Dickson David

Dickson David, an eminent Scotch divine, was born at Glasgow in 1583, and educated at the University of Edinburgh, in which he afterwards became professor of Philosophy. Having been appointed minister of Irvine in 1618, he became a very popular preacher. In 1643 he became professor of Divinity in the University of Glasgow, and afterwards in that of Edinburgh. He was ejected at the Restoration in 1662, and died the same year. He was considered one of the ablest and most useful men of his time, and his works continue to be esteemed, particularly his commentaries, which, though brief, have much point and condensation. Dickson's name will ever be remembered for his version of the hymn O Mother dear Jerusalem SEE HYMNOLOGY. His principal works are, A brief Exposition of the Gospel according to Matthew (Lond. 1651, 12mo); A short Explanation of the Epistle to the Heb. (Aber. 1635, sm. 8vo; Lond. 1839, royal 8vo); Expositio analytica omnium apostolicarum epistolarum (Glasgow, 1645, 4to; A brief Explication of the Psalms (Lond. 1655, 3 vols. 8vo; Glasg. 1834, 2 vols. 12mo); Therapeutica sacra (Edin. 1656, 8vo); Therapeutica sacra, translated by the Author (2d edit. Edinb. 1697, 8vo); Truth's Victory over Error (Glasg. 1772, 12mo). — Hetherington, Ch. of Scotland, vol. 1; M'Crie, Sketches of Ch. Hist. 1:196; 2:61.