Scripture bycause it quickeneth gyueth lyfe to them that be fore were dead laye buryed in the stynckynge donge hyll of synne Thus se we that what so euer the olde Poetes haue wrytten in ti mes past coÌ„cernyng y e excellency of y e musike of theyr Minstrelles it is altogither nothiÌ„g elles than a very type figure cloud shadow of this our Mynstrell Dauid which doth y â— very same thynge in dede which they fayned in wordes So that al the glory prayse of true Musyke ought of ryght only to redowne vn to oure moost excellente Musicion Dauid And althoughe he sheweth hymselfe a very perfecte Musicion connynge Mynstrell in all his other soÌ„ges Psalmes yet me thiÌ„ke in this our Psalme he farre excelleth almoste ouercoÌ„meth himself his Harpe soundeth so pleasauntly his songe is so ful of moost swete delectable armony Neither doth he entreate of vayne childish lyght tryflynge thiges but of serious graue earnest weyghty matters For he syngeth of fayth of the confession of his fayth of good workes of the crosse trouble affliccion of the vanitie noughtynes of man of the benefites of God of the inuo cacion callynge on the name of y â— LORDE of the vowes to be performed vnto the LORDE before his peo ple of the deathe of Saynctes and howe precious it is in the syght of God of the free delyueraunce from Satan synne death hell desperacion c. thorowe Christ of the Sacrifice of prayse and as I maye at the last make an ende of the ryghte institucion of a Christen mans life in this worlde What songe may be coÌ„pared vnto this our song What Harpe maketh so goodly plesauÌ„te melodye as this Harpe of Dauid doth Let all mynstrels gyue place to this our Mynstrel Let all Harpes other musicall instrumentes be silente holde theyr peace whan Dauids harpe entreth coÌ„meth in place Let all songes be banysshed whan Dauids Psalmes be songe For what so euer Dauid syngethe it is excellent incoÌ„parable He w t his songes exciteth prouoketh en flameth y e myndes of the faythefull diligent hearers vnto the loue desyre not of traÌ„sitory but of heaueÌ„ ly thynges He conforteth the conforteles He exhorteth the synnner vnto amendmeÌ„t of lyfe He lyfteth vp the desperate vnto the hoope of Goddes mercy He corroborateth maketh stronge the weake He healeth the diseased He rayseth vp the dead vnto lyfe He makethe the sad mery He exhilarateth reioycethe y â— merely disposed To coÌ„clude he is a Mynstrell fytte for all kynde of parsons so y â— they be bent vnto god lynes Ah woulde God y â— all Mynstrels in the world yea all sorte of parsons both olde yonge woulde ones leaue theyr lasciuious wantoÌ„ vnclene balades syng such god ly vertuous songes as Dauid te cheth them wherby they myght be auocated called away from synne excited stored vp vnto vertue goodnes For it is not vncomly for Christen men to synge ChristeÌ„ songes yea that in all places so that it be done reuerently w toute ony iestynge scoffynge raylynge or reproche of other persons Moreouer who can deny y â— there is much great vertue in Dauids Harpe seynge that the sounde ther of dyd chase dryue awaye the vncleane wycked spirite out of king Saul wherwith at other tymes he was miserably afflicted troubled Agayne must not Dauids songes be of great excellency seyng that y â— sonne of god came downe from the glorious throne of his heauenly fa ther to accoÌ„plish fulfyl theÌ„ Doth not Paule also saye be ye fylled w t the spirite speakynge among your selues in Psalmes Hymnes spirituall songes syngyng makyng melody in your hartes to y e LORDE euer gyuyng thanckes for all thinges in the name of our LORDE Iesu Christ Certes the Psalmody of Dauid maye well be called y â— Trea sure house of the holye Scripture For it contayne the what so euer is necessary for a christeÌ„ maÌ„ to know There is nothynge in the lawe no thynge in the Prophetes nothyng in y e prechyng of Christ of his apo stles y t this noble Mynstrell Kyng Prophet doth not decantate and synge w t moost goodly manifeste wordes He syngeth all the workes woÌ„derous miracles of God from the begynnynge of the worlde vntyll the redeÌ„pcion of mankynde by Christ. He syngeth Christes incarnacion preachinge workyng of miracles passion death resurreccion ascencion glory the blessynge of all nacions the conuersion of the GeÌ„tiles withe all other misteries that pertayne to our helth He syngethe the iudgement mercy of God He syngeth the discoÌ„mendacion of vice auauncement of vertue He syngeth the vanite vnryghteousnes of mens streÌ„gthes without y e helpe of God To be short he sigeth what so euer is expidiente for a Christen maÌ„s knowledge So that eueÌ„ this one boke alone of Dauids songes had ben sufficieÌ„t truly to instructe a man in the ryghteousnes of God but y t the goodnes of God would y â— our fragilite weakenes ignorancy shoulde be holpen w t mo scriptures O the wonderful meruelous strength of Dauids Harpe O the great excedyng vertu of Dauids songes Happy is that man that de lyghteth hath a pleasure in them for he shal neuer be vexed w tan euel spirite He shall alwaye abhore vice enbrase vertue He shall neuer be sadde but euer reioyce w t a godly spiritual myrth Would God that all men of honoure woulde noryshe such Mynstrelles in theyr houses as Dauid is that might syng vn to theÌ„ bothe at dyner supper yea and at all other tymes these moost swete delectable songes of Dauid So should both they all theyr family be desposed to lyue more vertuously than many be nowe a dayes be prouoked to leaue theyr poÌ„pous galaÌ„t wycked venereal fleshly beastlyke vncleane manner of lyuynge Would God also that all fathers mothers al masters and mastresses would brynge vp theyr chyldren and seruauÌ„tes in the syngynge of these moost godly songes Agayne woulde God y â— all Scholemasters teachers of youth would in stede of Uirgile Ouide Horas Catullus Tibullus Propertiê° c teach these verses of Dauid For so shoulde they not only obtayne eloquence but also diuine erudicion godlye knoweledge spirituall wisdome encrease in all kynde of ver tue vnto the great glory of God y â— saluacion of theyr owne soules the ryght institucioÌ„ of theyr owne lyfe the great ioye of theyr parentes y â— good reporte of theyr techers and to the hygh coÌ„modite of the ChristeÌ„ publique weale God grafit that it maye once thus come to passe But I wyll returne vnto our Psalme which I haue entiteled iÌ„ the forhed of my boke Dauids Harpe Some man wyll meruayle peradueÌ„ture whye I call this Psalme Dauids Harpe
weale punysh the euel mayntayne the good accept no parson in iudge mente allowe no false accusacion shed no innocente bloude heare the small so well as the great set forth gods glory promote his holy word in all thynges seake the profyt of of the common weale Let the subiectes be faythefull true obedient to theyr Prynces hygher powers Lette the Bysshoppes Prestes that be called vnto the office of prechynge take hede to theyr selues to all the flocke in the which y e holy Ghost hath appoynted thē ouerseers to fede the cōgregacion of God Lette them fede Christes flocke so muche as lygheth in theyr power take the ouersighte of them not as thoughe they were compelled but wyllyngly not for the desyre of fylthy lucre but of a good mynde not as Lordes ouer the Parysshes but to be an example vnto the flocke Let them caste awaye vngodly and olde wyuysh fables be vnto them that beleue an example in y e worde in conuersacion in loue in spirite in fayth in purenes Let them giue attendaunce vnto readynge to exhortacion to doctrine Let thē study to shew thē selues to God lauda ble which nede not to be ashamed Let the husbōdes loue theyr wy ues as theyr owne bodyes and be not bytter churlysh or vnkynd vnto them but gyue honour vnto thē as vnto the weaker vesselles and as vnto them that are fellowe heyres wyth them of the grace of lyfe Lykewyse let y e wyues be in sub iecciō to theyr husbondes as vnto the LORDE in all thynges so behaue themselues as it becommethe women of an honest godly conuer sacion Let them aray them selues in comely apparell with shame fastnes discrete behauour not wythe brayded heere or golde or pearle or costely araye but withe suche as it becometh women that professe godlynes thorowe good workes Lette y e inward mā of the hart be vncorrupte withe a meke quiet spirite whiche before God is moche set by For after this manner in the olde tyme dyd the holy women whiche trusted in God tyer them selues were obedient to theyr husbondes euen as Sara obeyed Abraham called hym Lord whose doughters the wyues are so longe as they do well nor being afrayd for ony trou ble Let fathers not rate theyr chyldrē lest they be of a desperate mind but brynge thē vp in the nourtour and informacion of the LORDE Let the chyldren also obey theyr pa rentes in all thynges for y e is well pleasynge vnto the LORDE Let masters do vnto theyr seruauntes that which is iust equal put tynge awaye threatenynges know that they also haue a master in heauen with whome there is no respecte of parsons Let the seruauntes agayne be obediēt vnto theyr bodely masters in al thinges w t feare tremblyng in siglenes of harte as vnto Christ not w t seruice only in the eye syght as men pleasers but as the seruaū tes of Christ doyng the wyll of god from the harte wythe good wyll Let them thyncke that they serue the LORDE and not men let them be sure y t what so euer good a man doth he shall receaue it agayne of y e LORDE whether he be bond or free To cōclude let euery one amōg vs do our dutye lyue accordyng to the vocacion whereunto God hathe called vs. So shal it come to passe y t we shall not walke vnworthy the kyndenes of God So shall we truly paye our vowes vnto the LORDE So shall we faythfully per forme y t which we heretofore promt sed in baptisme So shall we dayly more more encrease in the loue of God taste more plēteously of his bounteous giftes But it is to be noted that Dauid saythe Before all his people This is none other thynge but y e which Christ commaundeth in the in as much as Christe hathe chosen them from the worlde therfore the world hateth them What is than to be sayd Uerely whither we liue or dye we are the LORDES and precious is the death of Sayntes in y ◠syght of y e LORDE as it followethe ¶ The eyght strynge Precious in the syghte of the Lord is the death of his Sayntes This song of our Mynstrel Da uid must nedes be very plesaūt delectable to the hearers seyng y t he syngethe all thynges in suche a godly goodly order setteth euery thynge in his ryght place For after that he hath made mēcion of payenge his vowes vnto the Lord whyche is to do all thynges accordynge to the cōmaūdemēt of God not after the fansy of carnall reason nor the iugemente of the wyse worldlynges wherof is lyke to ensew as we haue heard before much trouble yea very deth for y e worlde can not abyde to be rebuked nor to haue his pompe pryde pleasures glory honour hypocrisy supersticion fayned holynes pharisaical iustice glysteryng righteousnes dotynge inuencion fleshly imaginacions good ententes c. to be reproued yea condēned by y ◠worde of God he nowe declarethe what a dere precious a thyng the deathe of Sayntes that is to saye of the faythfull is in the syght of y e LORD be it recounted before the worlde of neuer so great ignominy despyte reproche and shame And this doth he to encourage men to paye theyr vowes vnto the Lorde that is to say to be earnest in y e word of God to seake the promocion of his glory to walke innocently before y e eies of his diuine maieste though al the world yea very hell should be wood and ryse vp agaynst vs. Precious sayth he in the syghte of the Lorde is the death of his Sayntes It is to be noted that he calleth not the death of the wycked precious in the syght of the Lord but y ◠death of Saynctes yea that not popysh but Gods Sayntes Precious sayth he in the sight of y ◠Lord is the deth of his Sayntes As for the wicked so longe as they lyue in this world they lyue more at theyr hartes ease haue all thiges more plenteously at theyr owne pleasure concernyng tēporall matters thā the true christen men and faythful Sayntes of God haue in as much that as we read in diuers places of the holye scriptures the godly many tymes complayne vnto God of the prosperous estate of y ◠wycked seme almoost to accuse God of vn righteousnes seyng the enemies of God prosper so wel and haue good lucke in all thynges they agayne which moost intierly fauour Goddes word seke his glory are moost miserably oppressed slaūdered persecuted empresonned redye to be slayne at all houres For as y ◠Psalmograph sayth The vngodly hath the ouerhande the poore is brēt The siner is praysed in followyng the lustes of his harte the wicked is blyssed and made muche of My feete were almoost gone sayth
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
the health of thy neyghboure If y u doste this thaÌ„ shalte thou shew thy selfe to be no vayne man but faythfull true in thy profession But if thou doste the coÌ„trarye crake thou neuer so muche of thy faythe yet te doth it profyt the nothynge at all but rather encreaseth thy damnacion seynge thou arte an Hypocrite dissembler both before God maÌ„ Certes if thou hast the true faythe in the thou shalte be so enflamed w t the loue of God disposed vnto all goodnes that thou wylte not feare to saye w t S. Paule who shall seperate vs from the loue of God shall trouble do it or anguysh or persecucion or hunger or nakednes or perrell or sword as it is wrytten for thy sake are we kylled all y â— day longe yâ—… we are counted as shepe appoynted to be slayn Neuertheles in all these thynges we ouercoÌ„e far re for his sake y t loued vs For I am sure y t neither deth nor life nother Aungel nor rule nother power no ther thynges present nother thynges to come nother height nor low eth nor ony other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christe Iesu oure Lorde Agayne he sayth I am not only redy to be bounde but also to dye for y e name of the Lorde Iesus So mighty a thyng is fayth that it neyther feareth manacinge wordes cruell threates sharpe lookes empresoning fetters chenes fagot tes fyre nor what so euer tyranny all the tyrauntes of the worlde can inuent It maketh y e parson whose hert it occupieth to be soâ—… flamed set on fyre w t the loue of God the desyre of doynge his wyll Wylte y u heare me If thou beleue aright in God workeste accordynge to thy fayth coÌ„fessyng Christ his worde boldely and vnfaynedly before the world thou mayst be sure to fynde lytle fauour at the haÌ„des of carnal worldly men as thou shalte easly perceaue by that which followeth ¶ The thyrde strynge But I was very sore troubled AFter that our Mynstrel hath made mencioÌ„ of fayth of spe kynge the worde of God whereby are to be vnderstande all good workes that procede come forth oute of faythe he nowe syngethe of the Crosse sheweth that he was very sore troubled greuously thretened vncharitably blasphemed euell reported maliciously persecuted cru elly handled suffered al kyndes of tormeÌ„tes for vtteryng declaring y e word of God I beleued sayth he therfore haue I spokeÌ„ but I was very sore troubled Here se we that as good workes followe faythe so doth persecucion follow the confession of Gods worde For this cause doth S. Paule caull the gospell of Christe the worde of the Crosse bycause it bryngeth persecucion trou ble blasphemies slaunders euell re portes empresonmeÌ„t hoÌ„ger thirst cold nakednes pouerte losse of fren des yea at the last very death oftentimes to so many as cleaue vnto it valeauntly Christes worde the Crosse are coÌ„pagnions insepera ble As the shadowe followethe the body so doth the Crosse followe the worde of Christ. And as fyre heat can not be seperated so can not the Gospel of Christ the crosse be pluc ked asundeâ—… Let vs call to remembraunce so many as from the fyrste age of the world fauoured god and his word howmanye shal we fid y â— escaped w toute the Crosse one waye or other as I may leaue of to speke of all the other olde and aunciente Patriarches at this tyme onlye take ryghteous Abell for an example whiche of all men shewed y e first example of pure innocencye and of a thankefull harte toward God for his benefites was not he shortely slayne of his bloudy brother cruell Cain yea that onlye bycause his owne workes were noughte hys brothers good as y e scripture testi fieth As fyre water put togyther fighte stryue are euer at debate tyl one hath swallowed vp another deuoured one another ouercome one another so lykewyse so long as good euell dwell togyther in this worlde there shall be a perpetuall discension betwene them The euel wyll euer hate the good neuer be at reste tyl the innocent be had out of the way not that the good doth ony displeasures vnto the euel but that the euell can not awaye with the good no more theÌ„ the rauening wolfe canne awaye with the poore harmeles shepe or the hoÌ„gry hauke w t the simple doue as Christ sayth The Prince of this worlde coÌ„meth yet hath he nothyng agaynst me Howe lytell fauoure also dyd Moses Aaron fynde amonge the diso bedient Iewes after they brought them out of captiuite from y e londe of Egipte Were not they many ty mes in daunger of theyr lyues for all theyr labour payne that they toke for theyr healthe saluacion How ware the Prophetes handled whiche preached in the name of the Lord Were not soÌ„e stoned to deth SoÌ„e slayn w t swerd Some sawne in peces As I mayepasse ouer ma ny holy meÌ„ Iacob Ioseph Dauid Helias Ananias Azarias Misael Tobias Eleazarus the mother among the Machabites her seuen sonnes wythe other innumerable whiche ether suffered deathe or els great trouble persecucion for the glorye of God Howe was Christe y t lambe of God w tout spot which dyd neuer no syn in whose mouth there was neuer ony gyle deceat found handled in this worlde How was he rayled vpon so sone as he began to speake preache the worde of his celestiall father Was he not called a glotton A wyne bybber A frend to PublicaÌ„s harlottes synners A deceyuer of the people A madde person A Samaritan A breaker of the Sabboth day A Heretyke A destroyer of the Temple An ene my to our mother the holy chyrch A Traytoure A forbydder to paye tribute vnto Cesar And such a one as woulde marre altogyther yf he were suffred longe Was he not reported to worke his miracles to cast out diuels by the helpe of Beel zebub prince of the dyuelles Was not his doctrine counted new lear nynge What dyd he at ony tyme althoughe neuer so good godly y t the worlde dyd not discoÌ„mend and condempne Dyd not theyr malice at the last growe vnto suche fury that they neuer ceased vntyll they had put hym vnto deth yea that the moost spitefull deathe y t coulde be inuented euen the deathe of the crosse hangynge hym betwene two theues as y e principal malefactour chefe captayne of all wickednes Agayne howe were the Apostles of Christe entreated Uerely euen as theyr mayster was before theÌ„ How ofte were they slauÌ„dered layd watche for thretened beaten whypped scourged put in preson caste out of cities stonned dragged out of the townes for dead Howe many also of them were slayne Some withe stones some w t
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