And his spirit shall dwell in thee, and shall be strong in
thee, and the promises shall be given thee at the last (though not by
and by, lest thou shouldest forget thyself, and be negligent) and all
threatenings shall be forgiven thee for Christ's blood's sake to whom
commit thyself altogether without respect either of thy good deeds or
of thy bad.
Them that are learned Christianly I beseech forasmuch as I am
sure, and my conscience beareth me record, that of a pure intent,
singly and faithfully I have interpreted it, as far forth as God gave
me the gift of knowledge and understanding that the rudeness of the
work now at the first time offend them not, but that they consider
how that I had no man to counterfeit, neither was helped with English
of any that had interpreted the same or such like things in the
Scripture beforetime. Moreover, even very necessity and cumbrance
(God is record) above strength which I will not rehearse, lest we
should seem to boast ourselves caused that many things are lacking
which necessarily are required. Count it as a thing not having his
full shape, but as it were born before his time, even as a thing
begun rather than finished. In time to come (if God have appointed us
thereunto) we will give it his full shape, and put out if aught be
added superfluously, and add to if aught be overseen through
negligence, and will enforce to bring to compendiousness that which
is now translated at the length, and to give light where it is
required, and to seek in certain places more proper English, and with
a table to expound the words which are not commonly used and shew how
the Scripture useth many words which are otherwise understood of the
common people, and to help with a declaration where one tongue taketh
not another; and will endeavor ourselves, as it were, to seeth (2) it
better, and to make it more apt for the weak stomachs; desiring them
that are learned and able, to remember their duty, and to help
thereunto, and to bestow unto the edifying of Christ's body (which is
the congregation of them that believe) those gifts which they have
received of God for the same purpose.
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