Mixt contemplations in better times by Thomas Fuller ...

IX. Little, loud Lyers.

I Remember, one in the Vniversity gave for his question: Artis compen∣dium, Artls Dispendium, The contracting of Arts is the corrupting of them. Sure I am, the truth hereof appeareth too plainly in the Pearle-Bible printed at London 1653. in the volume of Twenty foure; for therein all the Dedications and Titles of Davids Psalmes are wholly left out, being part of the Ori∣ginal Text in Hebrew, and intimating the Cause and the Occasion of the writing and composing those Psalmes, whereby the matter may be better il∣lustrated.

The design may be good to reduce the Bible to so small a volume, partly to make it the more portable in mens pockets, partly to bring down the price of them, that the poor people may the better compass them. But know that vilis in the Latine tongue, in the first

sense signifieth what is cheap, in the second sense, what is Base, The small price of the Bible hath caused the small pri∣zing of the Bible, especially since so many damnable and pernicious mistakes have escaped therein.

I cannot omit an other Edition in a large 12^o making the Book of Truth to begin with a loud lye, pretending this title,

Imprinted at London by Robert Barker &c. Anno. 1638.

Whereas indeed they were imported from Holland 1656. and that contrary to our statutes. What can be expected from so lying a frontispiece, but sutable falshoods, wherewith it aboundeth.

Oh! that men in power and place would take these things into their seri∣ous confiderations; a caution too late to amend what is past, but early enough for the future to prevent the importing of forreign, and misprinting of home-made Bibles.