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It would indeed have been ftrange if our Reformers, in King Edward's Time had not kept to that Tranflation, which was fo much valu'd in the former Reign, by all that had a Zeal for Reformation; and by the Reading of which the minds of Men had been prepared, and difpofed to this great and happy Work. In Queen Elizabeth's Reign there was another Tranflation of the Holy Scriptures, performed by Authority, and in King James the Firft's, a Third; but the Epiftles, Gofpels and Pfalter, were ftill according to [the Great Bible.] At King Charles the Second's Reftauration, the Epiftles and Gofpels were inferted from the laft Tranflation; but the old Pfalter was ftill continued: The Convocation of our Bifhops and Clergy, did, it feems, prefer this Tranflation of the Pfalms before any other in the English Tongue; and I cannot but think them more competent Judges in fuch matters, than any private Perfons, how eminent foever.

III. As to what I have done by way of Explanation by the Notes in the Margin, fome perhaps may think they are too many, and large; others, that they are too fhort, and few: I can only fay, that I have used the beft Judgment I could. And as I thought nothing too little to be obferved, which might be helpful to them, who don't make Divinity or the Languages their Study, who often ftumble at fuch things as feem extremely eafy to Men verfed in the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and our own ancient Tongue; fo I have not faid any more than what I thought neceffary, to give a competent meaning of the Text to a midling English Reader: For the Senfe is as often obfcur'd by faying too much, as too little.

I write not these Notes for Men of Learning, they had much better helps before, very many in the Latin, and the moft acute Dr. Hammond, and

Bishop

Bishop Patrick in the English. I have made great ufe of both, and often ufed their very words; but not so as always fervilely to follow them: I often leave both, that I may keep close to the English Text, whereas neither of those two great Men thought fit to take this Tranflation for their Guide, nor indeed any other; for tho' they put the laft Tranflation in the place of their Text, yet they often defert it, and in their Paraphrafes purfue a fence which is not to be found in either of our English Pfalters. Their defign was to fhew, what they thought the most apt Sence of the Hebrew; mine to affift our English Readers in the understanding of that Tranflation, which our Church in an efpecial manner recommends to us, which was what they neither of them propofed, or defigned; and if they had, their Works are not fo eafily purchased, or fo foon read, as this may be.

I have Transcribed fo much of the Hebrew Titles Tranflated into English, as might give any light to the Text, and have followed Bifhop Patrick very often in his Conjectures, or Opinion concerning the occafion of Compofing the feveral Pfalms, in which he is for the moft part very happy: But I have not troubled myself, or Readers, by giving then my own, or other Mens Gueffes at the meaning of many hard Words, which are found in the Hebrew Titles; not only because they are of no manner of use to my prefent defign, but becaufe all that are Modeft, as well as Learned, acknowledge, that there is a great deal of uncertainty in the most probable Conjectures, that have been made on thofe nice, and unneceffary matters.

There are some English words in the Translation, that are now, in 170 Years time, worn out of common use: These I have endeavour'd to explain in a fhort Vocabulary; one half of which are found in the laft Tranflation, as well as this.

Some

Some Account of the

LIFE and DEATH.

OF

WILLIAM TINDALL.

W

Illiam Tindall was Born on the borders of Wales, but brought up from a Child at Oxford, and was at laft a Student in Magdalen-Hall; where even in those dark times, he both Read the Scriptures himself, and inftructed others in the knowledge of them: He was wholly addicted to the Study of Divine Truth, which produced in him the moft noble effects of a Holy Life, and Converfation, by which he was admirably well-qualified for Holy Orders, into which he enter'd either before his remove to Cambridge, or foon after.

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From Cambridge he was invited to the Houfe of one Sir Welch, Kt. in Gloucester-fhire, to be Tutor to his Children: The Knight, and especially the Lady, were very firm to the prevailing Errors of Popery, and fo were many others of Title and Quality, who frequently reforted to their House. Mr. Tindall, was well-acquainted with the Writings of Luther, and Erafmus, and could not bear to hear them run down, and treated with Contempt and Infolence, and would often stand up in defence of them; and when his Company would not be fatif

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fied by other Arguments, he would endeavour to convince them by Scripture: All this made him look'd upon with an evil Eye, not only for bearing hard upon his Superiors in his Difcourfe, but be cause, by this means, he discover'd his Thoughts concerning the Errors of the Church of Rome; and made himself fufpected for a Heretick, for being wellverfed in thofe good Books, especially the Holy Bible.

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The Knight and his Lady, and many others, were indeed by degrees brought into a better Opinion of Mr. Tindall, and his Opinions; and feveral Perfons of Note, and Quality began to affect his Conver fation, and to exprefs a great value for his Perfon, and Learning: But this did the more provoke the fpight of the furious bigotted Papifts; infomuch, that foreseeing a ftorm ready to fall on himself, and his Friends, and especially his kind Patron, upon his account, he thought it moft advisable to retire out of the way for their fakes, as well as his own.

Some time longer he. ftay'd in England, and Preached both at London, and Bristol. He was in hopes, by means of Sir Henry Gildford, Comptroler to King Henry the Eighth, to have been accepted as a Chaplain, by Tonftall then Bishop of London, who was a Perfon of great Learning, Prudence and Temper, as any that thefe Times afforded. In order to recommend himself the better to this great Man, he had translated part of Ifocrates's Works into English, out of the Greek, a Language little understood, or Studied in England at that time; but he was disappointed in this attempt: Providence had intended him for a Work, that was more for the Glory of God, and the Benefit of the English Church.

However, it pleafed God to raise him up a Friend in London, one of great Note, Henry Monmouth, Alderman of that City, who entertained him at his Houfe for Half a Year, and promifed him Ten

Pounds

that

Pounds in Mony: Afterwards, when Stokelly came to be Bishop, Alderman Monmouth was Perfecuted on pretence of Herefy, and his Liberality to Mr. Tindall was made one Article against him. The Alderman gave this Character of his Gueft to the Bishop, while he was in his Houfe he lived like a good Prieft, Studying Night and Day, &c.] He was not deny'd the exercife of his Function, while he ftay'd in London; for the Alderman teftified that he heard him Preach Two or Three Sermons at St. Dunstan's in the West.

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But he had a great defign in his view, which was the Tranflating the Scriptures into the English Tongue, and he could not hope for any Convenience, or Liberty to do this here in England: For both the King, and the Ruling part both of the Church and State, were as yet very zealous Papifts. Germany he thought the moft proper Country for fuch a Work. There Martin Luther, and other great Men had made a confiderable progrefs in the Reformation of Religion; there were feveral Men wellverfed in the Original Tongues, and who were themselves engaged in the fame pious labour of Tranflating the Holy Scriptures. To Germany therefore he goes, and having received the Ten Pounds promifed him by Alderman Monmouth, at Hamburgh, he Travels up into the Country, and makes himfelf acquainted with Martin Luther, and other Men of Learning, among whom we may dare confidently fay Sebaftian Munster was one, a Perfon that was the best Hebraician in all probability of any Chriftian in the whole World; and who was, about this very time, engaged in turning the Hebrew Bible into Latin. Having ftay'd fo long among thefe Learned Perfons, as he thought neceffary in order to qualify himself for this great undertaking, he fits down at Antwerp in the Low-Countries, then fubject to Charles V Emperor of Germany, and King of Spain. Here

was

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