The Epistle Dedicatory for KJV Bible from Cambridge

1. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY
TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE JAMES, BY THE GRACE OF GOD,
KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c.
The Translators of the Bible wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace, through JESUS
CHRIST our Lord.
GREAT and manifoldwere the blessings,mostdreadSovereign,whichAlmightyGod,the Fatherof all
mercies,bestoweduponusthe people of England,whenfirsthe sentYourMajesty’sRoyal Personto
rule and reignoverus.For whereasitwasthe expectation of many,whowishednotwell untoourSion,
that uponthe settingof that brightOccidental Star,QueenElizabethof mosthappymemory,some thick
and palpable cloudsof darknesswouldsohave overshadowedthisLand,thatmenshouldhave beenin
doubtwhichwaytheywere to walk;andthat it shouldhardlybe known,whowastodirectthe unsettled
State;the appearance of Your Majesty,as of the Sunin hisstrength,instantlydispelledthose supposed
and surmisedmists,andgave untoall thatwere well affectedexceedingcause of comfort;especially
whenwe beheldthe GovernmentestablishedinYourHighness,andYourhopeful Seed,byan
undoubtedTitle,andthisalsoaccompaniedwithpeace andtranquillityathome andabroad.
But amongall our joys,there wasno one that more filledourhearts,thanthe blessedcontinuance of
the preachingof God’ssacred Word among us; whichisthat inestimable treasure,whichexcellethall
the richesof the earth; because the fruitthereof extendethitself,notonlytothe time spentinthis
transitoryworld,butdirectethanddisposethmenuntothateternal happinesswhichisabove inheaven.
Thennot to sufferthistofall to the ground,butrather to take it up,and to continue itinthat state,
whereinthe famousPredecessorof YourHighnessdidleave it:nay,togo forwardwiththe confidence
and resolutionof aMan in maintainingthe truthof Christ,andpropagatingitfar andnear, isthat which
hath soboundand firmlyknitthe heartsof all Your Majesty’sloyal andreligiouspeopleuntoYou,that
Your veryname is preciousamongthem:theireye dothbeholdYouwithcomfort,andtheyblessYouin
theirhearts,as thatsanctifiedPerson,who,underGod,isthe immediate Authorof theirtrue happiness.
Andthistheircontentmentdothnotdiminishordecay,buteverydayincreasethandtakethstrength,
whentheyobserve,thatthe zeal ofYour Majesty towardthe house of God doth notslack or go
backward,but ismore and more kindled,manifestingitself abroadinthe farthestpartsof Christendom,
by writing in defence ofthe Truth, (which hath givensuch a blowunto that man of sin, as will not be
healed,) andeverydayat home,byreligiousandlearneddiscourse,byfrequentingthe house of God,by
hearingthe Word preached,bycherishingthe Teachersthereof,bycaringforthe Church,as a most
tenderandlovingnursingFather.
There are infiniteargumentsof thisrightChristianandreligiousaffectioninYourMajesty;butnone is
more forcible todeclare itto othersthanthe vehementandperpetuateddesire of accomplishingand
publishingof thiswork,whichnowwithall humilitywe presentuntoYourMajesty.ForwhenYour

2. Highnesshadonce out of deepjudgmentapprehendedhow convenientitwas,thatout of the Original
SacredTongues,togetherwithcomparingof the labours,bothinourown,and otherforeignLanguages,
of manyworthymenwhowentbefore us,there shouldbe one more exactTranslationof the holy
Scripturesintothe EnglishTongue;YourMajestydidneverdesisttourge andto excite those towhomit
was commended,thatthe workmightbe hastened,andthatthe businessmightbe expeditedinso
decenta manner,asa matterof suchimportance mightjustlyrequire.
Andnowat last,bythe mercyof God, and the continuance of our labours,itbeingbroughtuntosucha
conclusion,asthatwe have greathopesthat the Churchof Englandshall reapgoodfruitthereby;we
holditour duty to offeritto Your Majesty,notonlyas to our KingandSovereign,butasto the principal
Mover andAuthorof the work:humblycravingof Your most SacredMajesty,that since thingsof this
qualityhave everbeensubjecttothe censuresof illmeaninganddiscontentedpersons,itmayreceive
approbationandpatronage fromso learnedandjudiciousaPrince asYour Highnessis,whose allowance
and acceptance of our laboursshall more honourandencourage us,than all the calumniationsandhard
interpretationsof othermenshall dismayus. Sothat if, on the one side,we shall be traduced by Popish
Personsat home or abroad, who therefore will malignus, because we are poor instrumentsto make
God’sholy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people,whomthey desire still to keepin
ignorance and darkness;or if,onthe other side,we shall be malignedbyselfconceitedBrethren,who
run theirownways,andgive likinguntonothing,butwhatisframedbythemselves,andhammeredon
theiranvil;we mayrestsecure,supportedwithinbythe truthand innocencyof a goodconscience,
havingwalkedthe waysof simplicityandintegrity,asbefore the Lord;andsustainedwithoutbythe
powerful protectionof YourMajesty’sgrace and favour,whichwill evergive countenance tohonestand
Christianendeavoursagainstbittercensuresand uncharitableimputations.
The Lord of heavenandearthblessYourMajestywithmany andhappy days,that,as hisheavenlyhand
hath enrichedYourHighnesswithmanysingularandextraordinarygraces,soYoumay be the wonderof
the worldinthislatterage for happinessandtrue felicity,tothe honourof thatgreat GOD, and the good
of hisChurch,throughJesusChristourLord and onlySaviour.