great comforte helpe and counsell agaynst the iudgemēt of God agaynst Gods wrath and euerlastynge death scyng that by our selues and other we haue experience dayly and hourely how we can nother counsell nor comforte our selues in smal bodely necessityes Therfore conclude thus hardely I playne cōparison As lytle as a natural shepe can helpe it selfe in the thynges that be leest of all but muste loke for all benefites at his shepherdes hāde much lesse can a man rule comforte helpe or geue counsell vnto hymselfe in thynges belongynge to saluacion but muste loke for all such at the only hand of God his shepherd with to fulfyl ony thyng for hys shepe that is to be done is a thousande tymes more wyllynge and diligent then ony other vertuous shepherde in the worlde As for thys shepherde of whom the prophete had spoken so longe before Christe is our shepherde it is euen Christ oure louynge master which is farre an other maner of shepherde then Moyses which is harde and extreme vnto his shepe dryueth them backe in to the wyldernesse where they fynde nother pasture nor water but playnescarcenesse Exod .iii. But Chryste is the gracyous and louynge shepherde which rūneth after the famy shed and lost shepe in the wyldernesse and seketh it there And whā he findeth it he taketh it vp gladly vpon his shulders Luc .xv. Yee geneth his lyfe also for his shepe Io .x. This must nedes be a louynge shepeherde Who wolde not be glad then to be a shepe of his This shepherdes voyce wherwith he speaketh and calleth vnto his shepe The shepherdes voyce is the holy gospell wherby we be taught that we optayne grace remissiō of synnes and euerlastyng saluacion not by Moses law wher thorow he putteth vs in the more feare drede and dispayre whiche were to fearful to sore afrayed and dispayred to muche afore but by Chryst whiche is the shepherde and bysshoppe of our soules .i. Pet. it whiche hath sought vs myserable and lost shepe and fetched vs out of the wyldernes that is to say from the lawe from synne frō death from the power of the deuell from euerlastynge damnacion And in that he gaue hys lyfe for vs optayned he vs grace remission of synnes cōforte helpe and strength agaynst the deuell and all mysfortune yee and euerlastynge lyfe also This is now vnto the shepe of Chryste a louynge swete voyce which they are hartely glad to heare which they knowe ryghte well and ordre them selues therafter As for a straunge voyce that soundeth otherwyse they nother knowe it nor herken vnto it but auoyde flye awaye from it c. Ioh. x. The pasture wherwith Chryste fedeth his shepe The pasture is also the comfortable gospell wherby the soules are fed and strengthed kepte from erroure comforted in all temptacions and troubles defēded agaynste the craft and power of the deuell and fynally delyuered out of all trouble Neuerthelesse for as muche as his shepe are not all alyke stronge but some yet lost and scattred here and there abrode woūded sycke yonge and feble he doth not therofre cast them awaye but hathe much more respecte vnto them careth more dilygētly for them then for the other that haue not suche nede For as the prophete Ezechiel sayeth in the .xxxiiii. Chap. He seketh them that be lost bryngeth together them that be scattred abrode byndeth vp suche as be wounded loketh to them that be sycke And the weake lambes that be but yonge at the fyrste sayeth Esaye he taketh vp into his armes and beareth them and suche as be with yonge ones doth he dryue forth fayre and softly All this doth our louynge mayster Christ by the office of preachynge and distributynge of the holy sacrament as it is ofte and with many wordes taught in other places For to set it forth here worde by word as nede shulde requyre it were to lōge The prophete also hym selfe wyll declare it afterwarde in the Psalme We haue ben deceaued By this then maye we easely perceaue how shamefully we haue ben seduced vnder the papacy For Chryst was not so louyngly set forthe vnto vs as the dearly deloued prophetes Apostles and Chryste hym selfe doth but so fear fully was he described vnto vs that we haue ben more afrayed of hym then of Moyses yee we thought Moyses doctryne muche more lyghter and to haue much more swetnesse in it then the doctrine of Chryst And so we knewe nothynge els but that Chryst had ben a wrothfull iudge whose displeasure we myght haue reconcyled with our good workes and with our holines whose pardō we myght haue optayned through the merytes and intercessions of sayntes This is not onely a shamefull lesynge and a miserable deceauyng of poore consciences but also the hyghest blasphemy of the grace of god a denyenge of the death resurreccion and ascension of Chryste c. and of all his vnoutspeakeable benefytes sclaunderynge and condemnynge of his holy gospell a destroyenge of faythe and in steade therof a settynge vp of vtter abhomynacions lyes and errours c. Yf this be not darkenesse then can not I tell what darkenesse is Blyndnesse Yet coulde no mā in a maner perceaue it but euery mā toke it for the playne verite yet vnto this day wyl our papystes nedes take it for the ryght way and shed much innocent bloude for the same Go to then yf we can kepe and gide our selues yf we can preserue our selues from errour yf we can optayne grace and remissiō of synnes resyst the deuell all misfortune ouercome synne and death by our owne merytes Then must all the scripture be false which testifyeth of vs how that of our selues we are but lost scattred abrode woūded weake and feble shepe And so shulde we haue no nede of Chryste to be shepherde to seke vs to brynge vs together to gyde vs to bynde vs vp to loke vnto vs to strēgth vs agaynste the deuell And so hath he also geuen his lyfe for vs in vayne For yf we cābrynge al this to passe optayne it through our owne strēgth and goodnesse then haue we no nede of Chrystes helpe thys well But here thou hearest the contrary namely that thou art but a lost shepe of thy selfe canst not come to the shepherd agayn but to go astraye onely that canst thou well do And yf Chryst thy shepherd dyd not seke and fetch the agayne thou must nedes be a praye vnto the wolfe But nowe he cōmeth seketh fyndeth and bryngeth the vnto his folde that is to saye into his Chrysten congregacion through the worde sacrament geueth his lyfe for the and holdeth the styll by the ryght hande lest thou shuldest fall in to ony errour There hearest thou nothyng of thyne owne strēgth of thyne owne good workes and merytes except thou wylt call it strength a good worke and meryte to go astray to be feble and lost Chryst worketh deserueth and sheweth here
Dauid se and he rehearseth it for a speciall benefyte to be vnder the custodye of the LORDE whyche shulde not onely fede hym in a grene pasture but also in the heate bryngynge hym to the fresh water c. Shortly his meanynge is to declare the as lytle as a mā can come to the knowlege of God and the truthe to the ryght fayth without the worde of God So lytle can ther ony comforte and peace of conscience be founde without the same Without gods word cā no mās conscience be at rest The worldly haue also theyr comforte and ioye howe be it that endureth but the twinkelynge of an eye Whan trouble and anguysh commeth and specyally the last houre it goeth awaye As Salomon sayeth Pro. 14. After laughter commeth sorowe and after ioye commeth heuynesse But as for them that drynke of this fresshe and lyuynge water they maye well suffre trouble disease in the worlde but they shal neuer lacke the true consolacion And specyally whan it commeth to the poynt the leafe turneth ouer with them whiche is as much to saye as After shorte wepynge cōmeth euerlastynge laughter and after a lytle sorow commeth excellent ioye ii Cor. iiii For they shall not wepe mourne both here and there but as Chryste sayeth Blessed are you that wepe here for ye shall laugh Luce. vi He quyckeneth my soule and bryngeth me forthe in the vvaye of ryghteousnesse for his names sake Spiritual pasture 〈◊〉 water Here doth the prophet declare hymselfe of what maner of pasture and fresh water he spake namely euen of the same the strengtheth and quyckeneth the soule This can be nothynge els but Gods worde But for as muche as our LORDE God hath two maner of wordes the lawe and the gospell the prophete whan he sayeth He quyckeneth my soule geueth suffycienlty to vnderstonde that he speaketh not here of the lawe but of the gospell The lawe The lawe can not quycken the soule for it is a worde that requyreth and commaundeth vs to loue God wyth all our hartes c. and our neyghbour as our selues Who so doth not this hym it condempneth and speaketh this sentence ouer hym Cursed be euery man which doth not all that is written in the boke of the law Deut. 27. Galat. 3. Now is it certayne that no man vpon earth doth this therfore commeth the lawe with his iudgement fearyng and vexynge the consciences And yf ther be no helpe it goeth thorow so that they must nedes fall into dispayre and be cōdempned for euer Of this occasion doth S. Paule saye Rmo. 3. By the lawe cōmeth but the knowlege of synne Item the lawe causeth but wrath Rmo. 4. As for the gospell it is a blessed worde It requyreth none suche of vs The gospell but bryngeth vs tydynges of all good namely that God hath geuen vs poore synners his onely sōne to be our shepherde to seke agayne vs famished and dispersed shepe and to geue his lyfe for vs that he myght so delyuer vs from synne from euerlastynge death and from the power of the deuel This is the grene grasse and the fresh water where with the LORDE quyckeneth oure soules And thus are we made lowse from euell cōsciences and heuy thoughtes Of this shal we speake more in the .iiii. verse He bryngeth me forth in the waye of ryghteousnesse Here sayeth he doth not the LORDE my faythfull shepherde leaue that he fedeth me in a grene medowe leadeth me to the fresh water so quickeneth my soule but he bryngeth me forth also in the right waye that I departe not asyde go astraye so perysshe That is he holdeth me fast to the pure doctrine that I be not deceaued by false spretes To be led in the ryght way what it is and that I fall not awaye by ony other temptacion or offence Item that I maye know how I ought to leade myn outward conuersacion lyfe that I suffre not my selfe to be perswaded by the holynes and strayte lyfe of ypocrites Item what is the true doctrine fayth and seruice of God c. An excellent vertue of Gods worde This is now agayne a goodly frute vertue of the worde of God that they whiche cleue fast there vnto do not onely receaue strength cōforte of the soule therby but are preserued also from vntrue doctrine false holynesse Many mē optayne this treasure but they can not kepe it For as soone as a man is to bolde presumptuous and thynketh hymselfe sure of the matter it is done with hym Or euer he can loke aboute hym he is deceaued For the deuell also can pretende holynesse and transforme hymselfe into an angell of lyght as saynt Paul sayeth And euen so lykewyse can his minysters shewe thēselues as though they were the preachers of ryghteousnesse come ī shepes clothyng amonge the flocke of Chryst but inwardly are they rauenynge wolues Therfore is it good here to watch praye as the prophete doth in the last verse that our shepherd maye kepe vs by this treasure whiche he hath geuen vs. They that do not this certaynly they shall lese it And the ende of that man as Christ sayeth shall be worse then the begynnynge Luce. 11. For they shall afterwarde become the moost poysened enemyes of Christes flock and do more harme with theyr false doctryne then the tyrauntes with the swearde This had saynt Paul well proued by the false Apostles that made the Corinthians Galathians to erre so soone and afterwarde made diuision in all Asia We se it our felues also this daye by the Anabaptistes and other false spretes For his names sake The name of God The name of God is the preachyng of God wherby he is magnifyed and knowen to be gracyous mercyfull longe sufferyng true faythfull c. which notwithstādynge that we be the chyldren of wrath and gyltye of euerlastynge death forgeueth vs all our synnes and taketh vs for his owne chyldrē and inheritours This is his name thys doth he cause to be proclamed by his worde Thus wyll he be knowen magnifyed and honoured And accordynge vnto the fyrste commaundement he wyl euen thus declare hymselfe towarde vs as he hath caused it to be preached of hym Lyke as he doth styll strengtheth and quyckeneth our soules spiritually and kepeth vs that we fall not in to erroure hetteth vs lyuynge for our body and preserueth vs from all misfortune This honoure that he so is as we haue now sayd is geuen hym onely of them that cleue fast vnto his worde these beleue confesse playnly that all the gyftes goodes whiche they haue goostly and bodely they receaue them of God euen of his mere grace goodnesse That is to saye For his names sake not for theyr owne workes and deseruynges For this do they geue thankes vnto hym and declare the same vnto other This honour can not be geuen vnto God of ony presumptuous iusticiaryes
the vngodly God punysheth men by the death of other Yf vertuous fathers mothers dye from wycked dysobedient chyldren then be the chyldren plaged for they are afterwarde euell nurtoured hanged or slayn Yf yonge chyldren dye from wycked fathers and mothers then be the chyldren delyuered the fathers and mothers punyshed in that they haue gathered theyr goodes for those that they wyshe them not vnto Yf tyraūtes dye then bethey punyshed and the persecuted Christen delyuered Yf good rulers dye which wyth theyr wysdome haue maynteyned peace and good gouernaunce then be they in peace And so the vngodly whyche are left alyue rayse vp warre and sedicion and be alwaye punyshed worse and worse Shortly who so hath eyes of fayth seyth that true beleuers dye in a ryght season Good mē dye or lyue for theyr welth but the wycked for theyr punyshment but the vngodly before the tyme. Wherfore whether good mē dye or lyue it is done for theyr welthe But whether the wycked dye or lyue it is done for theyr punyshment and by all wayes shall they be plaged and theyr wyckednesse shall be rewarded them Wherfore my moost derely beloued take ye such doctrine comforte to harte and follow the same Flye in good earnest by true repentaunce amendement from synne wher wyth the world hath deserued thys horryble plage And flye by a true vpryght fayth vnto Gods word wherin is the fountayne of lyfe and the lyght of men Then shall ye be whole and safe from thys and other plages so lyue to the honoure of God and welth of your neghbour tyll the appoynted tyme come wherin God the father in the death of Christ that we be baptised in shal sende for vs out of thys myserable lyfe to hys owne euerlastynge kyngdome Which God graūt vnto vs all Amen ⧠Howe they ought to be comforted that are in bodyly sycknesse or trouble DEarly beloued brother I truste ye beleue that all thynges whether it be sycknesse anguyshe or what misfortune so euer it be it commeth all from almyghtye God For yf he be your faythfull father Rom. viii All thynges serue for the beste vnto thē that loue God thā doth he it to your furtheraunce that he taketh holde on your olde Adam and leadeth hym presoner wyth thys bonde of your sycknesse and helpeth you to tame and to mortyfy hym that so ye maye yelde youre selfe the better vnto your LORDE God and hange on the crosse wyth Christe For thys cause is suche sycknesse of yours a fatherly chastenynge For whome God loueth Heb. xii hym doth he chasten And of hys fatherly mercy taketh he thus holde vpon you wyth very truthe and loue Happely he seyth that your olde Adam wyll be to wanton and rash for you and waxeth to stronge fearce for you And for thys cause putteth the LORDE a brydle into hys mouth whereby he be not hurtfull vnts your noble soule and myscary her Flesh and bloude is stronger in you thā the sprete therfore helpeth he your sprete to fyghte Perchaunce yf ye were whole it myghte entyce you to synne agaynste God whereby hys holy name myghte be blasphemed and so were youre soule the more cursed for the fylthynesse of manyfolde synnes But nowe doth he auoyde all that from you thorow fatherly mercy and turneth awaye youre flesh and bloude that alwaye rageth agaynste the sprete Rom. vii and leadeth it captiue so that it hath no more rowme nor occasion to couet all maner of synnes Seynge than that hys fatherly wyll is suche and that suche thynges do happen vnto you to good therfore do I earnestly admonysh you that by no meanes ye do wythstande hys fatherly wyll but praye hartely that hys wyll be done and fulfylled in you vnto hys prayse And hūbly beseke to graunte you his mercy tha tye may beare thys crosse of hys paciently Rom. v. For pacience bryngeth experience experience bryngeth hope but hope letteth vs not come to confusion Thus haue ye nowe occasion to be paciente and wyllyngly to suffre al maner of thynge that God sendeth vnto you for so muche as ye perceaue in your harte that he meaneth the thynge in very dede and thys commeth by tryenge For wythout ye assaye it wyth the dede how good it is so to retayne the LORDE as Dauid sayeth Psal c. xviii i. It is good to my that I haue ben in trouble that I maye learne thy ryghteousnesses ye can not hope and truste in hym In so muche as ye haue not assayed that such fatherly loue is hyd vnder thys rodde But whan ye haue perceaued suche a thynge than are ye bolde in all sufferynge and take hope vnto you the lōger the more seynge God doth so truely assiste you And though he do let you syncke a lytle whyle styck faste yet doth he drawe you forth agayne though it be longe He suffreth you a lytle to swymme and to douke but not to drowne Wherby ye maye perceaue that he wyll neuer forsake you whyche hath so ofte and many tymes ayded you Yf he doth brynge you sometyme in greate anguyshe Dan. xiiii so that ye myght thynke it all to be done wyth you yet forsake hym not but let your trust and hope remayne faste and sure in hym for ye haue heretofore learned well ynough the propertye and nature home he goeth aboute wyth hys ye knowe also that it is not done of anger or hate but of pure and entier loue Abyde therfore for the LORDE in all your sufferynge and truste wholy and inceassaūtly in his mercy and helpe how longe so euer he wythdraweth hymselfe and taryeth And be fully persuaded that thys your sycknesse or suche other grefe is not vnto death Ioh. ix xi but for the honoure of God and your profyte saluacion For who so darre truste so in God and beleue his promyses stedfastly the same shall neuer dye as Christe hymselfe sayeth Yee and byndeth it also wyth an oth that it be so in dede Ioh. viii sayenge Verely verely I saye vnto you Yf ony man kepe my word he shall neuer se death And in another place sayeth Christe Ioh. xi I am the resurrection and the lyfe He that beleueth on me shall lyue though he were deade already and who so euer lyueth beleueth on me shall neuer dye Kepe and holde sure thys comforte and be bolde there vpon For who so beleueth in Christe shall not tayste of death but is already passed from death to lyfe Euen as he wytnesseth of hymselfe where he sayeth Who so beleueth on me Ioh. v hath euerlastynge lyfe But thys is the lyfe euerlastynge Ioh. xvi◠that they knowe the that thou only arte the true God whom thou hast sente Iesus Christ The lyfe euerlastyng begynneth here in this lyfe ēdureth euer For who so hath Christ thesame truely hath very lyfe for he hym selfe is the lyfe Ioh. xv He is also the truth What so euer
as heretikes false spretes or enemyes and blasphemers of Gods worde for they magnifye not his name but theyr owne And though I walke in the valley of the shadowe of death yet fear I no euell for thou art with me Thy staffe and thy shephooke do comforte me Hetherto hath the prophete declared that they whiche haue loue the worde of God cā lacke nothynge For the LORDE is theyr shepherde which doth not only fede thē in a grene pasture leadeth thē to the freshe water that they may be fat stronge and refreshed both bodely goostly but also taketh suche care for thē that they be not weery of the good pasture fresh water leauyng the grene medowe departe agayne from the ryght way into the wyldernesse This is the fyrst parte of this Psalme Nowe teacheth he farther how that they whiche are the shepe of thys shepeherde What the prophet teacheth in this verse be compassed aboute with many ieopardyes and misfortunes Neuerthelesse that LORDE sayeth he not onely defendeth thē but delyuered them also out of al tēptacions troubles For he is amonge thē Nowe after what maner he is with them he declareth lykewyse well fauouredly Here thou seyft that as soone as the worde of God goeth forth and as soone as ther be ony that receaue it abide by it immediatly the deuell all his angels steppe forth moue the worlde with all the power therof agaynst it to put it downe vtterly to destroye them that haue it knowlege it Persecucion For loke what our LORD god speaketh or doth it must be tried go thorow the fyre This is very nedfull for chrysten men to knowe els myght they fayle thynke thus in theyr myndes How stondeth this together The prophet sayeth afore The LORDE is my shepherd I shall lacke nothynge And here he sayeth cōtrary namely that he muste walke in the darke valley And in the nexte verse followynge he confesseth that he hath enemyes Where by he geueth sufficiently to vnderstand that he lacketh many yee all thynges For he that hath enemyes and lyeth in a darke valley seyth no lyghte that is to saye he hath nother comforte nor hope but is forsaken of euery man and euery thynge is blacke darke before his eyes yee euē the fayre clear Sōne How is this true then that he shulde lacke nothynge We maye not ordre our selues after that our warde syght Here must thou not ordre thy selfe after thyne owne eyes followe natural reason as doth the worlde vnto whome it is vnpossyble to se this ryche and gloryous comforte of Chrysten men that they shulde lacke nothynge Yee certaynly they holde that the contrary is true namely that ther are no people vpon earth more poore more myserable and more vnhappy then christen men Yee with all theyr diligence corage helpe they therto that they maye be moost abhominably persecuted bānyshed shamed and put to death And in so doynge they thynke they do God seruyce therin It appeareth therfore outwardly as though christen men were but shepe dryuen awaye and forsaken of God and geuen ouer already in to the wolues mouthes and to be euen such as lacke nothynge but altogether The seruaūtes of Māmon Agayne they that serue that greate God Mammon or the belly appeare in the worlde to be those good shepe whiche as the Psalme sayeth lacke nothynge beynge rychely prouyded for of God cōforted and preserued from all parell and mysfortune For they haue theyr owne hartes desyre honoure good ioye pleasure euery mans fanoure c. Nother nede they be afrayed to be persecuted or put to death for that faythes sake For as longe as they put not theyr trust in Chryst the onely true shepherd nor knowlege hym whether they beleue on the deuell or his dāme or do what so euer they wyll besyde with couetousnesse c. they are taken not onely for well doers therin but also for the lyuyng sayntes which byde styll by the olde fayth and wyll not be deceaued thorowe heresye whiche is as Dauid teacheth here that the LORDE onely is the shepeherde So abhominable and greueous mortall synne is it to beleue on this shepeherde and to knowlege hym The pope wyll not forgeue hym that putteth his whole trust in Christ that ther cam neuer suche a synne vpon earth For euen the Popes holynes which els can dispense with all synnes and forgeue them can not remytte this onely cryme Therfore I saye in this thynge do not thou followe the worlde thyne owne reason whiche whyle they iudge after the outwarde appearaunce become foolysshe holde the prophete but for a lyar in that he sayeth I shall lacke nothynge But as I sayde afore holde thou the faste vnto the worde and promyses of God herken vnto thy shepherde how and what he sayeth vnto the and ordre thy selfe accordynge vnto hys voyce not accordynge to that which the eye seyth or the harte feleth And so haste thou the victory Thus doth the prophere He confesseth that he walketh in the valley of the shadowe of death Howe the Prophet behaueth hymself in tentacion trouble That is that he is cōpassed aboute with trouble heuynesse anguysshe necessite c. as thou mayst se more at large in hys storyes and other Psalmes Item that he hath nede of comforte wherby it is sufficiētly declared that he is in heuynesse Item that he hathe enemyes And yet he sayeth Though my tentacions were mo and greate and though I were in a worse case Yee though I were in deathes mouth alreadye yet do not I feare onye mysfortune Not that I am able to helpe my selfe thorowe myne owne prouysion trauayle laboure or succurre Nother do I trust to myne owne wysdome vertue kynglye power and ryches For in thys matter the helpe counsel comforte and power of all men is farre to lytle But thys is it that doth it euen that the LORDE is wyth me As yf he wolde say Certaynly of myne owne behalfe I am feble in heuynesse vexed and compassed aboute wyth al maner of parell and misfortune My harte also and conscience is not quyete because of my synnes I fele an horrible fearfulnesse of death and hel so that I myght in a maner dispayre But though al the worlde yee and the gates of hell be set agaynst me yet wyll I therfore not be dyscoraged Yee I wyll not be afrayed for all the mysfortune and payne that they are able to saye vpon me For the LORDE is wyth me The LORDE I saye whiche made heauen and earthe and all that therin is vnto whom al creatures angels deuels men synne death c. are subiecte Summa he that hath all thynges in hys owne power is my counselgeuer my comforter my defender and helper Therfore am I afrayed of no mysfortune After thys maner doth Asaph speake also in the .lxxii. Isaph Psalme where he comforteth the Christen agaynst that greate
them selues with the name and tytle of the Christen stenchurch yeethough they raysed vp dead men yet are they wolues and murtherers whiche spare not the flocke of Christ scatter them abrode torment them and kyll thē not onely spiritually but bodely also as mē mayese now before theyr eyes The names that the worde of God hath in this Psalme Lyke as the prophete here afore doth call Gods worde or the gospell grasse water the ryght waye a staffe a shephooke Euen so afterwarde in the fyfth verse he calleth it a table prepared an oyntment a full cuppe And thys simslitude of the table oyntmēt and cuppe doth he take out of the olde testament from the Gods seruyce of the Iewes and sayeth euen in a maner the same that he had sayd afore namely that they whiche haue the worde of God are rychely prouyded for in all poyntes both concernynge the soule and body saue onely the he speaketh it here wyth other fygures and allegoryes Fyrst bryngeth he in the similitude of the table A table where vpon the shewebreads laye contynually Exod. xxv xl And then declareth he what the same dyd sygnifyeth and sayeth Thou preparest a table before me agaynst myne enemyes thou anoyntest myne heade wyth oyle and fyllest my cuppe full Here doth he knowlege playnly that he hath enemyes But he sayeth he kepeth hym from them and dryueth them backe by this meanes namely because the LORDE hath prepared a table before hym agaynst those his enemyes Is not this a wonderfull defender I wolde haue thought he shulde haue prepared before hym a stronge wall a myghtye hulworke depe dyches armour and other harnesse weapens where by he myght be sure from his enemyes and discomfite them And now cōmeth he and prepareth before hym a table to eate and drynke on and so to smyte hys enemyes There coulde I be content to fyght also yf the enemyes myghte be ouercome without ony teopardye care trauayle and laboure And I to do nothyngeels but to syt at a table to eate and drynke and be mery With these wordes Thou preparest a table befor me agaynst myne enemyes wil the prophet declare the great excellēt The great power of Gods worde wōderful power of the worde of God As yf he wolde say Thou offrest me such kyndnesse OLORDE and fedest me so well and rychely at thy table whiche thou hast prepared for me that is Thou enduest me so psenteously with the exceadynge knowlege of thy good worde so that thorow the same I haue not onely plenteous consolacion in wardly in my harte agaynst myne owne euell conscience agaynst feare and drede of death and the wrath and iudgemēt of Godt but outwardly also thorowe the same worde I am become so valeaunt and so inuincible a giaunt that al myne enemyes can bryng nothynge to passe agaynst me The more wroth madde and vnreasonable they are agaynst me the lesse I regarde it Yet I am so much the more quyete in my selfe glad content And that of none other occasion saue onely that I haue thy worde The same geueth me such power and corage agaynst all myne enemyes So that whan they rage fearsly and are moost madde of all I am better content in my mynde then yf I satte at a table where I myght haue all that my harte coulde desyre meate drynke myrthe pleasure mynstrelsye c. An hye cōmendaciō of Gods worde There hearest thou agayne how hyghly this holy Dauid magnifyeth prayseth the good worde of God namely how that by the same they that beleue ouercome and wynne the victory agaynst the deuell the worlde the fleshe synne a mans owne conscience and agaynst death For yf a man haue the worde and take sure holde of it by fayth then must all these enemyes whiche els are inuincible be fayne to geue backe and to yelde them selues And it is a maruaylous victory and power yee and a very stoute boastynge of suche as beleue that they subdue and ouercome all these horrible yee and in maner almyghtye enemyes not with ragynge not wyth bytynge not wyth resystynge not with strykyng agayne not with takynge of vengeaunce not wyth sekynge of counsell and helpe here and there but with eatynge drynkynge pleasure syttynge beynge mery and takyng of rest Which thynges as it is sayde afore come all to passe thorowe the worde To eate and drynke what it is For to eate and drynke is called in the scripture to beleue to take sure holde on Gods worde wherout ther followeth peace ioye comforte strēgth c. The naturall reason of man Natural reason can geue no iudgemēt in this wonderfull victory of the faythfull for here commeth the matter to passe cleane contrarye to the outwarde senses of man The worlde doth alwaye persecute slaye the Christen as the moost hurtfull people vpon earthe Now whan naturall reason seyth thys it can not thynke otherwyse but that the Christen lye vnder agayne that theyr enemyes preuayle and haue the victory Thus dyd the Iewes intreate Christe the Apostles and the faythfull and put thē euer to execucion Whan they had slayne them or at the leest banished thē then cryed they Now haue we the victory these fellowes that haue hurte vs shall now trouble vs no more Now shall we handle euery thyng as we wyll But whan they thought them selues to haue bene surest of all our LORDE God sent vpon them the Romaynes whiche dealte so horriblye wyth them that it is a terrible thynge to heare Then after certayne hundreth yeares as for the Romaynes whiche thorow oute all the empyre of Rome had slayne manye thousande martyrs God rewarded them afterward and suffred the cytie of Rome in few yeares to be four tymes spoyled by the Gothies and Vandalyes finally to be brent destroyed and the empyre to decaye Who had now the victory The Iewes and Romaynes that shed the bloud of sayntes lyke water or the poore Christen that suffred them selues to be ordred lyke slaughter shepe and had none other harnesse and weapen but the good worde of God Howe it goeth with the multitude of thē that beleue in Christe Thus doth Dauid declare wyth these wordes howe it goeth wyth the holy Christen congregaciō For he speaketh not here of his owne person only setteth her forth in hyr coloures and descrybeth her well fauouredly Namely how that in the syghts of God she is euen as a pleasaunt grene medowe whiche hath plentye of grasse and fresshe water That is to say that she is the paradyse and pleasaūt garden of God garnysshhed wyth all hys gyftes and hath hys vnoutspeakeable treasure the holy Sacramentes and that good worde wherewyth he instructeth gydeth refresheth and cōforteth his flocke But in the syght of the worlde hath thys congregacion a farre other appearaunce euē as though she were a blacke darke valleye where a man can se nother pleasure nor ioye but trouble sorowe and aduersyte For the deuell wyth al his
vseth to do to his gestes thou fedest them well thou makest them lusty glad thou fyllest into them so muche that they must nedes be dronkē This is al done by the worde of grace For by the same doth the LORDE oure shepherde fede and strength so the hartes of his faythfull that they dare defye al theyr enemyes and say with the prophete I am not afrayed for thousandes of the people that cōpasse me roundeaboute Psalme iii. And here afore in the fourth verse I fear no euell for thou LORDE art with me With this yee euen thorow the same worde doth he geue them also the holy goost whiche maketh them not onely to take good stomackes vnto them to be of good corage but so quyet also in thē selues and mery that for the same great exceadynge ioye they are euen dronken This must be spiritually vnderstande He speaketh here then of a spirytuall strength of a spirituall myrth and of a spirituall dronkēnes which is a godly strēgth Rom. i. A ioye as saynt Paul calleth it in the holy goost Rom. xiiii And a blessed dronkennesse whan people are not full of wyne wherout followeth incōuenience but full of the holy goost Ephe. v. This is the harnesse the weapens wherwith our LORD God prepareth his faythfull agaynst the deuell and the worlde namely in theyr mouth geueth he them hys worde and in theyr harte he geueth corage that is to saye the holy gooste Wyth suche ordinaunce put they from them all feare and wyth gladnesse bukle they wyth all theyr enemyes smyte them and ouercome them with all theyr myght wysedome and holynesse Such souldyers were the Apostels on whitsondaye whan they went vp to Ierusalem agaynste the commaundement of the Emperoure and the hye prestes and ordred thē selues as yf they had ben very goddes and all the other but greshoppers and went euen thorowe with all power and ioye as yf they had bene dronken In so muche the some had them in derision therfore sayd They were full of swete wyne Neuerthelesse S. Peter declared out of the prophet Ioel that they were not full of swete wyne but ful of the holy goost And so he smote aboute hym with hys swearde that is he opened his mouth and preached the worde of God and felled downe thre thousande soules at once from the power of the deuell Actu ii This strength ioye and blessed dronkennesse doth not onely shewe it selfe in the faythfull whan they be in prosperite haue peace but also whan they suffre and dye As whan the counsell at Ierusalem caused the Apostles to be beaten they were glad of it that they were worthy to suffre rebuke for the name of Christe Actu v. And in the v. to the Romaynes doth saynt Paule say We reioyce also in troubles c. Afterwarde were ther many martyrs also The stedfast ioyfull hartes of them the haue fusfred death for the word of God whiche with mery harte and laughynge mouthes wente vnto theyr death as yf they had gone to somepastyme or daunce Lyke as we reade of saynt Agnes and saynt Agatha whyche were virgins .xiii. or .xiiii. yeare olde and of other mo whiche were of suche inwarde corage and confydence that they dyd not onely ouercome the deuell and the worlde by theyr death but also made good chere euen then with theyr hartes as though they had ben dronken of very ioye And this greueth the deuell excedynge sore namely whā men are at suche quyetnesse in them selues that they despyse his great myght and gyle In our tyme also haue ther be many which for the knowlege of Christe haue bene glad to suffre death We se more ouer that ther be many whyche wyth perfecte vnderstondynge and fayth dye vpon theyr beddes and saye wyth Simeon LORDE now lettest thou thy seruaunt departe in peace c. that it is a ioye to beholde thē of whom I haue sene many my selfe And all thys commeth because that as the prophete sayeth they be anoynted with the oyle whiche the .xliiii. Psalme calleth the oyle of gladnesse and because they haue dronke of the full cnppe whiche the LORDE hath fylled Yee but thou wylt saye Obiection I fele not my selfe yet so apte that I coulde be content to dye c. That maketh no matter Answere Dauid also as it is sayd afore hath not bene sure of that science at all houres but somtyme complayned that he was cast out of gods syght Other holy men also haue not alwaye had an hartye confidence towarde God and a perpetuall delyte and pacience in theyr troubles and temptacions Note this well Saynt Paul somtyme is so sure certayne in hym selfe and maketh suche boast of Christe that he careth not for the curse of the law for synne death nor for the deuell I lyue not nowe sayeth he Galat. ii but Christe lyueth in me Item I desyre to be lowsed and to be with Christ Phil i. Item Who shall separate vs from the loue of God whiche spared not is owne sonne but hath geuen hym for vs all How shall he not with hym geue vs al thynges also Shal trouble anguysh persecucion swearde c. separate vs from hym Ro. viii There speaketh he of death of the deuell and of all euell with suche a corage as yf he were the strongest and greatest of all sayntes vnto whom death were but asporte But incontinently in another place he speaketh as thoughe he were the weakest and greatest synner vpon earth i. Cor. ii I was with you sayeth he in weaknesse in feare and in muche tremblynge I am carnall solde vnder synne and takē presoner in the lawe of synne whiche is in my membres O wretched man that I am who shall delyuer me frō the body of this death Roma vii And in the fyfth to the Galath he teacheth that in the sayntes of God ther is a continual stryfe of the fleshe agaynst the sprete c. Therfore oughtest thou not immediatly to dispayre though thou felest thy selfe feble and fayntharted but praye diligently that thou mayest endure by the worde and increace in the fayth and knowlege of Christ As the prophete doth here teacheth other men lykewyse so to do and sayeth Oh let thy louynge kyndnesse and mercy followe me all the dayes of my lyfe that I maye dwell in the house of the LORDE for euer For as muche as the deuell neuer ceasseth to plage the faythfull inwardly with feare outwardely wyth deceatfulnesse of false doctours or teachers and with the violence of tyrauntes he prayeth here therfore at the ende earnestly that God which hath geuen hym this treasure wyl kepe hym fast by it also vnto the ende And sayeth O gracyous God shewe me such fauour that thy louynge kyndnesse and mercy maye followe me all the dayes of my lyfe Why the prophet maketh this prayer And immediatly he declareth what he calleth this louynge kynonesse and mercy namely that he maye remayne in the house
of the LORDE for euer As yf he wolde saye Thou haste begonne the matter thou hast geuen me thy holy worde and accepted me amonge them that are thy people whyche do knowlege prayse and geue thankes vnto the graunt me therfore such grace from hēce forth that I maye continue styll by the same worde neuer to be separated more from thy holy Christen flocke Thus doth he praye also in the .xxvi. Psalme One thinge sayeth he haue I desyred of the LORDE whyche I wolde fayne haue namely that I maye dwell in the house of the LORDE al the dayes of my lyfe to beholde the fayre bewty of the LORDE that is to saye the true seruyce of God and to vysite his temple A notable ensample The prophete then here by his ensample teacheth and exhorteth all suche as put theyr trust in God that they be not carelesse proude or presūptuous in them selues but to feare and geue them selues vnto prayer that they lese not this treasure And doutlesse this earnest exhortacion shulde steare vs vp and make vs feruent vnto diligent prayer For seynge that holy Dauid whiche was a prophete so hyghly endued with all maner of godly wysedome and knowlege and with diuerse greate excellent gyftes of God Seynge he I saye dyd praye so ofte and with such great earnest that he myghte abyde by thys treasure Much more shall it be mete for vs whiche are vtterly nothynge to be compared vnto hym We haue most nede to watch praye and lyue also nowe at the ende of the worlde whan as Christe and the Apostles saye it shal be an horryble and peryllous tyme it shal be muche more conuenient I saye to watch and praye wyth all earnest and diligence that we maye contynue in the house of the LORDE all the dayes of oure lyfe namely that we maye heare the worde of God and receaue the manyfolde commodityes and frutes that come of it as it reharsed afore and continue in the same vnto the ende Which graunte vs Christ our onely shepherde and Saueoure AMEN ¶ How and whether a Christē mā ought to flye the horryble plage of the Pestilence ¶ A sermon out of the .xci. Psalme Qui habitat in adiuto By Andrewe Oslander ¶ Translated out of hygh Almayne into Englyshe ¶ A Sermon out of the Psalme Qui habitat c. how and vnto what place a Christen man ought to flye the horrible plage of the pestilence FOr as much as Almyghty God doth vyset handle and punysshe the contry and region wyth the horrible and fearfull plage of the pestilence and many folkes after an vnmanerly fashion are so afrayed therof that ther be herde and sene of them all maner of vncostumable wordes and workes whiche become not well a Christen man And seynge that all the dedes of charite whyche one Christen man is bounde to shewe vnto another no lesse thē vnto Christ him selfe are perlously omytted wherby then ryseth all maner of sklaunder to the weake and mysreporte vnto the holy Gospell I thought it profitable and necessary to bestowe vpon youre charite in this case a shorte instruccion and comforte out of the holy scripture to the intent that the ignoraunt maye be taughte the weake strengthed and euery one counselled after hys callynge to serue his neghbour And I wyll take for me the .xci. Psalme which soundeth after this maner Who so sytteth vnder the defence of the hyghest and abydeth vnder the shadowe of the Almyghtye He sayeth vnto the LORDE My hope and my stronge holde my God on whom I trust For he delyuereth me from the snare of the hunter and from the noy some pestilence He shall couer the wyth hys fethers and thy truste shal be vnder hys wynges hys truth is speare and shylde So that thou nedest not to fear for the horryblenesse of the nyghte for the aro wes that flye by daye tyme. For the pestilence that commenth preuely in the darke for the syckenesse that destroyeth in the noone daye Though a thousāde fall at thy syde and ten thousande at thy ryght hande yet shall it not come nye the. Yee wyth thyne eyesshalte thou se thy desyre and beholde howethe vngodly shal be rewarded BVt afore we come to the vnderstādynge of these comfortable wordes your charite shal fyrst knowe that it is not my meanyng to for byd or inhibite ony man to flye or to vse phisycke or to auoyde daungerous and sycke places in these fearfull ayres What cases retayn a man in daungerous places so farre as a man doth not therin agaynst the belefe nor Gods cōmaundement nor agaynst his callynge nor agaynst the loue of his neghboure For though some wyl saye Such plage toucheth no man but those that be ordeyned of God therevnto lyke as ther be certayne ensamples therof foūde in the holy scripture Namely how the Ezech. 9. and Apoca .vii. ther was sent an angel which aforehāde marked the vertuous electe or euer it was charged cōmaūded the seconde angell to smyte with pestilence or other plages those that were not marked Neuertheles agaynst that it myght be sayde Good syr thoughe it wente so at suche a tyme in suche places who maketh vs sure yet nowe that it shall therfore chaunce so in all other deathes of the contry Therfore wyll I now at this tyme let all suche thynges continue in theyr worthy nesse and fre lyke as other natural thynges whiche be subiecte and committed vnto oure reason to rule But as for the Christen whiche by reason of offyce or for pouerte sake or for other reasonable causes can not or be not mynded to flye I wyll here withall shewe them theyr best and hyghest comforte that they haue In lyke maner I wyll not entre agaynst them that speake naturally therof and saye The cause of pestilēce and lyke diseases Suche plage commeth out of the influence of the starres out of the workynge of the Cometes out of the vnseaasonable wether and alterynge of the ayre out of the Southe wyndes out of stynkynge waters or out of foule mystes of the grounde For such wysedome of theyrs wyll we leaue vnto them vndespysed and not fyght there agaynst But as Christen men we wyll holde vs vnto the worde of God the same wyll we suffre to be oure moost hye wysedome and geue credēce vnto it and follow it and so shall we fynde muche better and surer instruccion Namley The chefe causes of pestilence is Gods wrath that this horrible plage of the pestilence commeth out of Gods wrath because of the despysyge and transgressynge of his godly cōmaundementes For thus sayeth the holy prophete Moses in the fyft boke the .xxviii. Chapter Yf thou wylt not herken vnto the voyce of the LORDE thy God to obserue and kepe all hys commaundementes and ordinaunces whiche I commaunde the then shal all these curses come vpon the c. And it followeth The LORDE shall cause the pestilence to endure longe wyth the the LORDE
.xxxv. Psalme Wyth the is the sprynge of lyfe and in thy lyght se we light Yf God the LORDE thē be the true lyght it followeth that all they which put theyr trust in hym be as a burnynge candle for by fayth doth God dwell in our hartes and we are the lyuynge tēple of God as Paule to the Corinthians doth wytnesse more thē once Therfore sayeth Christe of hys disciples Math. v. Ye are the lyght of the worlde And of Ihon the Baptyste He was a burnynge and shynynge lyght Ioh. v. Lykewyse yf God be the euerlastynge lyuynge fountayne it followeth that the faythfull be euen flowynge sprynges Therfore sayeth Christ also Ioh. vii Who so beleueth on me as the scripture sayeth out of hys body shall flowe streames of lyuyng water But this he sayd of the sprete whiche they that beleue on hym shulde receaue Lyke as the darkenesse of the nyght nowe can hurte no earthly or wordly lyght but must geue place and flye from the lyght Euen so Sathan also whyche is a prynce of spirytuall darkenesse can do no harme to a true ryghte beleuyng Christen mā but must feare and flye from hym For God whyche is the euerlastynge lyghte dwelleth and shyneth in hys hart and dryueth and expelleth farre from hym all the workes of darknesse And lyke as no heape of water can dryue bache ony fountayne of the grounde and hynder the quycke sprynge therof and lyke as no vnclennesse can make it foule euen so also can no aduersyte of this worlde take awaye or shorten ony Christen mans lyfe For God whyche is the fountayne of all lyfe dwelleth and lyueth in hys harte dryueth all hurtfull poyson and mortall sycknesse farre awaye from thence so the not only it can not harme hym but he also helpeth other people and delyuereth them by hys presence euen as a lyght that shyneth farre aboute it and as a sprynge the alwaye floweth runneth and maketh the grounde moyst an frutefull And thys is it that the LORDE sayeth in the Gospell in the last of Marke The tokens that shall followe them whyche beleue are these In my name shall they cast out deuels speake wyth new tunges dryue away serpentes yf they drynke ony deadlye thynge it shall not hurte them They shall laye handes vpon the sycke and they shall recouer So is it red also in the Actes of the Apostles the .v. Chapter that the sycke were made whole onely of saynt Peters shadow So vtterly must vanyshe euery thynge that is contrary and agaynste the euerlastynge lyghte and sprynge of lyfe where a ryght Christen man is in whom God dwelleth by a true belefe and out of whome the holy goost shyneth and floweth Let Sathan then preasse in here wyth all hys darknesse and wyth all hys hurtfull infection Satan is dryuen back by fayth yet shall ye se in belefe that he can not take nor destroye ony Christen mā therwyth yf he continue in fayth and kepe God in hys harte But he shal be smytten backe and dryuen awaye by force as the wonderfull workes of Christe and of all sayntes do manyfestly declare Therfor is it a great shame for a Christen man to be so afrayed for the plage of the pestilence It is a greate shame for a Christen man to feare the pestilence as to flye from them whome he is bounde to serue by Gods commaundement For by reason he shulde wythout al feare make haiste vnto them not onely to fulfyll Gods commaundemente but also by hys presence to helpe them yf theyr fayth do els worke wyth all But yf it come not to passe yet is he sure for as much as God dwelleth in hym and he walketh and goeth in Gods commaundement For certaynly thys promyse shall not fayle hym Though a thousande fall at thy syde and ten thousande at thy ryght syde yet shall it not touch the. But wyth fayth must these wordes be taken holde vpon for naturall reason doth not comprehende them in as muche as in dede it appeareth farre otherwyse And no man nedeth to thynke nor iudge that they whyche dye of thys plage be all vnchristen and faythlesse but we ought not to doute but that ther dye therof many vertuous mē and leaue many vngodly Naturall death happeneth two wayes Thys is done because that death maye happen to a mā two maner of wayes One waye after the commune course of nature accordynge as euery mans death is appoynted hym of God and we haue consented vnto it in baptyme Of thys sayeth the prophet Iob in the .xiiii. Chapter A man hath hys appoynted tyme the nōbre of hys monethes standeth wyth the thou hast appoynted him hys boundes whyche he shall not ouerpasse Another waye maye death happen to a man before the tyme by reason of hys greate greuous synnes As the LORDE hath threatened by Moses that yf hys cōmaundement be not kept he wyll cause pestilēce to reygne Wherout it is certayne that whan they be kepte the plage abydeth out Lykewyse sayeth he in the commaundementes Honour father and mother that thou mayest lyuelonge c. Out of the whyche it is certayne that hys lyfe whyche doth them not Hys lyfe that kepeth not Gods commaundementes shal be shortened shal be shortened In lyke maner sayeth Dauid in the .lv. Psal The bloud thyrsty shall not bryng theyr lyfe to the halfe nombre Wherout it is sure that they shulde lyue muche longer yf they shed not innocent bloud Lykewyse sayeth Christ Luce. xii Yf ye do not repent ye shall all peryshe as they that the tower in Siloa fell vpon Where by it is certayne that who so repenteth not maye loke for all mysfortune And of thys vntymely death onely speaketh thys Psalme and promyseth the faythfull Christen men that they shal be fre from it For from the ryght appoynted death into the whyche we haue consented in baptyme we can nor shal be delyuered Wherfore yf a vertuous ryghte Christen man dye of thys plage it is certaynly hys very houre appoynted vnto hym of God whyche he can not preuente But doutlesse ther dye of it many synners also besyde whyche myghte well lyue longer yf they repented And though some be taken because of theyr synnes yet be they not therfor damned but yf they axe forgeuenesse of synnes and beleue they shall be saued As Paule sayeth Whan we be iudged we are chastened of the LORDE that we shulde not be condemned wyth the worlde Thus goeth it then together that iuste men dye theyr owne ryght death but the wycked dye an vntymely death and therwyth doth God punyshe the worlde sorest of all because of theyr synnes but spareth hys owne for theyr faythe 's sake Therfore shulde they not be fearful nor fayntharted but as the prophete sayeth they shulde loke beholde how the vngodly are recompenced For whether the wycked dye before the tyme or the iuste in the ryghte season yet is it done both for the punyshement and plage of
his power onely It is he that seketh beareth and gydeth the. He thorow his death deserueth lyfe for the. He onely is stronge and defendeth the lest thou shuldest perysshe and be taken awaye out of his haÌ„des Ioh. x. Vnto all this canst thou do nothynge saue applye thyne eares to heare and with thankesgeuynge to reccaue suche an vnoutspeakeable treasure and to learne to knowe well the voyce of thy shepherde to followe hym and to eschue the voyce of straungers Wherfore yf thou wylt be rychely prouyded for Take hede to thy shepherdes voyce both in body and soule aboue all thynges take good hede than to the voyce of this shepherde herken well what he sayeth vnto the let hym fede the rule the gyde the defeÌ„de the comforte the. c. That is to saye kepe the vnto his worde be glad to heare it and to learne it so no doute thou shalt be well prouyded for both in body and soule By thys that hath ben spoken of hether to I thynke it but easy to vnderstand these wordes The LORDE is my shepherde Yee and all the whole Psalme besyde They are but few wordes The LORDE is my shepherde but of a great weyght and pyth The worlde maketh great boastynge and crakynge of honoure power ryches fauour of men c. But the prophete maketh his boast of none of these for they be all vncertayne and transytory He speaketh but few wordes and good The LORDE is my shepherde Thus speaketh a sure and constant fayth which turneth hyr back vpon euery thynge that is temporall transitory howe hye and precyous so euer it be and turneth the face and hart strayght vnto the LORDE whiche is onely and altogether and doth it hym selfe alone Euen he els none whether he be Kynge or Emperour sayeth he is my shepherde Therfore goeth he forwarde in all quyetnesse and sayeth I shall lacke nothynge A generaâ—â— sentence This doth he speake in generall of all the benefytes bodely and goostly that we receaue by the offyce of preachynge As though he wolde saye Yf the LORDE be my shepherde then doutles I shall lacke nothynge I shall haue abundauÌ„ce of meate drynke clothynge alyuynge defence peace and all maner of necessaryes what so euer serueth for the sustentacion of this lyfe For I haue a ryche shepherde whiche shall not suffre me to lacke Neuertheles he doth speake moost specyasly of the spiritual goodes and gyftes that the worde of God bringeth with it and sayeth For as much as the LORDE hath taken me amonge his flock prouydeth for me with his owne pasture that is for as much as he hath rychely geuen me his holy worde he shall not suffre me to haue scarcenesse in ony thynge He shal geue his blessynge vnto the worde that it maye haue strength brynge forth frute in me He shall lykewyse geue me his sprete to stande by me to comforte me in al temtacions and troubles to make my harte also sure and certayne and that I doute not therin but that I am one of my shepherdes deare shepe And he my faythfull shepherde which wyll deale gently with me as with a poore weake shepe and wyll strength my faythe endue me also with other spirituall gyftes comforte me in all troubles heare me whan I call vpon hym defende me from the wolfe that is from the deuell so that he shall not be able to do me harme And fynally delyuer me from all mysfortune This meaneth he whan he sayeth I shall lacke nothynge Thou wylt saye An obiectioÌ„ Yee but wherby shall I perceaue that the LORDE is my shepherde I can not perceaue that he dealeth so louyngly with me as the Psalme speaketh yee the contrary do I well perceaue Dauid was an holy prophete and a man dearly be loued vnto God therfore coulde he easely talke of the matter and beleue well as he sayd As for me I shall not be able to do it after hym for I am a poore synner An answer I haue declared aboue that a shepe hath this good coÌ„dicioÌ„ proper vertue in it that it knoweth well the voyce of his shepherde and ordreth it selfe rather after the eares then after the eyes The same vertue doth Chryste prayse also in his shepe whan he sayeth Ioh. x. My shepe know my voyce Now his voyce soundeth after this maner I am a good shepherde and geue my lyfe for my shepe And I geue them euerlastyng lyfe and they shall neuer peryshe no man shall plucke them out of my hande Take good hede nowe vnto this voyce and ordre thy selfe therafter Yf thou so do then be sure that thou art one of Chrystes shepe he thy shepeherde which knoweth the ryght well and can cal the by name Now yf thou hast hym for thy shepeherde then shalt thou verely lacke nothyng yee thou hast already that thou shuldest haue euen euerlastynge lyfe Item thou shalt neuer perysshe nother shall ther be ony power so greate myghtye as to be able to pluck the out of his hand Onely be thou sure of this For doutles this shepherdes voyce shall neuer fayle the. What wylt thou more Leaue not the voyce of thy shepherde But yf thou lettest this voyce go and ordrest thy selfe after the syght of the eyes and after the felynge of that olde Adam theÌ„ lesest thou the fayth and confidence whiche thou as a shepe shuldest haue vnto hym as to thy shepeherde And so falleth ther vpon the now one ymaginacion now another so that thou canst not be in quyete but disputest by thy selfe and sayest Yf the LORDE be my shepherde why suffreth he then the worlde to plage me and persecute me so my serably contrarye to all my deseruynge I syt amonge wolues and am not sure of my lyfe the twinkelynge of an eye but I se no shepherde that wyll defende me Item why geueth he the deuell liceÌ„ce to do me so much harme with feare and despayre Besydes this I fynde my selfe all vnapte feble vnpacient and laden yet with many synnes I fynde no certaynte but doutfulnesse no consolacion but fearfulnesse and quakynge for the wrath of God Whan begynneth he to declare in me that he is my shepherde what good followeth whan one rieueth fast to gods worde Suche and many other mo wonderful cogitacions shalt thou haue yf thou let his voyce and worde passe But yf thou cleue styll fast vnto it then suffrest thou nother the deceatfulnesse of the deuell the displeasure madnesse of the worlde nother thyn owne infyrmite and vnworthynesse to ouer come the by temptacion but goest on boldly and sayest Whether the deuell the worlde or myne owne conscience do take parte agaynste me neuer so fearfly yet wyll not I therfore take ouermuch thought It muste and shal be thus that who so euer is a shepe of the LORDE he can not remayne vntempted Let it go with me as it maye yee whether they seeth me or rost me yet is this