Sin theoni en christoni the answer to the preface of the Rhemish Testament. By…Syn theōi en christōi the ansvvere to the preface of the Rhemish Testament. By…

To the ninth reason.

It were to be laboured for, that there were in every several country, for th' use of the Church in it, one Bible translated into the language thereof, and one Latin Bible generally for all the Churches, in whose Schools the Latin tongue is the common interpreter: which (for their evidence and manifest preeminence above all other translations) might have at the least the most voices of them which are skilful in that matter, to recommend them to the public use of every country, severally in their proper language, or jointly of all the Schools in the Latin tongue, as is before mentioned. But that any such translations should be seated, with th' original of the Greek or Hebrew, (whereby they should not have the principal or royal Chariot, whereinto ⟨p. 119⟩the translations (how honourable so ever) should as subjects not once dare to clime:) is in no sort to be suffered. And although these translations, were (for the public use) to be only holden, and without weighty cause & great consent not to be changed, or without great modesty not to be checked: yet other inferior translations, might (for conference sake) have in private houses and studies, their fruit not to be repented of. Which if it cannot yet be obtained, men are therefore (for the measure of grace they have received) no more to be discouraged, from their worthy labours of daily cleansing the corruption of translations: then Saint Luke was beaten back from writing the most holy story, wherein he was prevented¹ of many, which undertook that which he only achieved. Neither is there any more danger of dissentions, and endless reprehending by the diversity of translations now, then was in the primitive Church. Wherein Augustine affirmeth that the number of Latin ⟨p. 120⟩interpreters, could not be numbered: yet² was he so far from deeming that they bred diversity of doctrine, that he deemed them profitable, especially for those which wanted th' original tongues: forasmuch as that which was obscure in one, might be manifest in another. Whereunto may be added, that diversity of translations was also profitable for the learned, whose diligence of seeking for the Greek copies was thus whetted on. It were a pitiful thing, if th' unity of Christians