Exposition Upon Select Psalms, Title page – Dedication
AN EXPOSITION VPONUPON SOME SElect Pſalmes of David, conteining great ſtore of moſt excellent and comfortable doctrine, and inſtruction for all thoſe, that▪ vnderunder the burthen of ſinne) thirſt for Comfort in Chriſt Ieſus.
Written by that faithfull ſervant of God▪ M. ROBERT ROLLOK, ſometime Paſtour in the Church of Edinburgh: And tranſlated out of Latine into Engliſh. by C. L. Miniſter of the Goſpell of Chriſt at Dudingſtoun.
The number of the Pſalmes are ſet downe in the Page following.
EDINBVRGH PRINTED BY ROBERT Walde graue Printer to the Kings Majeſtie. 1600. Cum Privilegio Regio.
A Table of the Pſalmes expounded in this Booke.
Pſalme
Third Fol. 1.
Sixt Fol. 35.
Sixteenth Fol. 80.
Twentie three Fol. 113.
Thirtie two Fol. 135.
Thirtie nine Fol. 202.
Fourtie two Fol. 229.
Fourtie nine Fol. 261.
Fiftie one Fol, 283.
Sixtie two Fol. 351.
Sixtie fiue Fol. 375.
Eightie foure Fol. 387.
Hundreth Sixeetnth Fol. 410.
Hundreth Thirtie Fol. 447
Hundreth thirty ſeventh, 489.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, GRAVE and Godlie Matrone, LILIAS GILBERT, Spouſe to M. IOHN PRESTOVN, of Fentoun-Barnes; One of the Senatours of the Colledge of juſtice, and Collectour generall of Scotland. C. L. wiſheth grace mercy, and everlaſting peace, paſſing all knowledge, from God the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt for ever. Amen.
HAVing long conſiddered and adviſed with my ſelfe (becauſe I was never yet accuſtomed to ſuch matters) to whom I ſhould dedicate this tranſlation of the Expoſition, (of that worthie ſeruante of GOD, of bleſſed memorie, M. ROBERT ROLLOK, who now reſteth from his labour) vpponſome ſelect Pſalmes; Yee, right honorable, and dearely beloved in Chriſt, came firſt into my minde. The chiefe thing that mooved me thus to doe, was the diſcharge of my promiſe, wherein I was bound vntounto you, ever ſince the booke came home (which was in Sommer laſt) At which time, I happening to reade vntounto you a little of the Expoſition vppon the 42. Pſalme: Ye deſired me very earneſtly to tranſlate the whole booke; which thing I granted-to, and promiſed to performe. Behold therefore, my promiſe is now in the mercy and aſsiſtance of God fulfilled to you. And next, I being ever deſirous to teſtifie my duetifull and thankfull minde vntounto you (as one to whome I was, and is much beholden to in many reſpectes) I thought that there could be no better meane, then the dedication of this preſent worke, vvhichwhich conteineth great ſtore of moſt comfortable doctrines, as I truſte ye ſhall confeſſe, when ye hauehave well peruſed the ſame, ſo that the onelyonly reading thereof, may iuſtly commend it many waies, even to ſuch as are of great learning, godlineſſe, and vertue. For if we reſpect the Author, it is God himſelfe, who vſed DAVID and others, the penners of the ſaid Pſalmes, to be his inſtruments, that his owne in the day of their owne particular trouble and affliction ſhould not lack ſtore of Spirituall and heavenly comfort. And ſo it is the word of Conſolation, the lampe of light, to leade the heauie harted, and caſten-downe Chriſtian, by reaſon of the troubled conſcience, by the burthen of ſinne, through the darke night and thick clowde of afflictions, to the throne of Gods mercy and grace. More-over, there are verie fewe heades of our Chriſtian faith and religion, (as Faith, Repentance, Iuſtification, Sanctification, the Reſurrection of his fleſh, Eternall life, the nature, cauſes, and effects of Sinne Originall and Actuall, comfort for the heavie and ſorrowfull ſoule, and ſundrie ſuch other poyntes) But they are moſt pithily, ſolidelie, and with great evidencie of the Spirite ſet downe here. Againe, if wee hauehave an eie to the partie, by whoſe miniſterie and labours, this Expoſition was written: He was a man, as I may be hold to teſtifie (being converſant with him, both in Sanct-Andrewes, and in this ciitie, neere hand this twentie yeares by gane) to whom the Church of GOD within this countrey, is as much beholden, as to any one inſtrument that ever GOD thruſt out into his harueſt, in this Church of Scotland, being a man indewed with excellent and manifolde giftes of GOD; moſt diligent, earneſt, and painefull in imploying of the ſame; for bringing vp of the youth in godlineſſe, information and inſtruction in the Lord, beating downe of the adverſaries, winning of people vntounto God, edifying of the flocke of Chriſt, and ſhewing good example to other in his vpright converſation. And wee hauehave all iuſte cauſe to feare, that the taking away of ſuch a worthie light, is a fore-runner of Gods ſevere iudgement to come vppon this ſinfull Lande, which I am afrayde is nearer then we ſuppoſe. Hee vvas in in his life time a notable learned Doctour, and a moſte pithie Preacher of Chriſte crucifyed; Indued vvith as great humilitie, as ever I knewe man of our Nation; which is a rare gift in the more learned ſorte, (For knowledge puffeth vppe, ſayeth the Apoſtle) and one vvhome I maye bleſſe the Lorde for his merciemercy in Chriſt Ieſus towarde mee, that ever I knewe, as being the eſpeciall inſtrument of GOD, that planted the knowledge of my Saviour in my hearte, vvhome I may call vvorthelie my Father and inſtructer, in the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. And vvoulde to GOD, that vve that are lefte behinde him, in this miſerable valley of teares, could learne to hauehave our delight as little ſet vppon this life, and thinges belonging thereto (vvhere our cittie and place of reſidence is not) as he had, vvhoſe onelyonly care vvas hovv to enlarge the Kingdome of Chriſte, ever vvayting for the Cittie, vvhichwhich is not buylded vvith the handes, But is everlaſting in the Heavens, as many a time, I hauehave heard him ſpeake. I ſay no more of him, for his workes alreadie ſet out, and the ſeminarie which he hath planted (I meane the Colledge of Edinburgh) will continue his happie remembrance to the poſteritie to come. As concerning the tranſlation of the worke itſelf, I hauehave dealt as ſimplie and faithfully, in turning it into Engliſh, as was poſsible, being content to expreſſe the authors meaning, in moſt eaſie and ſimple tearmes, keeping his owne phraſe of ſpeach, ſo far as I could attayne to. And ſo I humblie ſubmit the iudgement thereof, to your favorable acceptation, the obteining thereof, ſhall greatly increaſe my gladneſſe, in that I hauehave done any thing, whereby the Church of God, or any particular member thereof, is, or may be any whit edified. Receiue it therfore with as charitable a minde, as I doe willingly offer it, as a token of my Chriſtian duetie toward you; Whom I recommende to the Lord, and his grace in Ieſus Chriſt, beſeeching his holy and ſacred maieſtie, to continue his favour with you, your Huſband (my Lor) dand your poſteritie, to your everlaſting comfort in Chriſt, Amen.
From Edinburgh the third day of December 1599.
By yours to be commanded in Ieſus Chriſt, C. L. Miniſter of the Goſpel of Chriſt at Dudingſtoun.