Tranſlation neceſſarie.
Later spelling with notes
But how shall men meditate in that, which they cannot understand? How shall they understand that which is kept close in an unknown tongue? as it is written, “Except I know the power of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh, a Barbarian, and he that speaketh, shall be a Barbarian to me.” [34] The Apostle excepteth no tongue; not Hebrew the ancientest, not Greek the most copious, not Latin the finest. Nature taught a natural man to confess, that all of us in those tongues which we do not understand, are plainly deaf; we may turn the deaf ear unto them. The Scythian counted the Athenian, whom he did not understand, barbarous; [35] so the Roman did the Syrian, and the Jew (even S. Jerome himself called the Hebrew tongue barbarous, belike because it was strange to so many) [36] so the Emperor of Constantinople [37] calleth the Latin tongue, barbarous, though Pope Nicolas do storm at it: [38] so the Jews long before Christ called all other nations, Lognazim, which is little better than barbarous. Therefore as one complaineth, that always in the Senate of Rome, there was one or other that called for an interpreter: [39] so lest the Church be driven to the like exigent, it is necessary to have translations in a readiness. Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most Holy place; that removeth the cover of the well, that we may come by the water, even as Jacob rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, by which means the flocks of Laban were watered [40]. Indeed without translation into the vulgar tongue, the unlearned are but like children at Jacob’s well (which was deep) [41] without a bucket or something to draw with; or as that person mentioned by Isaiah, to whom when a sealed book was delivered, with this motion, “Read this, I pray thee,” he was fain to make this answer, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” [42]
Original 1611 spelling
But how ſhall men meditate in that, which they cannot vnderſtand? How ſhall they vnderſtand that which is kept cloſe in an vnknowen tongue? as it is written , Except I know the power of the voyce I ſhall be to him that ſpeaketh,a Barbarian,and he that ſpeaketh,ſhalbe a Barbarian to me. The Apoſtle excepteth no tongue; not Hebrewe the ancienteſt, not Greeke the moſt copious, not Latine the fineſt. Nature taught a naturall man to confeſſe,that all of vs in thoſe tongues which wee do not vnderſtand, are plainely deafe ; wee may turne the deafe eare vnto them. The Scythian counted the Athenian, whom he did not vnderſtand, barbarous: ſo the Romane did the Syrian, and the Iew ( euen S. Hierome himſelfe called the Hebrew tongue barbarous, belike becauſe it was ſtrange to ſo many) ſo the Emperour of Conſtantinople calleth the Latine tongue,barbarous,though Pope Nicolas do ſtorme at it : ſo the Iewes long before Chriſt, called all other nations, Lognazim, which is little better than barbarous. Therefore as one complaineth, that alwayes in the Senate of Rome , there was one or other that called for an interpreter: ſo leſt the Church be driuen to the like exigent, it is neceſſary to haue tranſlations in a readineſſe. Tranſlation it is that openeth the window,to let in the light ; that breaketh the ſhell,that we may eat the kernel ; that putteth aſide the curtaine,that we may looke into the moſt Holy place; that remooueth the couer of the well, that wee may come by the water,euen as Iacob rolled away the ſtone from the mouth of the well , by which meanes the flockes of Laban were watered. Indeede without tranſlation into the vulgar tongue,the vnlearned are but like children at Iacobs well (which was deepe) without a bucket or ſome thing to draw with : or as that perſon mentioned by Eſay,to whom when a ſealed book was deliuered, with this motion, Reade this, I pray thee, hee was faine to make this anſwere, I cannot, for it is ſealed.
Marginal Notes
[34] 1.Cor.14.
[35] Clem. Alex.1°. Strom.
[36] S. Hieronym. Damaſo.
[37] Michael, Theophili fil.
[38] 2. Tom. Concil. ex edit. Petri Crab.
[39] Cicero 5°. de finibus.
[40] Gen.29.10.
[41] Ioh 4.11.
[42] Eſay 29.11.