COurteous Reader ( for now that his MAIESTY hath His MAIESTIES Meditat . vpon Mat . 27. v. 27 , 28 , 29 Advertisement to the Reader . styled thee so , thou art bound to make good that Epithite , and it is no small matter to be so styled by a King , especially by such a King ) I am now about a Taske for thy behoofe , which if the Lord shall be pleased to prosper , it shall no whit repent thee , that thou hast procured thy selfe this Book , the First Fruits thereof . Bookes , I know , are Wares now a dayes nothing more common , and it is a World to see the seuerall Arguments of Bookes that are extant , but he of all Men speeds best , who procures himselfe such Books as may further his heauenly Knowledge here , and his eternall Happines hereafter . The Kingdome of Heauen Mat . 13.45 . saith our Sauiour , is like vnto a Marchant man , seeking good Pearles , who when he had found one Pearle of great Price , he went and sold all that he had , and bought it . The trueth is , here 's the Place , to buy and sell in this kind . The little Span of thy Life , is the whole Time that is allotted thee , to imploy thy Marchandise to that purpose . If thou now traffique while thou mayst , and hit vpon Pearles of great Price , I meane , Bookes of good Meditation , Happie , thrice Happie art thou , that euer thou wast borne : If not : but thou neglectest the Time , and supposest to Morrow shall be as Yesterday , and the next Day to that , as were the Former Dayes already spent in much Iollity , beware it prooue not that Day , wherein the Lord shall come , and Mat . 24.50 . cut thee asunder and appoint thee thy Portion with the Hipocrites , there shall be weeping , and gnashing of Teeth .

2. Supposing , Beloued , thou fearest asmuch , and that thereupon thou art addicted to a Life more correspondent with thy Christian Vocation , then the ordinary Sort doe leade , and therefore frequentest the House of God , I meane the CHVRCH , especially at such times as Dauids Psalmes are there read , both at Morning , and Euening Prayer , I haue taken vpon me here to interprete those PSALMES , that as thou art willing to reade the same , though thou alwayes vnderstandest them not , in imitation of that Religious Act. 8.31 . Eunuch , who in such sort read the Prophet Esay : so thou mayst as hee , haue an Interpreter in this case , though not a PHILIP , yet My Selfe , if so be the Lord be pleased , to make Me the Instrument to that purpose .

3. For to tell thee , good Reader , the Trueth , I am now I was borne Feb. 25. 1567. the Sunne for that Moneth being in Pisces , which puts me in minde of that of Folengius : Me esse Folengium cogito , Hominem nimirum natum Hyadum tempore ( meaning November ) idcircò ab Aquis illis non abhorrentem , quas Christus in Davide , vsque ad Animam suam intrasse queritur . lo . Bapt . Foleng . in Psalmos Epist. ad Niced . Fratrem . stricken in Yeeres , and more then Fiftie are already past , of those Ps. 90.10 . Threescore and Tenne , that the Prophet Dauid allowes euen in common Account to the Dayes of our Age , and who knowes how farre short I shall come , or of those Yeeres , or of the Taske I haue begun , Cases which haue befalne many a Seruant of God , that hath bene imployed as I am . But if Death shall hereafter say of me ( and none but Death , I trust , shall so say ) Luc . 14.30 . This Man began to build , and was not able to finish : Virg . Aeneid . l. 4. Exoriare aliquis nostris ex Ossibus Vltor ,

Some one , or other , I trust , shall second me , and euen in despight of Death , perfourme the Worke I haue begunne . And though the Poet tell mee so peremptorily , Plant . Trinum . Act. 3 sc . Quomodò tu istuc . Nimium difficile est reperiri Amicum , ita vt , nomen CLVET , that it is impossible to finde a Friend , according to the significancy of that Name , yet seeing our Sauiour saith , that the Things which are Luc . 18.27 . impossible with Men , are possible with God , I will dye , if I dye , in expectance of such a Friend ; and as Iacob Gen. 48.5 . said of Iosephs two Sonnes , Ephraim , and Manasses , that they should be his owne , as Ruben , and Simeon were : so my Friends Labours shall be mine , as this Ruben , and Simeon are ; or to speake more properly , Christian Reader , they shall indeed be Thine . But of this , as God shall dispose , in the meane time let me infourme thee of many Particulars , concerning the Worke now in hand .

4. Hauing bene in Sacred I was made Minister by Dr Robinson Bishop of Carlile , in Queens Colledge Chappell in Oxford . Feb. 4. 1598. Orders well nigh these Twentie Yeeres , and improoued that poore Talent , which the Lord hath lent me , both abroad , and at hoame ; J printed some Fiue yeeres since for my Parishioners in particular , and some other of my Friends , certaine SERMONS , and LECTVRES of diuerse and sundry Arguments , such as at that time J could imagine would be most behoouefull for them . Oftentimes after bethinking my Selfe what next of all to take in hand , that might bee suteable to those Beginnings , I resolued at length vpon the PSALMES , as being most fit to be discoursed of , in regard of the dayly vse that all of vs make , or should make of that Booke of holy Scripture . Heereupon J beganne to I began on Christmas Day . Ao 1615. Lecture vpon them , and to interprete them one by one ; but when J had Lectured vpon Fiue , which yet J scarcely finished in Two Yeares space , Suits , and Sicknesse so surprised me the next Two Yeares vnto those , that J could doe nothing at all in this kind . When I saw that in so many Yeeres my Motion was so slow , and that by this meanes J should come short of Saturne , the slowest of all the Planets , who yet in Plin . Nat. Hist . l. 2. c . 8. Thirty Yeeres , perfourmes his Revolution , I resolued at the length vpon a speedier way , namely Reyn de Rom. Eccles . Idol . Epist. ad Com . Essex . Manu & Scriptione , by Hand , and Hand-writing , to Comment on the Psalmes , and by Benefit of the Imprimit ille Die , quantum non scribitur Anno. Act. and Mon. Edir . 4 p. 708. ex Aprutino . Presse to divulge them to the World , speaking to the Church by the Tongue of my Hand , euen as St Austen offered the Sacrifice of his Confessions vnto God , by the Aug. Confess . l. 5. c . 1. Hand of his Tongue . Which Course as it is the speedier , so hath it an other Benefite annexed with it besides , namely that by this meanes , the Candle that should haue bene otherwise , but vnder a Bushell of Auditors , is now on such a Mat . 5.15 . Candle-stick , as may easily giue light to all that are in the House , J meane the English visible Church .

5. In regard hereof I haue First made choice of that Translation , which the Selfe-same Church vseth in her dayly Deuotions vnto God . I know the last Translation is more agreeable vnto the Hebrew , the Vid . Aug. de Doct Christ . l. 2. c . 11. Originall of the Psalmes , whereunto in matter of Controuersie , wee are rather to referre our Selues , howbeit since our Mother the Church notwithstanding that Translation hath retayned THIS still ( whether in regard of our Cathedrall Churches that vse it singing wise , and Custome hath made it more familiar , which is as a Dio Chrys . indeed compareth Customes to a KING , and Edicts to a Tyrant because we are subiect Voluntarily to the one , but vpon Constraint to the other . Chrys . Orat . 76 . {αβγδ} . Vid . Suid . in {αβγδ} . Nec quicquam impedit correctionem nisi Consuetudo cantantium . Aug. de Doct . Christ l. 2. c . 13 . {αβγδ} . Custom winneth such strength by time , that it is more firme then either Nature or Religion . N●cet . p. 19. Tyrant to bind fast ; or in regard of the Septuagint so much commended by Aug. de Doct . Christ . l. 2. c . 15. & in Ps. 87. & de Consens . Evangel . l. 2. c . 66. & Quaest. sup . Gen qu . 169. S. Austen , and vsed by the Apostles themselues , out of which it was translated , certainely out of the Greeke , if that Greeke be not the Septuagint , as Vid . Drusij Observat . l 6. c 9. & l 13. c . 12. some are of opinion ; or in regard of the Translators themselues , who in the beginning of Queene ELIZABETHS Raigne translated that Bible , which was commonly called The Great Bible , and so in our Church Service Books the Title for the Psalmes , is this : Booke of Common Prayer . The Psalter or Psalmes of Dauid according to the Translation of the great Bible ) since our Mother the CHVRCH , I say , notwithstanding that Translation hath retained THIS still , let vs followe our Mothers stepps , and seeing she giues vs these PSALMES as a dayly portion to feed vpon , eate wee our Meat without grudging . He is but a sorry Souldier that followes his Commander with Malus . Miles est qui Imperatorem gemens sequitur . Sen. Epist. l. 18. Ep. 108. finger in the Eye , and that Sonne that lets fall the Bread his Mother giues him , for it is but course to see to , and not so white as his fancy would haue , is like to make many hungry Meales , & to expose himself to the old Saying , Fast & welcome . I , but by these meanes will some say , all the Titles of the Psalmes will be omitted , which Titles are Scripture to , and these Words will bee left out , Higaion , Selab , Neginoth , Nehtloth , Sheminith , Gittith , and the like . Indeed Omissions , if materiall , and no iust occasions thereof , are much to be misliked , and reference to be had to the Fountaine it selfe , which in many respects is most gratefull . Let mee goe no farther for Example then to the very Accidence , where we shall finde an Example of a Rule thus set downe , Rule of the Gerund in do . Caesar dando , subleuando , ignoscendo Gloriam adeptus est : a Speech cast oftentimes in Schollers T●eth by couetous Patrons , whenas they seek at 〈…〉 the way of Preferment : whereas had the words beene there set , as they are in the Author himselfe , Salust . Coniurat . Catilin . Caesar dando , sublevando , ignoscendo , Cato nihil largiendo , Gloriam adeptus est , they might easily haue answered those Cormorants , that it behooued Gentlemen to bee like Caesar , J meane for matter of Giuing and Bestowing , Schollers were to be like Cato rather , and according to Senecaes Senec . Epist. l. 1. ep . 11. Rule , to propose hîm their Example . But in earnest , what will they say to S. Pauls omission of a Thousand at a clapp in his Epistle to the 1. Cor . 10.8 . Corinthians , where he wrighteth 23 Thousand , whereas the Story Numb . 25.9 . saith Foure and Twenty Thousand ? What will they say to Luc . 11.4 . S. Lukes Omission both of the Third and Seauenth Petition in the Lords Prayer , as also of the Conclusion , For thine is the Kingdome &c. which S. Mathew Mat . 6.13 . hath ? Or had they liued in those times would they haue petitioned against S. Lukes Gospell for wanting those Points . Doubtlesse had they done it , they would haue driuen S. Luke but to his old Profession to haue giuen them Physick for the Colos . 4.14 . Body , seeing his Physick he gaue them for the Soul , wrought no better with them . To come vnto the purpose ; Though these things here omitted , namely the Titles , and the Hebrew words , are not in this Translation , nor well could be in regard of Church-Service , yet are they in another . J meane that most exquisite Edition , as a most Exquisite Dr Hall of the Honour of the Married Clergy . l. 1. §. 26. Devine calls it . But Mr Th. Hutton his Answ . to the Minist . of Devm . and Corn . Part . 1. p. 133. & Part . 2. p. 205. others hereof haue spoken sufficiently long agoe .

6. Secondly , my chiefest ayme is at the true vnderstanding of each Psalme , as also of those Places that are more difficult then the rest . For we say not , as our Adversaries Rhem . in 2. Pet . 3.16 . say we doe , that the Scriptures are easie to vnderstand , much lesse that they may be expounded boldly of all the People , aswell Vnlearned , as Learned . No ; Ignorance made those Notes , and Impudence maintaines them , as it doth many more besides boldly vented in that Booke . Wee to say that the Scriptures are so easie to vnderstand ? Wee to say that they may be expounded boldly of all the People Learned and Vnlearned too ? Quote the Authors , name the Men , or else be contented to bee branded hereafter for notorious Lyars in the highest degree . Jndeed we Aug. de Doct . Christ . l. 2. c . 6. say with S. Austen , Honourably and profitably the Holy Ghost hath so tempered the sacred Scriptures that by the more easie places thereof , he hath taken order against Hunger , by the hard and more difficult places , he hath taken away all loathsomnesse . For nothing in a manner is picked out from those Obscurities , which in some other place may not be found to be spoken most plainely . And againe , Aug. lb. c . 9. Vid . Whit . de hoc loco Augustini . De Script. Contr . 1. Qu . 4. c . 4. In those things that are plainely set downe in Holy Scripture , are all things found which contain Matter of Faith , and the Manner of our Liues wee are to lead , namely , HOPE , and CHARITY . And most copiously in another place , Tanta est Christianarum profunditas literarum , &c. Aug. ep . 3. ad Volusian . Such is the depth of Sacred Scriptures , that dayly should I profit therein , if from my Childhood to Old Age , I should endeauour to learne them only with the greatest leasure that might be , with exceeding great study , and with a Wit answerable therevnto : not that wee attaine therein to those Things which are necessary to Saluation with so great difficulty , but when a Man hath learned thereby that Faith without which he can in no wise liue Godly and rightly , so many Things closed vp in so manifold Mysteries remaine to those that would profit therein , and such an Height of Wisdome lyeth hid not only in the Words they are deliuered in , but in the Things themselues that are to be vnderstood . Insomuch that it will happen to the most Elderly , the most Acute , the most desirous to learne , which the same S. Austen seemeth in this place to call Ecclesiasticus , SCRIPTVRE , not for hee tooke it to be Canonicall Scripture , but for it was wont to be read in the the Church to edification . Vid . Whit . de Script Contr . 1. Quaest. 1. c . 4. vnlesse by a slip of memory ( often in the Fathers ) he might thinke on the suddaine , that it was written in Ecclesiastes , or the Proverbs , for the Booke he doth not quote Or else hee might thinke at that time that Ecclesiasticus was written by Solomon . who afterwards altered that opinion . Whitak . Ib. Non sunt Canonici ad firmandum ea quae sunt Fidei : possunt tamen dici Canonici ad aed ficationem Fidelium , vtpote in Canone Bibliae ad hoc recepti & authorati . Caietan , in fine Comment . in Hist . Vet . Test . Whitak . loc . cit . Scripture hath in another place , Ecclus . 18.6 . Vulg . when a Man hath done then he beginneth . Thus S. Austen , and thus wee , if any say more then this , it may be they haue relation to that of Epiphan . Haer . 69. p. 376. Epiphanius , Omnia sunt clara & lucida in Divina Scriptura . All things are cleere and bright that are contained in heauenly Scripture . And againe , interpreting as it were himselfe , Id. Haer . 76. p. 444 Vid . Whit de Script. Cont . 1. Quaest. 4. c . 4. Omnia clara sunt in Diuina Scriptura his , qui ratiocinatione divinum Sermonem adire volunt . All in heauenly Scripture is cleere to them who will reasonably take it in hand . But to returne where I left . When I say my cheefest Purpose is at the true Vnderstanding of each Psalme , as also of those Places that are more difficult then the Rest , it is not my meaning to arrogate to my selfe the true Vnderstanding of every Psalme , much lesse of every Passage contained therein : No ; I say with Luther rather , wrighting on the selfe same Psalmes : Luth . Epist. ad Frid . Ducem Saxon . Praefix . Lib . Psalm . I here professe an Interpretation of the Psalmes , yet so I doe professe it , that I would haue no Man presume of me , which None yet of all the most holy and most learned Fathers could ever perfourme . Namely to Vnderstand and Teach the Psalmes in the right and true sence in every respect . It is enough to vnderstand some of them , and those some but in part neither , the Holy Ghost reserueth many things vnto himselfe , that thereby he might alwaies haue vs his Schollers . He only sheweth many things to allure vs to the reading of them , many things hee deliuereth thereby to stop our Mouthes , and as S. Austen speakes passing well , Nullus hominum ita locutu● est , vt in omnibus intelligeretur . Aug. de Trin . l 1. c . 3. Neuer any man so spake as that he might truly be vnderstood of all men in all things . And therfore much more the Holy Ghost hath a certaine peculiar Vnderstanding of all his Words . And againe a little after , I knowe it is most impudent Boldnesse in any Man that shall dare to profess that he vnderstandeth in all points any one Booke of Scripture . Nay who dares presume that he roundly vnderstandeth one only Psalme .

7 Thirdly , in all Quotations of Holy Scriptures , the Psalmes excepted onely , for that by reading them in the Church so often , they are more familiar to vs in that Dialect , I shall wholy follow the last Translation , vnlesse peradventure sometimes some occasion may bee giuen of a gratefull Remembrance of the Former . Nor shall this prejudice their Paines who haue by his Excellent MAIESTIES Princely Care beene imploied in the Latter , forasmuch as they themselues in their owne very Words commend the Former so much . We , Preface to the Reader Prefixed to the Bible Printed in the yeare . 1612. say they , are so farre of from condemning any of their Labours that trauailed before vs in this kinde , either in this Land or beyond Sea , either in K. HENRIES time , or K. EDWARDS ( if there were any Translation , or Correction of a Translation in his time ) or Q. ELIZABETHS of euer Renowned Memory , that we acknowledge them to haue been raysed vp of God , for the Building and Finishing of his Church , and that they deserue to be had of vs , and of Posterity in euerlasting remembrance . Aug. de Doct . Christ . l. 2. c . 12. Indeed as S. Austen tels vs , The diuersity of Translations is a Benefit to the Vnderstanding , if so be the Readers of holy Scriptures be not to to negligent . And therefore that Purgatories Triumph ouer Hell . p. 107 Goose that shamed not to publish in Print in the Yeare 1613. that Scripture with vs had beene scarce three Yeares a Mother , he doubtles was a wise one , but was he a Goose trow you , or a Gander ? For his owne Mother Church of Rome was shee also Motherlesse & destitute of Scripture , before the Vulgar Translation ? Or might it haue beene said to our Roman Catholikes , Vid . Conc . Trid . April . 9. 1546. that that Scripture of theirs was not a Day old ? Or be it it was S. Ieroms Translation ( which they wil be neuer able to prooue ) had their Catholike Roman Church , they so much brag of , no Scripture before that time , because they had not that Translation ? S. Austens Words may bee fitly here remembred , Aug. Ep. 6. Quomodo ergò exierint de hoc laqueo alieno , sic exeant de suo : Answere one , and answere both .

8 Fourthly , my Practise hath beene to followe such Interpreters as haue gone before , Ancients and Moderne ; Elder and Later ; Old and Young . Nor am I dismaied with those Flowtes which Lud . Rouz . Problem . Miscellan . Problem . 17. Ludovicus Rouzeus , a merry Gentleman it seemes , bestowes vpon Commentators out of Rablais . Hee questioning in a Booke of his to whom Commentators may be likened : Such kinde of men , saith he , may not vnfitly bee likened vnto Sheepe , the most simple , saith he , ( set the Asse aside ) of all Beasts whatsoeuer . For as those Commentators doe follow their first Leader quietly and peaceably without any more adoe , & tread in the self same Steps , euen so doe Sheep saith he , as Panurgus in Rablais hath taught vs in Pantagruels Nauigation . With that he tels the Story , & the Story was this : So it was that Panurgus hauing nothing else to driue away the time withall , bargained with a Sheep-master that with an whole Flocke of Sheep was in the selfe same Ship with him , for one of his Weathers , which when he had separated from the rest , he presently It hath bene told me by an Atturney at the Law , that the like was practised of late , and an Action commenced thereupon in one of our Westminster Courts . cast it over boord . This when the rest of the Sheep beheld , they immediatly after their Fellow , and striuing with one an another which of them should ouer next , many of them in conclusion leapt into the Sea , insomuch that the Sheep-master himselfe with his Servants endeavouring to withhold the rest , and holding them by the Hornes , were driuen over boord with the violence of the Sheepe , and the Sheep , and they , duckt togither . Of two Similitudes the Gentleman vseth , this is the better yet of both , and indeed the cleanlier , and Seneca noting this qualitie in Cattle , hath , I remember , these Words Nihil magis praestandum est , quàm ne Pecorum ritu sequamur Antecedentium Gregem , pergentes non quò eundum est , sed quo itur . There is nothing more to bee lookt vnto , Senec . de Vit . Beat . c . 1. saith he , then that we follow not them that went before vs , like Cattle in a Heard , going onwards , not whether wee should goe , but where the Way is troden before . But if so be this be so much to be lookt vnto , I for my part am content to be blinde , and if it be a Fault , I am wel pleased it should be mine . In Matters of Divinity , let them See my LORD of CANTERB . vpon Jonas Lect . 25. §. 14. single themselues that list , I had rather bee the last in a Troope of good Interpreters , then be the Leader of a Band to Schisme and Singularity .

9 Fiftly , my Purpose is to set downe vnto thee the whole Psalme Word by Word ; then , to bring it in a Briefe Analysis or Resolution , Verse by Verse , and afterwards , on every Verse to discourse more at large . This I take to be my best Course for the better exposing of the Psalmes to each Mans view , that wil throughly consider of them . Senec . de Vita Beat . c . 4. For as in Matter of War , one and the selfe same Army is sometimes spread out at length , sometimes drawne into a Ring , and yet hath one and the selfe same Strength , one & the selfe same Power , one and the selfe same Will : And as in Matter of Painting , Pictures , as Signa modò paruula fieri , & palmarem in minutiem contrabi , modò in immensum t●lli , & admirabilem in amplitudinem subleuari . Arnob . advers . Gent . l. 6. saith Arnobius ( and we see it by Experience ) are sometimes of the Bredth of the Palme of the Hand : sometimes of greater Bulck , and both represent the Party , to the better calling of him to mind with every one that knows him : so may every Psalme to the Readers benefit , be thus contracted vpon occasion , and also bee explicated more at large . In which my Explications , my Intent and Purpose is , to haue a Regard vnto the Vnlettered aswell as to the Learned , hauing alwayes that of the Apostle before mine Eyes , Rom. 1.14 . I am Debter both to the Greekes , and to the Barbarians , both to the Wise , and to the Vnwise . It was an Excellent Answer which Iacob gaue his Brother Esau when he would haue had him make that Superlatiue speed in journeying , himselfe did intend , My Lord knoweth Gen. 33.13 . saith Iacob , that the Children are tender , and the Flocks , and Heards with yong are with me : and if Men should ouerdriue them one Day , all the Flock will die . Let my Lord , I pray thee , passe ouer before his Seruant , and I will lead on softly , according to the Cattell that goeth before me , and my Children be able to endure , vntill I come vnto my Lord vnto Seir . Right so , let Others take what Course they please , either altogether about the Hebrew Rootes , or altogether about Schoole-Points , or altogether about our Moderne Controuersies , or altogether about Postillers , and let let them be as Voluminous , and Copious , as Lorinus of late , I neither envy , nor admire them , they vse those many Talents they haue , and I this onely One . Wherefore as that vnfortunate , yet worthy St Thomas Overbury his Newes from the Court . Knight once spred it in the World for Newes , That to be SAVED , was the best Plot : so my Selfe am out of doubt , that the best Writing indeed , for a Man of my Coat is so to Write , that not so much the Vnderstanding , as the Will be bettered , not so much Knowledge , as Life advaunced . And heerein I suppose I haue two such Abettors , as little Exception will be taken against , namely Iuntus , and Pareus : of whom the Former in an Epistle to Baro at Cambridge : When I looke , Si ad Rem specto , sic cogito , Nihil iam dici , quod non dictum sit prius : si ad Tempora haec nostra , ea esse in quibus Seruos Dei magis de Sanctimonia docenda , & Charitate accendenda , quàm de Quaestionibus laborare op●rteat . Fr. Iunius Epist. ad Baronem . Ms. saith he , vpon the Matter , I think with my selfe that Nothing can now be said , which hath not bene said already . If I looke on these our Times , I see them to be such , as that the Seruants of God , ought rather to bestowe their Labours in teaching Sanctimony of Life , and kindling Charity in their Auditors towards one an other , then in spending the Time about Questions . Pareus thus : The Cause of my Generall Silence Quod ad me , duas scito me habuisse Causas Silentij , atque etiamnum habere . Vnam General●m , quòd Aetate hac mea abuti non d●beo , nec volo ad contenoiosa , & semestria Scripta , quam totam dehinc ( quantum mihi restabit ) volente Domino , Scriptionibus exegeticis Sacrarum Scripturarum consecraui . Dauid Pareus Actor . Swalbacen . Part . 1. Collat . 4. saith he , is , for that I ought not , neither will I abuse this Age of mine , to spend it in Contentious Writings , and such as last but a while , which hereafter as long as it shall last , I haue consecrated Godwilling to such Writings , as shall onely expound Holy Scriptures . And againe a little after , Cuiusmodi Lucubrationibus me de Ecclesia longè melius mereri posse confido , qu●m si ad altercandum cum Adversarijs , quibus scio esse propositum nunquam tacere , nec cedere Veritati , Stylo , & Aetate abuterer . Pareus Ib. By which kinde of Writings I shall farre better deserue of the Church , then if I should abuse both my Penne , and my Yeeres in wrangling with such Aduersaries as are fully purposed , I know , neither euer to hold their peace , nor to yeeld vnto the Trueth . His Excellent His MAIESTIES Medit . vpon the Lords Prayer . in the Preface . MAIESTY hath obserued the like in Bellarmine himselfe , who of late Yeeres hath giuen ouer ( he saith ) his Bickerings in Polemikes and Controuersies , wherein he was bred all his Life , and betaken himselfe now to set out a Short Meditation euery Yeere , sauing that he embellisheth euery one of them with Two or Three Fabulous Miracles , which his Excellent MAIESTY well likeneth to those old Wiues Fables , whereof the Apostle St Paul speakes in his First 1. Tim . 4.7 . Epistle to Timothy . And it may be our Rhemists kept this good Decorum to , who making so many Polemicall Notes vpon other Books of Scripture , especially the New Testament , yet are nothing so plentifull vpon the Psalmes , whether it was , that they would keepe a good Decorum indeed , or which is more likely , for they had spent their whole Provision before , in their Notes on the New Testament . Many by giuing vnadvisedly , rashly , or foolishly Multi Patrimonia effuderunt inconsultè largiendo . Quid autem est stultius , quam quod libenter facias , curare vt id diutius facere non possis . Tull . Offic . l. 2. saith Tully , haue spent their whole Patrimonies . And what is more foolish , then that which a Man doth willingly , to take a Course , that he shall not be able to doe it any long while .

10. Sixtly , and lastly , my purpose is to quote vnto thee most exactly , what Testimony soeuer J shall haue occasion to bring , or out of the Fathers , or out of other Writers , whether Sacred , or Profane . A Labor which I could ease my selfe of , aswell as Others doe ; but then I feare I should do thee wrong , & I professe I euer misliked that wilfull omission of Quotations , in Writers of our Age . It is true , the Ancients did it not , at leastwise so exactly , as Many doe now a dayes , but the Books then were not so many , & those that were , w●re better known , & perhaps there was not so much Iugling as is in this Age , eithe●●● Adding or Detracting , or in plaine Belying the A●thor mentioned . Besides , they had not the Benefit of PRINTING which we in these dayes haue . A Benefit , which were it not abused , as too-too commonly it is , might as truely bee stiled LEARNINGS-RIGHT-HAND , as any one thing whatsoeuer . And yet sometimes , because Some of the Ancients quoted not some things that they brought , but trusted their Memories too too much , what ouer-sights haue they made , and what mistakings haue past them in seuerall Places ? I could instance in Diuerse , and in Matters of great Moment , but I had rather make mention of their Vertues , then of their Scapes . But as it is Carelesnesse in Some , so perhaps it is Envy in Others , not to acquaint their Readers with the Authors they haue profited by , but J would wish a true Scholler to beware of either , especially of Ingratitude , such as Macrobius is taxed with , who borrowing so much as he doth , saith my P. Crinitus de Honest . Discipl . l. 22. c . 4. Author , neuer professeth to whom hee is behoulding . And yet I doubt not , but the exactest Man that is , may slip a Quotation sometimes . No Man I thinke in this kinde more exact , then that Doctor of most memorable worth , Dr REYNOLDS ( famous for it to this Day ) who hauing once notwithstanding omitted a Quotation , in his D. Rey . Conf . c . 2. Diuis . 3. Edit. 1584. p. 110. Conference with Mr Hart , about Sophocles , and Euripides , concerning the bringing in of the Persons of Women in their Tragedies , the One , GOOD ; the Other , BAD ; and my Selfe , for I was on a Time to make some vse thereof , desiring t●●ow of him where I might reade that Passage , i●●e Selfe same Paper that I sent , he returned mee wi●● his owne Hand , this Answer , euen in these very Words , which still I reserue & keepe by me , as an excellent Sparke of good esteeme .