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Preface to the King James Version 1611, Part 1 of 10
THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER
Preface to the King James Version 1611
<<
[ Part 1 of 10 ]
>>
(Not Copyrighted)
THE BEST THINGS HAVE BEEN CALUMNIATED
Zeal to promote the common good, whether it be by devising anything
ourselves, or revising that which hath been laboured by others,
deserveth certainly much respect and esteem, but yet findeth but
cold entertainment in the world. It is welcomed with suspicion
instead of love, and with emulation instead of thanks: and if
there be any hole left for cavil to enter, (and cavil, if it do
not find a hole, will make one) it is sure to be misconstrued,
and in danger to be condemned. This will easily be granted by
as many as know story, or have any experience. For, was there
ever any-projected, that savoured any way of newness or renewing,
but the same endured many a storm of gainsaying, or opposition?
A man would think that Civility, wholesome Laws, learning and
eloquence, Synods, and Church-maintenance, (that we speak of no
more things of this kind) should be as safe as a Sanctuary, and
out of shot, as they say, that no man would lift up the heel,
no, nor dog move his tongue against the motioners of them. For
by the first, we are distinguished from brute beasts lead with
sensuality; By the second, we are bridled and restrained from
outrageous behaviour, and from doing of injuries, whether by fraud
or by violence; By the third, we are enabled to inform and reform
others, by the light and feeling that we have attained unto ourselves;
Briefly, by the fourth being brought together to a parley face
to face, we sooner compose our differences than by writings which
are endless; And lastly, that the Church be sufficiently provided
for, is so agreeable to good reason and conscience, that those
mothers are holden to be less cruel, that kill their children
as soon as they are born, than those nursing fathers and mothers
(wheresoever they be) that withdraw from them who hang upon their
breasts (and upon whose breasts again themselves do hang to receive
the Spiritual and sincere milk of the word) livelihood and support
fit for their estates. Thus it is apparent, that these things
which we speak of, are of most necessary use, and therefore, that
none, either without absurdity can speak against them, or without
note of wickedness can spurn against them.
Yet for all that, the learned know that certain worthy men [Anacharsis
with others] have been brought to untimely death for none other
fault, but for seeking to reduce their Countrymen to god order
and discipline; and that in some Commonwealths [e.g. Locri] it
was made a capital crime, once to motion the making of a new Law
for the abrogating of an old, though the same were most pernicious;
And that certain [Cato the elder], which would be counted pillars
of the State, and patterns of Virtue and Prudence, could not be
brought for a long time to give way to good Letters and refined
speech, but bare themselves as averse from them, as from rocks
or boxes of poison; And fourthly, that he was no babe, but a great
clerk [Gregory the Divine], that gave forth (and in writing to
remain to posterity) in passion peradventure, but yet he gave
forth, that he had not seen any profit to come by any Synod, or
meeting of the Clergy, but rather the contrary; And lastly, against
Church-maintenance and allowance, in such sort, as the Ambassadors
and messengers of the great King of Kings should be furnished,
it is not unknown what a fiction or fable (so it is esteemed,
and for no better by the reporter himself [Nauclerus], though
superstitious) was devised; Namely, that at such a time as the
professors and teachers of Christianity in the Church of Rome,
then a true Church, were liberally endowed, a voice forsooth was
heard from heaven, saying: Now is poison poured down into the
Church, etc. Thus not only as oft as we speak, as one saith, but
also as oft as we do anything of note or consequence, we subject
ourselves to everyone's censure, and happy is he that is least
tossed upon tongues; for utterly to escape the snatch of them
it is impossible. If any man conceit, that this is the lot and
portion of the meaner sort only, and that Princes are privileged
by their high estate, he is deceived. "As the sword devoureth
as well one as the other," as it is in Samuel [@2 Sam 11:25],
nay as the great Commander charged his soldiers in a certain battle,
to strike at no part of the enemy, but at the face; And as the
King of Syria commanded his chief Captains to "fight neither
with small nor great, save only against the King of Israel:"
[@1 Kings 22:31] so it is too true, that Envy striketh most spitefully
at the fairest, and at the chiefest. David was a worthy Prince,
and no man to be compared to him for his first deeds, and yet
for as worthy as act as ever he did (even for bringing back the
Ark of God in solemnity) he was scorned and scoffed at by his
own wife [@2 Sam 6:16]. Solomon was greater than David, though
not in virtue, yet in power: and by his power and wisdom he built
a Temple to the Lord, such a one as was the glory of the land
of Israel, and the wonder of the whole world. But was that his
magnificence liked of by all? We doubt it. Otherwise, why do they
lay it in his son's dish, and call unto him for easing the burden,
"Make", say they, "the grievous servitude of thy
father, and his sore yoke, lighter?" [@1 Kings 12:4] Belike
he had charged them with some levies, and troubled them with some
carriages; Hereupon they raise up a tragedy, and wish in their
heart the Temple had never been built. So hard a thing it is to
please all, even when we please God best, and do seek to approve
ourselves to every ones conscience.
If we will descend to later times, we shall find many the like
examples of such kind, or rather unkind acceptance. The first
Roman Emperor [C. Caesar. Plutarch] did never do a more pleasing
deed to the learned, nor more profitable to posterity, for conserving
the record of times in true supputation; than when he corrected
the Calendar, and ordered the year according to the course of
the Sun; and yet this was imputed to him for novelty, and arrogance,
and procured to him great obloguy. So the first Christened Emperor
[Constantine] (at the least- wise that openly professed the faith
himself, and allowed others to do the like) for strengthening
the Empire at his great charges, and pro- viding for the Church,
as he did, got for his labour the name Pupillus, as who would
say, a wasteful Prince, that had need of a Guardian or overseer
[Aurel. Victor]. So the best Christened Emperor [Theodosius],
for the love that he bare unto peace, thereby to enrich both himself
and his subjects, and because he did not see war but find it,
was judged to be no man at arms [Zosimus], (though indeed he excelled
in feats of chivalry, and showed so much when he was provoked)
and con- demned for giving himself to his ease, and to his pleasure.
To be short, the most learned Emperor of former times [Justinian],
(at the least, the greatest politician) what thanks had he for
cutting off the superfluities of the laws, and digesting them
into some order and method? This, that he had been blotted by
some to be an Epitomist, that is, one that extinguishes worthy
whole volumes, to bring his abridgments into request. This is
the measure that hath been rendered to excellent Princes in former
times, even, Cum bene facerent, male audire, For their good deeds
to be evil spoken of. Neither is there any likelihood, that envy
and malignity died, and were buried with the ancient. No, no,
the reproof of Moses taketh hold of most ages; "You are risen
up in your fathers' stead, and increase of sinful men." [@Num 32:14] "What is that that hath been done? that which shall
be done; and there is no new thing under the Sun," saith
the wiseman: [@Ecc 1:9] and S. Stephen, "As your fathers did,
so do you." [@Acts 7:51]
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