Scripture Songs, Title page – Dedication
Epithalamium, OR Solomons Song: Together with the Songs of Moses, EXOD. 15. & DEUT. 32. The Song of DEBORAH, Judges 5. The Song of HANNAH, 1 SAMUEL 2. The Churches Song. Isa. 26.
Digested into a known and familiar Meeter, BY SAMUEL SLATER
LONDON, Printed by I. Moxon, for William Lugg…r, at the Postern by Tower-hill, and Livewel Chapman, in Popes-head Alley, 1653.
January 17th MDCLII.
Imprimatur,
JOSEPH CARYL,
To my dearly beloved Friends and Fellow-members, the Inhabitants of Katharines Tower, and others, who are called to hold communion together in the Ordinances of the Gospel.
IT is a disputing age wherein we live, abounds with Controversies; Religion in the Practicals, yea in the Doctrinals and fundamentals of it, is by adversaries loudly alarum'd, and hotly charg'd; even that which in Paul's account was beyond the line of Controversie, is yet at this day brought within the lists. And if the foundations be undermined, it's no wonder that that which is superstructory hath strong Battery made against it. Such is the present condition of the Ordinance and exercise of singing. Some endeavour the invalidating of its authority, by Arguments framed against it: Others discourage from the practise, by reproches and scorns cast upon it, and upon those helps which have been afforded for the managing of it; making no more account of the composures of holy men of God, famous in their generations, then of loose Poems, and profane Jigs. Let such take heed lest they be found under a malignant influence, and acted by an Antichristian spirit, blaspheming God and his Temple, his holy Institutions, and them that attend them. A Vindication of this blessed Ordinance and exercise, hath been made by M. Cotton of New England, M. Manton, on Jam: the 5 th, and of very late days, by M. Ford of Exon; who have all appear'd in a Polemical way, and militated in this behalf: And I do heartily wish there were better improvement made of such Provisions, and that the Saints would not suffer themselves to fall under a suspension from practising Gospel Duties, meerly upon this account, that they are questioned and contradicted; that they would not fall off from them, because others fall foul upon them. My business at present is, to promote the practise of that which my self and others have so justly pleaded for. I engaged at first to deal with Solomon's Song, that mysterious Marriage Song; moved thereunto by considering the sutableness of it to Sacramental Communion. Having performed that task, and communicated my papers to some of my Learned Brethren, they perswaded me in like manner to deal with some other Scriptural Songs, and so make them publike. Accordingly I have digested the Songs of Moses, Exod. 15. Deut. 32. The Song of Deborah, Judg. 5. The Song of Hannah, 1 Sam. 2. and the Churches Song, Isa. 26. into a familiar Meeter; and in all, have endeavoured to keep as close as I possibly could, to the letter of the Bible. If what I have done may be in the least to the honour of God, and your advantage, I have my aym. It is the priviledge that Christ our blessed Redeemer hath purchased for you, and others of his Saints that when his enemies shall weep and howl, you and they shall sing and rejoyce. It shall be my Prayer for you and them, that when others shall lament and mourn for the destruction of Babylon, Rev. 18. you may be counted worthy to stand on Mount Sion, and sing the Song of Moses, and of the Lamb.
SAMUEL SLATER.