The saints recreation, third part, upon the estate of grace containing and methodicially [sic] delineating a Christians progress, priviledges, comforts and duties, beginning at conversion : describing also the Blessed Redeemer Jesus, both absolutely and comparatively : and all these in spiritual hymns and songs, suted to grave sweet and melodious tunes, together with a plain paraphrase upon the margent, confirming all by Scriptures, explaining difficulties and methodizing the songs / compiled by Mr. William Geddes ...

THE DEDICATION. To the Right Honourable, most pious and vertuous Lady, Dame MARGARET LESLEY, Councess Dowager of Weems.

MADAM,

THough this little Treatise may be called mine be way of com∣posing, yet is may be justly called your Ladieships work by way of publishing and presenting it into the World: For it was your Ladieship and your Noble Daughter, that most excellent Young Ladie, Dame MARGARET, Countess and Heretrix of WEEMS, who gave me the most considerable advance for my encouragement and assistance in Printing. And by such works as this, Your Ladieship gives a clear demonstraiting, that, you are not like that barren Fig-Tree, mentioned in Luke, Cha. 13. vers. 7. But like the pleasant Palm-Tree, bringing forth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Old Age, Psal. 92. 14. And the scope of this work being to divert [if possible] our profane vulgar from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sonners to more Christian and Spiritiuall divertisements, I hope, Your Ladieship need not be ashamed to vouchsafe it the smiling aspect of your favourable counten••••••••.

To run out upen Your Ladieships Elogies and Applauses, Your Vertues are so great and con∣spicuous, and my Stile so low, and disproportionable, that I dare not much adventure, lest I be found deficient. Your Pietie and Devotion towards GOD, your Equitie towards, Mert, your Charitable Supplies to indigent Christians, your Equabilitie and composednesse of Spirit in all conditions of Life, whether Prosperitie or Adversitie are so menifest to all, that common Fame [if I should insist] might easilie put to silence my weak Oratrie. It hath pleased GOD Almightie to attend your Ladieship with some singular Providences and extraordinarie Blessings, (Lord great you suteable Thankfulness.) As first, the LORD hath been pleased to propagat and continue three Noble, Ancient and Eminent Families by your happie Ofspring. The Lord was graciouslie pleased to make your Ladieship an happie and successfull 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in that wonderful Restauration of our Royal Soveraign the Kings Sacred Majestie without Blood, which is one of the great wonders of our Age, and whereupon all the World ••••••ked with admiration and astonishment: And this your Ladieship did by influencing, with Christian Advice, (as I am informed) those * 1.1who were in power at the time.

And as this Noble Enterprise, at such a time, evidenced Masculine Courage and Heroick Magnanimitie, so it was an infallible argument of most Christian Humanitie and Superlative Loyaltie. There is yet one thing more, which I cannot omit, deserving great deference, being some piece of rariety in this cold, Laodicean-like and backslyding Age: And that it your Christian-Moderation, Prudence and Sobrietie, that whileas the most part of People are devia∣ting to some sinful and vicious extreams, upon the right hand or the lest; some to erroneous giddiness and unconstant levity; some to Atheistical loosenoss and profanity, Your Ladieship all the time hath keeped the middle line of a golden Mediocrity, even the straight course of solide, sober and substantious Christianity: Which [I am confident] shall afford your Ladieship unspeakable Peace and Comfort here, and conduct you to Eternall Felicity hereafter: And this shall be the constant Prayer of him, who it.

Urquhart, Iune 6, 1683.

MADAM Your Ladieships most obse∣quious and devouted Ser∣vant in CHRIST, VVILLIAM GEDDES.

Notes

• * 1.1

  General Major Monk, afterward called Duke of Albemarle.