The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments

The Translators of the Bible wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. REAT and manifold were the blessings, most dread Sovereign, which Almighty God, the Fatlier of all mercies, bestowed upon us the people of England, wlien first he sent Your Majesty's Boyal Person to rule and reign over us. For wliereas it was tiie expectation of many, wlio wished not well unto our Sión, tliat upon the setting of that bright Occidental Slar, Queen Elizábeth of most liappy memory, sorae thick and palpahle clouds of darkness would so have overshadowed tliis Land, that men should have been in doubt which vvay they were to walk; and that it should liardly 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 Goverunient established in Your Highness, and Your liope-ful Seed, by an undoubted Title, and this alsó accompanied with peace and tranquillity at home and abroad. But araong all our joys, there was no one that more fiiled our liearts, than the blesaed 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 eufifer this to fali to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to eontinue it in that state, wherein the famous Predecessor of Your Highness did leave it: nay, to go forward with the confi-dence and resölutiori of a Maii in maintaining the truth of Christ, and propagating itfar and near, is that which liath so bound and firmly knit the liearts of all Your Majesty's loyal and religious people unto You, that Your very name is precious among them: their eye dotli beliold You with comfort, and tliey bless You in their liearts, as that aanctifiod Person, who, under God, is the immediate Autlior of their trne happiness. And this their contentment dotli not diminish or decay, but éveíy day increas-etli and taketli strength, when they observe, that the zeal of Your Majesty toward thé liouse of God dotli not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Cbristendom, by writing in defence of the Truth, (which hatli given such a blow UHto that man of sin, as will not he healed,) and every day at home, by religious and learned discourse, by frequent-ing the house of God, by liearing the Word preached, by cherishing the Teachers thereof, by caring for the Church, as a most tender and loving nursiug Father. There are infinite arguments of this right cliristian and religious affection in Your Majesty; but , nőne is more forciblo to declare it to otliers than the vehement and perpetuated desire of accomplish-ing and publisliing of this work, which now with all humility we present unto Yciur Majesty. For when Your Highness had once out of deep judgment appreliended how convenient it was, that out of the Originál Sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own, and otlier foreign Ijanguáges, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more'exact Tracsla-tion of the boly Scriptures into the Englith Tongue ; Your Majesty did never desist to ürge and to excite those to wliom it was commended, that the work might be hastened, and that tiie business miglit be expedited in so decent a manner, as a mutter of such importance miglit justly require.