Exposition on the Seven Psalms of Repentance, Title page – Dedication
A SACRED SEPTENARIE, OR, A GODLY AND FRVITFVL EXPOSITION ON THE SEVEN PSALMES OF REPENTANCE.
viz. the
VI.
XXV.
XXXII.
XXXVIII.
LI.
CXXX.
CXLIII.
the
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
of the penitentials.
Seruing eſpecially for the direction and comfort of all ſuch, who are either troubled in minde, diſeaſed in body, or perſecuted by the wicked.
The ſecond impreſſion.
By Mr. A. Symſon, Paſtor of the Church at Dalkeeth in Scotland,
LONDON, Printed by W. I. for Iohn Bellamie, and are to be ſold at his ſhop, at the two Greyhounds in Cornehill, neare the Royall-Exchange. 1623
To the Reader.
GEntle Reader, although many both of the auncient Fathers and moderne Diuines hauehave worthily, learnedly and feellingly written on theſe ſeuen Penitentialls, ſo that it may ſeeme in a maner vnneceſſarie and ſuperfluous, that any thing ſhould be added: yea becauſe this Ocean is not dried vp▪ and he that cōmeth laſt, may as well fill his bucket as he that cōmeth firſt, for the great aduantage to my Maſter, and the performance of my promiſe to mine owne people, and certaine other godly Chriſtians, (and not for any deſire of commendation or gaine, as God is my record) I hauehave ſtrained my ſelfe to put forth this my Talent to the view of the world, whereby I might (though not as thoſe worthies of Dauid who hauehave gone before, whoſe weapons I hauehave in ſome places vſed) giuegive ſome blowes to the enemie. Herein albeit there may be ſomewhat both redundant and defectiue, (for there is no perfection in man, and Apelles alwaies found ſomewhat to be amended in thoſe pictures which he had moſt curiouſly drawne) yet let not that ſomewhat which is imperfect withdraw thee from the vſe of the reſt, but read, conferre, conſider, and if any thing be added to the trauiles of others, giuegive thankes to God, and reape thou the commoditie. Farewell.
A. SIMSON.
A GODLY AND FRVITFVLL EXPOSITION ON THE TWENTY FIVE AND THIRTY TWO PSALMES, THE SECOND AND THIRD OF THE PENITENTIALS.
Seruing eſpecially for the Direction and comfort of all perſons, who are either troubled in minde, diſeaſed in bodie, or perſecuted by the wicked.
By Mr. A. SYMSON, Paſtor of the Church at DALKEITH in Scotland.
LONDON, Printed by W. I. for Iohn Bellamie, and are to be ſold at his Shop at the two Greyhounds in Cornehill, neare the Royall-Exchange. 1623.
TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND POTENT LORD, WILLIAM EARLE of Morton, Lord Dalkeith: one of his Maieſties moſt Honorable Priuie Councell of Scotland, &c.
And TO HIS NOBLE LADY, Dame ANNA KEITH, eternall felicitie.
AS my firſt trauels on the ſeuē words which our Lord ſpake vponupon the Croſſe, ſought to ſhelter themſelues vnderunder the ſhadow of your Ladiſhips protection: So theſe vponupon the firſt of the 7. Pſalmes of Repenta… craueth the Patronage of … both; and doth ſpecially app… taine to your Lo. Becauſe y… Grandfather of good memory … led by al men the good Earle of M… ton, was the firſt who moued … in my youth to preach the ſam… not only publike in the Churc… but priuately in the Caſtle to … Lady your Grand-mother, wh… memorial is ſo ſweet, that it is li… the ſmell of fragrant odors, a… is honorable among all men. H… had the true feare of God, a ſi… cere louelove to the truth, & all go… men, a mirrour of chaſtitie, me… cifull, inſtant in prayer, conſta… in the truth. In a word (Go… knoweth I lie not, neither flatte… the only Phoenix of this age. And as your Lo. repreſents his perſon in body, ſo I pray God you may draw as neare to the gifts of his mind, wherby your name may be eternalized, & eſpecially in zeale to the glory of God, your duty to your Prince and Country, the honor of your eſtate, & care to liue honorably & dutifully to al your equals and inferiors And finally, to crowne all the actions of your precedent yeeres, with ſuch a glorious teſtament as he did, wherof your Lo. was eye-witneſſe, that your noble houſe may be ſo much the more ennobled in your noble perſon, & leaue a memorable example to your poſterity that ſhall follow, I was thrice happie, that I was brought vp vnderunder his hand, who that ſame yeere he entred to his Earledome, chooſed me to his Church of Dalkeith, where I hauehave ſerued theſe thirtie fiue yeares.
Wherefore my hearty deſire is that this book may be a memoriall of my louelove and ſeruice to your Lordſhip, & to your Lady, which I truſt in God will giuegive you faithfull admonitions and directions, as I my ſelfe hauehave done oft-times, both how to liue in your Religion, and conuerſation. So wiſhing many good & proſperous daies to you both, and your hopefull Poſteritie; I reſt,
Your Lordſhips and Ladiſhips ſeruant, A. SYMSON.