The Epistle Dedicatory

This is a short epistle dedicatory by the translators to Queen Elizabeth, taken from the front matter of a 1560 Geneva Bible. In modern spelling with original punctuations [few were corrected] and capitalizations.

TO THE MOST VIRTUOUS AND NOBLE QUEEN ELIZABETH, QUEEN OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, & C. YOUR HUMBLE SUBJECTS OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH AT GENEVA, WISH GRACE AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

HOW hard a thing it is, and what great impediments let, to enterprise any worthy act, not only daily experience sufficiently showeth (most noble and virtuous Queen) but also that notable proverb doeth confirm the same, which admonisheth us, that all things are hard which are fair and excellent. And what enterprise can there be of greater importance, and more acceptable unto God, or more worthy of singular commendation, then the building of the Lords Temple, the house of God, the Church of Christ, whereof the Son of God is the head and perfection?

When Zerubbabel went about but to build the material Temple, according to the commandment of the Lord, what difficulties and stays daily arose to hinder his worthy endeavours, the books of Ezra & Esdras plainly witness: how that not only he and the people of God were sore molested with foreign adversaries, (whereof some maliciously warred against them, and corrupted the Kings officers: and others craftily practiced under pretense of religion) but also at home with domestical enemies, as false Prophets, crafty worldlings, faint hearted soldiers, and oppressors of their brethren, who as well by false doctrine and lies, as by subtle counsel, cowardies, and extortion, discouraged the hearts almost of all: so that the Lords work was not only interrupted and left off for a long time, but scarcely at the length with great labor and danger after a sort brought to pass.

Which thing when we weigh aright, and consider earnestly how much greater charge God hath laid upon you in making you a builder of his spiritual Temple, we can not but partly fear, knowing the craft and force of Satan our spiritual enemy, and the weakness and inability of this our nature: and partly be fervent in our prayers toward God that he would bring to perfection this noble work which he hath begun by you: and therefore we endeavour ourselves by all means to aid, & to bestow our whole force under your graces standard, whom God hath made as our Zerubbabel for the erecting of this most excellent Temple, and to plant and maintain his holy word to the advancement of his glory, for your own honor and salvation of your soul, and for the singular comfort of that great flock which Christ Jesus the great shepherd hath bought with his precious blood, and committed unto your charge to be fed both in body and soul.

Considering therefore how many enemies there are, which by one means or other, as the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin went about to stay the building of that Temple, so labour to hinder the course of this building (whereof some are Papists, who under pretense of favoring Gods word, traitorously seek to erect idolatry and to destroy your majesty: some are worldlings, who as Demas have forsake[n] Christ for the love of this world: others are ambitious prelates, who as Amasiah & Diotrephes can abide none but themselves: and as Demetrius many practice sedition to maintain their errors) we persuaded our selves that there was no way so expedient and necessary for the preservation of the one, and destruction of the other, as to present unto your Majesty the holy Scriptures faithfully and plainly translated according to the languages wherein they were first written by the holy Ghost. For the word of God is an evident token of Gods love and our assurance of his defence, wheresoever it is obediently received: it is the trial of the spirits: and as the Prophet saith, It is as a fire and hammer to break the stony hearts of them that resist Gods mercies offered by the preaching of the same. Yea it is sharper than any two edged sword to examine the very thoughts and to judge the affections of the heart, and to discover whatsoever lieth hid under hypocrisy and would be secret from the face of God and his Church. So that this must be the first foundation and groundwork, according whereunto the good stones of this building must be framed, and the evil tried out and rejected.

Now as he that goeth about to lay a foundation surely, first taketh away such impediments, as might justly either hurt, let or deform the work: so is it necessary that your graces zeal appear herein, that neither the crafty persuasion of man, neither worldly policy, or natural fear dissuade you to root out, cut down and destroy these weeds and impediments which do not only deface your building, but utterly endeavour, yea & threaten the ruin thereof. For when the noble Josias enterprised the like kind of work, among other notable and many things he destroyed, not only with utter confusion the idols with their appurtenances, but also burnt (in sign of detestation) the idolatrous priests bones upon their altars, and put to death the false prophets and sorcerers, to perform the words of the Law of God: and therefore the Lord gave him good success & blessed him wonderfully, so long as he made Gods word his line and rule to follow, and enterprised nothing before he had inquired at the mouth of the Lord.

And if these zealous beginnings seem dangerous and to breed disquietness in your dominions, yet by the story of King Asa it is manifest, that the quietness and peace of kingdoms standeth in the utter abolishing of idolatry, and in advancing of true religion: for in his days Judah lived in rest and quietness for the space of five and thirty year[s], till at length he began to be cold in the zeal of the Lord, feared the power of man, imprisoned the Prophet of God, and oppressed the people: then the Lord sent him wars, & at length took him away by death.

Moreover the marvelous diligence and zeal of Jehoshaphat, Josiah, and Hezekiah are by the singular providence of God left as an example to all godly rulers to reform their countries and to establish the word of God with all speed, lest the wrath of the Lord fall upon them for the neglecting thereof. For these excellent Kings did not only embrace the word promptly and joyfully, but also procured earnestly and commanded the same to be taught, preached and maintained through all their countries and dominions, binding them and all their subjects both great and small with solemn protestations and covenants before God to obey the word, and to walk after the ways of the Lord. Yea and in the days of serving Asa it was enacted that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel, should be slain, whether he were small or great, man or woman. And for the establishing hereof and performance of this solemn oath, as well Priests as Judges were appointed and placed through all the cities of Judah to instruct the people in the true knowledge and fear of God, and to minister justice according to the word, knowing that, except God by his word did reign in the hearts and souls, all mans diligence and endeavours were of none effect: for without this word we cannot discern between justice, and injury, protection and oppression, wisdom and foolishness, knowledge and ignorance, good and evil. Therefore the Lord, who is the chief governor of his Church, willeth that nothing be attempted before we have enquired thereof at his mouth. For seeing he is our God, of duty we must give him this preeminence, that of ourselves we enterprise nothing, but that which he hath appointed, who only knoweth all things, and governeth them as may best serve to his glory and our salvation. We ought not therefore to prevent him, or do anything without his word, but as soon as he hath revealed his will, immediately to put it in execution.

Now as concerning the manner of this building, it is not according to man, nor after the wisdom of the flesh, but of the Spirit, & according to the word of God, whose ways are divers from mans ways. For if it was not lawful for Moses to build the material Tabernacle after any other sort th[a]n God had showed him by a pattern, neither to prescribe any other ceremonies & laws th[a]n such as the Lord had expressly commanded: how can it be lawful to proceed in this spiritual building any other ways, than Jesus Christ the Son of God, who is both the foundation, head and chief corner stone thereof, hath commanded by his word? And forasmuch as he hath established and left an order in his Church for the building up of his body, appointing some to be Apostles, some Prophets, others Evangelists, some pastors, and teachers, he signifieth that everyone according as he is placed in this body which is the Church, ought to enquire of his ministers concerning the will of the Lord, which is revealed in his word. For they are, saith Jeremiah, as the mouth of the Lord: yea he promiseth to be with their mouth, & that their lips shall keep knowledge, & that the truth & the law shall be in their mouth. For it is their office chiefly to understand the Scriptures & teach them. For this cause the people of Israel in matters of difficulty used to ask the Lord either by the Prophets, or by the means of the high Priest, who bare Urim & Thummin, which were tokens of light & knowledge, of holiness & perfection which should be in the high Priest. Therefore when Jehoshaphat took this order in the Church of Israel, he appointed Amariah to be the chief concerning the word of God, because he was most expert in the law of the Lord, and could give counsel and govern according unto the same. Else there is no degree or office which may have that authority and privilege to decide concerning Gods word, except withal he hath the Spirit of God, and sufficient knowledge and judgement to define according thereunto. And as everyone is endued of God with greater gifts, so ought he to be herein chiefly heard, or at least that without the express word none be heard: for he that hath not the word, speaketh not by the mouth of the Lord. Again, what danger it is to do anything, seem it never so godly or necessary, without consulting with Gods mouth, the examples of the Israelites, deceived hereby through the Gibeonites: and of Saul, whose intention seemed good and necessary: and of Josiah also, who for great considerations was moved for the defence of true religion & his people, to fight against Pharoah Necho King of Egypt, may sufficiently admonish us.

Last of all (most gracious Queen) for the advancement of this building and rearing up of the work, two things are necessary. First, that we have a live & steadfast faith in Christ Jesus, who must dwell in our hearts, as the only means and assurance of our salvation: for he is the ladder that reacheth from the earth to heaven: he lifteth up his Church and setteth it in the heavenly places: he maketh us lively stones and buildeth us upon himself: he joineth us to himself as the members and body to the head: yea he maketh himself and his Church one Christ. The next is, that our faith bring forth good fruits, so that our godly conversation may serve us as a witness to confirm our election, and be an example to all others to walk as appertaineth to the vocation whereunto they are called: lest the word of God be evil spoken of, and this building be stayed to grow up to a just height, which cannot be without the great provocation of Gods just vengeance and discouraging of many thousands through all the world, if they should see that our life were not holy and agreeable to our profession. For the eyes of all that fear God in all places behold your countries as an example to all that believe, and the prayers of all the godly at all times are directed to God for the preservation of your majesty. For considering Gods wonderful mercies toward you at all seasons, who hath pulled you out of the mouth of the lions, and how that from your youth you have been brought up in the holy Scriptures, the hope of all men is so increased, that they cannot but look that God should bring to pass some wonderful work by your grace to the universal comfort of his Church. Therefore even above strength, you must show yourself strong and bold in Gods matters: and though Satan lay all his power and craft together to hurt and hinder the Lords building: yet be you assured that God will fight from heaven against this great dragon, the ancient serpent, which is called the devil and Satan, till he have accomplished the whole work and made his Church glorious to himself, without spot or wrinkle. For albeit all other kingdoms and monarchies, as the Babylonians, Persians, Grecians & Romans have fallen & taken end: yet the Church of Christ even under the Cross hath from the beginning of the world been victorious, and shall be everlastingly. Truth it is, that sometime it seemeth to be shadowed with a cloud, or driven with a stormy perfection, yet suddenly the beams of Christ the sun of justice shine and bring it to light and liberty. If for a time it be covered with ashes, yet it is quickly kindled again by the wind of Gods Spirit: though it seem drowned in the sea, or parched and pined in the wilderness, yet God giveth ever good success. For he punisheth the enemies, and delivereth his, nourisheth them and still preserveth the[m] under his wings. This Lord of lords & King of kings who hath ever defended his, strengthe[n], co[m]fort and preserve your majesty, that you may be able to build up the ruins of Gods house to his glory, the discharge of your conscience, and to the comfort of all them that love the coming of Christ Jesus our Lord. From Geneva. 10. April. 1560.