Forty-Five Sermons Upon Psalm 130, Title page – To the reader
FORTY FIVE SERMONS UPON THE Cxxx PSALM; Preached at IRWIN, By that Eminent Servant of Jeſus Chriſt, Mr. George Hutcheſon, Miniſter of the Goſpel.
EDINBƲRGH, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderſon, Printer to their moſt Excellent Majeſties, Anno DOM. 1691.
To the Right Honourable and truly Noble Lady, La: MARGARET LESLIE, Counteſs of ROTHES, &c.
SUCH, I know, was the Author's reſpect to your Ladyſhips Noble Family, and to your Self (though young at his death) upon what all ſaw ſo promiſing, even then, in your Ladyſhip, that I doubt little, but if he had lived till now, to Publiſh theſe very uſeful Sermons, he might probably have brought them to publick view, under your Ladyſhips Name: And Providence having put them into my hand, I judging them (with others of far deeper reach) very ſerviceable to all, who ſeriouſly mind their Souls concerns, was eaſily induced (that they might not be buried in Oblivion, as I fear, many other things of his, very worthy of the light, may be) to give them to the world in Print, Dedicat to your Ladyſhip, in doing whereof, I might (and others in the like caſe probably would) here commend your Ladyſhip, for your examplary Piety; your love to Religion, evidenced by your laying out your ſelf to the outmoſt, for the advancement thereof, in your preſent Capacity; your Care and Vigilance in the Education of your Noble and Hopeful Children (whom the Lord bleſs) by means whereof, they may prove eminent Inſtruments, in due time, of promoting the good of their Countrey, both in Church and State; the indefatigable pains you have been, and ſtill are at, to advance their Eſtates, that they may be in the better caſe to appear to purpoſe for theſe; and your modeſt, diſcreet, ſober, and prudent deportment in all: every one of which, might be inſiſted on at length, without the leaſt ſhaddow of flattery, or encroachment on truth. But as this (I know) would not be acceptable to your Ladyſhip; ſo beſides that, I being no Orator, am nothing fitted for it, it is ſo contrary to my humour, that all I ſhall further add, is, that being ſufficiently aware, of my Obligations to your Ladyſhip, and to your Noble Family, I have preſumed, as a Teſtimony of my ſenſe of theſe, to prefix your Name to this Piece, which I intreat, may be taken in good part, off the hand of,
MADAM, Your Ladyſhips moſt humble and devoted Servant, G. L.
TO THE READER.
I Shall ſpeak nothing of the Author of this Work, he was far above my Commendation, he exerciſed his Ministry, first, at Camanell, afterwards, at Edinburgh, and laſtly, at Irwin, where he Preached theſe Sermons, and finiſhed his Courſe; in all which places, for his Piety, Parts, and particularly his eminent Gift in Preaching, his Memory is very ſavoury, and will be to all who will ſeriouſly read theſe Diſcourſes of his: Which, had he lived to Publiſh himſelf, they had certainly appeared in a far more advantageous Dreſs; But you have them here, as they were received from his Mouth, when Preached, by the Pen of an Hearer: And if at any time, you meet with any thing leſs clear in them, it's hopt, you will attribute it, to this, or to ſome Inadvertency at the Preſs, and not to the Author, who was known to be no-ways involved or obſcure, but moſt accurate, most exact and distinct, in all that he did; and to add this, in the by, (which is remarked of him, by one moſt pertinently) in all his Obſervations and Purpoſes, ye will find him, though always Native, yet frequently very ſurpriſing. But the ſerious peruſal of them will ſay more, both for their Vindication and Commendation, than I poſsibly can, which, if you ſet about, as you ought, they will prove, through the Lord's Bleſsing, as they were at firſt, and now are intended, for thy Spiritual Benefit, which is the ſincere deſire of
G. L.