1. To the most High and Mighty Prince, JAMES, by the Grace of GOD, King of Great Britain, France, and Ire land, Defender of the Faith, &C. The Translators of the BIBLE wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace, through Jesus-Christ our Lord Reat and manifold were the Blessing's (moft dread Sovereign which Al C mighty God, the Father of alt Mercies, bestowed upon us the People of England when first he sent Tour 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 fo 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 difpelled 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 Tour Highness, and Tour hopeful Seed, by an undoubted Title, and this also accompanied with Peace and Tranquility at Home and abroad. But amongst 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 it us; which is that inestima. ble Treasure, which excelleth all the Riches of the Earth, because the Fruit thereof extendeth it felf, not only to the Time spent in this transitory World, but diretteth and difpofeth. 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 Predeceffor of Tour 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 all Tour Majesty's Loyal and Religious People unto Tou, that Your very Name is Precious among them, their Eye doth behold Tou with Comfort, and they bless you in their Hearts, as that fan&tified Perfon, who under God is the immediate Author of their true Happiness. And this their contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every Day in-1 creaseth and taketh Strength, when they observe that the Zeal of Tour Majesty towards the House of God, doth noth stack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, maniFesting it felf, 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 Heated) and every Day at Home, by Religious and Learned Difcourse, by frequenting the House of God, by bearing the Word Preached, by cherishing the Teachers thereof, by caring for the Church, as å mot tender and loving nursing Father. There are infinite Arguments of this right Christian and Religious Affection in Tour Majesty: but none is more Forcible to declare it to others, than the vehement and perpetuated Defire of the accomplishing and publishing of this Work,which now with all Humility we prefent unto Your Majesty. For when Tour Highness bad 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 i, Men who went before us, there should be one more exact Translation of the Holy Scriptures into the English Tongue Your Majesty did never defift to Urge and to Excite thoje to whom it was commended, that the Work might be Haftned, and that the Bufiness might " II, ut ve have great ve Expedited in jouaeceny a vantut, 45 u svaneru Jurimpurtante ng acquire, And now at last, by the Mercy of God, and the Continuance of our Labour's, it being brought unto fuch a Conclusion, as that at Hope, that the Church of England Thali reap good Fruit thereby; we hold it our Duty to offer it to Tour Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the Principal "Mover and Author of the Work: Humbly craving of Tour moft Sacred Majesty, that since Things of this Quality have ever been subject to the Censures of ill-meaning and discontented Persons, it may receive Approbation and Patronage from fo Learned and Judicious a. Prince as Your Highness is, whole Allowance and Acceptance of our Labours, Thall more Honour and Encourage us, than all the Calumniations and hard Interpretations of other Men shall dismay us. Só that, if on the one Side we shall be Traduced by Popish Perfons at Home or Abroad, who therefore will Malign us, because we are poor Instruments to make Gods 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 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 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 Tour Majesty's Grace and Favour, which will ever give Countenance to Honest and Christian Endeavours, àgainst bitter Censures, and uncharitable Imputations. The Lord of Heaven and Earth bless your Majesty with many and happy Days, that Gua ti siis olevated by stregte Number of their Chaprers. 1 !!! 4:. 36., Daniels 27 Nchemiah 13 Joel 2:10Amos 2'' sibul 42 | Obadiah goy ligeitnice 2013 150'| Jonah Judges Jeigu 3t Micah. 31. The Song of Solomon 66 Zephaniah 1. Kings 52 Haggai 25 Lamentations 5 Zechariah 48 Malachi The Books called Apocrypha. 1. Esdras háth Chapters 9 Wisdom 19 The Idol Bel and the Dragon was the in 16 Ecclesiasticus 5. The Prayer of Manasseh. 14 Baruch with the Epistle of Jeremiah 6 I, Maccabees 16 16 The Song of the 3 Children, II. Maccabees 15 Cistitis *9 6, To the Hebrews Matthew hath Chapters 16 Philippians 4 The Epistle of James 24 Colossians 4 1. Peter 5 3 1. John 16 1. Timothy II. John 16 II. Timothy III. John 3 Jude coliitli gus * An II. Chronicles 12 53 40 Ezra 10 Hosea Leviticus 36 Esther 34 Job 24 Psalms Nwww vumbows 12 Nahum Ruth 24 / Isaiah II. Kings 29''Ezekiel Tobit 13 Luke 13 Titus 22 |