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THE MISSING LETTER!
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY TO THE 1611 AUTHORIZED VERSION
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.
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.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 of 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 tranquility 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 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 selfconceited 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 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
endeavors 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.