In this edition of the Holy Scriptures, we shall adhere to the Text of the venerable and Right Rev. Dr. Richard Challoner; and we shall insert all his Notes either verbatim, or at least shall give their full sense, placing his signature, Ch., at the end. In like manner, when any additional observation is made the author from whom it is taken will be specified, either at length or by an abbreviation, which will easily be understood by attending to the following remarks. The most ancient Greek version, by the Septuagint, or 72 interpreters, about 284 years B. C. or perhaps something later, for some parts of the version, will be designated Sept. or 70. The authentic Latin translation of S. Jerom will be written Vulg. This version has ever since been esteemed the most accurate, and was rendered into English by Dr. Gregory Martin, and published at Douay and Rheims, 1582, 1609-10, with the Notes of Dr. Thomas Worthington, on the Old Testament, and those of Dr. Richard Bristow on the New. The whole was revised by Dr. R. Challoner, 1750-2. Another translation of the New Testament was published, with excellent Notes, 1730, by Dr. Robert Witham, president of Douay College; and a valuable exposition of the Apocalypse by the late pious and learned Bishop Charles Walmesley, under the name of Pastorini, 1771; who, with the other commentators most frequently consulted, will be thus marked—B. Bristow, C. Calmet, Ch. Challoner, D. Du Hamel, E. Estius, M. Menochius, P. Pastorini or Walmesley, T. Tirinus, W. Worthington, Wi. Witham. We shall also sometimes insert a few original observations, or such, at least, as we cannot easily trace to their real authors, either through forgetfulness, or because we have adopted some alteration, or have received them from some of our learned friends, whose names we are not at liberty to mention. These will be marked with the letter H. With respect to the other Notes, except those of Bishop Challoner, which we shall generally give at length, we shall deem it sufficient to express the sense. When the very words are preserved, and are of such importance as to require this distinction, we shall denote them by inverted commas. We shall reserve the more elaborate Biblical Disquisitions till the Text and Notes be completed; and then, if required, they may be published, and bound up either at the beginning or at the end of the Holy Bible.

APPROBATIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

APPROBATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DOUAY.

Nos infrascripti, in alma Duacensi universitate Sacræ Theologiæ Doctores & Professores, hanc Anglicanam Veteris Testamenti Translationem, quam tres diversi ejus nationis eruditissimi Theologi, non solum fidelem, sed propter diversa quæ ei sunt adjuncta, valde utilem fidei Catholicæ propagandæ ac tuendæ, & bonis moribus promovendis, sunt testati: quorum testimonia ipsorum syngraphis munita vidimus; cujus item Translationis & Annotationum auctores nobis de fidei integritate, & eruditionis præstantia, probe sunt noti; his rebus adducti & nixi, fructuosè evulgari posse censuimus. Duaci, 8 Novembris, 1609

Gulielmus Estius, Sacræ Theologiæ Doctor, et in Academia Duacensi Professor.
Bartholomæus Petrus, Sacræ Theologiæ Doctor, & in Universitate Duacensi Professor.
Georgius Colvenerius, S. Theologiæ Doctor, et ejusdem in Academia Duacensi Professor.

APPROBATION OF OTHER EMINENT DIVINES.

Nos infrascripti, perlectâ hac Veteris Testamenti Versione, cum Annotationibus, nihil invenimus quod Fidei Catholicæ, aut bonis moribus repugnet; sed econtra reperimus Translationem fidelem, Annotationes doctas ac utiles. Utpote quæ exactam temporum seriem, Ecclesiæ Pastorum, Doctrinæque Catholicæ successionem, ab ipso mundi exordio deducunt; obscuriora sacri textus loca elucidant: hæreses hujus temporis, argumentis ex ipso eodem textu collectis, convincunt: Ecclesiæ Catholicæ Romanæ dogmata penè omnia confirmant: ideoque summâ cum legentium utilitate publicari posse judicamus, si ordinariis librorum Censoribus hoc ipsum approbare beneplacitum fuerit.

Joannes Wright, Ecclesiæ collegiatæ Gloriosiss. Virg. Contracen. Decanus.
Matthæus Kellison, Sacræ Theologiæ Doctor, et in Universitate Rhemensi Professor.
Gulielmus Harison, S. Theologiæ Doctor.

APPROBATIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

APPROBATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF RHEIMS.

Cum hujus versionis ac editionis Auctores, nobis de fide & eruditione sint probe cogniti, aliique S. Theologiæ & linguæ Anglicanæ peritissimi viri contestati sint, nihil in hoc opere reperiri, quod non sit Catholicæ Ecclesiæ doctrinæ & pietati consentaneum, vel quod ullo modo potestati ac paci civili repugnet, sed omnia potius veram fidem, Reip. bonum, vitæ jue ac morum probitatem promovere: ex ipsorum fide censemus ista utiliter excudi et publicari posse.

Petrus Remigius, Archidiaconus major Metropolitanæ insignis Ecclesiæ Rhemensis, Juris Canonici Doctor, Archiepiscopatus Rhemensis generalis Vicarius.
Hubertus Morus, Rhemensis Ecclesiæ Decanus, & Ecclesiastes, in sacratissimæ Theologiæ facultate Doctor.
Joannes Le Besgue, Canonicus Rhemensis, Doctor Theologiæ, & Cancellarius Academiæ Rhemensis.
Guilielmus Balbus, Theologiæ Professor, Collegii Rhemensis Archimagister.

APPROBATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DOUAY.

Nos infrascripti, visâ approbatione Theologorum Rhemensium super editione Novi Testamenti in idioma Anglicanum per Collegium Anglorum Rhemis conversi, ibidemque impressi, Anno Domini 1582, acceptâ quoque attestatione R. D. Præsidis & aliorum ejusdem Collegii, nunc Duaci constituti, S. Theologiæ Doctorum, de illius versionis sinceritate: eorum fide nixi judicamus eam editionem, tanquam fidelem, utiliter impressam fuisse, ac denuo imprimi posse. Datum Duaci, 2 Novemb. 1599.

Gulielmus Estius, S. Theologiæ Doctor, & in Academia Duacensi Professor.
Bartholomæus Petrus, S. Theologiæ Doctor, et in eadem Universitate Professor.
Judocus Heylens, S. Theologiæ Doctor, et in Universitate eadem Professor.

APPROBATION OF DR. CHALLONER'S EDITION.

Vulgatam Novi Testamenti editionem, olim a Theologis Rhemensibus Anglicè redditam, ac nunc demum ab N. N. recognitam & emendatam, attentè perlegi: eamque in omnibus fidelem, ac Vulgatæ Editionis sensui ubique inherentem judico. Breves quoque ejusdem in Novum Testamentum Annotationes, Catholicæ veritati consentaneas, et ad difficiliora sacri textus loca illustranda perutiles censeo.

Septimo Calend: Octobris, Anno 1748. Gulielmus Green, S. T. D.
Idem censeo - 15 Calend: Novembris, Anno 1748. Gulielmus Walton, S. T. Professor.

ADMONITION.

The Scriptures, in which are contained the revealed mysteries of divine truth, are undoubtedly the most excellent of all writings: they were written by men divinely inspired, and are not the word of men, but the word of God, which can save our souls, 1 Thess. ii. 13, and James i. 21; but then they ought to be read, even by the learned, with the spirit of humility, and with a fear of mistaking the true sense, as many have done. This we learn from the Scripture itself; where St. Peter says, that in the epistles of St. Paul, there are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own perdition. 2 Peter iii. 16.

To prevent and remedy this abuse, and to guard against error, it was judged necessary to forbid the reading of the scriptures in the vulgar languages, without the advice and permission of the pastors and spiritual guides whom God has appointed to govern his church, Acts xx. 28. Christ himself declared, ‘he that will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican.” Matt. xviii. 17.

Nor is this due submission to the Catholic Church, (the pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. iii. 15,) to be understood of the ignorant and unlearned only; but also of men accomplished in all kind of learning. The ignorant fall into errors for want of knowledge, and the learned through pride and self-sufficiency.

Therefore let every reader of the sacred writings, who pretends to be a competent judge of the sense, and of the truths revealed in them, reflect on the words which he finds in Isaias, chap. lv. 8, 9. My thoughts are not as your thoughts, neither are your ways as my ways, saith the Lord; for as the heavens are exalted above the earth, even so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts. How then shall any one, by his private reason, pretend to judge, to know, to demonstrate, the incomprehensible and unsearchable ways of God?

The following Letter of his Holiness Pius the Sixth, to the Most Rev. Anthony Martin, now Archbishop of Florence, on his translation of the Holy Bible into Italian, shews the benefit which the faithful may reap from their having the holy Scriptures in the vulgar tongue.

POPE PIUS THE SIXTH.

Beloved Son: Health and apostolical Benediction. At a time that a vast number of bad books, which most grossly attack the Catholic religion, are circulated even among the unlearned, to the great destruction of souls, you judge exceedingly well, that the faithful should be excited to the reading of the holy Scriptures: for these are the most abundant sources which ought to be left open to every one, to draw from them purity of morals and of doctrine, to eradicate the errors which are widely disseminated in these corrupt times: This you have seasonably effected, as you declare, by publishing the sacred writings in the language of your country, suitable to every one’s capacity; especially when you shew and set forth, that you have added explanatory notes, which, being extracted from the holy fathers, preclude every possible danger of abuse: Thus you have not swerved either from the laws of the Congregation of the Index, or from the constitution published on this subject by Benedict XIV. that immortal Pope, our predecessor in the pontificate, and formerly, when we held a place near his person, our excellent master in ecclesiastical learning, circumstances which we mention as honourable to us.

We therefore applaud your eminent learning, joined with your extraordinary piety, and we return you our due acknowledgments for the books which you have transmitted to us, and which, when convenient, we will read over. In the mean time, as a token of our pontifical benevolence, receive our apostolical benediction, which to you, beloved son, we very affectionately impart. Given at Rome, on the calends of April, 1778, the fourth year of our Pontificate

To our beloved Son, Anthony Martini, at Turin.    Philip Buonamici, Latin Secretary.

(A translation from the Latin original.)

A PRAYER BEFORE THE READING OF ANY PART OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE.

COME, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts and minds of thy faithful servants, and inflame them with the fire of thy divine love.

LET US PRAY.

O GOD, who by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, didst instruct the hearts of thy faithful servants; grant us in the same spirit, to discern what is right, and enjoy his comfort for ever: Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth one God, with thee and the same Spirit, world without end. Amen.