THE HOLY BIBLE, Containing the OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS: Newly Tranflated out of the And with the Former TRANSLATIONS Diligently COMPARED and REVISED, By his Majesty's Special Command. Appointed to be Read in CHURCHES. LONDON: Printed by MARK BASKETT, Printer to the King's moft TO THE Moft High and Mighty Prince, JAMES, By the Grace of GOD, of GOD, King of King of GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, and IRELAND, Defender of the Faith, &c. The Tranflators of the BIBLE, wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. G REAT and manifold were the Bleffings (most dread Sovereign) which Almighty God, the Father of all mercies, bestowed upon Us the People of England, when first he fent Your Majefty's Royal Perfon to Rule and 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, fome thick and palpable Clouds of darkness would fo have averfhadowed this Land, that Men fhould have been in doubt which way they were to walk; and that it should hardly be known, who was to direct the unfettled State: the appearance of Your Majefly, as of the Sun in his firength, inftantly dispelled thofe fuppofed and furmifed Mifts, and gave unto all that were well-affected, exceeding caufe of comfort; efpecially when we beheld the Government established in Your Highness, and Your hopeful Seed, by an undoubted Title, and this alfo accompanied with Peace and Tranquillity at home and abroad. But among ft all our Foys, there was no one that more filled our hearts, than the bleed continuance of the Preaching of God's Sacred Word among ft us; which is that inestimable Treafure, which excelleth all the Riches of the Earth, because the Fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this tranfitory World, but directeth and difpofeth men unto that eternal Happiness which is above in Heaven. Then not to fuffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to continue it in that ftate, wherein the famous Predeceffor of Your Highness did leave it: Nay, to go forward with the confidence and refolution of a Man, in maintaining the truth of Chrift, and propagating it far and near, is that which hath jo bound and firmly knit the Hearts of all Your Majefty's Loyal and Religious People unto You, that Your very Name is precious among them; their Eye doth behold You with Comfort, and they blefs You in their Hearts, as that fanctified Perfon, who, under God, is the immediate Author of their true Happiness. And this their Contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day increafeth and taketh ftrength, when they obferve that the Zeal of Your Majefty towards the house of God, doth not flack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifefting itself abroad in the furtheft parts of Chriftendom, by writing in Defence of the Truth (which hath given fuch a blow unto that Man of Sin, as will not be healed) and every day at home, by Religious and Learned Difcourfe, by frequenting the boufe of God, by bearing the Word preached, by cherishing the Teachers thereof, by caring for the Church, as a moft tender and loving nurfing Father. There are infinite Arguments of this right Chriftian and Religious Affection in Your Majefty: but none is more forcible to declare it to others, than the vehement and perpetuated deftre of the accomplishing and publishing of this Work, which now with all bumility we prefent unto Your Majefty. For when Your Highness bad me out of deep judgement apprehended how convenient it was, that out of the Original Sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the Labours, both in our own and other foreign 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 Majefty did never defift to urge and to excite thofe to whom it was commended, that the Work might be haftened, and that the Bufinejs might be expedited in fo decent a manner, as a matter of fuch importance might juftly 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 England fhall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majefly, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the Principal Mover and Author of the Work Humbly craving of Your moft Sacred Majefty, that fince things of this quality have ever been fubject to the Cenfures of ill-meaning and difcontented Perfons, it may receive Approbation and Patronage from fo Learned and Judicious a Prince as Your Highness is, whofe allowance and acceptance of our Labours, fball more honour and encourage us, than all the calumniations and hard interpretations of other Men fhall difmay us. So that, if on the one fide, we shall be traduced by Popish Perfons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, becaufe we are poor inftruments to make God's holy truth to be yet more and more known unto the People, whom theyedefire ftill to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other fide, we shall be maligned by felf-conceited Brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their Anvil; we may reft fecure, fupported within by the Truth and Innocency of a good Confcience, having walked the ways of fimplicity and integrity, as before the Lord; and fuftained without, by the powerful Protection of Your Majefty's Grace and Favour, which will ever give countenance to Honeft and Chriftian Endeavours, against bitter Cenfures, and uncharitable Imputations. The Lord of Heaven and Earth bless your Majefty with many and happy days, that as his heavenly hand hath enriched Your Highness with many fingular and extraordinary Graces; fo 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. A 2 THE |