Page:The New Testament of Iesvs Christ faithfvlly translated into English, ovt of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred with the Greek, & other Editions in diuers languages.pdf/12

Rh ''. Againe, how many senses of holy Scriptures, concerning Christes Godhead, have been avouched against Photinus: how many, of his Manhood, against Manichæus: how many, of the Trinitie, against Sabellius: how many, of the unitie in Trinitie, against the Arrians, Eunomians, Macedonians, how many, of the Catholike Church dispersed throughout the whole world, and of mixture of good and bad in the same until the end of the world, against the Donatistes and Luciferians and other of the like errour: how many against al other heretikes, which it were to long to rehearse? Of which senses and expositions of holy Scripture the approved Authors and avouchers, should otherwise either not be knowen at al, or not so wel knowen, as the contradictions of proud heretikes have made them''.

Thus he saith of such things as not seeming to be in holy Scriptures to the ignorant or heretikes, yet indeed be there. But in other points doubted of, that indeed are not decided by Scripture, he giveth us this goodly rule to be followed in al, as he exemplifieth in one. Then doe we hold (saith he) the veritie of the Scriptures, when we doe that which now hath seemed good to the Universal Church, which the authoritie of the Scriptures themselves doth commend: so that, for asmuch as the holy Scripture can not deceive, whosoever is afraid to be deceived with the obscuritie of questions, let him therein aske counsel of the same CHURCH, which the holy Scripture most certainely and evidently sheweth and pointeth unto. Aug. li. 1. cont. Crescon. c. 13.

Now to give thee also intelligence in particular, most gentle Reader, of such things as it behoveth thee specially to know concerning our Translation: We translate the old vulgar Latin text, not the common Greek text, for these causes.

1. It is so ancient, that it was used in the Church of God above 1300. yeares agoe, as appeareth by the Fathers of those times.

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

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

4. It is that, which for the most part ever since hath been used in the Churches service, expounded in sermons, alleaged and interpreted in the Commentaries and writings of the ancient fathers of the Latin Church.

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

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

7. It is so exact and precise according to the Greek, both the phrase and the word, that delicate Heretikes therfore reprehend it of rudenes. And that it followeth the Greek farre more exactly then the Protestants translations, beside infinit other places, we appeale to these. Tit. 3. 14. Curent bonis operibus præesse, προιοτασθαι.. Engl. bib. 1577, to mainteine good workes, and Heb. 10, 20. Viam nobis initia vit, ενεκαίνισεν. English Bib. he prepared. So in these words, Justifications, Traditions, Idola, &c. In al which they come not neer the Greek, but avoid it of purpose.

8. The Adversaries themselves, namely Beza, preferre it before al the rest. ''In præfat. 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 diversitie and dissension, and no end of reprehending one another, and translating every man according to his fantasie, that * Luther said, If Rh