Iesus Christ Goddes sonne maketh vs clene from all synne Thus se we y t by Christ by Christes death passion bloud the bondes of synne are broken and we sette agayne at liberte As for death hel desperacion what can they do Are not they also ouercome Let vs heare what y e Scripture sayth out of the power of deathe saythe the LORDE wyll I delyuer them from death wyll I redeme theÌ„ O death I wyll be thy deathe O hell I wyll swallowe the vp S. Paule also saythe Death is swallowed vp into victorye Where is thy stynge O deathe Where is thy victorye O hell The stynge of deathe is synne the power of syn is the lawe But thankes be to god whiche hathe gyuen vs the victory thorowe our LORDE Iesus Christ. Agen By death hath Christ put hiÌ„ to flyght that had lordshyppe ouer death that is to say the dyuel that he myght delyuer them which thorow the fere of death were al theyr lyfe tyme in daunger of bondage O swete and confortable sayenges O thalone true and christen pleasu res As touchynge oure last enemy whiche is the curse of the lawe are not we also made free from that by Christ What sayth the scripture Christ hath redemed vs froÌ„ y â— curse of the lawe whyle he was made accursed for our sake Agayne Christe is y e perfect fulfyllyng of y e lawe to iustificacion for euery one that beleuethe Also in another place be it knowen vnto you ye men brethreÌ„ that thorow this man Christ is pre ched to you the forgyuenesse of synnes from al the thynges wherby ye coulde not be iustifyed by y e lawe of Moses thorowe hym euery one that beleueth is iustified Thus se we that our boÌ„des are broken thorow Christ we also set at liberte froÌ„ the daunger of all our enemies so that now there is no coÌ„ demnacion for theÌ„ that are engraffed in christ Iesu whiche walke not after the flesh but after the spirite For the lawe of the Spirite of lyfe thorowe Christe Iesus hathe made them fre from the law of synne and death Who wyl now lay ony thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifyeth who can than condeÌ„ne Hereof coÌ„meth it to passe that after we be once delyuered froÌ„ y e power of our enemies haue oure bondes broken set at liberte thorowe christ christes passion death bloud by whome Satan is vanquisshed synne put to flyght death ouercome hel swallowed vp desperacion driueÌ„ out of place the curse of the lawe vtterly takeÌ„ away yea the lawe fulfylled and heaueÌ„ gates open for the faythfull all that euer we do in christ is acceptable in the sight of God taken to good worth moche made of not for the dignite of the worke it selfe but because it is salted with y e dignite holines ryghteousnes purite innocency of Christ in whose name what so euer is done smelleth swetely before GOD so that bothe the thoghtes wordes dedes lyfe death of y e Sayntes that is of the faythfull yea all y e euer we do is precious in the syght of y â— Lorde as we herd before For sure we are that all thin ges worke to the best for them that loue God whiche are called of purpose For those whome he knewe before hathe he ordened also before y t they should be lyke fashoned vnto y â— shape of his sonne that he might be the fyrst begotteÌ„ amonge many bro thren As for those whome he hath ordyned before them hath he called also whoÌ„e he hath called theÌ„ hath he also made ryghteous whoÌ„e he hath made ryghteous them hathe he glorified also What shall we saye than vnto these thynges If God be on our syde who can be agaynste vs But let vs se what is to be ren dred gyuen agayne vnto God for these his inestimable benefytes toward vs miserable synners ¶ The seuenth verse I wyll offer to the the sacrifyce of prayse on the name of the Lorde wyl I call ¶ The tente strynge OUr Mynstrell Dauid goethe forth to be lyke hymself y â— is to saye to shewe that he is one of a very gentle thankefull nature redy at all times vnto the vttermoost of his power to recompeÌ„ce and make amendes for ony poynte of kyndenes that is shewed to hiÌ„ as we may se here For after y â— he hath songe of the singulare incoÌ„parable benefi tes of god which are shewed not on ly to hym but also to all mankynd I meane so many as are the faythfull people of God beleue in hym lyue accordynge to his diuine wyll and hathe consydered howe greatly both he all the faythfull are blyssed of God thorowe them in Christ Iesu he now taketh an occasion to ponder wyth hym selfe how he may shewe hym selfe thankefull agayne to God as he dyd before in y â— â—…ourth fyfte verse of this his songe For he desyreth nothynge to be more estraunged from his manners than ingratitude vnthankefulnes He thyncketh it no poynte of humanite to leaue the beneficence and gentle liberalite of a mortall maÌ„ vnrecompensed to neglecte therfore and nothynge to regarde the inestimable goodnes the infinite benefites of God he recouÌ„teth it an acte highly to be detested and abhored of ony christen harte To shewe hymselfe therfore thankefull to God for his benignite he is now full bent But what wyll he gyue God agayne What amendes wyll he make him In what thynges wyll he shewe 〈◊〉 selfe thanckefull agayne vnto the LORDE â–ª Wyll he gyue hym mountaynes of golde Wyl he bryng him heapes of precious stones Wyll he fetche hym frankensence and other swete sauours out of Araby Wyll he offer vnto hym fatte oxen lusty hayffers well lykynge shepe c. Na verely for he knoweth ful wel that GOD reiectethe all these thynges in many places of the holy Scripture neyther hathe he ony nede of Dauids goodes which hath bothe heauen and earth at his owne plea sure and all that is contayned in them Dauid knowethe full well y â— his goodes were gyuen hym of god that he should help his poore neigh bours with theÌ„ What wyl he gyue God than Uerely the sacrifyce of prayse of thanckes gyuynge For this is that thynge whiche God de syreth so greatly as he hymselfe testifyethe The Sacrifyce of prayse sayth he shall honour me Agayne offer to God the sacrifyce of prayse What so euer ye do sayth s. Paule in worde dede do all thynges in y â— name of the LORDE Iesu gyuynge thanckes to God and the father by hym Agayne he mercyfull Also in another place Gyue thaÌ„kes alway for all thynges in the name of oure LORDE Iesu Christ to God the fa ther. To the Hebrewes also he wry teth on this maÌ„ner By hym he me
that he hathe shewed vnto him it lieth not in his power notwithstandyng he desyreth very greatly to do somewhat wherby he maye shewe hys thanckefull harte agayne toward God For he confes seth that all that euer he hathe beyng good he receyued it of God as S. Paule sayth What hast thou y ◠thou hast not receued If thou hast receaued it why doste thou reioyce as though y u haddest not receued it S. Iames also saythe Euery good perfecte gyfte is from aboue com mynge downe from the Father of lyghtes On this manner oughte we to pōder with our selues the inestima ble benefites great giftes of God towarde vs. Fyrst that he made vs not lyke to brute beastes but lyke vnto his owne ymage neyther dyd he place vs in hell or in some other dolorous sorowefull place but in ioyfull Paradise where all kynd of pleasures dyd abound He endewed vs with wyt reason discrecion pru dence wisdome knowledge wyth al other thynges that should moue vs vnto godlynes vertue setting vs at oure owne liberte to do what so euer we woulde only he gaue vs a cōmaundement to abstayne from the tree of lyfe told vs lyke a mer cifull father before that whan so euer we did taste of y t we should dye the death Notwithstondynge this his moost gentle premonicion thorowe y ◠subtilite of Satā we brake his moost godly precepte throwe our selues into y e deathe wherof he tolde vs before so that no we of all earthly creatures we ware become moost miserable Yet beholde agen the great goodnes of God towarde vs whā we had worthely deserued to be damned for euermore he dyd not as he handled the Aungelles streyghtwayes cast vs ito hell fyre but marcyfully sente vs into thys world that we myght here repent deplore lament bewayle our synfull abhominable offence that by this meanes thorow the diuine pro uidence we myght afterward be re stored to our olde innocency be sa ued Neyther sent he vs hyther as into a salte barrē desolate place or wyld forest but rather into such a kyngdome as florysheth with all kyndes of rytches treasures pleasures moost goodly possessions so that we can desyre nothynge but y t we haue it here redy at hande He hath garnysshed the earth w t grene grasse swete herbes moost plesant floures He hath gyuen vs all kyndes of grayne to sowe in the earthe for our sustenaunce He sendeth vs rayne temperate heate in conuenient tyme for y e fortunate encrease therof He hath planted vs trees garnysshed thē in tyme of the yeare withe moost goodly grene leaues fruites to serue our necessary businesses for diuers causes And as he hath replenyshed the earth with all kyndes of beastes so hath he stuffed the sea other waters with inumerable sortes of fysshes And of all these thinges with many other mo hath he made vs Lordes rulars go uernours owners Neyther do the his kyndenes here cease concerning temporall thynges For he hath also set ouer vs as a moost beautiful roofe goodly seelynge the firmamēt or ayer which in the day tyme sheweth vs lyght thorow the clerenes therof wherin for our great cō solacion cōforte he hath also set a goodly great lyght whiche we call the sonne by the vertue operaciō wherof y e erth brigeth forth her fru ites in due season yeldyng them to vs bothe rype apte mete for oure vse whan conuenient tyme requireth For the nyghte tyme agayne because we should not be dismayde thorowe the great darkenes wher with y e earth is than ouerwhelmed seynge it is a tyme appoynted not to laboure but vnto reste not vnto trouble but vnto quietnes not vn to watchynge but vnto slepynge God hath moost gorgiously garnisshed the firmament withe a goodly great lyght called the moone w t innumerable Starres mo for oure great ioye pleasure cōfort so y t no gardē be it neuer so plesaūtly refer ted stuffed full of herbes moost amiable in aspecte maye be cōpared vnto it And al these thynges hath God wrought and done not for his owne sake but for ours not for his owne wealth felicite but for oure profyt and commodite Hytherto haue I spoken of his tēporal gyftes which though they seme to be muche precious as they are in dede yet are they nothynge to be compared vnto those that fol low For looke howe muche the spirite excelleth the body so muche do these gyftes excell the other beynge incōparable not able by ony mea nes to be recōpēsed of ony creature neyther in heauen nor in earth Fyrst what an excedynge gentle nes of God was this whā we were worthely condemned for our offēce had no hope of health to promise vs streightwayes bicause we shuld despayre y t his only begotten sonne the highest treasure that he hadde shoulde come downe from his right hand be conceaued by y ◠holy ghost take very flesh be borne of y ◠moost pure virgin Mary yea and y t with oute the seed of ony man reconcyle vs to his fauoure make an attonemēt for vs purchased grace mercy remission of our synnes offer his moost blissed body a swete smellyng sacrifice for our iniquite sufferhis moost precious bloud to be shed for the purgacion clensynge of oure synnes become a perfecte ful satisfaccion for all the synnes of hys people that is of so many as repēt beleue in him and lead a godly and innocent lyfe This promised God the father oftentimes accordyng to his promyse at his tyme predefined and tofore appoynted he moost faythfully performed it vnto y ◠perpetuall ioye conforte of all true Christiās But in the meane season howe great sees of kyndnes dyd he opē vnto vs After that he had set vs in this world howe dyd he prosper vs in all thynges that we wēt about How dyd he giue vs y ◠victory of our enemies Howe wonderfully dyd he delyuer vs from oure cruell enemy Pharao How maruelously preserued he vs whē he made the red see to gyue place vnto vs How fauourably dealt he with vs when he gaue vs meate frō heauen and water out of the harde rocke What a londe dyd he gyue vs flowynge with mylke honye And bycause we should lyue an honest and godly lyfe before hym dydde not he gyue vs his moost holy lawe yea that not only 〈◊〉 tables of stone but also wrytten in our hartes by y e holy Ghoste What goodly ceremonies also receaued we of hym whiche were mysteries figures types cloudes shadowes of good thi ges to come euen of Christe of hys moost holy passion glorious resurreccion c. All these thynges ware great consolacion to the true spirituall christen men in asmuche as they preched Christ vnto thē which accordynge vnto theyr fayth whol ly fixed on y
e promyse of God came at the tyme appoynted ito this miserable world toke flesh of the moost glorious virginne Marye became lyke to vs in all thynges syn alone excepte preached vnto vs the wyll of his heauenly father wrought mi racles suffered dyed for oure synnes on the thyrd day rose agayne for our iustificacion Certayne day es after he ascended into Heauen where he nowe sytteth on y e ryghte hande of god the father almyghty beynge there not ydle for he incessauntly prayeth for vs beynge our mediatoure aduocate apeasynge dayly the fathers wrath purchasynge for vs all good thynges And at the latter daye he shall come ageÌ„ to iudge bothe the quicke and the dead both the faythfull vnfaythfull bothe the shepe the goates than shal he take vs both body and soule enunied togyther withe hym into eternall glory where we shall remayne wyth him for euermore If ony man desyrethe to knowe more of the benefites of god and of his vnmesurable kyndenes toward vs let hiÌ„ resorte vnto y e Pathwaye of prayer read where I entreate of thanckes gyuyng from the xlii Chap. vnto the xlix there shall he se this matter entreted of at large If we dyd consyder on this wise the inestimable benefites of god to ward vs vndoubtedly we woulde leaue our vnthanckefulnes saye wyth Dauid what shall I gyue agayne vnto the Lorde for all those thynges that he hathe gyuen me But let vs se what our Mynstrell entendeth to gyue agen vnto god that we maye followe hym and do so lykewyse ¶ The fourthe verse I wyll take the cuppe of healthe caull vpon the name of the Lorde ¶ The syxte strynge HEre Dauid expresseth two thiÌ„ ges y t he entendeth to do One is to take the cuppe of health The other to caull on the name of the LORDE These are two thynges wherin God very much delighteth Fyrst he sayth he wyll take y e cuppe of health wherby is vnderstand af fliccion trouble persecucion morti ficacion of olde Adam kyllynge of carnall affectes slayenge of fleshly lustes bearyng of the crosse and at the last death as it appeareth by y e wordes of Christ to the soÌ„nes of Ze bedeus Can ye drynke sayth he of the cuppe that I shall drynke Also to his father Let this cup departe from me wherby he vnderstandeth his passion death To recompense partely y e kyndenes of God Dauid sayth that he wyll mortifye the ra giÌ„g lustes of his owne flesh y t fyght agaynste the spirite neuer leaue vntyl he hath made y e body subiecte to the soule that in all poyntes it maye be obediente to the lawe and wyll of God For this is an hygh acceptable sacrifice to God as Dauid wytnesseth iÌ„ another place a sacrifice to God is a troubled spirite a contrite humble harte God wyl not despyse S. Paule also saythe I beseche you brothers by the tender mercyes of God that you gyue your bodies a sacrifice y t is quicke holy acceptable to God whiche is youre resonable seruynge of God And God himselfe sayth by y e Prophet vnto whome shal I looke but vnto the huÌ„ble broken in spirite vnto hym y t fearethe my wordes Agayne he confessethe here that he wyl not only mortify his carnal lustes that he maye be truely spirituall but he wyll also paciently suf fer what soeuer crosse that is trou ble persecucion and affliccion God layeth vpon hym yea thoughe it be very death His harte is nowe so en flamed w t the loue of God for the be nefites that he hathe shewed vnto hym that he recositeth not only all that he hath but also his very lyte to vile of to small a price to gyue agayn for the glory of God that he may at the least in some parte shew hymselfe thankefull vnto so bounteous geÌ„tle a Lord as S. Paule sayth The holy Ghost wytnessethe layth y â— bondes troubles abyde me in euery Citie But I care not for it neyther is my lyfe dere vnto me so that I may fynish my course with ioy the office that I haue re ceaued of the LORD Iesu to testify y â— gospel of y e grace of God For I am not only redy to be bound but also to dye for y e name of y e LORDE Iesu. It is not withoute a cause that he calleth affliccion trouble or per secucion the cuppe of helth or salua cion for it brigeth i dede helth sâ—…l uacioÌ„ to a true Christen man And though the crosse be bitter to y e flesh yet is it swete and healthfull to the spirite And y â— more y â— body be depres sed made low y â— more is y â— spirite ex alied made hygh as s. Paule saith though our outward maÌ„ be brokeÌ„ yet y â— iward is renewed day by day Agen we are not detters to y â— flesh y â— we should lyue after y â— flesh For yf ye lyue after the flesshe ye shal dye But yf ye mortifi y â— dedes of y e body in y â— spirite ye shall lyue For they that are lead with y â— spirite of god are the sonnes of GOD. Therfore sayth Christ If ony man wyl come after me let hym deny forsake hiÌ„ self take his crosse dayly follow me For by many tribulacioÌ„s must we enter into y â— kyngedome of god And all y â— wyll lyue godly in Christ Iesu muste suffer persecucion It was necessary sayth the scripture that Christ shoulde fyrst suffer and so ryse agayne enter into glorye But for asmuch as it is an hard thing for a maÌ„ of his owne streÌ„gth pacieÌ„tly to beare the Crosse and to suffer rebuke slaunder ignominy blasphemy euel reportes empresoÌ„meÌ„t losse of goodes yea percuauÌ„se very death for Gods truethe and y â— glory of his worde seyng y t though the spirite be redye yet the flesshe is weake therfore Dauid saythe He wyll call on the name of the Lorde Wherfore Uerely for streÌ„gth that he maye be able to beare the crosse y â— is layd vpon his backe y â— he swarue not whan persecucion coÌ„meth and so slaunder y â— trueth which so bolde ly he professed before For withoute the assistence of Goddes spirite no man is able to abyde in the tyme of persecucion semeth he neuer so valeaunt a souldiour at other tymes as we may se in y â— Apostles of Christ whiche before theyr master was in onye daunger promised that they woulde neuer forsake hi but sticke vnto hym euen vnto the very deth yet whan they came to the bronte wel was he that could ronne away fastest in so much that he which be fore craked moost shewed hiÌ„selfe boldest of al the other I meane Pe ter dyd not only fle away from his master but also shamefully
Dauid my treadynges had nygh slypt For I was sore greaued at the wic ked to se the vngodly in such prospe rite For they are i no parel of deth but stonde fast lyke a palace They come in no misfortune lyke other folke nother are they plaged lyke other men And this is the cause y t they are so puffed in Pryde ouerwhelmed wyth cruelte vnrighteousnes Theyr eyes swel for fatnes they do euen what they lyste Corrupte are they speake blasphemies maliciously proud presumpteous are theyr wordes They â—…retch forth theyr mouthe vnto heauen theyr tong goeth thorowe y e world Therfore fall y e people vnto them therout suche they no small auaâ—… tage Tush say they how shal God perceaue it Is theyr knowledge in the moost hyghest Lo these are the vngodly these prosper in the world These haue rytches in possession These haue sonnes y e growe vp as yonge plantes These haue mynyoÌ„ trymme doughters garnysshed round about euen lyke vnto a gorgious teÌ„ple These haue theyr garners full plenteous wyth all maÌ„ner of stoar These haue shepe that bryng forth thousandes hondred thousandes in theyr pastures and feldes These haue fatte oxen y â— are stronge to laboure To be shorte these haue no mischaunse no decay no trouble no noyse no complaynynge in theyr stretes that shoulde greue them Ieremy also saythe O LORDE thou arte more ryghteous than that I shoulde dispute wythe the neuerthelesse let me talke with the in thynges reasonable Howe happeneth it that the waye of the vngodly is so prosperous that it goeth so well with them which â—…out ony shame offend lyue in wickednes Thou planteste them they take roote they growe and brynge forthe fruyte They boste moche of the yet doste thou not ponyshe theÌ„ Thus se we howe the vngodlye lyke fat beastes wallowe tomble theÌ„ selues in all kynde of pleasures neyther wante they ony thynge in this worlde that theyr hartes can desyre yea they haue more prosperi te than they can awaye wythe all yet are the godly and Sayntes of the Lord oppressed with all misery leadynge a lyfe in great calamite wretchednes thaÌ„ ony creatures in the world But yet beholde y e ende of the wycked For sodenly they do consume perysh come to nought The Psalmographe sayth y e death of the wicked synners is very euel Agayne The vnrighteous maÌ„ shal receaue his plages ponyshmeÌ„tes whan he dyeth But let vs beholde these thynges as i a pure myrrour by rehearsyng certayne Hystories Howe triumphed the wycked kyng Pharao vpon the Israelites Gods people Howe lysle regarded he the sermons spoken and the myracles wroughte by the seruauÌ„tes of God Moses Aaron thorow the diuine spirite Howe continued he to persecute the people of God euen vnto the very hour of his death But be hold the ende Whan he was moost puffed vp in his pryde and mooste bent to do mischefe howe dyd God trap hym in his owne wylynesse euen broughte that vpon his owne head that he enteÌ„ded to brynge vp on other Dyd not God meruaylously drowne hym with al his wic ked army preserue his people by that meanes But what was that temporall deathe in comparison to the death eternall the moost greuous intollerable paynes that he nowe suffreth in hell fyre without mercye Agen how dyd Sennacherib y â— proud king of the Assirians bost hiÌ„ self not only agenst the good kyng Ezechias but also y â— lyuyng God yea blasphemed hym sayng as y e moost cruel lyonlyke tyraunt the great Turke doth nowe a dayes y t he woulde vtterly subdue both hiÌ„ his coÌ„pany yea y t theyr God shuld â—…e no more able to deliuer theÌ„ than 〈◊〉 broken staffe of rede He leaned muche to his owne poletyke wytte martiall valeaunce thynkyng y t in asmuch as heretofore he had sub dued all kyngdoms which he inua ded he also should haue ouercome y â— people of God But God which is the lyuynge almyghtye God able in a twyncklyng of an eye to make frustrate vayne all the fleshly ima ginacions of the worldly tyrauntes yea to brynge to noughte all theyr power sent his Aungell the very same nyghte that all the mischefe was enteÌ„ded agaynst his peo ple which smote in the hoost of the Assirians an hondred foure score fyue thousand men So that Sen nacherib brake vp departed and was shortely after slayne w t swerde of his owne sonnes An ende worthye suche a proude blasphemous Tyraunte But what is this vnto the infernall paynes y â— be endeles which he nowe remediles suffreth What proud crakes also dyd y â— ar rogant Tyrasite Holofernes make agaynst the people of Israel thynkyng that there was no kyngdome so inuincible stronge fortressed but that he with his martiall puissaunce feates of warre was able easly to ouercome So that he toke no thoughte lyued all in pleasure lyke a careles swyne gyuyng hym selfe to all kynde of beastelyke pleasures But howe valeauntly euen by one woman God dyd ouercome hym and put all his army to flight the Hystory maketh mencion What shal I speke of y e two Hero des wherof the one in the myddes of his fury wheÌ„ he was moost whot fyry in sekyng the deth of Christ for his sake sleynge innumerable infantes miserably dyed bringing nothing lesse than his cruell blou dy purpose to effecte so valeaunt myghty is our lord god to extiguish and quenche the tyrannye of these bloudsowpers whaÌ„ it is his moost godly pleasure to preserue those whome he wyll haue kept fre from theyr crudelite furious madnes The other Herode eueÌ„ in y e middes of his pompe honoure glory beynge clad in his kyngly apparel set Luciferlike on his iudgement seate after that he had moost Tyrauntelyke persecuted certayne of Christes chyrch yea slayne withe swerd Iames the brother of IohnÌ„ was smote of the AuÌ„gel of y e Lord because he gaue not y e glory to god So that he was eaten vp of wormes But what nede I rehearse so many Histories oute of the diuine letters seyng that this one whiche I shal nowe recite maye seme abuÌ„dantly to satisfy for to shewe howe precious in the syght of the Lorde the deathe of his saynctes is seme theyr lyfe in this world neuer so mi serable wretched pitieful poore ne dy beggerly full of all trouble so row dolour camalite Agen how vile detestable the death of y e wyc ked is in the Lordes syght be theyr lyfe here neuer so pompous galaÌ„t easy volupteous ioyful quiet care les popelyke S. Luke in his Gospell declareth how there was a certen ritche man which was apparelled w t pur ple costely lynnen fared deliciouslye euery daye In these wordes the Euangelist sheweth manifestly howe this
rytche man lyued all in plesure had al thinges according to his hartes desyre But beholde y â— ende He was cruell merciles vnpiteful to the poore Therfore wheÌ„ he dyed the Scripture sayth that he was caried downe ito hel where he was tormented wyth suche greuous flames of fyre intollerable burnynges that he desyred Abraham to send downe Lazarus vnto hym that he myght dyp the typpe of hys fynger in the water coole his tonge for he was greuously tor mented in that flame But AbrahaÌ„ sayd remember sonne that y u haste receaued thy pleasures in thy lyfe coÌ„trary wyse Lazarus receaued paynes and troubles Therfore is he nowe coÌ„forted and thou arte tor mented As for y â— poore man his lyfe was so wretched beggerly miserable y â— no man woulde scasely wonchesafe once to cast theyr eye to looke towarde hym he was such an abiecte so vile so reÌ„t so torne so Lazarlyke ful of greuous sores Only y e dog ges lycked his sores But beholde y e ende This poore man dyed was caried of the AuÌ„gels into AbrahaÌ„s bosome This Hystory declareth playnely howe precious the deathe of the Saynctes that is of the faythfull is in the syght of the Lord appeare theyr lyfe neuer so miserable before the deynty worldlynges Agayne howe vile detestable the death of the wicked is in Gods syght haue they speÌ„t theyr lyfe iÌ„ neuer so much ioye pleasure felicite were they recounted before the worlde neuer so blyssed happye fortunate and brought to the ground with neuer so great pompe and solemnite And here se we that to be true whiche is written Wo be to you rytche men which haue yourâ—… consolacion Wo be to you that are fylled for ye shall honger Wo be to you that laughe nowe for ye shall lament and wepe Wo be to you whan all menne shall prayse you for accordynge to these thynges dyd theyr fathers to the false Prophetes But blyssed are ye that honger now for ye shall be fylled Blyssed are ye y â— wepe now for ye shall laugh The deynte worldeliges receaue payne after this life but the faythful in y e Lorde which be oppressed w t miserye troubled for Gods trueth shall receaue ioye glory So that as Dauid sayth Precious in the syght of the Lorde is the death of his Sayntes Hereto agreeth the sayenge of S. IohnÌ„ in his reuelacion Blyssed are the dead whiche dye in the Lorde The death of Saynctes muste nedes be precious in the syght of the Lorde they which dye in the Lorde must nedes be blyssed seyng that bothe y â— glory of God is sette forth by theyr death the Saynctes them selues set in a perpetual ioye euerlastig quietnes without ony more care or trouble For after y t they haue offered vp this theyr lyfe vnto god the soules of the righteous are streight wayes in the hand of God and the payne of deth shall not towche theÌ„ In the syght of the vnwyse they ap peare to dye theyr ende is taken for very destruccion The waye of y â— righteous is iudged to be vtter destruccion but they are in reste And thogh they suffer payne before meÌ„ yet is theyr hope full of immortalite They are ponysshed but in fewe thynges neuertheles in many thin ges shall they be wel rewarded For God proueth them lyndeth them mete for himselfe yea as golde in y e fornace doth he trye them receaueth them as a burnte offerynge whan the tyme commeth they shall be looked vpon They ryghteous shall shyne as the sparkes that run thorowe the rede bushe They shall iudge the nacions and haue dominion ouer the people theyr Lord shall reygne for euer They y t putte theyr trust in him shal vnderstand the trueth suche as be faythefull wyll agre vnto hym in loue for his chosen shall haue gyftes and peace But the vngodly shall be punyshed accordyng to theyr owne imaginacions for they haue despised y e righ teous and forsaken the Lorde Moreouer the ryghteous shall stonde in great stedfastnes agaynst suche as haue dealte extremely w t them taken away theyr labours Whan they se it they shall be vexed with horrible feare shall wonder at the hastines of theyr soden helth gronyng for very distresse of mynd shall saye within them selues hauyng inward sorowe mournyng for very anguyshe of mynde These are they whome we sometyme had in derision iested vpon We fooles thought theyr lyues very madnes theyr end to be w tout honour But â—…o how they are couÌ„ted amoÌ„g the chyldren of God theyr porcioÌ„ is amonge the Sayntes Therfore haue we erred froÌ„ y â— way of trueth The lyghte of ryghteousnes hathe not shyned vnto vs the sonne of vnderstondynge rose not vpon vs. we haue weryed our selues iÌ„ y e way of wickednes destruccioÌ„ Tedious wayes haue we gone but as for the waye of y e Lorde we haue not knowen it What good hath our pryde done vnto vs or what profyt hath the pompe of rytches brought vs All these thynges are passed awaye as a shadowe c. These and suche other wordes shall they that haue synned speake in hell But y e ryghteoê° shall lyue for euermore Theyr reward also is w t y e Lord theyr re membraunce with the hyghest Therfore shall they receaue a glori ous kyngedome and a beautyfull crowne of the Lordes hand For w t his ryght hande shall he couer theÌ„ withe his owne arme shall he de fende them c. Thus se we how dere precious in the syght of the Lorde the death of his Saynctesis S. Paule hauyng experience of this thing wheÌ„ he was yet alyue sayd on this man ner I desyre to be dissolued losoned oute of this mortall bodye to be with Christ. Also kynge Dauid Wo is me that I tary iÌ„ this world so longe Therfore howe so euer the wycked worldlynges recount the death of the Sayntes whyther it chaun ceth to theÌ„ by famyn hoÌ„ger swerde water fyre halter or ony otherwise vndoubtedlye it is precious in the sight of the Lord appeare it before the world of neuer so great ignomi ny reproche infamy shame and re buke Happy therfore is he that dy eth this death how so euer it chauÌ„seth vnto hym Blyssed is y e Crosse which bryngeth this glory But let vs se how it commeth to passe that the deth of Sayntes is so precious in the syght of the Lorde It followeth ¶ The syxte verse O Lord I am thy seruaÌ„t yea thy seruaunt iÌ„ dede the son of thy handmayde thou hast broken my bon des ¶ The nynte strynge BEcause no man be he neuer so holy good and perfecte should thyncke that thorowe his owne holynes goodnes perfeccion he had deserued that his deathe shoulde be dere precious and of great valour in
the Lordes syght or els because that he had suffred many great tor mentes for the glorye of God yea perchaunse very death so by that meanes recounte hymselfe worthy by hys owne desertes of the lyfe eternall oure Mynstrell Dauid in this verse of his songe not vnto the derogacion of the sayntes honour whiche are not to be defrauded of theyr prayse but vnto the promocion settynge forth of Gods glory syngeth here howe it commethe to passe that the death of Saynctes that is of the faythfull is so precious i the sight of y e Lord. The cause is this sayth he because God hath broken theyr bondes For what is man that he maye appeare righteous in y e sight of God before whom a chyld of one day olde is not pure nor the starres in the Eliment nor nor yet the Aungelles in heauen There is no man good but God alone All our righteousnesses are as a clothe polluted wythe menstrue Who is able to say my hart is pure I am cleane without synne The moost ryghteous man in the world maye pray on this manner wythe Dauid Lorde enter not into iudge ment with thy seruaunte for none y â— lyueth shallbe fouÌ„d ryghteous in thy sight Is it ony maruayle wheÌ„ of our selues we are not able to thike a good thoughte moche lesse to worke ony good dede by our owne power before we be regeÌ„erate bor ne a newe and made other men by Christes Spirite And as towchyng the affliccion and trouble that we suffer in this worlde seme it to the flesh neuer so greate paynefull and intollerable yet can it not be compared to y e glo ry that shalbe shewed to vs as S. Paule sayth Notwitstandynge yf we suffer with Christ we shall also reygne with Christ yea be glorifi ed with hym not that we of our selues haue deserued so great glorye but because God hath so promised which can not lye but is faythfull in al his wordes leaueth no good dede vnrewarded that is done in Christ yea and that for his promise sake thorow his vnmesurable mercy poured forthe plenteously in the moost precioê° bloud of Christ Iesu. Now seyng y e not we onlye but also al y e euer we do of oure selues is vn pure vnclene in the syght of god vntyl both we al our dedes be pu rified by the diuine spirite therfore before we canne brynge forthe ony thinge that maye be approued and accepted before God we must be de lyuered from that moost miserable captiuite wherunto we ware caste of Satan thorowe the synne of Adam Our bondes must be broken we muste be set at liberte from the power of Satan syn death hel c. This thynge once done thaÌ„ what so euer we do in Christ and in oure newe regeneracion muste nedes be allowed before God receaued as an acceptable Sacrifice Yea whyther we lyue or dye both our lyfe oure death is right dere and precious in y â— syghte of the Lorde But let vs returne vnto our songe Although it be true nothynge more true y t God of his owne mere mercy fre goodnes vndeserued benignite saued vs whan we ware so vtterly loste that by no meanes we could seke ony parte of our own saluacion nor recouer by our owne strength power ony thynge at all that we before had lost in Adam so that both oure creaÌ„cion eleccion re demcion saluacion iustificacion glorificacion commeth only of hym thorow his moost entierly beloued sonne our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christe Yet do these his benefites only belonge vnto theÌ„ that are his faythfull seruauntes the sonnes of his handemayd as Dauid sayth here O Lord because I am thy ser uaunte yea thy seruaunt in dede the sonne of thy handmayde thou hast broken my bondes We se here that Dauid confessethe that God brake his bondes but he addeth also that he therfore is his seruaunt yea his vnfayned seruauÌ„te y â— soÌ„ne of his handmayd Wherby we maye easly learne that the merciful bene fites of God the father which lyghe poured out in Christes bloude pertayne not vnto all persons vniuersallye but only vnto those that are his seruauntes yea that not fayned but true hartye louynge and faythful the sonnes of his hande mayd God hath performed y e othe sayth y â— good preste Zachary father to S. IohnÌ„ baptist which he sware vnto Abraham our father to gyue vs that we beyng without feare delyuered froÌ„ the power of our enemies shoulde serue hym w t holynes ryghteousnesse before hym all the dayes of our lyfe We are delyuered sayth this good preste from the power of our enemiesnot y â— we should lyue wickedly vngodly but that we shoulde serue oure LORDE God not in our owne fleshly ymaginacions blynde good ententes but in holynes righteousnes yea that not a daye or two but al the dayes of our lyfe God hath not called vs saythe S. Paule vnto vnclennes but vnto sanctificacion God hathe blyssed you saythe the scripture by his sonne Iesus that euery one of you shoulde turne from his wicked nes God hath broken our bondes that we shoulde be his faythfull ser uauntes the sonnes of his hande mayd as Dauid sayth Now what is it to be the seruaunt of God Ue rely to do those thynges that we be commaunded of God In considera cion wherof S. Paule the other Apostles iÌ„ al theyr Epistles call theÌ„ selues the seruauntes of God bycause vnto the vttermoost of theyr power they euer fulfylled those thiÌ„ ges that were enioyned theÌ„ of god For it becommeth a seruauÌ„t to fulfyll his masters coÌ„maundemente not to worke after his owne fansy so maye he be bolde to appere in his masters syghte whan so euer he be called to aske that which his master hath promised him In lyke maÌ„ ner yf we wyll be counted so proued the seruauntes of God vnfaynedlye we muste earnestelye consider euery maÌ„ accordynge to his cal lynge what God hathe commaunded vs in his holy law and that we must laboure vnto the vttermoost of our power for to fulfyl or els we are no true seruauÌ„tes of God For by no meanes may we leaue y e wyll of God vnfylled practise thynges of oure owne imaginacion If ony man loueth me sayth Christ he wyl kepe my word my father shal loue hym we wyl come vnto hym and dwell with him He that hath my coÌ„ maundemeÌ„tes kepeth them he it is that louethe me For not euery one that sayth vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kyngdome of he ueÌ„ but he that doth the wyll of my father which is in heauen But it is to be noted that Dauid doth not only name hymselfe y â— seruaunt of god but he doubleth it sayth yea the seruaunt of God in dede As though he should
hym in all his godly and vertuous enterpryses also lead hym into all trueth kno ledge of Gods moost holy wyll To make an ende come ther lyfe or coÌ„meth ther death Dauid is fully determned to stycke by Gods word to seke his glory aboue all thynges yea and that not in corners and secret places but openly that all the worlde maye euidently se that Dauid is an earneste setter forthe and an vnfayned promotoure of Goddes glorye and by that meanes be occasioned also wyth Dauid to honoure worshyppe magnify laude and prayse GOD wyth one mynd and voyce for euermore as Christe saythe Let your lyght so shyne before menne that they maye se your good workes and glorifye your father which is in heauen to whome wythe his onlye begotten sâ—…nne oure LORDE and omnisufficient sauiour Iesus Christ the holy Ghoste that moost swete confor toure be all honoure prayse and glory for euer and euer AmÌ„ ¶ Gyue the glory to God alone ¶ The. Cxlv. Psalme I Wyll magnifye the O God my kyng I wyl prayse thy name for euer and euer Euery day wyll I gyue thaÌ„kes vnto the and prayse thy name for euer and euer Great is y â— Lord and maruelous worthy to be praysed ther is no ende of his greatnes One generacion shall prayse thy workes vnto another and declare thy power As for me I wyll be talkynge of thy worshyp thy glory thy prayse and wonderous workes So that men shall speake of the myghte of thy maruelous actes tell of thy greatnes The memoriall of thyne abundant kyndenes shall be shewed and meÌ„ shall synge of thy righteousnes The LORDE is gracious mercifull longe sufferynge and of great goodnes The LORDE is louynge to euery man and his mercye is ouer all his worckes All thy worckes prayse the O LORD and all thy Saynctesgyue thanckes vnto the. They shew the glory of thy kingdome and talke of thy power That thy power thy glorye and myghtynes of thy kyngdom might be knowen vnto men Thy kingdome is an euerlastyng kyngedome thy dominion endureth thorowe oute all ages The LORDE vpholdethe all suche as shoulde fall and lyfteth vppe all those that be downe The eyes of all wayte vpon the and thou gyuest them theyr meate in due season Thou openest thyne hande and fyllest all thynges lyuyng with pleÌ„ teousnes The LORDE is ryghteous in all his wayes holy in all his workes The LORDE is nye vnto them y â— call vpon hym yea all suche as call vpon hym faythfully He fulfylleth the desyre of them that feare him he heareth theyr cry and helpeth them The LORDE preserueth all them y â— loue hym but scatterethe abroad all the vngodly My mouth shalâ—… speake y â— praysâ—… of the LORDE and let all fleshe gyue thanckes vnto his holy name for euer and euer Prayse the euerlastynge ¶ Imprynted at London in Botulph lane at the sygne of the whyte Beare by IohnÌ„ Mayler for IohnÌ„ Gough Anno DnÌ„i 1542. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum Per Septennâ—…m The excellency of the Psalme whych here after shalbe expounded Dauid excelleth all musicions The fanta sies of y â— old Poetes con cerniÌ„g their musicioÌ„s What the shakyng of the Okes toppes signifye Pro. rri Esa. viii Matth. xxi What the daunâ—…ynge of the beastes signify Luke i. Luke ii A christen mans ioy what it is Ozâ—… 〈◊〉 i. Cor. xv Heb 〈◊〉 i. Ioan. v. What the mouyng of the mountaynes signifye What the stondynge styll of the swyft floudes signyfye What the fetchyng of Soules out of hel mene Psal. xviii Ioan. xi Phil. ii Note howe many godly goodly thynges are entreated of in thys Psalme Beholde what Dauid doth Notâ—… The greate vertue of Dauids harpe i. Reg. xvi The excelleÌ„ cy of Dauids songes Luke xxiiii Ephe. v. The Psalmody of Dauid is 〈◊〉 tresure house of the holy Scripture Agood lessoÌ„ for all men of honoure Beholde followe Why thys Psalme is called Dauids Harpe Psa. xxxii Psal. cxiiâ—… Phil. ii Ioan. viii Psal. xviii Iacob i. Sette hand to it o ye y â— be lerned ii Cor. iiii Math. ix Luke x. â—…ayth is y â— fyrst string of Dauids Harpe and y â— foundacion of y â— chri sten religioÌ„ Rom. xiiii â—…eb xâ—… Thre thyn ges to be no ted Antichrist turneth the rootes of trees vp ward Rom. xiiii Heb. xi Mark wel Gâ—…n iii. Roma v. Heb. xi Iaco. ii Marc. i. Ephe. ii mat iii. xvii Marc. i. xi ii Pet. i. Ioan. iii. Rom. viii Heb. ix x. Psal. cix Rom. x. Ioan. i. Gala. iii. Rom. viii Gala. iiii Oze ii Roma v. Roma xiiii Searche the Christmas Banâ—…ket in y e thyrd dysh the Pathewaye vnto Prayer in y e xvi Chap. and y e Nosegaye in the Seconde floure c. Faith brin geth forth good Wor kes Gala. v. Fayth is y e cause of all goodnes Roma x. Mark wel Behold the nature of true christen fayth Math. xiâ—… Luke vi Act. iiii Math. xâ—…vi Mar. xiiii Luke xxii Ioan. xviii Act. iiii Math. xvi Act. v. Gene. xxvi Exo. xv Deu. xi xxx Actum v. Note An admoni cion for Fayth Iaâ—…ob it Galla. v. Rulare Byshop or Preste Father or Mother Master or Mastres Maryed man Maryed wo man Subiecte or seruaunte A general admonicion for al estates Beholdâ—… what 〈◊〉 true fayâ—… workethâ—… Christâ—…n â—…an Rom viii Psal. â—…iii Act. xxi PersecucioÌ„ followeth y â— confession of Gods worde i. Cor. i. Note Gene. iiii i. Ioan. iii. The good the euell can 〈◊〉 agree Note thys well Ioan. xiiii Exo. xvi and. xvii Math. v. Luke xiii iiii Esd. i. Mat. xxiii Heb. xi ii Pâ—… xxiiii 〈◊〉 Maâ—… vii Exo xii Ioan. i. i. Petre. ii â—…say liii i. Ioan. iii. ii Cor. v Math. xi Luke vii Ioan. viii x Mat. xvii Marke xv Luke â—…xii Ioan. ix Mat ix xii Marc. i. Phil. ii Mark Act. iiii v. xiii xiiii Act. xii Act. vii Ac. xvi xvii Martyrs PersecucioÌ„ maketh Gods word the chyrch of Christ to floryshe Beholde ☞ We ought to reiose in the tyme of persecution Rom. viii Act. xiiii Luke xiiii Math. x. Luke vi Ioan. xiii xv Ioan. xvi Math. v. i. Pet. iiii ii Tim. ii PersecucioÌ„ is a token of Gods loue toward vs. Phil. i. Math. x. Marc. viii Luke ix and. xii ii Tim. ii What the occasion was y t Dauid was so foretroubled The chefe poynte of a Mynstrel of a syn gynge man is to lye flatter Gala i. Math. iii. Luke iii. Math. xxiii Act. xxiii AMEN good Lorde ii Cor. xii What Dauids traâ—…s signyfye i. Cor. ii Math. xii Lnke vi Iacob iii. Ioan. iii. Ioan. viii The nature of flesh Rom. iii. What we are of ouâ—… selues Gen. vi Note Gene. iii. Searche the Newes out of heauen Psal. â—…xv Rom. iii. ii Cor. iii Phil. ii Ioan. vi Esay â—…iii iii Iere. xxxi Ioan. xv Math. xvi Ioan. vi Cant. i. Howe euery