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THE AUTHOR OF THE WORK TO THE READER.1
AVCTOR OPERIS LECTORI.
Commentarios nostros in librum Mosis, qui inscribitur Genesis, duas in partes commode posse dividi iudicavimus: quarum prior haec pars, quae nunc in lucem prodiit, historiam Mosis ab exordio mundi ad Noeticum usque diluvium septem libris explicatam continet. Posterior autem Commentariorum pars, quam hoc tempore molimur, et iam magna ex parte absolutam propediem in publicum (si incoepta et conatus nostros iuvet Deus) efferemus, reliquam historiam a diluvio ad extremum eius libri a Mose pertextam complectetur. Si quid vero in his Commentariis, aliisve scriptis nostris vel adhuc publicatis, vel posthac, favente Deo, publicandis, visum fuerit iis, qui de Sacrarum litterarum doctrina scienter prudenterque ac sincere iudicare possunt, apertiore explanatione, aut etiam correctione dignum, equidem profiteor me, ad id, qualecunque fuerit, et pro ut opus fuerit, enucleatius interpretandum, aut quoquomodo mutandum atque corrigendum, esse paratissimum. Quod si mihi, dum vixero, id facere non contingat, ut post obitum meum fiat ab iis, quorum muneris et curae fuerit, vehementer opto, et rogo. Mihi enim plane persuasum, et animo meo sensibusque penitus infixum est, omnem ingenii et iudicii famam, omnemque eruditionis et eloquentiae laudem, non modo veritati, sed etiam pietati ac spirituali bonorum aedificationi esse postponendam. Nam si Beatus Paulus tanta illud asseveratione dixit quod est in capite octavo prioris Epistolae, quam ille scripsit ad Corinthios: Si esca scandalizat fratrem meum, non manducabo carnem in aeternum, ne fratrem meum scandalizem: cum tamen manducare carnem nec per se non esset bonum ac licitum, nec ea re quisquam merito posset offendi: quanto magis scriptori catholico et religioso, summa cautione omnique provisione animi perficiendum est, ne quid prodat scriptis suis, quod iustam recte sentientium atque iudicantium offensionem et reprehensionem incurrat; ac si quid forte vel per imprudentiam, vel per humanae mentis infirmitatem offenderit, ut cum primum id, aut per se ipse, aut aliorum monitu adverterit, prompte ac libenter emendet.
We have judged that our Commentaries on the book of Moses which is entitled Genesis can conveniently be divided into two parts: of which this former part, which now comes into the light, contains the history of Moses from the beginning of the world up to the Noachic flood, explained in seven books. The latter part of the Commentaries -- which we are at this time working on, and which, already for the most part completed, we shall soon bring before the public (if God aids our undertaking and our efforts) -- will comprise the remaining history woven by Moses from the flood to the end of that book. But if anything, in these Commentaries or in my other writings, whether already published or hereafter (God favoring) to be published, shall seem, to those who can judge the doctrine of Sacred Letters knowledgeably, prudently, and sincerely, to deserve a clearer explanation, or even correction, I for my part profess myself most ready to interpret it more distinctly, or in any way to change and correct it, whatever it may be, and as the need shall require. And if it should not fall to me to do this while I live, I earnestly desire and ask that it be done after my death by those whose office and care it shall be. For I am fully persuaded, and it is deeply fixed in my mind and senses, that all fame of talent and judgment, and all praise of erudition and eloquence, must be set after not only truth, but also piety and the spiritual edification of the good. For if blessed Paul said, with so great an asseveration, that which is in the eighth chapter of the former Epistle which he wrote to the Corinthians -- 'If food scandalizes my brother, I will never eat flesh, lest I scandalize my brother' -- although to eat flesh was neither in itself anything but good and lawful, nor could anyone justly be offended by it: how much more must it be brought about by a Catholic and religious writer, with the utmost caution and every foresight of mind, that he put forth in his writings nothing that may incur the just offense and reproof of those who think and judge rightly; and if perchance anything shall have given offense, whether through imprudence or through the weakness of the human mind, that, as soon as he has noticed it -- either by himself or at the warning of others -- he correct it promptly and gladly.2
Translator’s notes
- The author's preface to the reader, following the dedication. ↩
- Pererius's preface. He announces the two-part plan of the whole work: this first volume (seven books) covers the history from the creation to the Noachic flood (Genesis 1-5); a second part, nearly finished, will cover the rest of Genesis (the flood to the end of the book). He then professes his readiness to be corrected in anything found wanting, ranking all fame of learning below truth, piety, and the edification of the faithful -- citing St. Paul's resolve (1 Corinthians 8:13) never to eat meat rather than scandalize a brother. ↩