our sinnes he was made a curse for vs Galat. 3.13 He was wounded for our transgressions and broken for our iniquities Esay 53.5 and out of this hard rocke thus smitten by Moses rod a Well of water sprang forth into euerlasting life Iohn 4.14 The Sea saw that and fled The world is called a Sea Reuelation 4.6 the world then f Dr. Jncognitus persecuting Christ and his Apostles is a red sea this red sea fled at the preaching of the Gospell and gaue place Christ rebuked the winds and the waters and so there was a great calme Matthew 8.26 Iordan was driuen backe g Matth. 3.16 Christ himselfe was baptised in Iordan and such as are h Rom. 6.3 baptised into Christ and beleeue send not as other i Ecclesiastes 1.7 riuers vsually their streames into the sea that is they fashion not themselues according to this world but are renewed in their mindes Rom. 12.2 they repent and turne backe from their olde courses and walke in newnesse of life Rom. 6.4 The mountaines skipped like rammes By mountaines k In loc Arnobius doth vnderstand the Prophets quia locuti sunt altitudines Dei they reioyced at the fulfilling of their Prophecies and skipped as Rammes in seeing that sheepheard borne l Iohn 10.11 who would lay downe his life for his sheepe S. m In loc Augustine makes the blessed Apostles and other Preachers of the Gospell olde sheepe and their auditors as it were lambes and young sheepe begotten in Christ vnto God by the disposers of the secrets of God according to that of n 1. Cor. 4.15 Paul vnto his Corinthians In Christ Iesus I haue begotten you through the Gospell Israels Exodus out of Egypts bondage was so great that God himselfe in perpetuam rei memoriam instituted the o Exod. 12. passouer to be kept of his people for euer and further inserted a short remembrance thereof in the prologue to his law I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage This deliuerance was temporall and particular onely concerning Israel and the house of Iacob but the redemption by Christ is spirituall and generall appertaining to men of all conditions and countries of all tribes and at all times euen from the beginning vnto the worlds end For so God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Iohn 3.16 and therfore the Church vpon good grounds ordained the feasts of Christs Incarnation Passiō Resurrectiō Ascension And for as much as Christ is our p 1. Cor. 5 7. Passe-ouer the Church of England q Melancthon in loc affirmes that it was vsually sung amōg the Iewes at their celebration of Easter appoynted this hymne fitly to bee read on Easter day The Church of Rome r Apoc. 17.6 drunkē with the blood of Saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Iesus Christ is spiritually Babylon and Egypt And the Papists her followers a generation of barbarous people barbarous in their doings and barbarous in their doctrines Concerning their barbarous vsage their bloodie butchering of Gods Israel in Angrongne their massacre in France gun-powder treason in England are clouds of witnesses against them vnto the worlds end As for their sayings is it not barbarous language to call that man of sinne most holy father and as if that were not enough holinesse it selfe ſ Bellarm. epist dedic Tom. 1. controuers sanctitas vestra t Idem epist dedic Tom. 2. Baronius epist dedic Tom. 2. annal reliqui papistae communiter beatitudo vestra Is it not barbarous language to set Anti-christ in the seate of Christ and to terme him expressely u Cap. quoniam de immunitate in 6. Turrecremat sum lib. 2. cap. 27. per totum the husband of the Church Is it not barbarous language to magnifie the Romish Pharaoh aboue x 2. Thessal 2.4 all that is called God making him a Demi-god yea Semi-god neither absolutely God nor simply man but a midling between both Is it not barbarous language to say that none may presume to tell him of his faults though he should through his ill example draw millions of men into hell as their y In Decreto cap. si Papa dist 40. owne text runneth innumerabiles populos cateruatim secum ducit primo mancipio gehennae cum ipso plagis multis in aeternum vapulaturus huius culpas istic redarguere praesumit mortalium nullus Is it not barbarous language to say that no minorite Frier obseruing S. z Hen. Sedulius apolog lib. 2. c. 9. Francis order and rule can be damned and that a certaine Frier vpon a time being carried into hell and surueying in it euery corner found not so much as one Franciscan Frier That a Frier should goe to hell is thought no great marueile but that he should returne from thence to tell vs this tale seemeth incredible considering the Pope himselfe determineth ex inferno nulla redemptio Is it not barbarous language to say a Fox Martyr fol. 913. 1011 that to bee buried in a gray Friers frocke in S. Francis Cowle should remit foure parts of penance three parts of our sinnes b Buchanan fratres fraterrimi Quî fit vt moriamur in cucullo Cum nemo bene viuat in cucullo Is it not barbarous lāguage to say that it is an c Card. Campegius Albertus Pighius apud Iewel defence of his apolog part 4. cap. 1. diuis 1. honester thing for a Priest to be intangled with many concubines in secret then openly to be ioined in mariage with one wife For hee may not keepe one benefice with one wife d Cornelius Agrippa de vanit scient cap. 64. but hee may haue two benefices and three whores Is it not barbarous language to say e Jo. Lambert apud Fox Martyr fol. 1018. that for repeating ouer the fifteene Ooes euery day once through a whole yeere wee shall apertly see our Ladie to helpe vs after our death or that we shal haue the like benefit for saying of her Psalter vpon the tenne beades that come from the crossed Friers or vpon the fiue beades hallowed at the Charter-house or for fasting the Ladies fast as they call it yea for fasting on the Wednesday Is it not barbarous language to say that our f Bellarm. de Iustificat lib. 2. cap. 2. cap. 10. owne inherent righteousnesse is the formall cause of absolute iustification and not the righteousnesse of Christ imputed vnto vs This opinion is so barbarous that S. Paul saith of it Galath 5.4 Yee are abolished from Christ and fallen from grace whosoeuer are iustified by the law Is it not barbarous language to say that the g Thom. part 3. quaest 25. art 3. Crucifixe is to bee reuerenced and adored with the selfe same kinde of worship that is
vnto me O God be mercifull as being so willing to defend thy children as the hen is her chickens vnder the shadow of her wings Gods might I will call vnto the most high God euen vnto the God that shall q The like phrase Psal 138. and Philip. 1.6 perform the cause I haue in hand who shall send from heaueÌ„ to wit his hand as Psal 144.7 or his Angell as Dan. 3.28 or as it heere followeth his mercie and truth able to saue me from the reproofe of him that would eate race vp and deuoure my soule r Mollerus Tileman Caluine opposing heauen to terrene meanes By supernaturall and extraordinarie miracles so well as ordinarie meanes able to deliuer his seruants as well with Å¿ 1. Sam. 14.6 2. Chron. 24.11 few as with many So Manasses in his prayer buildeth all his comfort vpon Gods almightie power and vnsearchable mercifull promise So Christ in his absolute paterne of praying aduiseth vs to call vpon God as our father in heauen insinuating hereby that God is willing to grant our requests as being our father and able because in heauen And according to these presidents our holy Mother the Church of England begins her publike deuotion vnto God Almightie and most mercifull Father Able to heare because almightie willing to helpe because most mercifull For my soule trusteth in thee He desires to be heard in respect of his assured affiance in Gods almightie power and holy promise t Psal 145.18 The Lord is nigh vnto all them that call vpon him euen all such as call vpon him faithfully u Psal 50.15 Call vpon mee in the time of trouble so will I heare thee c. x Psal 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in him And therefore Dauid here challengeth as it were God vpon his word saying Be mercifull vnto me for my soule trusteth in thee The y Euthym. Agellius Genebrard repetition of miserere sheweth his earnest affection and intention in praying and the word z Caluâ—ne soule that his hope for helpe was no flying conceit of his braine but a full assurance setled in his heart Lord I trust in a D. Incognit Beza Buchanan nothing else but in thee alone for vnder the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge vntill this tyrannie be ouer past Some put their trust in b 1. Tim. 6.17 vncertaine riches and say to the wedge of gold c Iob. 31.24 thou art my confidence But d Prou 11.4 riches auaile not in the day of wrath e Baruc. 3.17.19 hoarders vp of siluer and gold are come to naught and gone downe to hell O foole this night will they fetch away thy soule from thee Luk. 12.20 Other trust in their owne worth and holinesse as the Pharisie Luk. 18. stood and prayed thus with himselfe O God I thanke thee that I am not as other are extortioners vniust adulterers I fast twice in thee weeke I giue tithe of all that euer I possesse But f Prou. 28.1.26 blessed is the man that feareth alway for he that trusteth in his owne heart is a foole Other trust in their politike counsell as Achitophel of whom it was said in those daies that his counsell was reputed g 2. Sam. 16 23. as an oracle of God but the Lord h Iob. 5.13 catcheth the wise in their owne craftines and the counsell of the wicked is made foolish Other boast of their strength and put their trust as i 1. Sam. 17.45 Goliah did in their sword and shield but k Ierem. 17.5 cursed be the man that maketh flesh his arme withdrawing his heart from the Lord. Other put their trust in Princes and make the Kings Minion their mediatour But saith our l Psal 146.3 Prophet O put not your trust in Princes nor in any child of man for his breath goeth foorth and hee turneth againe to his earth and then all his thoughts perish Other put their trust in m Psal 20.7 Chariots and other in horses but we will remember the name of the Lord our God only blessed is he that hath the God of Iacob for his helpe and whose hope is in the Lord his God Psalm 146.4 and therefore be mercifull vnto me O God be mercifull vnto me for in thee haue I put all my confidence Mine other friends and forces besides thee what are they but miserable comforters as n Iob. 16.2 Iob speakes if they bee compared with thee o Tileman Bellarmine Like as the chickens seeke to the henne for defence so runne I to the shadow of thy wings for my refuge Lord my soule trusteth in thee now so shall it euer vntill this euill be passed ouer p D. Incognitus Wilcox For by the word vntill he meanes not that when the storme was appeased hee would then cease to trust in God but that hee would both then and for euer depend vpon him as long as hee hath any being Psal 146.1 So the word vntill is vsed 2. Sam. 6.23 Michol the daughter of Saul had no child vntill the day of her death And Psalme 110. vers 1. The Lord said vnto my Lord sit thou on my right hand vntil I make thine enemies thy footstoole Where the word vntill as I haue shewed vpon the place notes not a piece of time but a perpetuitie For Christ after all his enemies are made his footstoole shall euer sit at the right hand of God as hauing a q Heb. 1.18 throne which endureth euer and a r Luke 1.33 kingdome without end Vnder the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge Å¿ Euthym. Bellarmine By this he doth vnderstand Gods safeguard protection and prouidence The metaphor is borrowed from the Hen whose wings in t Bonauent Mollerus three things especially resemble Gods high and holy hand ouer vs. 1. The wings of the Henne nourish and brood her chickens euen so the Lord said vnto Hierusalem u Matth. 23.37 How often would I haue gathered thy children together as the henne gathereth her chickens vnder her wings and ye would not 2. The wings of the Hen serue to defend her chickens from a tempest and storme so God is a x Esay 25.4 refuge against the tempest a shadow against the heate 3. The wings of the Henne serue to protect her chickens from the kite that houereth ouer them and would faine deuoure them euen so God deliuereth his children from the y Psal 91.3 snare of the hunter z Augustine Hierome Arnobius that is from the subtill tentations of the diuell who walketh about seeking whom hee may deuoure 1. Pet. 5.8 The Lord hideth all his vnder the shadow of his wings Psal 17.8 and so capa-pe they shall be safe vnder his feathers his faithfulnes shall bee their shield and his truth their buckler Psal 91.4 Vntill this tyrannie be ouer past He coÌ„pareth his affliction calamity to a a Geneua
and scourge vs for our benefit Saint a 2. Cor. 12.8 Paul desired thrice to be deliuered from the buffeting of the flesh and not heard that Gods power might be made perfit thorough weakenesse And so the Lord tooke not from Lazarus his sicknesse and pouertie that hee might crowne him with a greater mercy commanding his b Luke 16.22 Angels to carrie him into the bosome of Abraham And so he suffers his seruants to be tempted and tried with imprisonment and losses and crosses for their good in this respect he is tearmed the God of all consolation 2. Cor. 1.3 of all as knowing how to comfort vs in all our tribulation a present helpe in euery kinde of trouble Nothing in the world can doe this and therefore c Iob. 16.2 Iob said to his acquaintance who could not vnderstand his griefe aright miserable comforters are ye all Againe God is the God of all comfort in that he comforts his children so fully that it is a ioyfull thing for them to bee sometimes in affliction For as the sufferings of Christ abound in them euen so their consolation aboundeth thorough Christ 2. Cor. 1.5 Touching the length of his mercy Dauid saith it endureth for euer as his mercy compasseth vs about d Psalm 32.11 on euery side so likewise at euery season it continueth vnto our end and in the end yea further in that other life which is without end his mercies are from euerlasting to euerlasting that is from euerlasting predestination to euerlasting glorification His mercies in forgiuing our offences and in couering all our sinnes are exceeding long the Lord saith our Prophet is e Psalm 103.8 full of compassion and mercie long suffering and of great goodnesse For though impenitent sinners prouoke him euery day walking in their owne waies and committing all vncleanesse euen with greedinesse yet he neuerthelesse affoords his good things in f Acts 14.17 giuing them raine and fruitfull seasons and filling their hearts with foode and gladnesse his mercie doth exceede their malice being patient toward them and desiring that none should perish but that all should come to repentance 2. Pet. 3.9 Hee maketh as though hee sawe not the sinnes of men because they should amend Wised 11.20 Christ aduiseth vs Mat. 18.22 to forgiue one another not onely seauen times but also seuenty times seuen times and Luke 6.36 to be mercifull as our Father in heauen is mercifull insinuating hereby that God is infinitely mercifull vnto sinners euen to great sinners which owe his Iustice tenne thousand talents Concerning the depth of his mercy loue is seene in our Sayings Doings Sufferings Loue superficiall is in word onely that which is operatiue manifesting it selfe in deedes is deepe but the profoundest of all is in suffering for another Now the Lord hath abundantly shewed his mercies in all these First in his word written and preached written g Macab 12.9 For wee haue the holy Bookes in our hands for comfort and whatsoeuer things are written afore time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope Rom. 15.4 By his word preached for the Ministers of the Gospel as h 2. Cor. 5.20 Ambassadors entreate you to be reconciled vnto him vnto them is committed the word of reconciliaton and peace they be the i 1. Cor. 4.1 disposers of his mysteries and messengers of his mercies it is their duty to binde vp the broken hearted And therefore Dauid saith in the 85. Psalme verse 8. I will hearken what the Lord will say concerning me for he shall speake peace to his people Secondly God sheweth his mercy toward vs in his doings in k Psalm 103.4 sauing our life from destruction and in crowning vs with his louing kindnesse But as loue is seene in deedes more then in words so more in suffering then in doing and of all suffering death is most terrible and of all deaths a violent and of all violent deaths hanging vpon the Crosse is most hatefull and shamefull yet God so loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne to dye for our sins on the Crosse Doubtlesse one wil scarce dye for a righteous man but yet for a good man it may be saith l Rom. 5.7 Paul that one dare dye but he setteth out his loue toward vs seeing that while we were yet sinners and his enemies Christ dyed for vs. Lastly for the height of his mercy the depth appeareth in it's effects but the height by the cause moouing to mercy which is exalted aboue the Heauens according to that of Dauid m Psalm 36.5 In Coelo misericordia tua Domine Men vse to pitie their seruants in respect of their owne commoditie the which is the lowest degree of mercy for euery man if he be not a foole pittieth his very n Prouerb 12.10 beast Other pitie men in regard of friendship and alliance which is an higher degree of mercy Some shew pitie to men in that they be men not onely flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone but also created according to Gods owne likenesse and similitude which is among vs the highest degree of mercy Now God takes pitie on all things as being his Creatures on men especially being created after his owne Image but on true Christians principally being the Sonnes and heires of his kingdome If any shall aske what cause moued him to make the world to create man after his owne likenes to iustifie sinners and adopt vs for his children it is nothing else but his meere mercy that endureth for euer He loued vs when we would not yea when wee could not loue him and he continueth his goodnes not in respect of his owne benefite for hee needes not our helpe but onely for our good The Lord is gracious because gracious And therefore the blessed Angels aptly diuided their Christmasse Caroll into two parts o Luke 2.14 Glory to God on high and on earth peace God hath indeed all the glory but we reape the good of his graciousnes and mercie that endureth for euer I called vpon the Lord Hitherto King Dauid concerning the graciousnesse of God in generall He comes now to treate of his mercy toward himselfe in particular the which is applyed by Diuines vnto the p Augustine Mollerus Church and q Caluin Placidus Tileman Agellius Christ himselfe who was in his Passion heard at large and in his Resurrection he saw his desire vpon his enemies The pith of all which is summarily comprised in the 24. verse This is the day which the Lord hath made let vs reioyce and bee glad in it In which obserue 1. What day is meant by this day 2. How the Lord is said to haue made this day more then other daies 3. Why we should in this day so made reioyce and be glad For the first r Bucer Caluin Mollerus litterally this ought to be referred vnto the solemne day wherein Israel