PREFACE
APART from "Lives"
of Andrew Melville and Robert Bruce singularly little has been
done to revive the memories of leaders of the early Reformed
Church in Scotland John Davidson of Prestonpans is one who deserves
to be better known and it is surprising that before now, no
effort has been made to give some adequate account of so eminent
a man. With the exception of a very brief sketch by Rogers in
his Three Scottish Reformers, and some scattered references
elsewhere, there has been no attempt to give a detailed narrative
of his labours and influence. That he has failed to receive
due recognition is possibly owing to the outstanding brilliance
of one or two of his contemporaries. Although far behind Knox
or Melville as an ecclesiastical statesman, and probably inferior
to Bruce as a preacher, yet he was no less truly a Reformer
than any of them.
The object of this work is to rescue the man from comparative
obscurity by communicating full and authentic details of his
history, and in doing so it will be possible to show how important
a part he played in the great controversies of his day, to describe
the contents and consequences of his literary efforts in poetry
and prose, and to exhibit his worth and greatness.
To the Rev. Professor Hugh Watt, D.D., New College, Edinburgh,
who suggested the subject, I am deeply indebted for kindly interest
and generous guidance. My sincere thanks are also due and cordially
given to the Rev. Principal John Macleod, D.D., Free Church
College, Edinburgh, for many helpful suggestions ; to Dr. H.
W. Meikle, National Library of Scotland and Dr. W. R. Cunningham,
Glasgow University, for making available to me important manuscripts
and finally to the Rev. Dr. Hector Macpherson, for his kindness
in reading the proofs. |
| R. MOFFAT GILLON. |
| September 1936 |
|
Back 