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
unto 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 earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth
itself, not only to the time spent 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 of
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 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 labours, 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 labours, 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 illmeaning 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 labours shall more honour 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 selfconceited 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 favour, which will ever give countenance to honest and Christian
endeavors 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
honour of that great GOD, and the good of his Church, through Jesus Christ our
Lord and only Saviour.