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.,/P
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 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 above 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 accomplishing 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 other 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 urge 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 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 self-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 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.
-Epistle Dedicatory of the 1611 King James Bible
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