do any thing of note or consequence, we subject our selves to every ones cenfure, & happie is he that is leaft tossed upon tongues; for utterly to escape the Snatch of them st is impoffible. If any man conciet that this is the lot and portion of the meaner fort onely, & that Princes are priviledged by their high estate, he is deceived. As the sword devoureth as well ane as another, 2 Samiras a it is in Samuel; nay, as the great commander charged his souldiers in a certain battel, to strike at no part of the enemie, but at the face. And as the king of Syria commanded his chief captains to fight neither with finall nor great, save onely against the king of Ifrael: so it is too true, that envie ! Kings 22. Striketh mostspitefully at the the faireft, and at the chiefeft. David was a worthy prince, and no man to be compared 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 folemnitie) he was scorned and scoffed at by his own wife. Solomon was greater then 2 Sam. 6.167 David, though not in vertue, yet in power, and by his power and wisdome he built atemple to the Lord, fuch an one as was the glorie of the land of Ifrael, 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 sonnes dish, and call unto him for teasing of the burden, Make, say they, the grievous fervitude of thy father, and his † συσταχια fore yoke lighter. Belike he had charged them with some levies, &

troubled them with some carriages,

31.

α.

1 King. 12.

hereupon they raise up a a tragedie, & wif h 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 our felves to every ones confcience. The high. If we will defcend to later times, we shall finde many the like examples of such kinde or rather unkinde eft perio- acceptance. The first Romane emperour did never do a more pleasing deed to the learned, nor more pro- c. colar. Pli bages have ficable to pofteritie, for conferving the record of times in true fupputation, then when he corrected the sarch.

been

lumniated.

13

:

Calender,

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