Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/1611_kjv/msg-kjv.01

Text File | 1994-02-11 | 6KB | 96 lines

              ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
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              │      THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER     │
              │ Preface to the King James Version 1611 │
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                           (Not Copyrighted)

                  THE BEST THINGS HAVE BEEN CULMINATED
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     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

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