The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the best translations in diuers languges. VVith moste profitable annotations vpon all the hard places, and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader

TO THE MOSTE VERTVOVS AND NOBLE QVENE ELISABET, Quene of England, France, and Ireland, &c. Your humble subiects of the English Churche at Geneua, vvish grace and peace from God the Father through Christ Iesus our Lord.

HOW hard a thyng it is, and what great impedimentes let, to entreprise any worthie act, not only dailie experience sufficiently sheweth [moste noble and vertuous Quene] but also that notable prouerbe doeth con∣firme the same, whiche admonisheth vs, that all things are hard whiche are faire and excellent. And what entreprise can there be of greater im∣portance, and more acceptable vnto God, or more worthie of singu∣ler() 1.1 commendation, then the buildyng of the Lords Temple, the house() 1.2() 1.3 of God, the Churche of Christ, Whereof the Sonne of God is the head and perfection?() 1.4

When Zerubbabel went about to builde the material Temple, accordyng to the comman∣dement() 1.5 of the Lord, what difficulties and stayes daily arose to hinder his worthy indeuours, the bookes of Ezza and Esdras playnely witnesse: how that not onely he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the people of() 1.6 God were sore molested with forein aduersaries [whereof some maliciously warred against them, and corrupted the Kings officers: and others craftely practised vnder pretence of re∣ligion]() 1.7 but also at home with domesticall enemies, as false Prophetes, craftie worldlings,() 1.8 faint hearted soldiers, and oppressors of their brethren, who aswell by false doctrine and lyes, as by subtil counsel, cowardies, and extortion, discouraged the heartes almoste of all: so() 1.9 that the Lords worke was not only interrupted and left of for a long tyme, but scarcely at the() 1.10 length with great labour and danger after a sort broght to passe.

Whiche thing when we weight a right, and consider earnestly how muche greater charge God hath laid vpon you in makyng you a builder of his spirituall Temple, we can not but() 1.11 partely 〈◊〉〈◊〉, knowing the crafte and force of Satan our spiritual enemie, and the weakenes and vnabilitie of this our nature: and partely be feruent in our prayers toward God that he() 1.12 wolde bryng to perfection this noble worke whiche he hathe begon by you: and therefore() 1.13 we indeuour our selues by all meanes to ayde, and to bestowe our whole force vnder your graces standard, whome God hath made as our Zerubbabell for the erectyng of this moste() 1.14 excellent Temple, and to plant and maynteyn his holy worde to the aduancement of his glo∣rie, for your owne honour and saluation of your soule, and for the singuler comfort of that great flocke which Christ Iesus the great shepherd hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with his precious blood, and() 1.15 committed vnto your charge to be fed both in body and soule.() 1.16

Considering therefore how many enemies there are, whiche by one meanes or other, as() 1.17 the aduersaries of Iudah and Beniamin went about to stay the buildyng of that Temple, so labour to hinder the course of this buildyng [whereof some are Papistes, who vnder pretence() 1.18() 1.19 of fauoring Gods worde, traiterously seke to erect idolatrie and to destroy your maiestie:() 1.20 some are wordlings, who as Demas haue forsaken Christ for the loue of this worlde: others() 1.21 are ambicious prelats, who as Amasiah and Diotrephes can abide none but them selues:() 1.22() 1.23 and as Demetrius many practise sedition to maynteyne their errors] we persuaded our selues that there was no way so expedient and necessarie for the preseruation of the one, and destru∣ction of the other, as to present vnto your Maiestie the holy Scriptures faithfully and playnely translated accordyng to the langages wherein they were first written by the holy Gost. For the() 1.24 worde of God is an euident token of Gods loue and our assurance of his defence, wheresoe∣uer it is obediently receyued: it is the tryall of the spirits: and as the Prophet saieth, It is as() 1.25() 1.26 a fyre and hammer to breake the stonie heartes of them that resist Gods mercies offred by the preachyng of the same. Yea it is sharper then any two edged sworde to examine the very() 1.27 thoghtes and to iudge the affections of the heart, and to discouer whatsoeuer lyeth hid vnder hypocrisie and wolde be secret from the face of God and his Churche. So that this must be the() 1.28 first fundacion and ground worke, according whereunto the good stones of this building must be framed, and the euill tried out and reiected.

Now as he that goeth about to lay a fundacion surely, first taketh away such impedimentes() 1.29 as might iustely ether hurt, let or difforme the worke: so is it necessarie that your graces zeale appeare herein, that nether the craftie persuasion of man, nether worldly policie, or naturall

feare dissuade you to roote out, cut downe and destroy these wedes and impedimentes whiche do not onely deface your building, but vtterly indeuour, yea and threaten the ruine thereof. For when the noble Iosias entreprised the like kinde of worke, among other notable and many() 1.30 () 1.31 things he destroyed, not onely with vtter confusion the idoles with their appertināces, but also() 1.32 burnt [in signe of detestation] the idolatrous priests bones vpon their altars, and put to death the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prophetes and sorcerers, to performe the wordes of the Lawe of God: and therfore() 1.33 the Lord gaue him good successe and blessed him wonderfully, so long as he made Gods() 1.34 worde his line and rule to followe, and enterprised nothyng before he had inquired at the() 1.35 () 1.36 mouth of the Lord.

And if these zealous beginning seme dangerous and to brede disquietnes in your domi∣nions,() 1.37 yet by the storie of Kyng Asa it is manifest, that the quietnes and peace of kingdomes() 1.38 standeth in the vtter abolishing of idolatrie, and in aduancing of true religion: for in his dayes Iudah lyued in rest and quietnes for the space of fyue and thirtie yere, till at length he began() 1.39 to be colde in the zeale of the Lord, feared the power of man, imprisoned the Prophet of God, and oppressed the people: then the Lord sent hym warres, and at length toke hym away by death.

Wherefore great wisdome, not worldelie, but heauenly is here required, whiche your() 1.40 grace must earnestly craue of the Lord, as did Salomon, to whome God gaue an vnderstan∣dyng heart to iudge his people a right, and to discerne betwene good and bad. For if God for the furnishing of the olde temple gaue the Spirit of wisdome and vnderstanding to them that shulde be the workemen thereof, as to Bezaleel, Aholiab, and Hiram: how muche more will() 1.41 he indewe your grace and other godly princes and chefe gouernours with a principall Spirit,() 1.42 that you may procure and commande things necessarie for this moste holy Temple, forese and() 1.43 () 1.44 take hede of things that might hinder it, and abolish and destroy whatsoeuer might 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and ouerthrowe the same?

Moreouer the maruelous diligence & zeale of Iehoshaphat, Iosiah, and Hezekiah are by the() 1.45 singuler prouidence of God left as an example to al godly rulers to reforme their countreys and to establish the worde of God with all spede, lest the wrath of the Lord fall vpon them for the neglecting thereof. For these excellent Kings did not onely imbrace the worde promptely and() 1.46 ioyfully, but also procured earnestly and commanded the same to be taught, preached and() 1.47 () 1.48 mainteyned through all their countreys and dominions, byding them and all their subjectes bothe great and smale with solemne protestations and couenantes before GOD to obey the worde, and to walke after the waies of the Lord. Yea and in the daies of Kyng Asa it was ena∣cted() 1.49 that whosoeuer wolde not seke the Lord God of Israel, shulde be slayne, whether he were() 1.50 smale or great, man or woman. And for the establishing hereof and performance of this solem ne othe, aswel Priests as Iudges were appointed and placed through all the cities of Iudah to instruct the people in the true knollage and feare of God, and to minister iustice accordyng to the worde, knowing that, except God by his worde dyd reigne in the heartes and soules, all() 1.51 mans diligence and indeuors were of none effect: for without this worde we can not discerne betwene iustice, and iniurie, protection and oppression, wisdome and foolishnes, knollage and ignorance, good and euill. Therefore the Lord, who is the chefe gouernour of his Churche() 1.52 willeth that nothyng be attempted before we haue inquired thereof at his mouth. For seing he is our God, of duetie we must giue him this preeminence, that of our selues we entreprise nothing, but that whiche he hath appointed, who onely knoweth all things, and gouerneth them as may best serue to his glorie and our saluation. We ought not therefore to preuent hym,() 1.53 or do any thing without his worde, but assone as he hath reuciled his will, immediately to put it in execution.

Now as concernyng the maner of this building, it is not accordyng to man, nor after the() 1.54 wisdome of the flesh, but of the Spirit, and according to the worde of God, whose wais are diuers from mans wais. For if it was not lawfull for Moses to builde the material Tabernacle after any other sorte then God had shewed him by a patern, nether to prescribe any other () 1.55 ceremonies and lawes then suche as the Lord had expresly commanded: how can it be lawfull() 1.56 to procede in this spiritual building any other waies, then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ the Sonne of God, who() 1.57 is bothe the fundacion, head and chief corner stone thereof, hathe commanded by his worde?() 1.58 () 1.59 And for asmuche as he hath established and left an order in his Churche for the buildyng vp of his body, appoictyng some to be Apostles, some Prophetes, others Euangelistes, some pastors, and teachers, he signifieth that euery one accordyng as he is placed in this body whiche is the Churche, ought to inquire of his ministres concernyng the will of the() 1.60 Lord, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is reueiled in his worde. For they are, saieth Ieremiah, as the mouth of the Lord: yea he promiseth to be with their mouth, and that their lippes shall kepe knol∣lage, and that the trueth and the law shalbe in their mouth. For it is their office chefely to vn∣derstand the Scriptures and teache them. For this cause the people of Israell in matters of dif∣ficultie vsed to aske the Lord ether by the Prophets, or by the meanes of the hie Priest, who bare Vrim & Thummin, which were tokens of light and knollage, of holines & perfection which shulde be in the hie Priest. Therfore when Iehoshap hat toke this order in the Churche

of Israel, he appointed Amariah to be the chief concernyng the worde of God, because he was() 1.61 moste expert in the Lawe of the Lorde, and colde gyue counsel and gouerne accordyng vnto the() 1.62 same. Els there is no degre or office which may haue that autoritie and priuiledge to decise con∣cerning() 1.63 Gods worde, excepte with all he hath the Spirit of God, and sufficient knollage and iud∣gement() 1.64 () 1.65 to define according thereunto. And as euery one is indued of God with greater giftes, so() 1.66 ought he to be herein chefely heard, or at least that without the expresse worde none be heard:() 1.67 () 1.68 for he that hathe not the worde, speaketh not by the mouthe of the Lord. Agayne, what daun∣ger() 1.69 it is to do any thynge, seme it neuer so godly or necessarie, without consultyng with Goddes mouth, the examples of the Israelites, deceiued hereby through the Gibeonites: and of Saul, whose intention semed good and necessarie: and of Iosiah also, who for greate considerations was moued for the defence of true Religion and his people, to fight agaynste Pharaoh Necho() 1.70 Kyng of Egypt, may sufficiently admonish vs.() 1.71

Laste of all [moste graciōus Quene] for the aduancement of this buyldyng and rearyng vp of() 1.72 () 1.73 the worke, two things are necessarie, First, that we haue a lyuely and sted fast faith in Christ Iesus,() 1.74 who must dwel in our heartes, as the only meanes and assurance of our saluation: for he is the ladder that reacheth from the earth to heauen: he lifteth vp his Churche and setteth it in the hea() 1.75 uenly places: he maketh vs lyuely stones and buildeth vs vpon him selfe: he ioyneth vs to hym() 1.76 selfe as the membres and body to the head: yea he maketh him selfe ād his Church one Christ.() 1.77 () 1.78 The next is, that our faith bring forthe good fruites, so that our godly conuersation may serue vs as a witnes to confirme our election and by an example to all others to walke as ap∣perteyneth() 1.79 () 1.80 to the vocation whereunto they are called: leste the worde of God be euill() 1.81 spoken of, and this buyldyng be stayed to growe vp to a iuste heyght, whiche can not be without the greate prouocation of Gods iuste vengeance and discouragyng of many thousandes through all the worlde, if they shulde se that our life were notholy and agrea∣ble to our profession. For the eyes of all that feare God in al places beholde your countreyes as() 1.82 an example to all that beleue, and the prayers of all the godly at all tymes are directed to God for the preseruation of your maiestie. For consideryng Gods wonderfull mercies towarde you at all seasons, who hathe pulled you out of the mouth of the lyons, and howe that from your () 1.83 youth you haue bene broght vp in the holy Scriptures, the hope of all men is so increased, that they can not but looke that God shulde bryng to passe some wonderful worke by your grace to the vniuersall comforte of hys Churche. Therefore euen aboue strength you muste she we your selfe strong and bolde in Gods matters: and thogh Satan lay all his power and crafte together to hurt and hinder the Lordes building: yet be you assured that God will fight from heauen againste() 1.84 this great dragon, the ancient serpent, whiche is called the deuill and Satan, till he haue accom∣plished() 1.85 the whole worke and made his Churche glorious to hym selfe, without spot or wrin∣cle. For albeit all other kingdomes and monarchies, as the Babylonians, Persians. Grecians and Romaines haue fallen and taken end: yet the Churche of Christe euen vnder the Crosse hathe from the begynning of the worlde bene victorious, and shalbe euerlastyngly, Trueth it is, that sometyme it semeth to be shadowed with a cloude, or driuen with a stormie persecution, yet suddenly the beames of Christ the sunne of iustice shine and bryng it to light and libertie. If for a tyme it lye couered with ashes, yet it is quickely kindeled agayne by the wynde of Gods Spirit: thogh it seme drowned in the sea, or parched and pyned in the wilder∣nes, yet GOD giueth euer good successe, for he punysheth enemyes, and deliue∣reth hys, nourisheth thē and still preserueth them vnder hys wyngs. This Lord of Lordes and King of kings who hath euer defended his, strengthen, comfort and preserue your maiestie, that you maye be able to builde vp the rui∣nes of Gods house to hys glorie, the discharge of your conscience, and to the comfort of all them that loue the commyng of Christ Iesus our Lord. From Geneua. 10. April. 1561.

Notes

• () 1.1

  1. Cor. 3. 17.
• () 1.2

  1. Tim. 3. 14.
• () 1.3

  Ephes 1. 22.
• () 1.4

  Ebr. 3. 6.
• () 1.5

  Ezra. 4.
• () 1.6

  1. Esdr. 2, 16.
• () 1.7

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 4. 7.
• () 1.8

  Ezra. 4. 2.
• () 1.9

  Nehem 6. 10.
• () 1.10

  Nechem. 6. 18.
• () 1.11

  Nehem. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1.
• () 1.12

  Iohn. 2. 10.
• () 1.13

  Ezra. 3. 12.
• () 1.14

  2. Cor. 2 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.15

  Ebr. 13. 20.
• () 1.16

  1. Pet. 1. 19.
• () 1.17

  The enemies whi che labour to stay religion.
• () 1.18

  Ezra. 4. 1.
• () 1.19

  2. Tim. 4. 10.
• () 1.20

  Amos. 7. 12.
• () 1.21

  3. Iohn. 9.
• () 1.22

  Act 19. 24.
• () 1.23

  The necessitie of gods worde for the reforming of religion.
• () 1.24

  Iohn 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.25

  1. Iohn. 14. 23.
• () 1.26

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 23. 29.
• () 1.27

  Ebr. 4. 12.
• () 1.28

  The grounde of true religion.
• () 1.29

  Al impediments must be taken a∣way.
• () 1.30

  2. king. 23 15.
• () 1.31

  2, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 34 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.32

  Iosias zeale and true 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to God.
• () 1.33

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. 5.
• () 1.34

  Leui. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6.
• () 1.35

  Deut. 18. 11.
• () 1.36

  2. Chro. 35. 22.
• () 1.37

  2. Chro. 14. 5. and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5.
• () 1.38

  Wherein stan∣deth the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of kingdomes.
• () 1.39

  2. Chro. 15. 8.
• () 1.40

  What 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.41

  1 king. 3. 9.
• () 1.42

  2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. 10.
• () 1.43

  Exod. 31. 1.
• () 1.44

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. kyng 7. 14.
• () 1.45

  Diligence & zea∣le are necessarie to builde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spe∣dely.
• () 1.46

  2. Chro. 34. 21.
• () 1.47

  2. Chro. 34. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.48

  A solemne othe for the maynte∣nance of Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.49

  2. Chro. 15. 13.
• () 1.50

  An act against thē that obeied not Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Chro. 17. 7. and 19. 5.
• () 1.51

  What policie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 religion.
• () 1.52

  Deut. 6. 6. & 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 18. Gods worde must go before, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in vaine.
• () 1.53

  We must 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with God. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 30. 2.
• () 1.54

  The maner of building is as God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bed by his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Isa 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8.
• () 1.55

  Exod. 25. 4.
• () 1.56

  Act 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.57

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.58

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 5 32.
• () 1.59

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 11.
• () 1.60

  Of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 con cerning the will of the Lord and knollage of his worde.
• () 1.61

  Iere. 15 19.
• () 1.62

  Exod. 4. 12.
• () 1.63

  Mala. 2. 7.
• () 1.64

  Iudg. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. & 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.65

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. sam. 10 22.
• () 1.66

  1. Sam. 9. 9.
• () 1.67

  2. kyng. 22. 13.
• () 1.68

  Exod. 28. 30.
• () 1.69

  VVhat is requi∣site in them that must giue coun∣sel by Goddes worde.
• () 1.70

  Iere. 23. 16.
• () 1.71

  Iosh. 9. 14.
• () 1.72

  1. Sam. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 11.
• () 1.73

  2. Chron. 35. 20.
• () 1.74

  The settyng vp of the buylding. Ephes. 3. 17.
• () 1.75

  Gene. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 12.
• () 1.76

  Iohn. 1. 15.
• () 1.77

  1 Pet. 2. 5.
• () 1.78

  2. Cor. 12. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.79

  2 Peter. 1. 10.
• () 1.80

  Ephes 4. 1.
• () 1.81

  Rom. 2. 12.
• () 1.82

  2. Thess. 1. 7.
• () 1.83

  2. Tim 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• () 1.84

  Reuel. 12. 9.
• () 1.85

  Ephes. 4. 27.