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Holy Bible Oxford. 1713.

Bit. Eng. 1713.f.1

THE

Holy Bible,

CONTAINING

The OLD and NEW
TESTAMENTS

Newly Translated out of the

Original Tongues:

AND

With the former TRANSLATIONS
Diligently Compared and Revised.

By His Majesty's Special Command.

Appointed to be read in Churches.

OXFORD:

Printed by the UNIVERSITY-
PRINTERS. 1713.

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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 Translatours of the Bible wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

G

Reat and manifold were the Bleffings (moft 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 Exveltation of many, who wished not well unto our Sion, that upon the fetting of that bright Occi dental Star Queen Elizabeth, of most happy Memory, some thick and palpable Clouds of Darkness wald fo have overshadowed this Land, that Men should have been in doubt which way they were 10 walk, and that it should hardly be known, who was to direct the unsettled State: The Appearance of your Majesty, of the Sun in his Strength, instantly aispelled those fuppofed and surmised Mijis and gave unto all that were well affcited, exceeding cause of Comfort; especially when we bebed the Government established in your Highneß, and your hopeful seed, by an undoubted Title, and this also accompanied with Peace and Tranquility at Home and Abraad.

as of

But amongst all our Joys there mu no one that more filled our Hearts, than the bleffed continuence of the Preaching of God's Sacred Word amongst as; which is that inestimable Treasure, which excelleth all the Riches of the Earth, because the fruit thereof extendeth it self, not only to the time spent in this transitory World, but diretteth and disposeth Men unto that eternal Happi.

me which is above in Heaven.

Then not to suffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to continue it in thae State, wherein the famom Predeceffour of your Highneß did leave it: Nay, to go forward with the Conidence 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 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 sanftified Perfon, 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 towards the House of God, doth not flack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifefling it felf etroad in the furthest parts of Christendom, by Writing in Defence of the Truth (which hath given • fath a Blow unto that Man of Sin, 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 Nursing Father.

There are infinite Arguments of this right Chriftian and Religious Affection

in your Majesty; But more forcible to declare it to others, than the vehement and perpetuated Defire of the Ac complibing and Publishing of this Work, which now with all Humility we present unto your Majelly. For when your Highneß had once out out of deep Judgment apprehended how convenient it was, Thai ont 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 Transla sion of the bely Scriptures into the English Tongue; your Majesty did never defift to urge and to excite those to whom it was commended, that the Work might be hained, and that the Busines weight be expedited in jo 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 unte fucha Conclufion, as that we have great hope that the Church of England shall reap good fruit shereby, We hold it our Duty to offer it to your Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, bur. as to the principal Mover and Author of the Work: Humbly craving of your most Sacred Majefty. that fince things of this Quality have ever been subject to the Censures of ill-meaning and discon senzed Persons, it may receive Approbation and Patronage from fo Learned and Judicious a Prine your Highneß is, whose Allowance and Acceptance of our Labours, shall more Honour and Incourage wa, than all the Calumniations and hard Interpretations of other Men hall dismay us. So that if on the one side we shall be traducca by Popish Persons at Home or Abroad, who therefore will malign because we are poor Instruments to make God's holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the People, whom they defire still to keep in Ignorance and Darkness: Or if on the other fide we shall be maligned by Jelf-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 rest secure, Supported within by the Truth and Innocency of a good Conscience, having walked the Ways of Simplicity and In gruty, as before the Lord; and sustained without, by the powerful Protettion of your Majestys Grace ans Fatour, which will ever give Countenance to Honest and Chriflian Endeavours, against Bitter Lenfures, and Uncharitable Imputations.

The Lord of Heaven and Earth bless your Majefly with many and happy Days, that as bis le
Bend hath enriched your Highneß with many fingular and extraordinary Graces, so you
Wonder of the World in this latter Age, for Happineß and true Felicity, to the Honour of

chrif our Lord and galy Saviour

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