Sermon Preached 13 January 1571, Title page – Poem 2
ANE SERMON PREICHIT BEFOIR THE Regent and Nobilitie, vponupon a part of the thrid Chapter of the Prophet Malachi, in the Kirk of Leith, at the tyme of the Generall Assemblie on Sonday the 13. of Ianuarie. Anno. Do. 1571. Be Dauid Fergussone Minister of the Euangell at Dunfermlyne.
¶ IMPRENTIT AT SANCtandrois be Robert Lekpreuik.
ANNO DO. M.D.LXXII.
TO THE MAIST NOBILL AND WORTHIE Lord, Iohne Erle of Marr, Lord Erskin, and Regent to the Kingis Maiestie, his Realme and liegis, zour humbill subiect Dauid Fergusson, wischis the fauour and lufe of God throuch Christ our Sauiour, togidder with prosperous Gouernament and all felicitie.
ALBEIT my mynd nor purpois was not (richt Nobill and worthie Lord) to hauehave publischit this sermō at ony time, zit becaus it did not fructifie as I supposit it suld hauehave done, being (as sayis Ezechiel) lyke a tone or plesant sang to the heirers for a season, thair hartis in the meane time still going efter their couetousnes, prouokit also be the malitious toungis of sū, & eirnestly requeistit be vtheris. At lenth I was compellit (for farther instructioun of the negligent heireris, the stopping of the mouthis of euill speikeris, and the satisfactioun of the incessant requeistis of gude and godlie men) to bestow and spend sum time & trauel, to put it in that same forme & ordour, that it was spokin and preichit in befoir zour Grace. Quhilk quhē I had faithfully performit (as all thay that hard it, quhen thay sall reid it agane I trow will testifie) distrusting myne awin iudgement I presentit it to the Kirk now laitly assemblit in Perth the sext of August that thay quha (for the maist part) wer heireris of it micht iudge asweil of the soundnes of the doctrine contenit into it, as of my sinceritie in the wryting thairof, and sa micht allow, or disallow it, as it meritit, vntounto the quhilk besines the Kirk appointit Iohne Erskin of Dun Superintendent of Angus, M. Iohne Dowglas Bischop of Sanctandrois, M. Iohne Winram Superintendent of Stratherne, M. Knox Minister of Edinburgh, and Williame Christison Minister of Dundie, quha diligently red and approuit the same, subscriuing it with thair handis, in the Name of the haill Kirk, as a Sermon consonant and aggreabill to Goddis word. Quhairof I hauehave takin bauldnes to publische it and that, vnderunder zour Graces name (to quhome the patrocinie & defēce of godlynes and vertew belangis) to ye end it may be the mair acceptabil to gude mē,Rom. 13. and that wickit men may be the mair affrayit to calumniate or defame it, not that I greitlie regaird the iudgement of men, hauing the testimonie of a gude consciēce for my warrand,2. Cor. 4. bot that I iudge it profitabill to seik all ordinarie meanis that be lawful to mantene the treuth and promot Goddis glorie.
Zour humanitie and gentilnes, quhairof not only I, bot almaist all vther men, hauehave experience, muifis me to be sa hamely as to offer and dedicate sa small a wark vntounto zour Grace, douting nathing but that ze will accept & regaird it rather according to the qualitie & substāce thairof nor according to the quantitie of it or ye persone of the wryter: quhilk quhen I sall vnderstād it will prouoke and incourage me to present zour Grace sum day with a greiter wark and a larger Volume as a perpetuall monumēt of my vnfenzeit lufe & affectiō to zour Grace. The Lord Iesus preserue ye Kingis Maiestie, comfort and assist zow yt ze may be a bill to execute zour charge to the glorie of God and the commoditie of this pure Realme. Amen. From Dunfermlyne the 20. day of August. Anno 1572. Be zour Graces humbil subiect and daylie Oratour.
Dauid Fergussone Minister of Christis Euangell.
IOANNIS DAVIDSONII CARMEN.
GRaecia mellifluo quantum det nestoris ori,
Aut demostheneo debeat eloquio,
Ipsi facundo quantum (mihi crede) parenti
Attribuat linguae turba togata suae:
Nos tibi Fergusi tantum debere fatemur
Scotanam linguam qui reparare studes.
Sermonem patrium ditas, inculta vetustas
Horret qua longe barbariemque fugas.
Adde etiam, neque abest facundis gratia dictis,
Respondet verbis materia apta tuis,
Quod satis ostendit nobis tua concio praesens
Qua nihil in lucem doctius ire potest.
PATRICII AVTHINLECTI CARMEN.
QVisquis de decimis bonisque sacris
Quae sacris dominus dari ministris
Mandauit, dubitas, & anne nostro
Solui tempore debeant requiris,
Hunc vnum legito rogo libellum
Istam qui eloquio pio sacroque
Rem totam aperiet tibique pandet.