Page:1582 Rhemes New Testament.pdf/3



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 which is the principal, most profitable & comfortable peece of holy writte: 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.

Which translation we doe not for all that publish, vpon erroneous opinion of necessitie, that the holy Scriptures should alwaies be in our mother tonge, or that they ought, or were ordained by God, to be read indifferently of all, or could be easily vnderstood of euery one that readeth or heareth them in a knowen language: or that they were not often through mans malice or infirmitie, pernicious and much hurtful to many: or that we generally and absolutely deemed it more conuenient in it self, & more agreable to Gods word and honour or edification of the faithful, to haue them turned into vulgar tonges, then to be kept & studied only in the Ecclesiastical learned languages: Not for these nor any such like causes doe we translate this sacred booke, but vpon special consideration of the present time, stare, and condition of our countrie, vnto which, diuers thinges are either necessarie, or profitable and medicinable now, that otherwise in the peace of the Church were neither much requisite, nor perchance wholy tolerable.

In this matter, to marke onely the wisedom & moderatiō of holy Church and the gouernours thereof on the one side, and the indiscrete zeale of the Rh