sweard some other wyse How were both they theyr doctrine blaspemed euell spoken of Were not they reported accused before the magistrates princes rulers that they were suche pesti ferous fellowes as troubled the cōmon weale yea al the worlde made insurreccions raysed vp sedicions gathered togyther vnlawful assem blies wrought cōtrary to the decre es of Cesar makyng another kyng euen Christe Were not they called vayne bablers Tydynges bearers of newe dyuels Sowers of straūg newe doctrine It is therfore no newe thyng for the prechers of god des worde the earnest louers of y e holye Scripture to be thus rayled vpon slaundered euell spokē of per secuted put to death euen for the glory of God shewyng of y e trueth What nede I rehearse the innume rable cōpanies of y e holy martyres which syns the Apostles tyme for y e testimony witnes of Gods worde haue suffered great persecuciō and at the last cruell death Read y e Hystories who y t lysteth he shal sone perceaue that persecuciō hath euer followed the true preachyng of god des word that y e chyrche of Christ hath thā moost floryshed in all kind of vertue the christen fayth bene moost strong whā there was moost extreme persecucion For the bloud of the holye martyrs is the water wherwith y e gospell of Christ is wa tered made to grow So that per secucion hyndreth not the glory of the gospell as the Nerolyke Tyraū tes iudge but furdereth it greatly And where mooste persecucion is there doth Gods worde moost of al florysh Nothyng hyndreth y e fayth of Christ so much as carnall securite flesshly quietnes For where all thynges are accordyng to the appe tite desyre of y e fleshe ther raygne beastlyke māners there is no care of God no inuocacion of the LORDES name no study of diuine religi on no meditacion in the holy scriptures no regarde of the poore people no desyre of innocent lyfe But whan persecucion once cōmeth for the worde of God than is God called vpon with moost harty feruēprayers than are the holy scriptures searched than do men study for the amedment of lyfe than do they seke y e accōplishment of gods moost holy wyll than are they altogither desyrous of celestiall thynges and vtterly contemne set at noughte what so euer pleseth the eies of carnall men in this worlde Therfore whan persecucion cōmeth for righteousnes sake let vs not despayre but make oure selues conformable to the wyll of God reioyce be me ry Let vs set before our eies the ex amples of Christ of all his chyrch euen from the begynnynge of the worlde Abel Abraham Isaac Iacob the people of Israel in Egipte Dauid Iosias the Prophetes and apostles We must sayth S. Paule be made lyke vnto the ymage of the sonne of God If our elder brother Christ possessed not the eternall enheretaunce but by the Crosse shall we that are of a meaner sorte thike to enioye it after a more easy sorte To whome is this sayenge vnknowē By many tribulaciōs we must enter into the kyngdome of God Christ bare the crosse but he bare it not awaye w t hym but lefte it here behynd hym to be borne of vs also yf we wyll be hys Disciples as he sayth yf any man cōmeth vnto me hatethe not his father mother wyfe chyldren systers yea hys owne lyfe he cā not be my disciple And who so euer bearethe not hys crosse comme the after me he can not be me disciple The disciple is not aboue the mayster nor the seruaūt aboue his Lord. It is inough that the disciple be lyke his master the seruaunte lyke his Lorde If they haue called y e father of y e house holde Beelzebu◅ howe much more shall they so call them that be of his houshold If the world hate you ye knowe that it hated me before you Because ye are not of y e worlde but I haue chosen you out of y e worlde therfore doth the worlde hate you Remember the worde that I sayde vnto you the seruaunt is not greater thē his Lorde If they haue per secuted me they shall also persecute you If they haue kepte my worde they shall also kepe yours But all theise thynges shall they do to you for my names sake bycause they haue not knowen hym that hathe sente me Uerely verely I saye vnto you ye shall wepe lamente but the worlde shall reioyce Ye shall be sad but your sadnes shalbe turned into ioye In the world ye shal haue affliccion and trouble but be on a good cōforte for I haue ouercome the world Blessed are they y t suffer persecucion for righteousnes sake for vnto them belongeth the kynge dome of heauē Blyssed are ye whē mē shal reuile you persecute you speake euery euell worde agaynst you lyenge for my sake Reioyce be mery for great is your rewarde in heauē S. Peter also sayth dere lye beloued meruayle not whan ye be proued by fyre whiche thynge is done to trye you as thoughe some straunge newe thynge chaunsed vnto you but rather reioyse ī that ye are partakers of the passiōs and troubles of Christe that whan his glory shall appeare ye maye also be mery reioyse If ye be reuyled for the name of Christe blyssed are ye for the spirite whiche is the spirite of glory of God resteth vpon you Hereto pertaynethe the sayenge of S. Paule this is a true fayenge if we be dead with hym we shall lyue with him also If we suffer togither we shall also reygne withe hym If we deny hym he also shall deny vs. If we be vnfaythfull yet abydethe he faythfull he can not denye hym selfe Of all theise scriptures it is euident that it is no sorowful but ioy full thynge to suffer persecuciō for ryghteousnes sake for the glorye of God the promocion of his moost blyssed worde Neither is it a token of gods wrath but rather of his sin gulare beneuolence and hygh good wyll towarde thē whiche are troubled for his sake For yf they be hap pye to whome it is gyuen to beleue in Christe howe moche more happy fortunate are they to whom it is not onlye gyuen to beleue in hym but also to suffer for him S Paule reioyced greatly in the Philippiās because it was gyuen them not on ly to beleue in Christ but also to suf fer for his sake For hereby are they assured to be Christes disciples and are abundantly certified that God loueth them carethe for them and hathe prepared for them a glorious celestiall mansion Rede the. xii chapter to the Heb. for thy cōforte Therfore as Dauid techethe vs here let vs fyrst beleue stedfastly in God afterward cōfesse that open ly before the worlde whiche we beleue in oure
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
Dauids Harpe ful of moost delectable armony newely strynged and set in tune by Theodore Basille Psal. 97. ¶ Prayse the Lorde vpon the Harpe and syng to the Harpe wyth a Psalme of thankes giuynge Wyth Trompectes also Shawmes oh shewe your selues ioyeful before the Lord the Kynge ¶ The principall contentes of this boke i. Of faythe Of the confession of fayth of good workes ii Of the crosse persecucion trouble for the truethes sake iii Of the vanite falsehode vnrighteousnes of man iiii Of the benefites and great gyftes of God v Of bearynge the Crosse callynge on the name of the LORDE vi Of vowes to be payde what they vii Of y e death of sayntes howe are precious it is in the syghte of God viii Of the Chyrch of Christ and y â— Sy nagoge of Antechrist ix Of the free delyueraunce from the bondes of Satan thorowe Christ. x Of the Sacrifice of prayse Read and thou shalte reioyse For hearyng this heueÌ„ly voyce ¶ To the ryghte honorable Syr George Broke Lord Cob ham Theodore Basille wys sheth long lyfe coÌ„tinu al helth prosperoê° felicite ALthoughe in the whole psalmody of Da uid there canne not be foâ—…e one Psalme whi che is not able to replenysh the spirituall true Christen man wyth suche so great ioye as is ineffable can by no meanes be expressed yet in my iudgement and opinioÌ„ this Psalme which I haue nowe from all the other selected to declare beynge in nomber the hun dred fyftene after the coÌ„mon Laten translacioÌ„ farre excellethe and chalengethe the preeminence as I may so speake For verely so oft as I redeâ—…t me thik I am in a ioyfuland delectable Paradyse wher al kynd of pleasures do abound so ofte as I taste of it it semeth vnto me lyke a goldeÌ„ floude which floweth forth wyth moost goodly and pleasaunte stremes to conclude this Psalme so ofte as I heare the wordes of it beteth replenyssheth myne eares w t suche swete and delectable armony as none maye iustely be compared vnto it so that neyther Mercurius Apollo nor his sonne Orpheus nor yet any other whome the auncient Poetes do so greatly coÌ„mend exalte wyth incomparable encomies prayses in theyr moost eloquente lucubracions and ornate monumeÌ„tes are able to compare wyth thys our Mynstrell Dauid beynge not only an excellent Musicion but also a puyssaunt kynge and a diuine Prophet Although they shame not to wryte that wyth theyr musicall instrumentes they ware able theyr melody beyng of so great efficacye vertue strength myghte power to make the greate Okes to shake theyr toppes to cause whole flockes of shepe goates oxen c. to followe them daunsyng pleasauntly to moue mountaynes to make the swyfte streames of the runnynge floudes to stonde styl yea to fetch oute soules euen out of hell For all these thynges dothe this our mynstrell Dauid also much more truely thaÌ„ they fayne of theyr old Musicions What other thyng I pray you dreamed they by the shakynge of the greate and harde Okes toppes but only to shewe y t the worde of God is of so great strength that the Princes and rulers yea euen y â— myghtye Tyrauntes of the worlde can none otherwyse then shake treÌ„ ble bowe do reuerence vnto it graunte that it is the almyghtye worde of trueth lyfe health salua cioÌ„ wherto they must nedes obey submyt theÌ„ selues seyng y t agenst it they can neuer preuayle neyther by act couÌ„cell wysdoÌ„e asseÌ„bly synode congregacion or ony other humayne polecy as Salomon testifiethe ther is no wysdoÌ„e there is no forcast there is no couÌ„sayle y â— caÌ„ preuayle agenst y â— LORD or els y â— what so euer they go in hand with all shall come to noughte shall not prosper yea that they them selues also shall be destroyed as Christ saythe Who so falleth on this stone shall be brokeÌ„ on peces loke vpon whome it falleth it shall grynd hym to poulder Agayne what ment they by the followynge and daunsynge of the shape gotes oxes c. but only to de clare that at y â— preachynge of God des word all people reiâ—…se are mery as we maye se in the moost blyssed virgin Mary which replete w t y â— great ioy of this worde songe on this maÌ„ner My soule magnifyeth the LORDE my spirite hath reioy sed in God my sauioure S. Elizabethe also wyfe to the moost vertuous preste â—…acharias mother to the holye man S. IohnÌ„ Baptiste sayd vnto Mary her Cosyn whan she came had saluted her Behold when I hearde the voyce of thy salutacioÌ„ the babe dyd skyppe in my wombe for ioye The Aungels also sayd to the Sheppardes Beholde I shew to you great ioye For there is borne to you this daye a Sauyour whiche is Christ the LORDE in y â— Cytie of Dauid What can make vs soner to be merye to daunse to skyppe to leape for ioye than to heare that by Christ the alone sauiour of the worlde we are delyuered from our spiritual enemy Pharao the dyuell and that by hym we are made safe froÌ„ synne death hell desperacion c. to whome all thorowe the synne of oure father Adam we ware made seruile captiue bonde thraull that we are nowe replenysshed wyth lyfe ioye pleasure felicite wealth rest peace traÌ„quilite quietnes of conscience and al kynd of gladnes Moreouer what is signified by the mouynge of mountaynes but the coÌ„uersion of men of power from infidelite vnto fayth froÌ„ ydolatry vnto the true worshyppynge of God from supersticion vnto god ly religion froÌ„ the dedes of the flesh vnto the fruytes of the spirite froÌ„ affiauÌ„ce reposed in theyr owne carnal politike workes vnto y e trust in the true and lyuynge God Furthermore what other thyng dyd they figure shadowe by y e stoÌ„dyng styl of the swyfte floudes but only the great admyracion merue lynge stupoure wonderynge of y e Gentyles whan they heard a newe kynde of religion taughte them as we maye se in the Actes of the Apo stles To be shorte as towchynge y â— fetchyng of soules out of hel what other thynge mente they theÌ„ that by the preachynge of Christes Gospel the very dead in synne shall reuiue be made alyue agen as Dauid sayth the lawe of the LORDE is pure it turnethe soules The wytnes of the LORDE is faythfull and gyuethe wisdome vnto babes The statutes of the LORDE are ryght reioyse the harte the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of the Lorde is pure gyueth light to the eyes Christ also sayth I am y e resurreccion lyfe he y t beleueth in me although he be dead yet shal he liue euery one that liueth and beleueth in me shall neuer dye Is not the Gospell of Christ called the word of lyfe in dyuers places of the holy
â–ª rather than on y other The reason is this There are contayned in this Psalme besydes other ten speciall thynges mooste worthy to be entreted of The fyrst is fayth The seconde confession of fay the wherbye are vnderstandde all good workes The thyrd persecucion The fourthe the vanite of man The fyfte y â— benefites of God The syxte bearinge of the Crosse y e inuocacion callynge on the name of the LORDE The seuenth vowes to be performed vnto the LORDE be fore all his people The eyghte the death of sayntes how precious it is in the sighte of God The nynte fre delyueraunce from the bondes of SataÌ„ thorow Christ. The tente y â— sacrifice of prayse These ten are equal in nomber w t the strynges of Dauids Harpe which also ware teÌ„ as it appereth by his owne wordes wher he sayth prayse the LORDE w t Harpe with a psaltry of ten strin ges synge ye vnto him Agayne O God I wyl syng to the a new soÌ„ge yea w c a psaltry of ten stringes wyl I make melody to the. What kynd of musicall instrumeÌ„t this psaltry was which the Grekes call NabloÌ„ of the Hebrewe worde Neball it is vncertayne to the wryters But y â— it was an instrument of ten strynges moche lyke vnto an Harpe it is euident ynough Wher of it came to passe that it is nowe commonly called Dauids Harpe But for as â—…nuche as it is no matter of weyghty importauuce only signifyethe the true spirituall gladnes of the mynde wher w t a ChristeÌ„ man is re plenished of y e spirite I wyl omitte let it passe after y â— coÌ„mon vsage call it Dauids Harpe yea so enti tle this our psalme desyryng all meÌ„ diligeÌ„tly to marke not the name of Dauids Harpe but the swete souÌ„d delectable melody that it maketh yea the goodly coÌ„fortable songe that he syngethe vnto it So shall they acquire gette to them selues much spirituall ioye great knowelege godly wisdom be very much edified in the doctrine of Christes religion Now for as muche as I am not only credibly eÌ„formed of other but also perfectly perswaded that your ryght honorable Lordeshyp delyghteth in nothynge so greatly as in y â— holy scripture whiche is the word of lyfe the lyght of the worlde the only treasure of christianite and is abundantly able to saue the soules of so many as heare it â–ª beleue it worke therafter I thoughte it not vnfyttyng nor vnworthy your honour to dedicate this my labour to your name trustiÌ„g y â— by this menes many other shalbe allured to y â— hearynge of Dauids armonye be so enflamed w t the feruent loue perpetual desyre therof that they shal wysh like paynes to be taken in the declaracioÌ„ of y â— other Psalmes that they myghte be red withe the more fruyte And woulde God that this my laboure mighte excite store vp moue other that farre excel me in all kynde of diuine knowledge and that can haÌ„dle the scriptures more learnedly thaÌ„ I to trauayle in the busines of Gods word so to sette forth the sincer intelleccion and the right vnderstandynge therof that the vayle myght be taken away froÌ„ the eies of all men the true lyght shyne vniuersally w tout ony impediment or lette There is much har ueste but fewe workemen We had nede therfore to praye vnto y e Lord of y â— haruest to send oute labourers into his reape But me thynke I se your Lord shyp verye desyrous to heare some of Dauids melody I make an end desyrynge you moost intierlye fauourablye to accepte this my lytle gyfte if not for my sake yet for the loue y â— ye haue euer borne vnto Da uid being not only an excelleÌ„t Mu sicioÌ„ coÌ„nyng Mynstrel but also a puyssauÌ„t Kyng diuine Prophet God whose holy worde you moost feruentely loue and mooste earnestly practyse in your dayely conuersacion moughte vouchesaufe to preserue your righte honorable Lordshyp that ver tuous Lady your wyfe wyth all your moste swete chil dren and family in perpetuall helth and prosperous felicite AmeÌ„ Dauids Harpe The hundred fyftene Psalme cal led in Latin â—…redidi propter wyth a fruytfull exposicioÌ„ and godly declaracion of the same ¶ The fyrste verse I beleued therfore haue I spoken but I was very sore troubled THis fyrst verse coÌ„tayneth thre striges of dauids harpe which are theyse faythe confession of the faythe wherby are vnderstande al good workes and persecucion These thre therfore wyll I nowe thorowe the healpe of Goddes spirite set in tune by ryght order ¶ The fyrst strynge I Beleued Our fyrste yea and base strynge is fayth that not wyth oute an vrgente cause For here se we that as the base parte is the ground of the whole songe so is fayth the founda cion of al the christen religion And as without the base the song is im perfecte nothynge worth so lyke wyse without fayth all the workes that we do are vnprofitable glister they neuer so pleasauntly before y â— eies of carnall men what so euer we synge after that sorte is cleane out of tune as saynt Paule sayth what so euer is not grounded on faythe is playne synne Therfore sayth he in another place it is not possible to please God w tout fayth For he that commethe vnto God muste beleue that God is that he is a rewarder to theÌ„ that seke him In these aforesayde textes of saynt Paule thre thiges are to be noted One is that he sayth al that is not grounded on fayth is synne Wher of we learne that fayth is the foun dacion of all goodnes the mother nourse of all good workes Another is that withoute faythe it is not possible to plese god The third that who so euer coÌ„meth vnto god muste beleue that God is that he is a rewarder to theÌ„ that seke hym These thiges shew manifesteli how connyng excellent Musicion our Mynstrel Dauid is which fyrst set teth his base stryng in tune before he medlethe w t ony of the other He followeth not the manner of Antechrist which turneth the rootes of trees vpwarde neyther is he lyke to them which begyn fyrst to bylde in the top of the house afterward layeth the foundacion or y â— woulde haue the fruytes good before there be any goodnesse in the tree but he doth all thynges orderly For he be ynge enspired with the holy Ghost doyng al thynges by the instinct therof begynneth orderly of fayth seynge y t what so euer is not groun ded on fayth is synne seynge also y t w tout fayth no maÌ„ can please God be he neuer so glysteryng an Hypocrite before y e world put he on neuer so glorioê° a viser of godlyke holynes Faythe must nedes be y e base stringe foundacion of the
ChristeÌ„ religion seyng that infidelite vn faythfulnes is the destruccion and vtter decaye therof For so long as fayth remayneth so longe doth the Christen religion continew prosper well but let faythe be exiled vnfaythfulnes once inuade the har tes of Christen men theÌ„ goeth all to hauocke as we maye se in oure fyrst parentes Adam Eua which so longe as they beleued the worde of God walked therafter prospered liued ryght wel but wha they once gaue ouer y t fel vnto incredâ—… lite beleuyng the wordes of y e crafty serpente rather then the gentle admonicioÌ„s of so bouÌ„teous a lorde they became subiecte boÌ„de thraul to all kynde of miserye wretchednes so that thorow theyr vnfaythfulnes coÌ„ioyned w t lyke disobedieÌ„ce not they them selues only fell into captiuite but also all theyr posteri te Nowe to be made free from this thrauldome to recouer the libertie whiche before we loste thorowe disobedient vnfaythfulnes y e next moost redye waye is to beleue as Dauid teachethe here or els by no menes can we come vnto God nor yet please hym For he y t coÌ„meth to godsayth s. Paule must beleue So y t if we wyll come agen to God we must beleue But what shall we beleue certes not only y e god is which thynge the dyuels also do but that he is a rewarder beneficial father to theÌ„ that seke hym as the Apostle teachethe For althoughe we were dead thorowe synne walked after the fashon of this world eueÌ„ as meÌ„ altogyther vngodly and whollye estraunged froÌ„ all goodnes yet hath God which is rytche in mercye for his great charite wherwithe he loued vs quickened made vs alyue agayne yea that thorowe Christ in whome he hath shewed the exceâ—… dynge abundance rytches of hys grace for whose sake also he is well pleased with man so that he spared not his owne soune but gaue hym euen vnto the very deathe for our sake that by that one oblacion of his moost blyssed body an omnisufficient perpetuall sacrifice for euer to endure all alone sufficiente shoulde be offred for them that are saÌ„ctified These thynges to be true the holy scriptures shew euidently Therfore yf we wyll be of God and come vnto hym we muste not only beleuâ—… y e God is but y t al these thyn ges are true shall vndoubtedlye chaunse vnto vs as God hath promysed For the true christeÌ„ fayth cleaueth faste to the worde of God only doubteth nothynge therof as S. Paule sayth fayth coÌ„methe by hearynge hearyng by y e word of God Nowe as we ware loste before by beleuynge Satans deceatfull promises so the only way to be saued is to beleue the swete coÌ„fort a ble and infallible promises of God which he hath made to vs so plente ouslye in y e moost precious bloud of his derely beloued son oâ—…re Lorde sauiour Iesu Christ. For this fayth maketh vs of the chyldren of the di uell the soÌ„nes of God as S. IohnÌ„ testifie the so many as receaued hiÌ„ he gaue theÌ„ power to be made y e son nes of God in as muche as they be letted on his name Also S. Paule ye are all y e sonnes of God bycause ye haue beleuedi Christ Iesu. Now yf by fayth we be y e sonnes of God than are we also heyres Yea verely we are y e heyres of god fellow hey res with Christ. Agayne by faythe are we maried vnto god as god hiÌ„selfe witnesseth by his Prophet say enge I wyll marye the vnto me in fayth By fayth also are we iustified made ryghteous as S. Paule sayth we brynge iustified by fayth haue peace with god thorowe oure Lorde Iesus Christ. Thus se we what an excelleÌ„t tresure this true christen fayth is howe by y â— all good thynges chauÌ„se vnto vs without y t all that euer we do must nedes come to nought worke to vs damnacion But seynge that I haue spoken muche of faythe in all my workes almooste which I haue hytherto set forth I wyll nowe cease to speake ony more of it at this preseÌ„t go forth with the residue of Dauids Harpe only addynge this one thynge that the fayth which the scripture so hyghlyauaunceth is no dead vnfruit full fayth but lyuysh myghty in operacion beyng alwaye bent and seakynge an occasion to do good whaÌ„ tyme coÌ„meth is no lesse ready to brynge forth good workes than a womaÌ„ bygge w t chylde is redy to brynge forth her chylde whan her tyme of delyuerauÌ„ce is once come as it followeth ¶ The seconde strynge And therfore haue I spoken VUe heard before that fayth is the foundacion of the ChristeÌ„ religion the mother nourse of all godly workes Which thynge to be true our Mynstrell prouethe here For after he hath made mencion of faythe he syngeth also of good workes I beleued sayth he therfore haue I spoken Here se we that the true christen fayth worketh euer by charite whiche extendeth bothe vnto god our neyghboure What was y e cause that Dauid did speke Uerely his fayth I beleued saythe he therfore haue I spokeÌ„ Faythe goeth before workes followe For fyrst he beleued al thiÌ„ges to be true which god promised hym in the holy scriptures or otherwyse as by y e mouthe of his holy Prophetes and therof afterwarde ensewed a verye earnest feruent loue toward god which made hym to loue god agen to speake those thynges wherby the glory of god was set forth the health of his neyghbour sought so y â— by this menes he shewed hymselfe perfectely faythful both before god and man And this is it that saynt Paule wryteth it is beleued wyth the harte vnto ryghteousnes but with the mouth is confession made vnto helth A christen man setting before the eyes of his mynde the vn mesurable goodnes of God toward vs thorowe his sonne Christe gyuynge earnest fayth therunto can none otherwise but loue God agen seake all meanes possible to please hym to worke his wyll to do that which he requireth of him He is re dy at al tymes to bryng forth good workes after the exaÌ„ple of Dauid as to speke the misteries of God to set forth y e glory of God to publysh his moost holy worde to brynge all men to the true knowledge of God euen to engraffe theÌ„ in the bodye of Christ. All these thiÌ„ges worketh y â— quicke lyuysh fayth in him thorowe the spirite of God For fayth wyl not suffer him to be idle but al though thorowe fayth he be deliue red out of captiuite made the soÌ„ne of God iustified alredy in the sight of God before he bryngeth forth ony outward good workes yet doth thys true christen faythe kyndle such a loue in his hart
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
denyed hym vnto a poore mayde sware y t he neuer knewe hym so impotente weake frayle ful of all imbecilite is man if he be lefte vnto hymselfe not endewed with strength from aboue Therfore our Mynstrel Da uid kynge Prophet not crakyng of his owne streÌ„gthes nor boasting of his owne free wyll withoute the healpe of Gods spirite saythe that he wyll call on the name of y â— Lord for strength valeaunce y t he maye manfully abyde in the tyme of persecucion confesse the trueth of God des worde publysshe his glory before all meÌ„ yea though a thousand deathes should followe It is very profitable for adflicte troubled coÌ„ sciences to caull on the name of the Lorde For as Salomon sayth the name of the LORDE is a myghtye toure very strong Bulwarke vn to that doth the ryghteous maÌ„ fly he shall be exalted fynd socoure Blissed is that man which putteth his truste iÌ„ the name of the LORDE regardeth not vanities false ymaginacions Call on me sayth God in the day of thy trouble and I wyll delyuer the and thou shalte honoure me Thus se we partely how Dauid goeth about to shewe hiÌ„selfe thaÌ„ke full agayne vnto God for the inesti mable benefites that he hath gyueÌ„ hym He wyll mortify his carnall af fectes paciently suffer what so euer crosse persecucioÌ„ trouble or affliccion be layde vpon his backe for Gods truethes sake And that he maye be the more able to do theyse thynges he wyll caull on the name of the LORDE All these be very acceptable thynges in y â— sight of god And God thyncketh his benefites wel bestowed where such gyftes be gyueÌ„ agayne vnto hym procedyng from a gentle thanckefull harte Nowe we beynge no lesse bound vnto God for his gentlenes thaÌ„ Da uid was ought to shewe our selues no lesse thankefull agayne to hym theÌ„ Dauid dyd or els are we muche vnworthy this inestimable beneficence of God We ought therfore to prouyde y â— no synne reygne in this oure mortal body but that we mor tifye our earthly members whoredome fornicacion vnclennes wan tonnes euell concupiscence couetousnes which is the worshypping of Idolles for the which the wrath of God is wonte to come vpon the chyldren of vnbeleue All wrath indignacion maiyce cursed speaking fylthy coÌ„municacion lying oughte we to laye asyde put vpon vs ten der mercye gentylnes honest behauour mekenes softenes goodnes charite peace ioy fayth teÌ„perauÌ„ce with all the other fruytes of y â— spirite For they y â— are of Christe haue crucified the flesh with the lustes concupiscenses therof yea they are dead to the world and theyr lyfe is hyd wyth Christ in God Moreouer we must be conteÌ„ted to take the cuppe of helth at y â— LORDES hande paciently suffer what soeuer crosse he layeth vpon vs yea prayse hym in the myddes of our trouble recountynge our selues so moche the more blyssed seynge that it is gyuen vnto vs not only to beleue in hym but also to suffer for y â— glory of his name beyng thorowly perswaded that yf we suffer wyths Christe we shall reygne with hym For many are the troubles of the ryghteous in this world but from theÌ„ all shall the LORDE delyuer theÌ„ yf none otherwyse yet at y â— least by death which is the nexte waye vnto the very true lyfe And because it is hard for y e flâ—…sh to awaye with the crosse which seketh glory wealth ease rytches ho nour not ignominy scasenes dis quietnes pouertie shame opprobry therfore must we flye with feruent and continuall prayers vnto God vnto his moost holy name y â— we maye haue strength sent vs froÌ„ aboue to do these thinges aforsayd that by no meanes we be found ingrate vnthanckefull vnworthy y e great vnmeasurable kyndenesse whiche God hath shewed vnto vs. So shall God not only not take away his giftes from vs but also en crease them dayly more more as the Scripture sayth to euery one that hath it shall be gyuen and he shall haue abundance But who so hath not from hym shall be taken a waye euen that he hath also But lette vs heare more of oure Mynstrelles songe ¶ The fyfte verse I wyl pay my vowes vn to the Lord before al his people ¶ The seuenth stryng DAuid goethe forthe to declare what he wyll reÌ„der vnto God for all those thynges that he hathe gyuen hym Before he sayd that he would take the cuppe of helth and caull vpon the name of the LORDE Nowe he addethe that he wyll also paye his vowes vnto the LORDE yea and that before all his people But what vowes are these Uerely not vnfaythfull folyshe vowes which displease god as y â— scripture say the but y â— earnest promises that he made vnto God for to fulfyl his moost holy Commaundementes These vowes wyll he paye These promises wyl he performe For they make vnto the glory of god the edifienge of his Chyrch the health of his owne soule Therfore wyll he stycke to them euen vnto the very death God gyueth a commaundement sayth heare Israel thy God is y â— one alone God Thou shalte haue no straunge Goddes in my syghte Thou shalte make the no grauen Image c. Dauid beynge one of the true israelites hath made a vow to kepe this moost holy precepte And as he hathe this vowe so wyll he laboure to pforme it For it is not vnfaythfull nor folyshe but agreable to the scripture neyther dothe it prouoke the keper of it vnto muche inconue niece absurdite but rather vnto great vertu holynes So that he is fully bent to performe his vowe Let the vnfaythful Idolaters wor shyp what Idoll or false God they lyste Dauid wyll surely cleaue to this one alone true God For in his hart shall none syt but this one God alone neyther wyll he admyt so moch as the shadow of ony other to be ioyned with hym to haue fe lowshyppe with his God This his God alone wyll he worship honour lerue This his God alone wyl he how do reuerence vnto This his God alone wyll he loue with all his harte mynde soule withe all hys powers This his God alone wyll he magnify prayse for euer euer And bicause he may not once be mo ued by ony vayne spectacle seduced from the honour worshyp and seruice of this god vnto ony image seruice Idolatry he hath made a sure vowe faythful promise that he wyll make no grauen Image ydoll or mawmet but he wyll onlye cleaue to this his one alone God serue hym not in external ceremo nies but in spirite trueth For coÌ„ founded be all they shame lyghteÌ„ on them sayth he that worship gra uen ymages glory in theyr mawe mettes
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
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
neth Christ do we offer the Sacrifice of prayse alwaye to god that is to saye the fruyte of y â— lyppes that gyue glory to his name Thus se we howe acceptable a thyng to god the sacrifice of praise â—…s But what is it to offer the Sacrifyce of prayse vnto god Uerely to confesse vnsaynedly to graunt that what so euer is noughte commeth of our selues agen y â— all that euer good is commeth of God only as he saythe by the Prophet O Israell thy destruccion commethe of thy selfe but thy health and saluacion commeth only of me For this is the greatest prayse y â— we can giue to God for to knowlege hym alone the author gyuer of all goodnes that all oure ryghteousnes wysdome holynes sanctificacion redeÌ„cion vertue deuocion and all that euer good is cometh of hym alone not of our selues This is that sa crifyce wherwith God is hyghly de lyghted This is that oblacioÌ„ that gyueth so godlye an odoure before god This is that offryng that ma keth God well pleased with hym y â— doth offer it in as muche as by the oblacion hereof he confessethe hym selfe to be able to do no thyng that of the owne dignite righteousnes therof maye seme worthy to be accepted in the syght of god and ther fore gyueth he al the glory honour encomy laud prayse magnificeÌ„ce to god alone as the Prophet sayth O Lorde all glory be vnto the and to vs shame confusion The sayntes theÌ„selues also praye on this maÌ„ ner Not to vs O Lorde not to vs but to thy name gyue all the glory for thy mercy and truethes sake God hymselfe also sayth I am the Lord this is my name I wyl giue my glory to no other nor my praise to grauen Images If God hym selfe wyll not gyue away hys glory prayse to other certes we do hym thaÌ„ much iniury yfwe steale it froÌ„ hym and gyue it to ony other crea ture eyther in heauen or in earthe If we depely consyder with our sel ues at al tymes the great kyndnes of God toward vs we shal vndoub tedly be moued to synge perpetual prayses to his moost blyssed name and continuallye to offer the sacrifice of thankes gyuyng vnto hym But in as much as I haue entre ted abundaÌ„tly of thankes gyuing and of the sacrifice of prayse in my Pathway vnto prayer I wyl now cease to speke ony more of it at this tyme. Reade from the liâ—… vnto the â—…v Chapter As towchynge the inuocacion of the Lordes name wherof Dauid agen maketh meÌ„cioÌ„ in this place I haue spoken sufficiently of it in the fourth verse of this Psalme Thou mayst therfore moost gentle Reader yf thou wylte resorte thyther for this matter I am lothe to be te dious vnto the. I wyl go forth and make an ende althogh that whiche followeth maye also seme abundaÌ„t ly to be entreated of heretofore ¶ The eyght verse I wyll pay my vowes vn to the Lorde in the syghte of all his people iÌ„ the courtes of the Lordes house yea euen in the myddes of the O Ierusalem DAuid is euer one man He had rather synge one song a thousand tymes than he woulde once at tempte ony thynge without the au thorite of Gods word He is at this poynte that he wyll do nothyng ex cepte Gods worde bearethe hym in it He wyll not cleaue to his owne good intentes myndes and zeles He wyl worshyp God accordyng to his worde He setteth before his eyes this commaundement That I commaund the do that only to the Lorde neyther put thou ony thing to it nor yet plucke ought therfroÌ„ Agayne I commaunde the to do y â— whiche is pleasaunt in the sight of the Lord thy God Also in another place Ye shall not do euerye one of you that which ye yourselfe think right good He can make no shyft to be diuers in the worshippyng of God He can inuente no newe and straunge honorynges of god as the olde Phareses dyd in tymes paste and the Papistes Monckes haue done syns y â— tyme but all in vayne as the Scriptures testifye He kepethe hym selfe wythin the bondes of Gods worde and as he sayde before that he would paye his vowes that is to saye do those thynges y â— he had promysed to his LORD God kepe his Commaundementes followe accomplysh his moost godly wyll in all poyntes vnto the vttermooste of hys power and do the offyce of a true kynge seake Goddes glory promote his holy worde tenderly loue his subiectes mayntayn vertue and suppresse vice euen so dothe he nowe agayne So that Dauid knoweth not howe to recoÌ„pense in ony parte the goodnes of GOD but only by kepynge hys moost holy commaundementes in gyuynge hym hattye and contiall thanckes whiche he also promisethe to do in this verse But seyng that I haue entreated of the whole matter that this verie contayneth in the fyfte verse and seuenhte strynge heretofore I wyll speke no more of it at this present but only note this one thinge that our Mynstrell sayth He wyll paye his vowes in the courtes of y â— Lordes house and in the middes of IerusaleÌ„ By the courtes of y â— Lordes house by Ierusalem is none other thyng signifyed thaÌ„ y â— chirch of Christ I meane the congregacioÌ„ of Sayncâ—…es that is to saye of the faythfull in whome God dwelleth by his holy Spirite as S. Paule sayth The Temple of God is holy which ye are His meanyng is this loke wher so euer the people of god is mooste gathered togyther euen there in the thyckest of them wyl he sette forthe the glory of God as we read of the good Kynge Iosias He wyll seake all meanes possible that all thynges in his Realme shalbe or dered accordyng to y â— law of God that no vice shal reygne among his people nether I dolatry nor swearynge nor disobedience nor whoredome nor manslaughter nor stealynge nor bearynge false wytnes nor ony other vice that is prohibited by the holy scripture And that thys thynge maye the more fortunately come to passe Dauid hym selfe in as muche as he is king and excelleth all other in dignite wyl al so farre excell passe all his subiectes in vertue godlynes He wyll be vnto them an example spectacle of all goodnes He wyll lyke vnto as great lyghte shyne before hys people in godly conuersacion The boke of the lawe of the Lorde shall neuer departe from hym He wyll read meditate in it daye nyght He wyll not steake to the corrupte iudgementes of other nor be led w t the dotyng fansys of those pestileÌ„t flatterers Trueth wyll we but he hymselfe wyll looke vpon the scriptures of God wythe all diligence euermore caull vnto God for the assistence of his moost holy spirite that that swete confortoure maye both assist conforte
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