APPENDICES (continued 3)
Reading edition
CHAP. XVI.
Al are admonished, that extreme calamities shal fal vpon this world, 36. the penitent returning to iustice shal escape, 55. & as al thinges were made by Gods omnipotent powre at his wil, so al thinges shal serue to the reward of the blessed, and punishment of the wicked.
VVOE to thee Babylon & Asia, woe to thee AEgypt, and Syria. 2 Gird yourselues with sackclothes and shirtes of heare, & mourne for your children, & be sorie: because your destruction is at hand. 3 The sword is sent in vpon you, and who is he that can turne it away? 4 Fire is sent in vpon you, and who is he that can quench it? 5 Euiles are sent in vpon you, and who is he that can repel them? 6 Shal anie man repel the lion being hungrie in the woode, or quench the fire in stubble, forthwith when it beginneth to burne? 7 Shal anie man repel the arrow shot of a strong archer? 8 Our strong Lord sendeth in euiles, and who is he that can repel them? 9 Fire came forth from his wrath, and who is he that can quench it? 10 He wil lighten, who shal not feare, he wil thunder, and who shal not be afrayed? 11 Our Lord wil threaten, and who shal not vtterly be destroyed before his face? 12 The earth hath trembled, and the fundations thereof, the sea tosseth vp waues from the depth, and the floudes of it shal be destroyed, and the fishes thereof at the face of our Lord, and at the glorie of his powre: 13 because his right hand is strong which bendeth the bow, his arrowes be sharpe that are shot of him, they shal not misse, when they shal begine to be shot into the endes of the earth. 14 Behold euiles are sent, and they shal not returne til they come vpon the earth. 15 The fire is kindled and it shal not be quenched, til it consume the fundations of the earth. 16 For as the arrow shot of a strong archer returneth not, so shal not the euils returne backe, that shal be sent vpon the earth. 17 Woe is me, woe is me: who shal deliuer me in those dayes? 18 The beginning of sorrowes and much mourning, the beginning of famine and much destruction. The beginning of warres and the potestates shal feare, the beginning of euiles and al shal tremble. 19 In these what shal I doe, when the euils shal come? 20 Behold famine, and plague, and tribulation, and distresse are sent al as scourges for amendment, 21 and in al these they wil not conuert themselues from their iniquities, neither wil they be alwayes mindful of the scourges. 22 Behold, there shal be good cheape victuals vpon the earth, so that they may thinke that peace is directly coming toward them, and then shal euiles spring vpon the earth, sword, famine, and great confusion. 23 For by famine manie that inhabit the earth shal dye, and the sword shal destroy the rest that remained aliue of the famine, 24 and the dead shal be cast forth as dung, and there shal be none to comfort them. For the earth shal be left desert, and the cities therof shal be throwen downe. 25 There shal not be left a man to til the ground and to sow it. 26 The trees shal yeeld fruites, and who shal gather them? 27 The grape shal become ripe, & who shal tread it? For there shal be great desolation to places. 28 For a man shal desire to see a man, or to heare his voyce. 29 For there shal be leaft ten of a citie, and two of the field that haue hid themselues in thicke woodes, and cliffes of rockes. 30 As there are left in the oliuet, and on euerie tree, three of foure oliues. 31 Or as in a vinyeard when it is gathered there are grapes left by them, that diligently search the vineyard: 32 so shal there be left in those dayes three or foure, by them that search their houses in the sword. 33 And the earth shal be left desolate, and the fildes thereof shal waxe old, & the wayes thereof, and al the pathes thereof shal bringforth thornes, because no man shal passe by it. 34 Virgins shal mourne hauing no bridegromes, wemen shal mourne hauing no husbandes, their daughters shal mourne hauing no helpe: 35 their bridegromes shal be consumed in battel, and their husbandes be destroyed in famine. 36 But heare these thinges, and know them ye seruantes of our Lord. 37 Behold the word of our Lord, receiue it: beleue not the goddes of whom our Lord speaketh. 38 Behold the euiles approch, and slacke not. 39 As a woman with childe when shee bringeth forth her child in the ninth moneth, the houre of her deliuerance approching, two or three howres before, paines come about her wombe, and the infants coming out of her wombe, they wil not tarrie one moment. 40 So the euiles shal not slacke to come forth vpon the earth, and the world shal lament, and sorowes shal hold it round about. 41 Heare the word, my people: prepare yourselues vnto the fight, & in the euiles so be ye as strangers of the earth. 42 He that selleth as if he should flee, and he that byeth as he that should lose it. 43 He that playeth the marchant, as he that should take no fruite: and he that buildeth as he that should not inhabite. 44 He that soweth, as he that shal not reape: so he also that pruneth a vinyeard, as if he should not haue the vintage. 45 They that marie so as if they should not get children, & they that marie not, so as if were widowes. 46 Wherfore they that labour, labour without cause: 47 for foreners shal reape their fruites, & shal violently take their goodes, and ouerthrow their houses, and lead theire children captiue, because in captiuitie, and famine they beget their children. 48 And they that play the marchantes by robrie, the longer they adorne their cities and houses, and their possessions and persons: 49 so much the more wil I be zealous toward them, vpon their sinnes, sayth our Lord. 50 As a whore enuieth an honest & very good woman: 51 so shal iustice hate impietie when she adorneth herselfe, and accuseth her to her face, when he shal come that may defend him that searcheth out al vpon the earth. 52 Therefore be not made like to her, nor to her workes. 53 For yet a little whyle & iniquitie shal be taken away from the earth, & iustice shal reigne ouer you. 54 Let not the sinner say he hath not sinned: because he shal burne coales of fire vpon his head, that sayth I haue not sinned before our Lord God and his glorie. 55 Behold our Lord shal know al the workes of men, and their inuentions, & their cogitations, and their hartes. (Eccli 23 / Luke 16) 56 For he sayd: Let the earth be made, and it was made: let the heauen be made, & it was made. (Gen 1) 57 And by his worde the starrs were made, & he noweth the number of the starres. (Ps 146:4) 58 Who searcheth the depth and the treasures therof: who hath measured the sea, & capacitie therof. (Job 38) 59 Who hath shut vp the sea in the midest of waters, & hath hanged the earth vpon the waters with his word. 60 Who hath spred heauen as it were a vault, ouer the waters he hath founded it. 61 Who hath put fountaines of waters in the desert, and lakes vpon the toppes of mountaines, to send forth riuers from the high rocke to watter the earth. 62 Who made man & put his hart in the midds of the bodie, and gaue him spirit, life and vnderstanding. 63 And the inspiration of God omnipotent that made al thinges, and searcheth al hid thinges, in the secretes of the earth. 64 He knoweth your inuention, and what you thinke in your hartes sinning, and willing to hide your sinnes. 65 Wherfore our Lord in searching hath searched al your workes, and he wil put you al to open shame, 66 and you shal be confounded when your sinnes shal come forth before men, and the iniquities shal be they, that shal stand accusers in that day. 67 What wil you doe? or how shal you hide your sinnes before God and his Angels? 68 Behold God is the Iudge, feare him. Cease from your sinnes, and now forget your iniquities to doe them anie more, & God wil bring you out, and deliuer you from al tribulation. 69 For behold the heate of a great multitude is kindled ouer you, and they shal take certaine of you by violence, & shal make the slaine to be meate for idols. 70 And they that shal consent vnto them, shal be to them in derision, and in reproch, and in conculcation. 71 For there shal be place against places, and against the next cities great insurrection vpon them that feare our Lord. 72 They shal be as it were madde sparing no bodie, to spoyle and waste yet them that feare our Lord. 73 because they shal waste and spoyle the goodes, and shal cast them out of their houses. 74 Then shal appeare the probation of mine elect, as gold that is proued by the fire. 75 Heare be beloued, sayth our Lord: Behold the dayes of tribulation are come: and out of them I wil deliuer you. 76 Doe not feare, nor stagger, because God is your guide. 77 And he that kepeth my commandmentes, and precepts, sayth our Lord God: Let not your sinnes ouerway you, nor your inquities be aduanced ouer you. 78 Woe to them that are entangled with their sinnes, and are couered with their iniquities, as a filde is entangled with the wood, & the path therof couered with thornes, by which no man passeth, & it is closed out, & cast to be deuoured of the fire.
FINIS.
Note: This translation comes from the Latin text, usually printed in an appendix to editions of the Vulgate, but these editions miss seventy verses between 7:35 and 7:36. The missing fragment was discovered in a Latin manuscript by Robert Lubbock Bensly in 1874. Below is a translation of this fragment from a revised Authorized Version. Although often numbered 7:36-7:105, they are here number as A:1-A:70 to avoid any repetition in chapter:verse designations.
A:1. And the pit of torment shall appear, and over against it shall be the place of rest: and the furnace of hell shall be shewed, and over against it the paradise of delight. A:2. And then shall the Most High say to the nations that are raised from the dead, See ye and understand whom ye have denied, or whom ye have not served, or whose commandments ye have despised. A:3. Look on this side and on that: here is delight and rest, and there fire and torments. Thus shall he speak unto them in the day of judgement: A:4. This is a day that hath neither sun, nor moon, nor stars, A:5. neither cloud, nor thunder, nor lightning, neither wind, nor water, nor air, neither darkness, nor evening, nor morning, A:6. neither summer, nor spring, nor heat, nor winter, neither frost, nor cold, nor hail, nor rain, nor dew, A:7. neither noon, nor night, nor dawn, neither shining, nor brightness, nor light, save only the splendour of the glory of the Most High, whereby all shall see the things that are set before them: A:8. for it shall endure as it were a week of years. A:9. This is my judgement and the ordinance thereof; but to thee only have I shewed these things. A:10. And I answered, I said even then, O Lord, and I say now: Blessed are they that be now alive and keep the statutes ordained of thee. A:11. But as touching them for whom my prayer was made, what shall I say? for who is there of them that be alive that hath not sinned, and who of the sons of men that hath not transgressed thy covenant? A:12. And now I see, that the world to come shall bring delight to few, but torments unto many. A:13. For an evil heart hath grown up in us, which hath led us astray from these statutes, and hath brought us into corruption and into the ways of death, hath shewed us the paths of perdition and removed us far from life; and that, not a few only, but well nigh all that have been created. A:14. And he answered me, and said, Hearken unto me, and I will instruct thee; and I will admonish thee yet again: A:15. for this cause the Most High hath not made one world, but two. A:16. For whereas thou hast said that the just are not many, but few, and the ungodly abound, hear the answer thereunto. A:17. If thou have choice stones exceeding few, wilt thou set for thee over against them according to their number things of lead and clay? A:18. And I say, Lord, how shall this be? A:19. And he said unto me, Not only this, but ask the earth, and she shall tell thee; intreat her, and she shall declare unto thee. A:20. For thou shalt say unto her, Thou bringest forth gold and silver and brass, and iron also and lead and clay: A:21. but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and iron than brass, lead than iron, and clay than lead. A:22. Judge thou therefore which things are precious and to be desired, whatso is abundant or what is rare. A:23. And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, that which is plentiful is of less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious. A:24. And he answered me, and said, Weigh within thyself the things that thou hast thought, for he that hath what is hard to get rejoiceth over him that hath what is plentiful. A:25. So also is the judgement which I have promised: for I will rejoice over the few that shall be saved, inasmuch as these are they that have made my glory now to prevail, and of whom my name is now named. A:26. And I will not grieve over the multitude of them that perish; for these are they that are now like unto vapour, and are become as flame and smoke; they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are quenched. A:27. And I answered and said, O thou earth, wherefore hast thou brought forth, if the mind is made out of dust, like as all other created things? A:28. For it were better that the dust itself had been unborn, so that the mind might not have been made therefrom. A:29. But now the mind groweth with us, and by reason of this we are tormented, because we perish and know it. A:30. Let the race of men lament and the beasts of the field be glad; let all that are born lament, but let the fourfooted beasts and the cattle rejoice. A:31. For it is far better with them than with us; for they look not for judgement, neither do they know of torments or of salvation promised unto them after death. A:32. For what doth it profit us, that we shall be preserved alive, but yet be afflicted with torment? A:33. For all that are born are defiled with iniquities, and are full of sins and laden with offences: A:34. and if after death we were not to come into judgement, peradventure it had been better for us. A:35. And he answered me, and said, When the Most High made the world, and Adam and all them that came of him, he first prepared the judgement and the things that pertain unto the judgement. A:36. And now understand from thine own words, for thou hast said that the mind groweth with us. A:37. They therefore that dwell upon the earth shall be tormented for this reason, that having understanding they have wrought iniquity, and receiving commandments have not kept them, and having obtained a law they dealt unfaithfully with that which they received. A:38. What then will they have to say in the judgement, or how will they answer in the last times? A:39. For how great a time hath the Most High been longsuffering with them that inhabit the world, and not for their sakes, but because of the times which he hath foreordained! A:40. And I answered and said, If I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, shew this also unto thy servant, whether after death, even now when every one of us giveth up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come, in which thou shalt renew the creation, of whether we shall be tormented forthwith. A:41. And he answered me, and said, I will shew thee this also; but join not thyself with them that are scorners, nor number thyself with them that are tormented. A:42. For thou hast a treasure of good works laid up with the Most High, but it shall not be shewed thee until the last times. A:43. For concerning death the teaching is: When the determinate sentence hath gone forth from the Most High that a man should die, as the spirit leaveth the body to return again to him who gave it, it adoreth the glory of the Most High first of all. A:44. And if it be one of those that have been scorners and have not kept the way of the Most High, and that have despised his law, and that hate them that fear God, A:45. these spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall wander and be in torments forthwith, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways. A:46. The first way, because they have despised the law of the Most High. A:47. The second way, because they cannot now make a good returning that they may live. A:48. The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for them that have believed the covenants of the Most High. A:49. The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for themselves in the last days. A:50. The fifth way, they shall see the dwelling places of the others guarded by angels, with great quietness. A:51. The sixth way, they shall see how forthwith some of them shall pass into torment. A:52. The seventh way, which is more grievous than all the aforesaid ways, because they shall pine away in confusion and be consumed with shame, and shall be withered up by fears, seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they have sinned whilst living, and before whom they shall be judged in the last times. A:53. Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most High, when they shall be separated from the corruptible vessel. A:54. In the time that they dwelt therin they painfully served the Most High, and were in jeopardy every hour, that they might keep the law of the lawgiver perfectly. A:55. Wherefore this is the teaching concerning them: A:56. First of all they shall see with great joy the glory of him who taketh them up, for they shall have rest in seven orders. A:57. The first order, because they have striven with great labour to overcome the evil thought which was fashioned together with them, that it might not lead them astray from life into death. A:58. The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaiteth them. A:59. The third order, they see the witness which he that fashioned them beareth concerning them, that while they lived they kept the law which was given them in trust. A:60. The fourth order, they understand the rest which, being gathered in their chambers, they now enjoy with great quietness, guarded by angels, and the glory that awaiteth them in the last days. A:61. The fifth order, they rejoice, seeing how they have now escaped from that which is corruptible, and how they shall inherit that which is to come, while they see moreover the straitness and the painfulness from which they have been delivered, and the large room which they shall receive with joy and immortality. A:62. The sixth order, when it is shewed unto them how their face shall shine as the sun, and how they shall be made like unto the light of the stars, being henceforth incorruptible. A:63. The seventh order, which is greater than all the aforesaid orders, because they shall rejoice with confidence, and because they shall be bold without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they hasten to behold the face of him whom in their lifetime they served, and from whom they shall receive their reward in glory. A:64. This is the order of the souls of the just, as from henceforth is announced unto them, and aforesaid are the ways of torture which they that would not give heed shall suffer from henceforth. A:65. And I answered and said, Shall time therefore be given unto the souls after they are separated from the bodies, that they may see that whereof thou hast spoken unto me? A:66. And he said, Their freedom shall be for seven days, that for seven days they may see the things whereof thou hast been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered together in their habitations. A:67. And I answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, shew further unto me thy servant whether in the day of judgement the just will be able to intercede for the ungodly or to intreat the Most High for them, A:68. whether fathers for children, or children for parents, or brethren for brethren, or kinsfolk for their next of kin, or friends for them that are most dear. A:69. And he answered me, and said, Since thou hast found favour in my sight, I will shew thee this also: The day of judgement is a day of decision, and displayeth unto all the seal of truth; even as now a father sendeth not his son, or a son his father, or a master his slave, or a friend him that is most dear, that in his stead he may be sick, or sleep, or eat, or be healed: A:70. so never shall any one pray for another in that day, neither shall one lay a burden on another, for then shall all bear every one his own righteousness or unrighteousness.
BOOKS FOR COMPARISON
THE PROPHECIE OF ABDIAS.
ABDIAS borne in Sichem, of the tribe Ephraim, prophecied the same time with Amos; so briefly that his prophecie is not parted into chapters: 1. against the Idumeans; foreshewing their destruction; 10. for their perpetual emnitie against the Iewes, and confederacie with the Chaldees. 17. The captiuitie and relaxation of the Iewes. 19. And redemption of the whole world by Christ.
THE vision of Abdias. Thus sayth our Lord God to Edom: We haue heard a bruit from our Lord, and he hath sent a legate to the Gentils: Rise ye, and let vs arise against him into battel. 2 Behold I haue geuen thee a litle one in the Gentils: thou art contemptible excedingly. 3 The pride of thy hart hath extolled thee, dwelling in the clefts of rockes, exalting thy throne: which sayst in thy hart: Who shal plucke me downe to the earth. 4 If thou shalt be exalted as an eagle, and if thou shalt set thy nest among the starres: thence wil I plucke thee downe, sayth our Lord. 5 If theues had gone in to thee, if robbers by night, how hadst thou held thy peace. would not they haue stolen thinges sufficent for themselues. if the grape gathereres had entered in to thee, would they not haue left thee at the least a cluster. 6 How haue they searched Esau, haue they sought out his hidden thinges. 7 Euen to the border haue they cast thee out: al the men of thy league haue mocked thee: the men of thy peace haue peuailed against thee: they that eate with thee, shal lay embushments vnder thee: there is no wisedom in him. 8 Why, shal not I in that day, sayth our Lord, destroy the wise out of Idumea, and prudence from the mount of Esau, 9 And thy valients of the South shal feare, that man may perish from the mount of Esau. 10 For the slaughter, and for the iniquitie against thy brother Iacob, confusion shal couer thee, and thou shalt perish for euer. 11 In the day when thou stoodest against him, when strangers tooke his armie, and foreners entered his gates, and vpon Ierusalem cast lotte: thou also wast as one of them. 12 And thou shalt not dispise in the day of thy brother, in the day of his peregrination: and thou shalt not reioyce ouer the children of Iuda, in the day of their perdition: & thou shalt not magnifie thy mouth in the day of distresse. 13 Neither shalt thou enter the gate of my people in the day of their ruine: neither shalt thou also dispise in his euils in the day of his distruction: and thou shalt not be sent out against his armie in the day of his destruction. 14 Neither shalt thou stand in the outgoings to kil them that flee: and thou shalt not shut vp his remnant in the day of tribulation. 15 Because the day of our Lord is at hand vpon al nations: as thou hast done, so shal it be done to thee: thy retribution he wil returne vpon thine owne head. 16 For as you haue drunke vpon my holie mount, shal al Gentils drinke continually: & they shal drinke, and swallow vp, and they shal be as though they were not. 17 And in mount Sion shal be saluation, and it shal be holie: and the house of Iacob shal possesse those that had possessed them. 18 And the house of Iacob shal be a fyre, and the house of Ioseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble: and they shal be kindled in them, and shal deuoure them: and there shal be no remaynes of the house of Esau, because our Lord hath spoken. 19 And they that are toward the South, shal inherite the mount of Esau, and they in the champaine countries, Philisthiims: and they shal possesse the region of Ephraim, and the region of Samaria: and Beniamin shal possesse Galaad. 20 And the transmigration of this host of the children of Israel, al places of the Chananeits euen to Sarepta: and the transmigration of Ierusalem, that is in Bosphorus, shal possesse the cities of the South. 21 And sauiours shal ascend into mount Sion to iudge the mount of Esau: and the kingdom shal be to our Lord.
THE CATHOLIKE EPISTLE OF IVDE THE APOSTLE.
He exhorteth them to stand to their old faith, shevving them by examples, that it is damnable not to continue and be constant: 8 inueighing against the lecherie, blasphemie, apostasie, banketing of the heretikes, 14 and that their damnation vvas long foretold. 17 Catholikes therfore to be vnmoueable, to reproue the obstinate, to recouer al not desperate, to confirme the vveake, and to liue them selues vertuously and vvithout mortal sinne, vvhich by Gods grace they may doe.
IVDE the seruant of IESVS Christ, and brother of Iames: to them that are in God the Father beloued, and in IESVS Christ preserued, and called. 2 Mercie to you, and peace and charitie be accomplished. 3 My deerest, taking al care to vvrite vnto you of your common saluation, I thought it necessarie to vvrite vnto you: beseeching you to contend for the faith once deliuered to the sainctes. 4 For there are certaine men secretely entred in (vvhich vvere long ago prescribed vnto this iudgement) impious, transferring the grace of our God into riotousnes, and denying the onely Dominator, and our Lord IESVS Christ. 5 But I vvil admonish you, that once knovv al things, that IESVS, sauing the people out of the land of AEgipt, secondly destroied them vvhich beleeued not. 6 But the Angels vvhich kept not their pricipalitie, but forsooke their owne habitation, he hath reserued vnder darkenesse in eternal bondes vnto the iudgement of the great day. 7 As Sodom and Gomorrhe, and the cities adioyning in like maner hauing fornicated, and going after other flesh, vvere made an example, sustaining the paine of eternal fire. 8 In like maner these also defile the flesh, and despise dominion, & blaspheme maiestie. 9 Vvhen Micheal the Archangel, disputing vvith the Diuel, made altercation for the body of Moyses: he durst not inferre iudgment of blasphemie, but said, Our Lord ‘commaund’ thee. 10 But these, vvhat things so euer certes they are ignorant of, they blaspheme: and vvhat things so euer naturally, as dumme beastes, they knovv, in those they are corrupted. 11 Vvo vnto them, ‘vvhich’ haue gone in the vvay of Cain: and vvith the errour of Balaam, haue for revvard povvred out them selues, and haue perished in the contradiction of Core. 12 These are in their bankets, spottes, feasting together vvithout feare, feeding them selues, cloudes vvithout vvater vvhich are caried about of vvindes, trees of autumne, vnfruitful, tvvise dead, plucked vp by the rootes, 13 raging vvaues of the sea, foming out their ovvne confusions, vvandering starres: to vvhom the storme of darkenesse is reserued for euer. 14 And of these propheceied Enoch, the seuenth from Adam, saying, Behold our Lord is come in his holy thousandes, 15 to doe iudgement against al, and to reproue al the impious, of al the vvorkes of their impietie vvherby they haue done impiously, and of al the hard thinges vvhich impious sinners haue spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, ful of complaintes, vvalking according to their ovvne desires, and their mouth speaketh pride, admiring persons for gaine sake. 17 But you my deerest, be mindeful of the vvordes vvhich haue been spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord IESVS Christ, 18 vvho told you, that in the last time shal come mockers, according to their ovvne desires vvalking in impieties. 19 These are they vvhich segregate them selues, sensual, hauing not the Spirit. 20 But you my deerest, building your selues vpon ‘our’ most holy faith, in the holy Ghost, praying, 21 keepe your selues in the loue of God, expecting the mercie of our Lord IESVS Christ vnto life euerlasting. 22 And these certes reproue being iudged: 23 but them saue, pulling out of the fire. And on other haue mercie in feare: hating also that vvhich is carnal, the spotted cote. 24 And to him that is able to preserue you vvithout sinne, and to sette you immaculate before the sight of his glorie in exultation in the comming of our Lord IESVS Christ, 25 to the onely God our Sauiour by IESVS Christ our Lord be glorie and magnificence, empire and power before al worldes, and novv and for al vvorldes euermore. Amen.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
As recorded in the title, the Douay-Rheims version is a translation primarily from the Latin Vulgate. A brief selection from the preface to the 1582 edition explains the reasons for this approach. Together with the glossary the text shows the translators scholarly motivations, but also provides a glimpse into the charged climate of the period. The transcriber hopes he did a tolerable job in transliterating the Greek words in the preface. The glossary contains words newly used in the language of the day. Some were later dropped from the Challoner revision, others have found common usage today.
THE PREFACE TO THE READER
Treating of the causes vvhy this nevv Testament is translated according to the auncient vulgar Latin text.
THE holy Bible long since translated by vs into English, and the old Testament lying by vs for lacke of good meanes to publish the vvhole in such sort as a vvorke of so great charge and importance requireth: vve haue yet through Gods goodnes at length fully finished for thee (most Christian reader) all the NEVV TESTAMENT, vvhich is the principal, most profitable & comfortable peece of holy vvrite: and, as vvel for all other institution of life and doctrine, as specially for deciding the doubtes of these daies, more propre and pregnant then the other part not yet printed.
NOVV TO GIVE thee also intelligence in particular, most gentle Reader, of such thinges as it behoueth thee specially to knovv concerning our Translation: Vve translate the old vulgar Latin text, not the common Greeke text, for these causes.
1. It is so auncient, that it vvas vsed in the Church of God aboue 1300 yeres agoe, as appeareth by the fathers of those times.
2. It is that (by the common receiued opinion and by al probabilitie) vvhich S. Hierom aftervvard corrected according to the Greeke, by the appointment of Damasus then Pope, as he maketh mention in his preface before the foure Euangelistes, vnto the said Damasus: and ‘in Catalogo in fine,’ and ‘ep. 102.’
3. Consequently it is the same vvhich S. Augustine so commendeth and allovveth in an Epistle to S. Hierom.
4. It is that, vvhich for the most part euer since hath been vsed in the Churches seruice, expounded in sermons, alleaged and interpreted in the Commentaries and vvritings of the auncient fathers of the Latin Church.
5. The holy Councel of Trent, for these and many other important considerations, hath declared and defined this onely of al other latin translations, to be authentical, and so onely to be vsed and taken in publike lessons, disputations, preachings, and expositions, and that no man presume vpon any pretence to reiect or refuse the same.
6. It is the grauest, sincerest, of greatest maiestie, least partialitie, as being vvithout al respect of controuersies and contentions, specially these of our time, as appeareth by those places vvhich Erasmus and others at this day translate much more to the aduantage of the Catholike cause.
7. It is so exact and precise according to the Greeke, both the phrase and the word, that delicate Heretikes therfore reprehend it of rudenes. And that it follovveth the Greeke far more exactly then the Protestants translations, beside infinite other places, we appeale to these. Tit. 3,14. ‘Curent bonis operibus praeesse.’ ‘proissasthai.’ Engl. bib. 1577, ‘to mainteine good vvorks.’ and Hebr. 10, 20. ‘Viam nobis initiauit,’ ‘enekainisen.’ English Bib. ‘he prepared.’ So in these vvordes, ‘Iustificationes,’ ‘Traditiones,’ ‘Idola’ &c. In al vvhich they come not neere the Greeke, but auoid it of purpose.
8. The Aduersaries them selues, namely Beza, preferre it before al the rest. (Inpraefat. no. Test an. 1556.) And againe he saith, that the old Interpreter translated very religiously. (Annot. in 1. Luc. v. 1.)
9. In the rest, there is such diuersitie and dissension, and no end of reprehending one an other, and translating euery man according to his fantasie, that Luther said, If the vvorld should stand any long time, vve must receiue againe (which he thought absurd) the Decrees of Councels, for preseruing the vnitie of faith, because of so diuers interpretations of the Scripture. And Beza (in the place aboue mentioned) noteth the itching ambition of his fellovv-translators, that had much rather disagree and dissent from the best, then seeme them selues to haue said or vvritten nothing. And Bezas translation it self, being so esteemed in our countrie, that the Geneua English Testaments be translated according to the same, yet sometime goeth so vvide from the Greeke, and from the meaning of the holy Ghost, that them selues which protest to translate it, dare not folow it. For example, Luc. 3,36. They haue put these wordes, ‘The sonne of Cainan,’ which he wittingly and wilfully left out: and (Act. 1,14.) they say, ‘Vvith the vvomen,’ agreably to the vulgar Latin: where he saith, ‘Cum vxoribus,’ ‘vvith their vviues.’
10. It is not onely better then al other Latin translations, but then the Greeke text it self, in those places where they disagree.
The proofe hereof is euident, because most of the auncient Heretikes were Grecians, & therfore the Scriptures in Greeke were more corrupted by them, as the auncient fathers often complaine. Tertullian noteth the Greeke text which is at this day (1 Cor. 15,47) to be an old corruption of Marcion the Heretike, and the truth to be as in our vulgar latin, ‘Secundus homo de caelo caelestis,’ ‘The second man from heauen heauenly.’ So reade other auncient fathers, and Erasmus thinketh it must needes be so, and Caluin him self folovveth in ‘Instit. li. 2. c. 13. parag. 2.’ Againe S. Hierom noteth that the Greeke text (1 Cor. 7, 33) which is at this day, is not the ‘Apostolical veritie’ or the true text of the Apostle: but that which is in the vulgar Latin, ‘Qui cum vxore est, solicitus est quae sunt mundi, quomodo placeat vxori, & diuisus est.’ ‘He that is vvith a vvife, is careful of vvorldly things, hovv he may please his vvife, and is deuided or distracted.’ The Ecclesiastical historie called the Tripartite, noteth the Greeke text that now is (1 Io. 4, 3) to be an old corruption of the auncient Greeke copies, by the Nestorian Heretikes, & the true reading to be as in our vulgar Latin, ‘Omnis spiritus qui soluit IESVM, Ex Deo non est.’ ‘Euery spirit that dissolueth IESVS, is not of God:’ and Beza confesseth that Socrates in his Ecclesiastical historie readeth so in the Greeke.
But the proofe is more preganant out of the Aduersaires them selues. They forsake the Greeke text as corrupted, and translate according to the vulgar Latin, namely Beza and his scholers the English translatours of the Bible, in these places. Hebr. chap. 9. vers. 1. saying, ‘The first couenant,’ for that vvhich is in the Greeke. ‘The first tabernacle.’ vvhere they put, ‘couenant,’ not as of the text, but in an other letter, as to be vnderstood, according to the vulgar Latin, vvhich most sincerely leaueth it out altogether, saying, ‘Habuit quidem & prius iustificationes &c.’ ‘The former also in deede had iustifications &c.’ Againe, Ro. 11, vers. 21. They translate not according to the Greek text, ‘Tempori seruientes,’ ‘seruing the time,’ vvhich Beza sayth must needes be a corruption: but according to the vulgar Latin, ‘Domino seruientes,’ ‘seruing our Lord.’ Againe, Apoc. 11, vers. 2. they translate not the Greeke text, ‘Atrium quod intra templum est,’ ‘the court vvhich is vvithin the temple:’ but cleane contrarie, according to the vulgar Latin, vvhich Beza saith is the true reading, ‘Atrium quod est foris templum,’ ‘the court vvhich is vvithout the temple.’ Onely in this last place, one English Bible of the yere 1562, folovveth the errour of the Greeke. Againe, 2 Tim. 23 vers. 14. they adde, ‘but,’ more then is in the Greeke, to make the sense more commodious and easie, according as it is in the vulgar Latin. Againe, Ia. 5, 12. they leaue the Greeke, and folovv the vulgar Latin, saying, ‘lest you fall into condemnation.’ “I doubt not (saith Beza) but this is the true and sincere reading, and I suspect the corruption in the Greeke came thus &c.” It vvere infinite to set dovvne al such places, vvhere the Aduersaries (specially Beza) folovv the old vulgar Latin and the Greeke copie agreable therevnto, condemning the Greeke text that novv is, of corruption.
HARD VVORDES EXPLICATED
The explication of certaine vvordes in this translation, not familiar to the vulgar reader, vvhich might not conueniently be vttered otherwise.
A
Abstracted. Dravven avvay. [James 1:14] Acquisition. Getting, purchasing. [Eph 1:14] Aduent. The comming. [Matt 24:27] Adulterating. Corrupting. [2 Cor 2:17] The Greeke vvord signifieth to make commoditie of the vvord of God, as vulgar Vinteners do of their vvine. Vvhereby is expressed the peculiar trade of al Heretikes, and exceding proper to the Protestants, that so corrupt Scriptures by mixture of their ovvne phantasies, by false translations, glosses, colorable and pleasant commentaries, to deceiue the tast of the simple, as tauerners and tapsters do, to make their vvines salable by manifold artificial deceites. The Apostles contrarievvise, as all Catholikes, deliuer the Scriptures and vtter the vvord of God sincerely and entirely, in the same sense and sort as the fathers left them to the Church, interpreting them by the same Spirit by vvhich they vvere vvritten or spoken. Agnition. Knovvledge or acknovvledging. [Philemon 1:6] Allegorie. A Mystical speache, more then the bare letter. [Gal 4:24] Here vve learne that the holy Scriptures haue beside the litteral sense, a deeper spiritual and more principal meaning: which is not only to be taken of the holy vvordes, but of the very factes and persons reported: both the speaches and the actions being significatiue ouer and aboue the letter. Amen. What is it vvhen our Lord saith, Amen, amen? He doth much commend and vrge the thing he so vttereth, doubling it. Amen in Hebrue signifieth verum, a truth. [John 8:34] Anathema. By vse of Scripture is either that vvhich by separation from profane vse, and by dedication to God, is holy, dreadful, and not vulgarly to be touched: or contrarievvise, that which is reiected, seuered or abandoned from God, as cursed and detested, and therfore is to be auoided. [Rom 9:3] Archisynagogue. Cheefe gouerner of a Synagogue. [Mark 5:22] Assist. Signifieth the Angels standing and attending, alvvaies readie to doe their ministerie. [Luke 1:19] Assumption. Christs departure out of this vvorld by his death and Ascension. [Luke 9:51] Azymes. Vnleauened bread. [Matt 26:17]
C
Calumniate. By this vvord is signified violent oppression by vvord or deede. [Luke 3:14] Catechizeth, and, Catechized. He catechizeth that teacheth the principles of the Christian faith: and they that heare and learne, are catechized, and are therfore called often in the Annotations, Catechumens. [Gal 6:6] Character. A marke or stampe. [Apoc 13:16] Commessations. Immoderate bankets, and belly cheere, vvith vvanton riotousnes. [Gal 5:21] Condigne. Comparable. [Rom 8:18] Contristate. This vvord signifieth to make heauie and sad. [Eph 4:30] Cooperate. Signifieth vvorking vvith others, likevvise Cooperation, Cooperatours. [Rom 8:28] Corbana. This Corbana was a place about the Temple, which receiued the peoples gifts or offerings. [Matt 27:6]
D
Depositum. The vvhole doctrine of our Christianity being taught by the Apostles, and deliuered to their successors, and comming dovvne from one Bishop to an other, is called the Depositum, as it vvere a thing laid into their hands, and committed vnto them to keepe. Vvhich because it passeth from hand to hand, from age to age, from Bishop to Bishop vvithout corruption, change, or alteration, is al one vvith Tradition, and is the truth giuen vnto the holy Bishops to keepe, and not to lay men. [1 Tim 6:20] It may signifie also, Gods graces giuen vs to keepe. A great comfort to al Christians, that euery of their goode deedes and sufferings for Christ, and al the vvorldly losses susteined for defense or confession of their faith, be extant vvith God, and kept as depositum, to be repaied or receiued againe in heauen. [2 Tim 1:12,14] Didrachme. These didrachmes were peeces of money which they payed for tribute. [Matt 17:23,24] Dominical day. Sunday. [Apoc 1:10] It is to be marked, that this holy day by the Apostles tradition also, vvas named Dominicus dies, our Lordes day, or the Dominike, vvhich is also an old Ecclesiastical vvord in our language, for the name Sunday is a heathenish calling, as al other of the vveeke daies be in our language. Donaries. Giftes offered to God for his Temple, &c. [Luke 21:5]
E
Euacuated from Christ. That is, Made voide and hauing no part vvith him. [Gal 5:4] The scandal of the crosse euacuated, that is, made voide, cleane taken avvay. [Gal 5:11] Euangelize. Signifieth such preaching of good tidinges, as concerneth the Gospel. How is it possible to expresse Euangelizo, but as vve do, Euangelize? for Euangelium being the Gospel, what is, Euangelizo or to Euangelize, but to shew the glad tydings of the Gospel, of the time of grace, of al Christs benefites? Al which signification is lost, by translating as the English bibles do, “I bring you good tydings.” Eunuches. Gelded men. Euro-aquilo. A north-east vvinde. [Acts 27:14] Exinanited. Abased excedingly. [Phil 2:7]
G
Gratis. An vsual vvord to signifie, for nothing, freely, for Godamercie, vvithout desert.
H
Holocauste. A kinde of sacrifice vvhere al vvas burnt in the honour of God. [Hebr 10:6] Hostes. Sacrifices. [1 Cor 10:18]
I
Inuocated. Called vpon, praied vnto. [Acts 9:21] Hereof vve say, Inuocation of Saincts, and to inuocate. Issue. Good euent. [1 Cor 10:13] Iustice. Taken in the nevv Testament, not as it is contrarie to vvrong or iniurie, but for that qualitie vvhereof a man is iust and iustified. [Rom 4:9]
N
Neophyte. Neophytus is he that vvas lately christened or nevvely planted in the mystical body of Christ. [1 Tim 3:6]
P
Paraclete. By interpretation is either a comforter, or an aduocate: and therfore to translate it by any one of them only, is perhaps to abridge the sense of this place. [John 14:16] Parasceue. The Ievves Sabboth-eue, Good friday. [Mark 15:42] Parasceue is as solemne a word for the Sabboth eue, as Sabboth is for the Iewes seuenth day, and now among Christians much more solemner, taken for Good-friday onely. These wordes then we thought it far better to keepe in the text, and to tel their signification in the margent or in a table for that purpose, then to disgrace bothe the text and them with translating them. Pasche. Easter, and the Paschal lambe. [Luke 22:1] Pentecost. Vvhitsuntide, &, the space of fiftie daies. Prefinition. A determination before. [Eph 3:11] Prepuce. The foreskinne not circumcised, & therfore signifieth the Gentiles: as circumcision, the Ievves and their state. [Rom 2:25] Prescience. Foreknovvledge. [Acts 2:23] Preuaricatour. Transgressor: and preuarication, transgression. [Rom 2:25] Loaues of Proposition. So called, because they vvere proposed and set vpon the table in the Temple, before God. [Matt 12:4]
R
Repropitiate the sinnes. That is, make a reconciliation for them. [Heb 2:17] Resolution. The separation of the body and the soule, the departing out of this life. [2 Tim 4:6] Resuscitate the grace. That is, Raise, quicken, renew and reviue the grace vvhich othervvise languisheth and decaieth. [2 Tim 1:6]
S
Sabbatisme. A time of resting and ceasing from labours. [Heb 4:9] Sacrament. For mysterie. [Eph 1:9] Sancta Sanctorum. The holie of holies, that is, the inmost and holiest place of the Ievves Temple, as it vvere the Chauncel. [Heb 9:3] Superedified. Builded vpon Christ the principal stone. [1 Pet 2:5]
T
Tetrarch. Gouernour or Prince of the 4 part of a countrie. [Matt 14:1] Thrones. An higher order of Angels. [Col 1:16]
V
Victims. Sacrifice. [Acts 7:42]