EPISTLE DICTATORY
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 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.