THE PREFACE TO THE READER

Treating of the causes why this new Testament is translated according to the auncient vulgar Latin text.

THE holy Bible long since translated by vs into English, and the old Testament lying by vs for lacke of good meanes to publish the whole in such sort as a worke of so great charge and importance requireth: we haue yet through Gods goodnes at length fully finished for thee (most Christian reader) all the NEW TESTAMENT, which is the principal, most profitable & comfortable peece of holy write: and, as wel for all other institution of life and doctrine, as specially for deciding the doubtes of these daies, more propre and pregnant then the other part not yet printed.

NOW TO GIVE thee also intelligence in particular, most gentle Reader, of such thinges as it behoueth thee specially to know concerning our Translation: We translate the old vulgar Latin text, not the common Greeke text, for these causes.

1. It is so auncient, that it was vsed in the Church of God aboue 1300 yeres agoe, as appeareth by the fathers of those times.

2. It is that (by the common receiued opinion and by al probabilitie) which S. Hierom afterward corrected according to the Greeke, by the appointment of Damasus then Pope, as he maketh mention in his preface before the foure Euangelistes, vnto the said Damasus: and 'in Catalogo in fine,' and 'ep. 102.'

3. Consequently it is the same which S. Augustine so commendeth and alloweth in an Epistle to S. Hierom.

4. It is that, which for the most part euer since hath been vsed in the Churches seruice, expounded in sermons, alleaged and interpreted in the Commentaries and writings of the auncient fathers of the Latin Church.

5. The holy Councel of Trent, for these and many other important considerations, hath declared and defined this onely of al other latin translations, to be authentical, and so onely to be vsed and taken in publike lessons, disputations, preachings, and expositions, and that no man presume vpon any pretence to reiect or refuse the same.

6. It is the grauest, sincerest, of greatest maiestie, least partialitie, as being without al respect of controuersies and contentions, specially these of our time, as appeareth by those places which Erasmus and others at this day translate much more to the aduantage of the Catholike cause.

7. It is so exact and precise according to the Greeke, both the phrase and the word, that delicate Heretikes therfore reprehend it of rudenes. And that it followeth the Greeke far more exactly then the Protestants translations, beside infinite other places, we appeale to these. Tit. 3,14. 'Curent bonis operibus praeesse.' 'proissasthai.' Engl. bib. 1577, 'to mainteine good works.' and Hebr. 10, 20. 'Viam nobis initiauit,' 'enekainisen.' English Bib. 'he prepared.' So in these wordes, 'Iustificationes,' 'Traditiones,' 'Idola' &c. In al which they come not neere the Greeke, but auoid it of purpose.

8. The Aduersaries them selues, namely Beza, preferre it before al the rest. (Inpraefat. no. Test an. 1556.) And againe he saith, that the old Interpreter translated very religiously. (Annot. in 1. Luc. v. 1.)

9. In the rest, there is such diuersitie and dissension, and no end of reprehending one an other, and translating euery man according to his fantasie, that Luther said, If the world should stand any long time, we must receiue againe (which he thought absurd) the Decrees of Councels, for preseruing the vnitie of faith, because of so diuers interpretations of the Scripture. And Beza (in the place aboue mentioned) noteth the itching ambition of his fellow-translators, that had much rather disagree and dissent from the best, then seeme them selues to haue said or written nothing. And Bezas translation it self, being so esteemed in our countrie, that the Geneua English Testaments be translated according to the same, yet sometime goeth so wide from the Greeke, and from the meaning of the holy Ghost, that them selues which protest to translate it, dare not folow it. For example, Luc. 3,36. They haue put these wordes, 'The sonne of Cainan,' which he wittingly and wilfully left out: and (Act. 1,14.) they say, 'With the women,' agreably to the vulgar Latin: where he saith, 'Cum vxoribus,' 'with their wiues.'

It is not onely better then al other Latin translations, but then the Greeke text it self, in those places where they disagree.

The proofe hereof is euident, because most of the auncient Heretikes were Grecians, & therfore the Scriptures in Greeke were more corrupted by them, as the auncient fathers often complaine. Tertullian noteth the Greeke text which is at this day (1 Cor. 15,47) to be an old corruption of Marcion the Heretike, and the truth to be as in our vulgar latin, 'Secundus homo de caelo caelestis,' 'The second man from heauen heauenly.' So reade other auncient fathers, and Erasmus thinketh it must needes be so, and Caluin him self foloweth in 'Instit. li. 2. c. 13. parag. 2.' Againe S. Hierom noteth that the Greeke text (1 Cor. 7, 33) which is at this day, is not the 'Apostolical veritie' or the true text of the Apostle: but that which is in the vulgar Latin, 'Qui cum vxore est, solicitus est quae sunt mundi, quomodo placeat vxori, & diuisus est.' 'He that is with a wife, is careful of worldly things, how he may please his wife, and is deuided or distracted.' The Ecclesiastical historie called the Tripartite, noteth the Greeke text that now is (1 Io. 4, 3) to be an old corruption of the auncient Greeke copies, by the Nestorian Heretikes, & the true reading to be as in our vulgar Latin, 'Omnis spiritus qui soluit IESVM, Ex Deo non est.' 'Euery spirit that dissolueth IESVS, is not of God:' and Beza confesseth that Socrates in his Ecclesiastical historie readeth so in the Greeke.

But the proofe is more preganant out of the Aduersaires them selues. They forsake the Greeke text as corrupted, and translate according to the vulgar Latin, namely Beza and his scholers the English translatours of the Bible, in these places. Hebr. chap. 9. vers. 1. saying, 'The first couenant,' for that which is in the Greeke. 'The first tabernacle.' where they put, 'couenant,' not as of the text, but in an other letter, as to be vnderstood, according to the vulgar Latin, which most sincerely leaueth it out altogether, saying, 'Habuit quidem & prius iustificationes &c.' 'The former also in deede had iustifications &c.' Againe, Ro. 11, vers. 21. They translate not according to the Greek text, 'Tempori seruientes,' 'seruing the time,' which Beza sayth must needes be a corruption: but according to the vulgar Latin, 'Domino seruientes,' 'seruing our Lord.' Againe, Apoc. 11, vers. 2. they translate not the Greeke text, 'Atrium quod intra templum est,' 'the court which is within the temple:' but cleane contrarie, according to the vulgar Latin, which Beza saith is the true reading, 'Atrium quod est foris templum,' 'the court which is without the temple.' Onely in this last place, one English Bible of the yere 1562, foloweth the errour of the Greeke. Againe, 2 Tim. 23 vers. 14. they adde, 'but,' more then is in the Greeke, to make the sense more commodious and easie, according as it is in the vulgar Latin. Againe, Ia. 5, 12. they leaue the Greeke, and folow the vulgar Latin, saying, 'lest you fall into condemnation.' "I doubt not (saith Beza) but this is the true and sincere reading, and I suspect the corruption in the Greeke came thus &c." It were infinite to set downe al such places, where the Aduersaries (specially Beza) folow the old vulgar Latin and the Greeke copie agreable therevnto, condemning the Greeke text that now is, of corruption.

HARD WORDES EXPLICATED

The explication of certaine wordes in this translation, not familiar to the vulgar reader, which might not conueniently be vttered otherwise.

A

Abstracted. Drawen away. [James 1:14] Acquisition. Getting, purchasing. [Eph 1:14] Aduent. The comming. [Matt 24:27] Adulterating. Corrupting. [2 Cor 2:17] The Greeke word signifieth to to make commoditie of the word of God, as vulgar Vinteners do of their wine. Whereby is expressed the peculiar trade of al Heretikes, and exceding proper to the Protestants, that so corrupt Scriptures by mixture of their owne phantasies, by false translations, glosses, colorable and pleasant commentaries, to deceiue the tast of the simple, as tauerners and tapsters do, to make their wines salable by manifold artificial deceites. The Apostles contrariewise, as all Catholikes, deliuer the Scriptures and vtter the word of God sincerely and entirely, in the same sense and sort as the fathers left them to the Church, interpreting them by the same Spirit by which they were written or spoken. Agnition. Knowledge or acknowledging. [Philemon 1:6] Allegorie. A Mystical speache, more then the bare letter. [Gal 4:24] Here we learne that the holy Scriptures haue beside the litteral sense, a deeper spiritual and more principal meaning: which is not only to be taken of the holy wordes, but of the very factes and persons reported: both the speaches and the actions being significatiue ouer and aboue the letter. Amen. What is it when our Lord saith, Amen, amen? He doth much commend and vrge the thing he so vttereth, doubling it. Amen in Hebrue signifieth verum, a truth. [John 8:34] Anathema. By vse of Scripture is either that which by separation from profane vse, and by dedication to God, is holy, dreadful, and not vulgarly to be touched: or contrariewise, that which is reiected, seuered or abandoned from God, as cursed and detested, and therfore is to be auoided. [Rom 9:3] Archisynagogue. Cheefe gouerner of a Synagogue. [Mark 5:22] Assist. Signifieth the Angels standing and attending, alwaies readie to doe their ministerie. [Luke 1:19] Assumption. Christs departure out of this world by his death and Ascension. [Luke 9:51] Azymes. Vnleauened bread. [Matt 26:17]

C

Calumniate. By this word is signified violent oppression by word or deede. [Luke 3:14] Catechizeth, and, Catechized. He catechizeth that teacheth the principles of the Christian faith: and they that heare and learne, are catechized, and are therfore called often in the Annotations, Catechumens. [Gal 6:6] Character. A marke or stampe. [Apoc 13:16] Commessations. Immoderate bankets, and belly cheere, with wanton riotousnes. [Gal 5:21] Condigne. Comparable. [Rom 8:18] Contristate. This word signifieth to make heauie and sad. [Eph 4:30] Cooperate. Signifieth working with others, likewise Cooperation, Cooperatours. [Rom 8:28] Corbana. This Corbana was a place about the Temple, which receiued the peoples gifts or offerings. [Matt 27:6]

D

Depositum. The whole doctrine of our Christianity being taught by the Apostles, and deliuered to their successors, and comming downe from one Bishop to an other, is called the Depositum, as it were a thing laid into their hands, and committed vnto them to keepe. Which because it passeth from hand to hand, from age to age, from Bishop to Bishop without corruption, change, or alteration, is al one with Tradition, and is the truth giuen vnto the holy Bishops to keepe, and not to lay men. [1 Tim 6:20] It may signifie also, Gods graces giuen vs to keepe. A great comfort to al Christians, that euery of their goode deedes and sufferings for Christ, and al the worldly losses susteined for defense or confession of their faith, be extant with God, and kept as depositum, to be repaied or receiued againe in heauen. [2 Tim 1:12,14] Didrachme. These didrachmes were peeces of money which they payed for tribute. [Matt 17:23,24] Dominical day. Sunday. [Apoc 1:10] It is to be marked, that this holy day by the Apostles tradition also, was named Dominicus dies, our Lordes day, or the Dominike, which is also an old Ecclesiastical word in our language, for the name Sunday is a heathenish calling, as al other of the weeke daies be in our language. Donaries. Giftes offered to God for his Temple, &c. [Luke 21:5]

E

Euacuated from Christ. That is, Made voide and hauing no part with him. [Gal 5:4] The scandal of the crosse euacuated, that is, made voide, cleane taken away. [Gal 5:11] Euangelize. Signifieth such preaching of good tidinges, as concerneth the Gospel. How is it possible to expresse Euangelizo, but as we do, Euangelize? for Euangelium being the Gospel, what is, Euangelizo or to Euangelize, but to shew the glad tydings of the Gospel, of the time of grace, of al Christs benefites? Al which signification is lost, by translating as the English bibles do, "I bring you good tydings." Eunuches. Gelded men. Euro-aquilo. A north-eastwinde. [Acts 27:14] Exinanited. Abased excedingly. [Phil 2:7]

G

Gratis. An vsual word to signifie, for nothing, freely, for Godamercie, without desert.

H

Holocauste. A kinde of sacrifice where al was burnt in the honour of God. [Hebr 10:6] Hostes. Sacrifices. [1 Cor 10:18]

I

Inuocated. Called vpon, praied vnto. [Acts 9:21] Hereof we say, Inuocation of Saincts, and to inuocate. Issue. Good euent. [1 Cor 10:13] Iustice. Taken in the new Testament, not as it is contrarie to wrong or iniurie, but for that qualitie whereof a man is iust and iustified. [Rom 4:9]

N

Neophyte. Neophytus is he that was lately christened or newely planted in the mystical body of Christ. [1 Tim 3:6]

P

Paraclete. By interpretation is either a comforter, or an aduocate: and therfore to translate it by any one of them only, is perhaps to abridge the sense of this place. [John 14:16] Parasceue. The Iewes Sabboth-eue, Good friday. [Mark 15:42] Parasceue is as solemne a word for the Sabboth eue, as Sabboth is for the Iewes seuenth day, and now among Christians much more solemner, taken for Good-friday onely. These wordes then we thought it far better to keepe in the text, and to tel their signification in the margent or in a table for that purpose, then to disgrace bothe the text and them with translating them. Pasche. Easter, and the Paschal lambe. [Luke 22:1] Pentecost. Whitsuntide, &, the space of fiftie daies. Prefinition. A determination before. [Eph 3:11] Prepuce. The foreskinne not circumcised, & therfore signifieth the Gentiles: as circumcision, the Iewes and their state. [Rom 2:25] Prescience. Foreknowledge. [Acts 2:23] Preuaricatour. Transgressor: and preuarication, transgression. [Rom 2:25] Loaues of Proposition. So called, because they were proposed and set vpon the table in the Temple, before God. [Matt 12:4]

R

Repropitiate the sinnes. That is, make a reconciliation for them. [Heb 2:17] Resolution. The separation of the body and the soule, the departing out of this life. [2 Tim 4:6] Resuscitate the grace. That is, Raise, quicken, renew and reviue the grace which otherwise languisheth and decaieth. [2 Tim 1:6]

S

Sabbatisme. A time of resting and ceasing from labours. [Heb 4:9] Sacrament. For mysterie. [Eph 1:9] Sancta Sanctorum. The holie of holies, that is, the inmost and holiest place of the Iewes Temple, as it were the Chauncel. [Heb 9:3] Superedified. Builded vpon Christ the principal stone. [1 Pet 2:5]

T

Tetrarch. Gouernour or Prince of the 4 part of a countrie. [Matt 14:1] Thrones. An higher order of Angels. [Col 1:16]

V

Victims. Sacrifice. [Acts 7:42]