approue allowe them in all thynges bycause in some poyntes they haue shewed theÌ„selues men haue manifestly erred agaynst the open trueth of Gods worde as it is not vnknowen to them that be diligeÌ„t ly exercised in the readyng of theyr workes And for an example I wyl here reherse ii or iii. not to their re proche but to admonysshe all men what we are of our selues that no man should be sworne wholly addicte to the doctrine teachynge of ony man be he neuer so holy learned excepte it agreeth with the holy Scriptures OrigeÌ„ was vndoubted a famoê° Doctor dyd write very excellent ly of diuers matters concernyng y e purite of christen religion yet shewed he hymselfe to be a man very lyare whan he fayned that the pay nes of the dyuels of the damned should cease in time to come that they should be saued Tertullian was a man of great learnyng dyd wryte many thynges very godly yet did he erre wheÌ„ he coÌ„deÌ„ned the second mariages in a christen maÌ„ He maketh his argu ment on this maÌ„ner Thou mayste not mary the wyfe of thy brother beyng dead He that maryeth a wy dowe lefte of a christen man maryeth the wyfe of his brother beynge dead Ergo he doth not well This certayne other thynges he wryteth not very godly shewynge him selfe to be a very maÌ„ that is to say a lyare Cypriane was an excellent clar ke and died for the faythe of Christ leauynge many godly worckes behynd hym yet dyd the auncient fathers of Christes chyrch condemne this his opinion that they whiche were baptised of Heretykes ought to be baptised agayne I passe ouer many other ecclesiasticall wryters which wante not theyr errours neyther haue they in all poyntes so circumspectely writ ten but that theyr faultes may easly be perceaued of them that haue whole true good pure iudgemen tes in the holy scripture For they haue declared theÌ„ selues not in few thinges to be men lyars therfore are they to be beleued no further than the worde of God mayntayneth them That whiche they haue written well let vs receaue gyue God thankes for it confessing that it came to passe by the instincte of his mooste holy Spirite not by theyr owne polecy wyt reason eloquence learnynge But y â— wherin they haue erred let vs charitablyâ—… enterpret take it into y â— best parte couer theyr faultes consythering that they were men both myght and dede erre as S. Austen withe other dydboth confesse graunt and wryte of them selues And this I desyre all men that be ghostely learned walke after y â— order of charite to vnderstond also of all my workes which I haue hy therto wrytten or shall here after if the wyll of God so be to beleue them no further thaÌ„ the holy scripture testifye that they be true For I am a manne and a lyarre of my selfe and therfore maye I erre so well as mannye learnedde and auncieÌ„t Doctors haue done before me Let God alone be true euery man a lyare Let the spirite of charite and not of coÌ„tencion reygne amonge vs. If we erre let vs charitably monysshe one another beare one with another instruct one ano ther not streightwayes furiously condemne what so euer at the fyrst blushe lyketh not our carnal iudge mentes no nor yet at euery lytyll faulte be redy to caste the ignorant offenders into preson chenes stockes fyre If ony man doth not of â—…end w t his tonge sayth S. Iames he is a perfecte man Let vs follow the long sufferaunce of God which â—…acieÌ„tly abydeth our amendment If God had takeÌ„ away Paule out of this lyfe whan so tyrauÌ„tlyke he â—…ersecuted the Chyrche of Christe â—…aule had neuer be made of a wolfe a lambe of a persecutoure an Apostle of a blasphemer a true precher of an Heretyke ketcher a faythfull Euangelist They that are stronge ought to beare the weaknes of theÌ„ that be infirme weake and not to stonde in theyr owne conceates They ought so to order theÌ„ selues that they should please theyr neygh bour vnto his wealthe edifienge For Christe pleased not hym selfe Wherfore we ought to receaue one another euen as Christ hath recea ued vs vnto the glory of God and to beare one anothers burdeÌ„ seing that we be all meÌ„bers of one body haue one heade whiche is Iesus Christ. Besydes these aforsayd the vngodly Byshop of Rome al his wic ked kygedome are lyars all theyr decrees actes lawes constitucioÌ„s councelles c. that syght with god des worde are lyes very mad â—…an tafies by no meanes to be beleued of ony faythfull harte Agayne all Hypocrites Sacramentaries Anabaptistes all authors of false sectes are lyars To conclude so many as dissente from God his moost blyssed worde are lyars whither it be in doctrine tea chyng lyuynge manners conuersacion or otherwyse Thus se we what we are of our selues eueÌ„ very lyars into what great captiuite we be throwen tho row AdaÌ„ that we can not by our owne strengthes be deliuered from this boÌ„dage but only by the spirite of hym which sayth If y e sonne ma keth you free thaÌ„ are ye fre in dede For where the spirite of the LORDE is there is liberte Therfore that we maye haue that vnccion an noyntyng in vs I meane the holy Ghost y â— maye teache vs all trueth we muste with continuall prayers resorte vnto oure heauenly father whiche vndoubtedlye wyll gyue a good spirite to so many as aske it of hym For he is a beneficiall Lord sufficieÌ„tly rytch for so many as call on him in spirite and trueth as it followeth ¶ The thyrde verse Uvhat shall I gyue agen vnto the Lord for al those thynges that he hath gyuen me ¶ The fyfte strynge AFter that our Mynstrell Dauid hath diligently pondered with hiselfe what he is of his owne nature euen a very lyare and one that is replete with all synne iniquite thynkyng breathynge speakynge and doynge all that euer is nought vnthankefull in the sight of God whan on the othersyde he hath agayne consydered howe that God of his mere marcy fre bounte vnspeakable goodnes hath deliue red hym froÌ„ all these greuo us enor mities without his merites or deser tes he begynneth nowe to delighte no more in carnall traÌ„sitory thin ges but in spirituall and heauenly thynges weyeth pondreth con siderethe howe he maye shewe hym selfe thanckefull agayne vnto God for y e innumerable benefites which he hath receaued at y â— hand of God What shall I gyue agen saythe he vnto the LORDE for all those thynges that he hath gyueÌ„ me O kynd thanckefull harte farre estraunged from al ingratitude vnthaÌ„ke fulnes He knowethe full well that to recoÌ„pence make God amendes for y â— kyndnes
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
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
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
saye god hath done moch for me he hath bro ken my bondes he hathe delyuered me oute of captiuite set me agen at liberte therfore wyll I be his ser uauÌ„t yea that not faynâ—…dly but his seruauut in dede doynge what so euer he commaundethe me yea though it shoulde coste me my lyfe So it becometh vs not only to pro fesse our selues to be the seruauÌ„tes of God and christen men by mouth but also to expresse it in verye dede seyng that not the hearers but the doers of the law shall be iustified be fore God O LORDE GOD be mercyfull to vs howe many be ther nowe a dayes that caull themselues y e ser uauntes of God gospellers yet are nothynge lesse in theyr dedes They crake moch of fayth but they brynge not forth y â— fruytes of fayth They talke moch of the gospel but they lyue no part of y e gospel They reade the holy scriptures but they fashon theyr lyues nothyng theraf ter They call Christ theyr sauiour yet walke they nothynge worthye his kyndenes They thynke theÌ„ selues the sonnes of lyghte but they exercise the workes of darknes Oh that they were Goddes seruauÌ„tes in dede feruent gospellers earneste practisers of fayth true followers of the holy Scriptures to coÌ„clude both louers and lyuers of Christes gospell than wel were it with Chri stes chyrch But alas theyr lyuing is so dissolute theyr manners so wycked and vngodly that we may well saye as S. Paule wrytethe They professe that they know god but they deny hi wyth theyr actes seynge they are abhominable disobedient and vnapte to al good wor kes Moreouer Dauid callethe hym selfe here not only the true fayth full seruaunte of God but also the sonne of Gods handmayd Who is this handmayd of God Uerely the vniuersall congregacion of Christ whiche from the begynnyng of the worlde hathe serued God beleued in hym whose sonne euery one is y t beleueth in God For he is begotteÌ„ of God the sonne of god by fayth to that congregacion whose member he is made that congregacion by preachynge begetteth hym to God that beleueth the word of god So that as the congregacion is a mother by begettynge and wynnyng other to the fayth so is he that beleueth is begotteÌ„ vnto the fayth the sonne of the congregacion as s. Paule wryteth to the Galathians My lytle chyldren of whome I tra uayle in byrth agayne or w t whom I am agayne wythe chylde vntyll Christe be fasshyoned in you Also to the Corinthians althoghe ye haue many masters iÌ„ Christ yet haue ye not many fathers For I begat you in Christ Iesu by the gos pell He also writyng to Timothe calleth hym his natural sonne in 〈◊〉 fayth Agayne Syon signifyeng y â— Church of Christ sayth by the Pro phet who hath begotteÌ„ me these Al so iÌ„ another place the desolate hath mo chyldren than y â— maryed wyfe Thus se we that we must both be the true seruauntes of God and also the sonnes of the handmayd of god Christes chyrche yf we wyl en ioye the benefites that ly bent out in Christ. And verely it is not with out a cause required of vs not only that we shoulde be the faythful seruauntes of god but also the sonnes of his handemayd For many in tymes past nether want ther at this daye haue bosted valeauntly that they were the seruauntes of God yea woulde seme of a feruent zele to dye for the glory of god yet in as muche as they were not the sonnes also of gods handmayde they were not the seruauntes of god in dede but dissemblers Hypocrites Of this sorte were all the olde Heretikes Scismatikes false ChristiaÌ„s in tymes past which sowed dissensi on in Christes chyrche and deuided them selues from the holy catholike chyrche whiche is the fellowshyp of sayntes by teachyng straunge doctrine mayntenynge erroneous opinions coÌ„trary to the doctrine of the holy scripture the teachynge of the true godly fathers Of this sorte also at this tyme are the Anâ—… baptistes SacrameÌ„taries other Phanaticall frentyke Spirites which haue vayne visions inueÌ„ted of theyr owne braynes sowe cockel among the good wheat in the Lordes felde brynge in straunge sectes inuente newe opinions make disseÌ„cion in Christes churche allure meÌ„ from the olde true christen fayth corrupte the scriptures teache doctrine contrary to the vayne of god des word trouble the coÌ„mon weale of Christendome c. All these in as much as they haue deuided cutte of them selues from the chyrche of Christ which is the hand mayde of god pertayne not vnto god nether haue they any parte of gods mercy though they boste crake neuer so much that they be the seruauntes of god yea though they gyue theyr bodies to be plucked asunder wyth wild horses for y e glory of god For w t out the chyrche of Christ ther is no health nor saluacioÌ„ but altogyther death damnacion But I woulde haue men wyse in knowynge thys chyrche of Christe vnlesse they erre mayntayne an whore in steade of a spouse an vnchast harlotte for a true wyfe a fylthy strompette for a faythfull yokefellow a disobedient Synagoge for a christen congregacion We haue in tymes past taken the Bysshop of Rome hys paynted carnall Idolles I would haue sayd his sayncted Cardinalles Pa triarches Legates Archbysshops Bysshops Prestes Monckes Fryars Chanons Heremites Anacho rites other of the spiritualte as they call theÌ„ only to be the chyrche haue thought that by no meanes we myght departe from them and theyr doctrine excepte they would be daÌ„ned in what so euer case they stode were they on Goddes syde or contrary taught they accordynge to gods worde or otherwyse For once to hyske agenst them was coâ—… ted to cut the cote of Christe y â— had neuer a seme to subuert and tople downe the chayre of Peter Paul the chefe Apostles to defyle to tear to tread vnder fote the authorite of the chyrche Christes spouse yea to make shorte tale to caull oute of hel the heresies that were buried and layd to slepe By this meanes haue they theise many hundred yeares not only seduced the simple and vnlerned peo ple butte also falselye vsurpedde the name of the Chyrche callynge them selues the mother holye chur che beynge so rather in name thaÌ„ in very dede If they were faith full dyd continewe in y e doctrine of the holy Scripture so were they members of this chyrche of Christ yf contrarywyse than pertayned they not vnto this holy catholyke chyrche but were corrupt rotten members hâ—…ynge nothyng lesse theÌ„ pertakers of this helth and saluacion that is in this moost pure vndefyled chyrche This chyrche of Christ whome Dauid calleth here the handmayd of the LORDE is the vniuersall congregacion of the faythfull whiche w t a
and Idolles Agayne God cōmaundeth sayeng Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord God in vayne Dauid hath made a solemne vowe and ear nest promyse that he wyl kepe this moost blyssed Commaundement of God also He wyl not abuse y e name of his Lorde god by no meanes He wyll sweare by nothynge that euer god made nother by heauen nor by earth nor ony other oth His communicaciō shall be yea yea na na In his aduersite wyl he flye vnto y e name alone of his Lord god as vnto a stronge Castel myghty Bulwarke caull on that for healpe refuge And ī his prosperite he wyll not forgette the name of his Lorde God but celebrate magnify cōmēd prayse it yea lyfte it vp w t perpetual encomies laudes prayses Moreouer god sayth thou shalt sanctify y e sabboth daye This hath Dauid also vowed to obserue and kepe He wyl not therfore spend the sabboth daye in ryotynge bankettyng playeng dauncyng syngyng suche other vayne pastimes but in the meditacion of Gods lawe in readyng the holy scriptures in hearyng godly sermons in lyftyng vp his harte vnto god w t feruent prayers in gyuyng thanckes to y ◠Lord for his benefites c. He wyll also expulse all synne out of his brest be at peace with God Furthermore god commaūdeth sayeng Honour thy father and mother Here agen hath Dauid made a vowe to fulfyl this precepte also So that he wyl gyue honour reue rence worship to so many as this lawe requireth yea his inferiours wyll he not dishonour God gyueth a commaundement sayth Thou shalte not slay Dauid hathe earnestely vowed to kepe this So that he wyll shed no innocent bloud hurte no man seake no mans death but fauoure and loue all men yea euen his very enemies GOD saythe Thou shalte com ◅yt none adultry Solemnly hath dauid vowed to obserue this moost godly precepte So that he wyll be no vnclene fornicatour nor fylthy adulterer but to auoyd all vnclennes he wyll couple hymselfe wythe an honest wyfe faythfull yokefelowe in holy wedlocke which is honorable amōg al men bed vndesy ed to her alone wyl he cleaue for her sake refuse all other woman be they neuer so beautifull fayre proper myuyon tall eloquent rytche worshypfull honorable noble c. louynge her as his owne fleshe yea euen as Christ loued the congrega cion Moreouer God commaunded sayeng Thou shalt do no theft As for this precepte Dauid hath earnestly vowed to kepe it vnto the vt termoost So that he wyl not only not steale but also boūteously giue to so many as haue nede of his help And where as God saythe thou shalt speake no false wytnes agenst thy neyghbour Dauid had vowed made a faythful promyse that he wyl rather as charite requireth co uer the multitude of synnes forgyue them that offend hym seake to profyt all men no lesse then him selfe Finally where God sayth thou shalt not couytte thy neyghbours wyfe nor house nor feld c. Dauid is fullye at this poynte not once to couyt ony parte of his neyghbours goodes but rather to helpe hym for warde to do for hym what soeuer lyeth in his power These be the commaundemētes of God and these hath he vowed to kepe These vowes therfore wyll he paye vnto the LORDE yea that be fore all his people that men seynge the lyght of his good workes maye glorify his father which is in heuē And for as muche as Dauid is a kynge hathe vowed vnto God to do the office of a true kynge whiche is to mayntayne vertue and to expulse vice he wyll not only prouide that he hym selfe kepe these cōmaūdemētes but that all his subiectes also kepe them euen from the hyest to y ◠lowest He wyll do his diligēce that there shall no God be worshyp ped in his kyngdome amonge hys people but the one and alone true God of Israel Hym only shall they honour worshyp prayse serue and loue Nother shal ony grauē ymage be suffred to be made in his Realme for to obscure blotte the glorye of this almighty god On the name of this God alone shall all hys people caull flye vnto in theyr aduersite prayse commende it for euer and euer nether shall ony of them be so bold as once to swere vnistly by it The Sabboth daye shall all his subiectes sanctifye They shall not spend it vaynely ydelly but vertuously godly in readynge y ◠holy scriptures in hearyng Gods word sincerly preched in prayeng feruētly vnto god and in suche other god ly meditacions Theyr superiours shall they honoure also with all humilite submission and obedience They shall kyll no man but defend euery man in his ryght loue all mē wysshe well vnto them do for them what so euer they are able As for fornicaciō adultry whor dome or ony other vnclennes they shall commyt none but euery man shall freelye be suffered to haue hys owne wyfe and euerye woman her owne husbonde so godly lyue togyther in chast pure matrimony And as for stealinge bearyng of false witnes or couetynge of theyr neyghbours goodes Dauid lyke a true kynge hath vowed promised so to order rule his subiectes that none of thē all shall faull into those vices enormities If they do wyl not amende Dauid bearethe not y e sweard in vayne he wyll surely pu nysh the trāsgressours For Dauid hath made a vowe he is earnestly bēte to kepe it y t both he his people shal vnfaynedly obserue the mooste holy cōmaūdemētes of God Oh that all kinges Princes Dukes rulers would follow this moost ho ly vertuous kynge streyghtely looke vnto the obseruaunce true kepynge of these vowes For these are the vowes that are accepted be fore God These are the vowes that caste no mans soule into the daunger of euerlastyng damnacion but rather healpeth forwarde vnto the enheritaunce of lyfe eternal These are no popysh monkysh supersticious pharisaicall vowes inuented of the ydle braynes of mē but pure godly wholesome christen vowes which so many as hope to be saued ought streyghtly to obserue kepe yea to performe them vnto the vttermoost of theyr power Thus se we what the vowes are that Dauid wyll pay vnto y e Lord before all his people for his benefytes euen the fulfyllyng of Goddes commaundementes doynge hys office as it becōmeth a true kinge So lykewyse must we do and paye our vowes also to y e LORDE that is to saye kepe his holy commaundemētes forsake the world the dyuell the flessh with all theyr pompes pleasures as we professed at oure baptisme euery man lyue accordynge to his vocacion callyng as for an example Let thē that beare office authorite rule and power in the commō