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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
[What follows is the Dedicatory Epistle of
the King James translators to King James I who
commissioned the translation of the Kimg James
Bible. It is included here that the reader might
have a basis of comparison between the language and
style of the 1611 Authorized King James Version and
the language and style of this Dedicatory Epistle.
Note the sharp contrast between this epistle and the
KJV. This dedicatory epistle is not included in most
King James Bibles published today]
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 upon 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 the earth; because the fruit thereof
extendeth itself, not only to the time pent 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 about 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 the 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
labors, 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 labors, 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 ill meaning 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 labors shall
more honor 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
self-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 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 favor, which will ever give
countenance to honest and Christian endeavours
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 honor that Great God, and the good
of his Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord and
only Saviour. |
