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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A06500	A commentarie vpon the fiftene Psalmes, called Psalmi graduum, that is, Psalmes of degrees faithfully copied out of the lectures of D. Martin Luther ; very frutefull and comfortable for all Christian afflicted consciences to reade ; translated out of Latine into Englishe by Henry Bull.	Luther, Martin, 1483-1546.; Bull, Henry, d. 1575?	1577 (1577)	STC 16975.5; ESTC S108926	281,089	318

Sauiour Christ God is able of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham For whereas the promise was made vnto Abraham the Phariseis because they were the children of Abraham thought they shoulde vndoubtedly be heires of the promise This confidence made them bold to liue carelesly and without all feare of god Therefore saith he it is certaine that the children of Abraham shall be heires of the promises made vnto Abraham but if ye will be carelesse and wil not obey the commaundement of God I say vnto you it is an easie thing for God to reiect you and of the very stones to reise vp a posteritie vnto Abraham So this promise dependeth wholy vpon the condition to bridle and beate downe our presumption The couenant is the promise of mercie through christ The Testimonies are the will of God reueiled vnto all ages by Moses and the Prophets Wherefore he requireth faith and then obedience vnto the law And here is to be noted that he addeth VVhich I will teach them For he will be the teacher and he wil be heard He will not that the Councells should be heard or such as teach that he hath not taught So we say also of the Church that where so euer the promise of God is beleued and his word obeyed there is the Church But they that doe not beleue bragge they of their glorious titles their holy vocations and such like neuer so much are reiected of God no members of the Church For who would beleue the Pope because he is the Pope And yet for this onely cause he will be beleued no man may aske whether the thinges which he teacheth be true and sound but he will haue men simply to beleue that that holy sea can not erre Against this who so euer dare once open their mouthes or examine his decrees by the word of God are drawne and haled to all kindes of torments Like as therefore the Iewes taught and defended their errors and impieties by the authoritie of their Kinges vppon whome this promise seemed to be grounded euen so in all ages is the false church wont to doe But we answere that in deede the promise is true and yet is it conditionall namely If ye keepe my couenant and my testimonies For God did not so anoynt the Kings that they should doe what so euer seemed good in their sight or what so euer they ordained or taught God would approue because they were kings and the anoynted of God but he addeth If ye keepe my couenant So in the newe Testament it is a true saying He that heareth you heareth me but yet not generally to be vnderstand of all those which teach in the Church For some teach not the word of Christ but their owne word This word God willeth not to be heard but commaundeth that it be not heard when he sayth Take heede of false prophets So Moses in Deutronomie commaundeth that the king should neuer lay the booke of the lawe out of his handes but should exercise the same continually in reading in learning and in practising the same If this commaundement was giuen to the Kings vnder the law what shall we then thinke of the word of the newe Testament In vayne shall the Pope and his Prelates here glorie and bragge of the Councells the fathers the Church the dignitie which they haue so many yeares vsurped All these are so farre to be approued and beleeued as they teach according to the rule of the holy Scripture For the Church which hath authoritie from God is that onely and alone which followeth the voyce and the word of the Lord. Moreouer we learne by experience that nothing is more common emongest men then to abuse the authoritie and power committed vnto them very few there be which doe rightly vse their authoritie either in the Church or in the common wealth The cause is for that the greater part serue their owne affections their owne lustes and pleasures and whiles they shoulde rule others they suffer them selues to be ruled and gouerned of Satan Hereof commeth it that we see the Pope the Bishops yea the whole Papacie to haue no care of the word nor loue to the word at all but are wholy giuen ouer to seeke theor owne glorie dignitie wealth and pleasure Wherefore their authoritie bindeth not vs although it were the authoritie of an Angell from heauen but with good conscience we depart from them lest we should be disobedient to the high authoritie and Maiestie which is God him selfe But if the Pope with his Prelates would not resist and persecute the doctrine of Christ if with vs they would beleue teach that we are iustified by the onely price of the blood of Christ and would not teach men to make marchandise of their owne merites and workes we would gladly acknowledge their authoritie But since they manifestly impugne the worde since they defende their impieties and abominations with extreme crueltie and tyranny we doe not onely reiect and contemne their authoritie but we say as Paule sayth that they are accursed It is a common principle emongest the popish Doctors that the Pope is aboue the worde and the Scripture and that in the lawe of God he may dispense as pleaseth him But God giueth no authoritie vnto man aboue the word So should he set man that is to say dust and dunge aboue him selfe for what is the word but God him selfe This word they that honor obey and keepe are the true Church in deede be they neuer so contemptible in the world but they which doe not are the church of Satan and accursed of God. And this is the cause why it is expresly set downe in the text The testimonies which I will teach them For so will God vse the ministerie of teachers and Pastors in the Church that he notwithstanding will be the chiefe Pastor and all other ministers and Pastors what so euer yea the Church it selfe shall be ruled and gouerned by the word Emongest the people of Israel the Kings and Priestes glorying and vaunting of their vocation thought they might doe what they list So the Pope and his Prelates at this day will not be subiect to the authoritie and rule of the word the Scripture For the euill conscience which the Pope hath doth alway cry out and witnesse vnto him that the holy Scripture is the word of God and therefore will be against him vtterly condemne him Wherefore there is no prison which he more hateth and abhorreth then the word of God. This conditionall sentence is here set down because of the wicked that they should not take vppon them an absolute power contrary to the word For there is no absolute promise but that which perteineth vnto Christ which saith not with a certeine condition but generally and absolutely that Christ should come of the seede of Abraham Nowe whereas the corporall kingdom did endure vntill this promise as touching Christ

A COMMENTARIE VPON THE FIFTENE PSALMES CALLED PSALMI Graduum that is Psalmes of Degrees FAITHFVLLY COPIED OVT OF THE LECTVRES OF D. Martin Luther very frutefull and comfortable for all Christian afflicted consciences to reade Translated out of Latine into Englishe by HENRY BVLL Imprinted at London by Thomas Vautroullier dwelling in the Blacke Friers by Ludgate CVM PRIVILEGIO 1577. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER GRACE AND PEACE in Christ Iesu. ALBEIT the reading of the Scripture it selfe and the simple text thereof without further helpes hath matter enough to giue intelligence and instruction sufficient for the soule of mā to saluation if with hart and diligence it be earnestly applyed and followed as it should yet notwithstanding the helpe of good cōmentaries explications annexed withall especially such as be learned and godly is not hurtfull but rather is much requisite greatly needefull both for opening of places of difficulty for dissoluing doubtes and debating of controuersies such as may and vse many times to happen Wherefore most highly bound we are to the goodnes of our Lorde and Sauiour who hath herein so well prouided for our infirmitie in blessing this time of ours so plentifully with so many learned writers and worthy workers in his word As in al times he hath done but most chiefly in this time of ours is now to be seene In which time as we haue to giue thankes for many other of late memorie famous singular instruments of Christes glory so namely for the author compiler of this present work Martin Luther VVho although of many hitherto either hath not beene redde and so not throughly knowne or of a great number hated and maligned or of some lightly regarded or peraduenture misiudged Yet to such as either haue aduisedly redd him or shall be disposed to take trial of him hauing by experience of infirmities and affliction any skill to iudge of true diuinitie shall be founde emonges many preachers teachers of this our time most chiefly worthie not onely of iust commendation but also to be compared with the chiefest yea and so necessary for these times of the Church to be seene and redde that the poore mourning soules of the afflicted can not well want him that for diuers purposes especially for two principall causes First for true comfort spiritual consolation to such weake minds as in cases of conscience are distressed and wrastle in faith against the terrour of Satan of death of damnation against the power of the lawe and wrath of God wherein I see very fewe or none without comparison be it spoken in these our daies to instruct more fruitfully with like feeling and experience Secondly for discerning and discussing the difference betwene the law and the Gospell how these two partes are to be separated and distincted a sonder as repugnant and contrary and yet notwithstanding howe they both stand togither in Scripture and doctrine and yet in doctrine no repugnance The knowledge whereof how requisite it is for all Christians to learne the miserable lack thereof will soone declare For where these two be not rightly parted but confounded what can followe there but confusion of conscience either leading to despaire or else to blind securitie without any order in doctrine or true comfort of saluation As by examples of time is soone seene namely if we loke into the later times of the Romish Church where for want of right distinguishing betwene these two great errors haue risen and no great maruel For where the Gospell is taken for the lawe and the lawe for the Gospel and Christ receaued but onely for a law giuer and where things go by workes and lawe of deseruing what hope or assurance of saluation can be there considering our workes in their best kind to be so imperfect and vnprofitable And what shall be said then of our naughtie workes but especially ▪ what shall be said then to the mourning lamenting sinner who feleth no good thing dwelling in him but all wickednes shall he then despaire or how else will ye comfort him For if Christ in his principall office be but a teacher of the lawe and of workes and that be the chiefest thing to be required in a Christian to worke saluation by the law of working where is then grace mercie promise faith iustifying peace rest of conscience redemption from malediction of the law if we be vnder the law still briefly where is the new couenāt of God made by his sonne if the olde couenant made by Moses doe yet remaine if it do not remaine then must there needs be a differēce betwene the law the gospel betwene the old Testamēt the new betwene the law of works the law of faith betwene Moses Christ betwene the master the seruaunt betwene Agar and Sara and their two children Now what difference this is thou shalt not neede Christian reader by me to be instructed hauing here the boke of Martin Luther to reade and peruse VVho as in his former treatise before set forth vppon the Epistle to the Galathians so likewise in these his commentaries vppon the Psalmes doth so liuely at large discourse that matter with many other things moe full of heauenly instruction edificatiō that hauing him though thou hadst no other expositour vpon the holy Scripture thou maist haue almost sufficient to make a perfect souldier against all the fierie darts of the tempting enemie Againe hauing all other and lacking this writer thou shouldest yet want some thing to the perfect practise and experience of a Christian diuine Although I neede not in the behalfe of this treatise vse any suche commendation the booke being able sufficiently to commende it selfe yet thus much by way of preface I thought good to notifie and premonish whereby I might the rather animate and encourage thy studious diligence good reader to ouer-reade this booke Wherin if it shall please thee to bestow the labour as the paine I trust will not be tedious so in the profite thereof I doubt not but thy labour shall be recompensed with no lesse spirituall consolation to thy soules health then the godly translator thereof M. Bull did receaue in translating of the same Who as he once made his vow vnto the Lord for certeine causes to turne this booke from latine into english so with no lesse fidelitie did well performe the same Blessed be the Lorde therefore which both put him in mind first to take this worke in hand and also graunted him life to the accomplishment thereof for so it pleased the Lord to continue his life so long till this vowed worke was fully finished And not onely that but also after his trauell taken gaue him to receaue such sweetenes thereby as in neuer thing more in all his life Now from him departed to turne to you that remaine aliue I meane all studious readers as we● thē that be wel willers to the gospel as also that be enemies yet not called to

foule sinke and filthy pudle But nowe by the great mercie of God the captiuitie beginneth to be turned the temple is repaired and the true seruice of God restored This Psalme after my iudgement speaketh generally of all such troubles and afflictions of the Church as haue bene at all times in all ages As first that the kingdom of the Iewes when they were yet vnder good Kinges was mightely assailed but yet not vtterly ouercome And that the people afterwards were spoyled of the Assyrians and Babylonians and carried away captiue but not cleane forsaken For they were againe deliuered out of captiuitie and in their owne land enioyed the promise concerning christ Thus speaketh the Psalme first of the Iewish Church Afterwards it comprehendeth as a prophecy the state and condition of the Church of the Gentiles to witte that God would preserue and defend it against all heretikes against all the rage and fury of the world against the kingdom of the Romish Antichrist moreouer against al the tentations of sinne which vexe and oppresse the conscience Thus must we apply this Psalme to all times and ages of the Church to all chaunges and alterations all daungers of the world the flesh sinne the lawe death and the gates of hell For the world assaileth it with power wisedome the deuil with desperation and dubitation heretikes with errors in faith and religion and the conscience with sinnes In all these perills we say Blessed be the Lord God who suffereth vs not to be tēpted aboue that we are able to beare In deede we must be tempted and tried but in the tentation he will giue an outscape besides this that he giueth vs strength also to beare the tentation vntill the time of deliuerance come This benefite Dauid here setteth forth and sheweth vnto vs the state of his people to the ende we may thereby learne this comfort that like as he preserued that people euen so wil he also preserue vs For we haue one and the same God the same spirit the same word the same promises briefly all things else whatsoeuer Wherefore we may say and sing with Dauid Verse 1. They haue often tymes afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say Verse 2. They haue often tymes afflicted me from my youth but they could not preuayle against me He nameth no certein enemie to the ende he may comprehend all Where he sayth From my youth he vnderstandeth all the time from their primitiue Church as we call it vntill Israel beganne first to be the people of god For albeit we euer praise those thinges which are most auncient and of greatest antiquitie as the primitiue Church is in deede worthy to be praysed yet God regardeth not this difference For in all times and euen in the last ages of the Church he gaue notable Prophets to the people of Israell as before the captiuitie Esay of all other the most excellent after the captiuitie Aggaeus Zachary and others In the meane time betwene Moises and these were Helias Heliseus c. So we see that the primitiue Church was more pure from heretikes and wicked opinions But yet notwithstanding there were some notable Prophets and other excellent men euen in the later times And when the roote of Iesse seemed now to be withered yet God reised vp Anna Symeon Zachary Elisabeth For God preserueth his Church though it be neuer so much assailed and oppressed according to his promise Onely let vs open our eyes that we may see from whence this commeth And here we may not looke to those things which the world especially estemeth and magnifieth but we must behold the Church as it is afflicted oppressed full of calamitie For this is the true face of the Church of God that it is weake enuironed with all deadly engines and compassed with all the furies of the deuill the world the flesh ▪ sinne and death These thinges he that will not behold but flieth and abhorreth them shall neuer finde out the true Church in deede For that is not the true picture and image of the Church which the painters see forth which paynt her as a goodly virgin as a citie well armed adorned and bewtified In deede that is a true picture but not according to the eies of the flesh But spirituall eyes doe see this great bewty that Christ is her husband begot her vnto him self by the holy Ghost bewtified her made her glorious with his owne blood with his merites and with his righteousnes Of all these thinges the flesh can see nothing can iudge nothing but seeth rather the contrary how she is subiect to most bitter hatred malice vexations torments Wherefore if it would paint her out in such sort as he seeth and beholdeth her then must it paint and set her forth as a deformed and a poore maiden sitting in a daungerous wood or desart in the middest of cruell and hungry lyo●s beares wolues swine venimous serpents also in the middes of outragious furyous men attempting with sword fire and water to destroy her and to roote her out from the face of the earth As there is in the Apocalyps set forth a goodly picture then the which there is nothing more excellent in that booke that the church as a desolate woman flyeth from the old serpent or dragon persecuting her her child Wherfore these words which Dauid here vseth may very wel be applied to her Many times haue mine enemies afflicted me many times haue they vexed me But this affliction seemeth rather to be an vtter destruction if we follow the iudgement of the flesh As if the enemies did so preuaile and ouercome that the Church were vtterly oppressed and vanquished for euer As we all find by our owne experience in our conflicts which priuately we suffer in our harts when Satan terrifieth confoundeth our consciences For then are reysed vp such terrors that no man can otherwise iudge but that the victory is Satans oppressing vs with heauy bitter cogitations with tentations vexations and anguish of spirit spoyling vs as to the flesh it seemeth of all the sweete consolations which by the merite of Christ and the word are offred vnto vs According to this sence we may well say Often times haue they afflicted mee For this seemeth to be not onely an affliction but an vtter desolation destruction As we priuatly feele this euery one in our owne hartes and consciences so the whole body of the church in all times doth confesse that it is vehemently assailed with strong and mighty armies of most deadly enemies of all nations and oppugned with the engines of all tentations tribulations euen from her youth that is from the time that when the people were deliuered out of Egypt they began to be knowne from other nations and to be the people of God. But here the church and the children of God comfort and reyse vp them selues agayne hauing good experience that in all