Exposition of the Proper Psalms, Title page – Dedication
AN EXPOSITION OF THE PROPER PSALMES VSED IN OVR Engliſh Liturgie, TOGETHER WITH A REASON WHY THE CHVRCH did chuſe the ſame.
By IOHN BOYS, Doctor of Diuinitie.
The firſt part explaining the Pſalmes appointed to be read on Christmas and Easter day.
PSALM. 49.4.
Aperiam in Pſalterio propoſitionem meam.
AT LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KYNGSTON, for VVilliam …
TO THE RELIGIOVS AND EVERY WAY NOBLE KNIGHT, SIR THOMAS WOTTON of Bocton Malherbe, Sonne and heire to the right honourable EDVVARD Lord WOTTON, Baron of Marleigh, Comptroller of his Maieſties houſehold, Lord Lieutenant of the Countie of Kent, and the Citie of Canterburie, and one of the moſt Honorable Priuie Counſell.
SIR, as the Scriptures excel other writings in veritie; ſo the Pſalmes, other Scriptures in varietie: for whereas ſome ſacred bookes are legall, as the Pentateuchue of Moſes: other hiſtoricall, as the Kings, Chronicles, Acts: a third kinde Propheticall, as the Ʋiſion of Eſay, Sermons of Jeremie, Reuelation of Saint John: a fourth Euangelicall, as the Goſpels and Epiſtles: the Pſalter (asaProlog. in lib. 3 Pſalmorum. Auguſtine, bHom. de laudibus & virtute Pſalm.Baſile, cPraefat. in Pſalm.Euthymius, anddAthanaſius. Chryſoſtom. other ancient Doctors honour it) is a common treaſure-houſe of all good arguments and inſtructions: and in this reſpect aptly tearmedeCaluin. epiſt. praefix. Com. in Pſalm. The Soules Anatomie, the fTremel. argument. in Pſalm.Lawes Epitomie, the gSee Victorinus Strigellius epiſt. Dedicat. & Tilemanus, Heſhuſius praefat in Pſalm.Goſpels Jndex; in one word, The hTurrecremat. prolog in Pſalm.Register, iIo. Gaineius epiſt. lect. in od. Dauid.Enchiridion, kEx ceteris omnibus quaſi Collectus. Hen. Mollerus praefat. in Pſalm.Summarie pith, and (as it were)lAgellius prolog. in Pſalm. Briefe of the whole Bible.
VponUpon this ground the Church inmPreface Com. Booke. old time, diuiding the Pſalmes into ſeuen portions, inioyned that they ſhould bee read in diuine ſeruice (thorough) once eueryevery Weeke: and in our time parting them into thirtie, once eueryevery MonethMonth: where as other parts of holy writ are read thorough but once in the yeere. And the Nouelists, howſoeuer they miſlike bare reading of Chapters, approue notwithſtanding by their poſitions and practiſe, ſinging of Pſalmes in the Congregation.
By which it doth appeare that nothing is eſteemed generallie more neceſſarie for the worſhippe of God, then the word of God, and no parcell of the word more full and fit then the Pſalmes; vntounto which I will adde, that no Pſalmes are more profitable then the proper, as vnfoulding the foure chiefe myſteries of holy beliefe; namely, Christs Jncarnation, Paſſion, Reſurrection, Aſcenſion.
An expoſition whereof I hauehave begun in the name of the Lord Ieſus, and that for his Sions ſake; the which I dedicate to your worthie ſelfe, as being a noble Theophilus, that is, a true ſeruant of God, and obſeruant of his Church, affected ſo right honeſtly (which is right honorably) to her doctrine and diſcipline; that your humble Comportament in Gods houſe, giueth vntounto the world good hope, that you will become an open booke of vnfained deuotion and pietie. Now the God of all comfort, according to the multitude of his mercies, and riches of his glorie, bleſſe you and your Honourable Familie, that you may long enioy good dayes on earth, and hereafter eternall happineſſe in Heauen.
Yours in all good offices of dutie and louelove: IOHN BOYS. Hollingbourn. April. 2.