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
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
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