Defense of the Translations of the Scriptures into the English Tongue, Response to preface · Martins comments 24
MART. 24. And this of all other is the most fine and subtill treacherie against the Scriptures, to deceiue the ignorant readers withall, (which S. Paule calleth the secret thinges of2. Cor. 4. dishonestie, and adulterating of the word of God, as it were mingling water with wine like false vinteners) when they giuegive them for Gods word, & vnderunder the name of Gods word, their owne words, and not Gods, forged and framed, altered and changed, according to differences of times, and varietie of new opinions, and diuersitie of humors and spirits, diuersly and differently,The Heretikes dissention about their translations. Dial cont. Melan. Lind. dubit pag. 84. …6. …8. c See Zuing resp …. and Confess. Tigurinorum. one Heretike not onelyonly correcting his fellow eueryevery day, but one egerly refuting and refelling an other. Bucer, and the Osiandrians and c Sacramentaries against Luther for false translations: Luther against Munster, Beza against Castaleo, Castaleo against Beza, Caluin against Seruetus, Illyricus both against Caluin and Beza: The Puritanes controule the grosser Caluinists of our country, yea the later translations of the selfe same Heretikes, controule the former exceedingly, not onelyonly of ouersights, but of wilfull falsifications, as it is notorious in the*Ibid. pag. 83. 97. later editions of Luther and Beza, and in our Englishe Bibles set forth in diuerse yeares, from Tindall their first translatour vntill this day: yea (which is more) the Englishe translatoursThe nevv Test of the yeare 1580. of Bezaes newe Testament, controule him and his translation which they protest to followe, *Luc. 3. 36.being afraide sometime and ashamed to expresse in Englishe his false translations in the Latin.
FVLK. 24. By false translations wilfully and of purpose to falsifie the truth of Gods word is as grosse & as abhominable treacherie, as to corrupt the verie text, although I thinke S. Paule speaking of the couertures, or cloakes of dishonestie, and adultering of the worde of God 2. Cor. 4. meaneth a further cūning, than false translations. That those whom you call heretikes finde fault with one an others translations, they do none otherwise, than you Popish heretikes. Do not you Gregorie Martin, in the 7. chapter and 33. section of this booke finde fault with all the Catholikes as you terme them, that translate Sheol, Sepulchrum, a sepulchre, and not alwayesforeign hell? If Bucer, or Zwinglius do iustly obserue any errour in Luther, or Luther in Munster, or Beza in Castalio the Anabaptist, or Caluine in Seruetus the horrible heretike, yea and if froward & schismaticall Illyricus can discouer any errour committed by Caluine, and Beza: the truth leeseth nothing, when the errours of men are found out by what meanes soeuer. That you speake of the Puritanes, controuling the grosser Caluinistes of our countrie, I knowe not what you meane, neither doe I thinke you can iustifie your words, for translation of the Scriptures. Where you say, the later translations of the selfe same heretikes controule the former exceedingly, not only of ouersightes, but of wilfull falsifications, it is a wilfull and impudent sclaunder: yet you blushe not to say, it is notorious. Howe I pray you? You aunswere in the later editions of Luther and Beza, and in our Englishe Bibles set forth in diuerse yeares, from Tyndall their first translatour. That Luther, Beza, and the later translatours of the Englishe Bibles hauehave corrected some small faultes that hauehave escaped in their former editions, it may be graunted. But doe Luther, and Beza therefore accuse them selues, or the later Englishe translatours the former, of wilfull falsifications? I thinke those brute beastes, to whome Ambrose ascribeth theHexam. lib. 6. cap. 4. arte of making syllogismes (if they could speake) would not conclude thus brutishly. Certaine it is that Balaams asse did reason substantially. But muche more you saye the Englishe translatours of Bezaes newe Testament, doe controule him and his translation, being somtimes afraid and ashamed to expresse his false translations. If it be so, they are more modest than you, which seeme to bee afrayed, or ashamed of nothing so much, as least you might seeme to faile in vnshamefastnesse. But to the purpose. If they thinke Beza (as all men may erre) hath somewhat troden awrye, is it a faulte to auoyde his steppe, or a prowde controuling or accusing him of falsification? Neuerthelesse wherein soeuer Luther, Beza, or the Englishe translatours,De doct. Christ. lib. 2. c…p. 11. hauehave reformed any of their former ouersightes, the matter is not so great, that it can make an heresie. Yea, if you were of Sainct Augustines iudgement you would acknowledge that the multitude and diuersitie of translations, is for the benefite of them that be ignoraunt in the tongues, yea & of them also, that be learned in them oftentimes, that of diuerse mens translations, they may iudge which is the aptest.