The Bright Morning Star, Title page – Dedication
THE BRIGHT MORNING STARRE: OR, The Reſolution and Expoſition of the 22. Pſalme, preached publikely in foure ſermons at Lincolne. By IOHN SMITH Preacher of the Citie.
Apoc. 22.16.
I am the roote and the Generation of Dauid, and the Bright Morning ſtarre.
Printed by IOHN LEGAT, Printer to the Ʋniuerſitie of Cambridge. 1603. And are to be ſolde at the ſigne of the Crowns in Pauls Churchyard by Simon Waterſon.
EMMANUEL
…d…n … in Chriſte Patris Will… ….
Coll Emman. Cantab.
To THE RIGHT Worſhipfull, religious, and courteous Knight, Sir William Wray, my approoued good friend and benefactor, ſalutations in the Lord Jeſus.
SIr: it ſeemeth a thing very reaſonable to me, that ſeeing eueryevery bald tale, vaine enterlude, and pelting ballad, hath the priuiledge of the Preſſe, the ſermons and readings of miniſters may challenge the ſame: the worlde is full of Guy of Warwicke, William of Cloudeſlee, Skoggins, and Wolners ieſts, and writings of like qualitie: and therein men take great delight to read, and ſo make themſelues merrie with other mens ſinnes, beſtowing to this purpoſe much vaine time and ſuperfluous expences: and J thinke the Stationers ſhop, and ſome mens ſhelues are better furniſhed with ſuch trifles, which deceiue the minde and affection as the baite doeth the fiſh, then with wholeſome writings of nature, arte, or religion. In which reſpect in ſeemeth to hauehave beene leſſe hurtfull to mankind, if Printing had neuer beene inuented, ſauing that the vſe of a thing is not to be forbidden becauſe of the abuſe: theſe things conſidered, hauehave imboldened me to publiſh my meditations and readings to the worlds views and ſeeing that Printing is a trade wherby diuers good Chriſtians maintaine their charge, & that for want of better imployment they ſometime are compelled to proſtitute their Preſſes to …s and vanitie: ſeeing alſo the trueth may better appeare by writings of diuers men, which perhaps one or two or more could not readily diſcouer: therefore I hauehave thought good in ſome part to preuent the danger of the one, and promote the benefit of the other. J hauehave not varniſhed my writing with the ſuperficiall learning of words, and figures, tongues, and teſtimonies of men (which not withſtanding I do not diſalow) but becauſe I purpoſed to apply my ſtyle to the vnderſtā ding of the ſimple, I indeauour to vtter matter with all plaineneſſe of wordes and ſentences. Nowe becauſe I hauehave experienced your ſelfe to be vnderunder the Kings Maiestie a principall profeſſor and protectour of religion in theſe quarters: (for what a multitude of faithfull miniſters are debters to you in the fleſh?) and for that I among the reſt hauehave reſted vnderunder your ſhaddowe, your name came firſt to my mind in this writing: wherefore I beſeech you vouchſafe to intitle it with your name, and I ſhall acknowledge my ſelfe graced therby. The Lord increaſe in your ſelfe and your vertuous Lady and childrē all manner of heauenly graces & bleſſings.
Your Worſh. humbly in all manner of Chriſtian affection, Iohn Smith.