deare blessed worde and that we can be in a place where it may be frelye preached and professed openlye A Christen mā therfore that belongeth vnto a church wherein the worde of god is taught as oft as he goeth in shuld thynke vpon thys Psalme out of a ioyfull harte wyth the prophete to geue God thākes for hys vnoutspeakable grace that he hath set hym as hys owne shepe in a pleasaunt grene medowe where ther is plentye of good grasse and fresh water That is that he maye be in a place where he maye heare learne the worde of God conceaue ryche comforte therout both in bodye and soule Thys blessed Dauid dyd well vnderstonde how worthy a treasure it is whan it maye so be had therfore can he boast singe so well of it magnifyethys benefite aboue all that is in onye estymacion or worshippe vpō earth At hym oughte we to learne thys science What we ought to learne here of Dauid and accordynge to hys ensample not onely to be thankfull vnto God oure louynge and faythfull shepherde to magni fye his vnout speakeable gyft which he of very louynge kyndnesse hath geuen vs as Dauid doth here in the fyrste fyue verses but also earnestly to desyre and pray hym as he doth in the last verses that we maye abyde by thys ryches and neuer to fal away from hys holy Christen churche And such a prayer is exceadynge necessarye For we are very weake and as the Apostle saynt Paule sayeth we carye thys treasure aboute in earthen vessels 2. Cor. 4. The deuell also our aduersary beareth deadly hate vnto vs for thys treasures sake Therfore doth he not rest but goeth aboute as a roarynge Lyon seketh how he maye deuoure vs. Besyde all thys he hath a quarel vnto vs because of our olde sacke which we carye yet vpō oure neckes wherin ther be yet also dyuerse concupiscences and synnes More ouer the deare flocke of Christe is spotted fyled with so many horrible offences or sklaūders that because of the same ther do many fall awaye frō thē Therfore I saye it is necessary that we praye and put thys vncorrupt doctryne styll in practise defēd oure selues therwith agaynst all sklaūders that we maye cōtinue vnto the ēde be saued Thys madde and blynde worlde knoweth vtterly nothynge of thys treasure and precious stone The blindnesse of the worlde but ymagyneth onely euen as a swyne or vnreasonable beast how they maye here fyll the belly Or els whan it cōmeth to the poynt they follow lyes ypocrisye As for the truthe and fayth they set it passe Therfore do they synge no Psalme vnto God for hys holy worde but rather whan he offreth it vnto them they blasphe me it and condemne it for heresye And as for those that teache it or wyl be knowen of it the worlde persecuteth them and putteth thē to death lyke as yf they were deceauers and the most vngracyous wretches that are in the worlde It shal be good therfore for thys small flocke to knowlege suche a benefyte wyth the prophete to synge a Psalme or songe of thankesgeuyng vnto God for it Of them the wolde and can not haue the worde of God But what saye ye of them that can not haue the preachynge of Gods worde As namely they that dwell here and there amonge tyrauntes and enemyes of the truthe No doute where as the worde of God is preached there can it not passe awaye wythout frute as Esay sayeth in the .lv. Chap. The good christen people also of the same place haue one vauntage which in dede is deare vnto them For they that be Christen men coūte it a very great thynge that they may be in a place where the worde of God is frely and openly taught and knowleged and the sacramentes mynistred after Christes institucion But as for these they be sowē very thynne The false christen are alwaye mo then the good The great multitude careth nothynge for Gods worde nother do they knowlege it for a benefyte that they may hear it without al harme parel Yee they are soone fylled and weery of it and esteme it but a payne to heare it and to receaue the holy sacrament Agayne they that suffre vnder tyrauntes complayne daye and nyght and long greatly for it And yf a smal morsel of oure bread that Christe hath geuen vs so rychely doth come vnto them they receaue it wyth great ioye and thankfulnesse and do them selues muche good withall Men ware weery of the worde of God where as oure swyne in the meane seasō hauynge the worthy bread them selues so rychely and many whole baskettes full therof cā not reache vnto it they are so weery of it Yee they cast it downe walowe them selues therin treade it vnder theyr fete and runne ouer it Therfore goeth it euē after the prouerbe Whā a thynge beginneth to be comune it is nomore set by but despysed be it neuer so precious And suche Prouerbes are specially founde true in the worde of God Where men haue it there wyl they not away withall Agayne where men haue it not there wolde they be gsad to haue it Where men haue a church at theyr dores wherin the word of God is taught there go they vp downe in the market in the preachynge tyme and lurcke about the graues Where they be ten or twentye myle from it there wold they be glad to go with the multitude and to passe ouer with them vnto the house of God with ioyfulnesse and thankesgeuynge as it is in the .xli. Psalme Of them the dwelvnder tyrauntes Therfore shortelye thys is myne answere vnto the question cōcernyng thē that dwel vnder tyraūtes Blessed be they which are now scattered abrode vnder the Turke or Pope beynge desritute of Gods worde wolde yet be glad wyth all theyr hartes to haue it in the meane season receaue wyth thankesgeuynge suche morsels as they can get tyll the meale be better Nowe yf they be not farre from the place where the worde of God is preached and the blessed sacrament mynyfired accordyng vnto Christes institucion they maye well go thyther enioye the same treasure lyke as many do and are therfore punyshed of theyr wycked rulers both in body and goodes But yf they dwel farre frō suche places yet do they not ceasse at the leest to sighe therafter No doute Christ oure LORDE wyll heare theyr sighynge in processe of tyme wyl he turne back theyr captyuyte Agayne vnhappye yee and vnhappie agayna are they that haue this treasure plenteouslye at theyr dores and yet care not for it On them shall the word of Christ be fulfylled where he sayeth Mathei 8 Many shall come from the easte and west shall syt wyth Abraham Isaar and Iacob in the kyngdome of heauen but the chyldrē of the kyngdome shal be cast out c. Let thys be sayde for an introduccion Nowe wyll we shortly go
A very excellēt swete exposition vpon the XXII Psalme of Dauid called in Latine Dominus regit me c. ¶ Translated oute of Hye Almayne into Englyshe by Myles Couerdale Anno MDXXXVIII The .xxii. psalme of Dauid called in Latine Dominus regit me et nihil i The LORDE is my shepeherde I shall lacke nothynge ii He fedeth me in a grene pasture and leadeth me to the fresh water iii He quyckeneth my soule and bringeth me forth in the waye of ryghteousnesse for hys names sake iiii Though I walke in the valley of the shadowe of death yet feare I no euell for thou arte wyth me Thy staffe and thy shepehooke do comforte me v Thou preparest a table before me agaynste myne enemyes thou anoynteste my head wyth oyle and fyllest my cuppe full vi Oh let thy louynge kyndnesse and mercye followe me all the dayes of my lyfe that I maye dwell in the house of the LORD for euer ¶ An exposition vpon the .xxii. Psalme The effect of this Psalme IN this Psalme doth Dauid and euery christen hart geue thankes prayse vnto God for his most principal benefit namely for the preachyng of his dear holy word wherby we are called accepted and nōbred amonge the multitude which is the cōgregacion or church of God where onely and in no place els the pure doctrine the true knowlege of Gods wyll and the ryght seruice of God is founde and had But this same noble treasure doth holy Dauid prayse and extol maruaylous excellently with goodly swete fayre pure wordes yee that with lykenesses borowed out of the Gods seruice of the olde Testament Fyrst he lykeneth hymselfe to a shepe whom God hymselfe as a faythfull diligent shepherde doth wonderous well take hede vnto A shepe fedeth hym in a pleasaunt grene pasture whiche stōdeth full of good thicke grasse where ther is abundaunce also of freshe water no scarcenesse Item he lykeneth God also vnto suche a shepherde The shepherde as with his staf leadeth bryngeth the shepe the playne right way that it cā not go amysse and defēdeth hys flocke so wyth the shepehooke that the woolfe can not break in After thys doth he make hymselfe a geste A geste for whom God prepareth a table where he fyndeth both strength and comforte refreshynge and ioye and that plenteously And thus the Prophete geueth the worde of God diuerse names The word of God hath many names calleth it goodly pleasaunt grene grasse freshe water the ryght waye a staffe a shephooke a table balme or pleasaunt oyle and a cuppe that is alwaye full And thys he doth not without a cause for the power of Gods worde is many folde For why Lyke as a shepe in a fayre pleasaūt medowe besyde the grene grasse and freshe water in the presēce of hys shepherde which leadeth it wyth the staffe or rodde so that it can not go astraye and defendeth it so with the shepehoke that no harme can happē vnto it hath hys foode pleasure in al safegarde Or lyke as a mā lacketh nothynge that sytteth at a table where ther is plenty of meate and drynke and al maner of cōforte gladnesse So muche more they that be the shepe of thys shepherd wherof thys psalme syngeth lacke no good thynge are rychely prouyded for not only in soule but also in body As Christ sayeth in the sixte of Mathew Seke fyrst the kyngdome of God and the ryghteousnesse therof so shal all these thynges be mynistred vnto you For as they that wante bodely foode lyue in greate straytnesse and pensyfnesse not beynge able to fulfyl the bodyes request in thys behalfe euen so also those that wante thys wholsome and necessarye word of god can not reioyce nor be pacyfyed inwardly Yee euen as bread and wyne refresh a mans fleshy harte and make hym ioyfull euen so the worde of God quyckeneth refressheth a mans soule inwardly The preachynge of gods wod bryngeth prosperite For whan the worde of God is truly syncerely preached loke how many dyuerse names the prophete geueth it here so many commodyties and frutes doth it brynge Vnto them that are diligent and earnest to heare it whom oure LORDE God knoweth onely for hys owne shepe it is a pleasaūt grene grasse a fresh water wherewith they are satisfyed and refreshed It kepeth them also in the ryghte waye and preserueth thē that no mysfortune nor harme happen vnto them Moreouer it is vnto thē a cōtinuall wealth where ther is abūdaunce of meate drynke and all maner of ioye and pleasure That is they are not onely instructe and gyded refresshed strengthed and comforted by the worde of God but euer more more preserued in the ryght waye defended in all maner of trouble both of body and soule And fynally they haue the victory preuayle agaynste all temptacyons and troubles wherof they muste abyde ryghte many as the fourth verse doth specifye Shortly they lyue in all maner of safegarde as they vnto whome no mysfortune can happen for as much as theyr shepherde doth fede them and preserue them The doctryne to be taken of this psalm Therfore shulde we take instruccion out of thys Psalme not to despyse the worde of God but gladlye to heare and learne the same to loue it and to make muche of it to resorte vnto the lytle flock where we maye haue it And agayne on the other syde to flye and eschue those that do blaspheme and persecute it For where thys blessed lyght doth not shyne there is nother prosperite nor health nother strength nor comforte eyther in body or soule but vtter dysquietnesse terroure and dispayre specially whan trouble dystresse and paynfull death is at hande How be it the vngodly as the prophete sayeth haue neuer rest Esaye 57. whether they be in welth or wo. For yf they be in prosperite thā are they presumptuous proude and hyghe mynded forget oure LORDE god vtterly boaste crake onely of theyr owne power ryches wysdome c. And take thought besyde how they maye maynteyn and increace the same and how they may persecute and oppresse other men that lye in theyr wayes But yf the leafe turne aboute with thē as doutlesse it must nedes do at the last For that swete virgin Marye is a very sure prophetisse Deposuit potētes de sede diuites dimisit inanes which yet hath not fayled in hyr songe thē are they of all the moost miserable careful lest people which immediatly fall to despayre and mistrust What ayleth them They knowe not where nor how they shall seke comforte seynge they haue not the worde of God which onely teacheth the ryght waye how to be pacient and to haue a good hope euen in aduersite Roma .xv. Thys thynge ought to warn vs moue vs that we esteme nothynge more excellent nor worthye vpon earth than thys benefyte An ensample for vs. namely to haue that
my comforte that my shepherde hath geuen his lyfe for me Besydes this he hath also a swete and louynge voyce wherwith he comforteth and sayeth I shall neuer perysh nother shall ther ony mā plucke me out of his hande but I shall haue euerlastynge lyfe This promyse wyl he faythfully kepe with me what so euer become vpon me And thoughe somtyme ther chaunce a synne or other impediment by the reason of myne in fyrmite yet wyll he not therfore cast me awaye for he is a louynge shepherde whiche loketh to the weake shepe byndeth vp theyr woundes and healeth them And to the intent that I shulde be the surer of this not to doute theron he hathe lefte me here the holy Sacrament for a token that it is so in dede Euen thus hath the prophete done He was not mery alwaye nother coulde he at al houres singe The lord is my shepherd I shall lack nothyng He hath ben sōtyme at many a great exigēt yee al to many so that he nother felt the ryghteousnesse cōforte nor helpe of god but playne synne the wrath of God fearfulnesse dispayre the paynes of hell c. as he complayneth hymselfe in many Psalmes Neuerthelesse he turneth hym from his owne felynge and taketh holde of God by his promise concernynge Messias that then was for to come and casteth this in his mynde Howe so euer it stande with me yet is thys the cōforte of my hart that I haue a gracyous mercyfull LORDE whiche is my shepeherde whose worde and promyse doth strength and cōforte me therfore shall I lacke nothynge And euen therfore hathe he wrytten thys and other Psalmes to the intent that we shulde be sure that in very temptacyons there is els where no counsel nor comforte to be found And that this is the onely golden science namely to cleue vnto the worde and promyse of God and to iudge after the same and not aster the felynge of the harte And so no doute ther shall followe helpe comforte and not fayle in ony thynge ¶ Now followeth the seconde verse He fedeth me in a grene pasture and leadeth me to the fresh vvater In the fyrste verse hathe the Prophete shortly comprehended the meanynge of the whol psalme namely that who so euer hath the LORDE for his shepherd shall lack nothynge More than this doth not he teache in thys Psalme but onely setteth forth the same more at larg with goodly ornate wordes and similytudes how it chaunceth that they which are the lordes shepe lack nothyng and sayeth He fedeth me c. But almoost thorow out the whole Psalme as his maner is oft tymes to do he vseth wordes whiche signifye somwhat els than they sounde As whan he maketh mencion of the shepherde of the fedyng of the grene pasture of the fresh water the staf the shepe hooke c. it is easy to perceaue that he wyll haue somwhat els vnderstonde therby then we men vse to speake therof Suche maner of speakynge is very cōmune in the scripture and therfore shulde men take diligent hede thervnto that they maye be accostumed wythall and learne to vnderstonde it But se howe well fauouredlye he can speake I am sayeth he a shepe of the lordes whiche fedeth me in a grene pasture c. A naturall shepe can not be better thē whā the shepherde fedeth it in a pleasaunt grene pasture and besyde fresshe water Yf it can haue thys it thynketh no man vpon earth is more ryche or happyer then it For there it fyndeth euery thynge that it can desyre A goodly thyck plentyfull grasse wherof it waxeth stronge and fat A fresshe water wherewyth it can refresshe and quycken it selfe There hath it pleasure and ioye Euen so wyl Dauid saye herelyke wyse that God neuer shewed hym a greater grace and benefyte vpon earth then thys that he myght be in the place and among the people where the worde and dwellynge of God and the ryght Gods seruyce was For where that treasure is there goeth it well both in the spirytuall and wordlye regiment As yf he wolde saye All the nacions and kyngdomes vpon earth are nothynge They are in dede rycher myghtyer and more glorious then we Iewes and make great boastynge therof They boast also of theyr wysdome and holynesse for they haue goddes also whome they serue yet wyth all theyr pompe and glory they are but euen a playn wyldernesse and desert For there is nother shepherde nor pasture therfore muste the shepe nedes straye be famyshed perysh As for vs though we haue many wyldernesses aboute vs yet syt we here at rest safe and mery in paradyse and in a pleasaunt grene pasture where there is plentye of grasse and fresshe water and haue wyth vs oure shepherde whiche fedeth vs leadeth vs to the drynke defendeth vs c. Thefore can we lacke nothynge The chefest good vpō earthe is to haue gods word Thys man had goostly eyes and therfore sawe he ryghtwell what is the best and noblest good vpon earth He maketh no boast of his kynglye worshyppe and power he knowlegeth wel that such goodes are also the gyftes of God nother runneth he frō thē letteth thē lye but vseth them vnto the honoure of god and geueth hym thankes therfore But of this maketh he speciallye hys boast namelye that the LORDE is hys shepherde and he in hys pasture and fedynge That is that he hath Gods worde This benefyte can he neuer forgette but speaketh therof maruaylous excellentlye and with greate ioye and prayseth it farre aboue all the goodes vpon earth And thys he doth in many Psalmes as in the .cxviii. where he sayeth The lawe of thy mouth is dearer vnto me then thousandes of golde syluer Item I loue thy commanndementes aboue golde and precious stone O howe swete are thy wordes vnto my throte Yee morethen hony vnto my mouthe What we ought here to learne Thys science shulde we learne also namelye to let the worlde boast of theyr great ryches honoure power c. For it is lowse vncertayne and transytory ware whiche God casteth into the doūgeon It is a small matter for hym to geue an vngracious persone that blasphemeth and dyshonoureth hym agayne for hys rewarde a kyngdome a dukedome or ony other worshyppe and good vpon earth These worldlye goodes are hys draff and swillynges wherwyth he fylleth the hogges bellyes that he is disposed to kyll But vnto hys chyldren as Dauid speaketh here therof he geueth the ryght treasure Therfore shulde we as the deare chyldren and heyres of God nother boaste oure selues of oure wysdome strength nor ryches but of thys that we haue the precious pearle euen that worthy worde whereby we knowe God oure louynge father and Iesus Christ whome he hath sent The word of God is oure treasure Thys is oure treasure inheritaunce whiche is sure and euerlastynge and better then al the good of the worlde Who so hath thys let hym suffre other men to gather
them selues with the name and tytle of the Christen stenchurch yeethough they raysed vp dead men yet are they wolues and murtherers whiche spare not the flocke of Christ scatter them abrode torment them and kyll thē not onely spiritually but bodely also as mē mayese now before theyr eyes The names that the worde of God hath in this Psalme Lyke as the prophete here afore doth call Gods worde or the gospell grasse water the ryght waye a staffe a shephooke Euen so afterwarde in the fyfth verse he calleth it a table prepared an oyntment a full cuppe And thys simslitude of the table oyntmēt and cuppe doth he take out of the olde testament from the Gods seruyce of the Iewes and sayeth euen in a maner the same that he had sayd afore namely that they whiche haue the worde of God are rychely prouyded for in all poyntes both concernynge the soule and body saue onely the he speaketh it here wyth other fygures and allegoryes Fyrst bryngeth he in the similitude of the table A table where vpon the shewebreads laye contynually Exod. xxv xl And then declareth he what the same dyd sygnifyeth and sayeth Thou preparest a table before me agaynst myne enemyes thou anoyntest myne heade wyth oyle and fyllest my cuppe full Here doth he knowlege playnly that he hath enemyes But he sayeth he kepeth hym from them and dryueth them backe by this meanes namely because the LORDE hath prepared a table before hym agaynst those his enemyes Is not this a wonderfull defender I wolde haue thought he shulde haue prepared before hym a stronge wall a myghtye hulworke depe dyches armour and other harnesse weapens where by he myght be sure from his enemyes and discomfite them And now cōmeth he and prepareth before hym a table to eate and drynke on and so to smyte hys enemyes There coulde I be content to fyght also yf the enemyes myghte be ouercome without ony teopardye care trauayle and laboure And I to do nothyngeels but to syt at a table to eate and drynke and be mery With these wordes Thou preparest a table befor me agaynst myne enemyes wil the prophet declare the great excellēt The great power of Gods worde wōderful power of the worde of God As yf he wolde say Thou offrest me such kyndnesse OLORDE and fedest me so well and rychely at thy table whiche thou hast prepared for me that is Thou enduest me so psenteously with the exceadynge knowlege of thy good worde so that thorow the same I haue not onely plenteous consolacion in wardly in my harte agaynst myne owne euell conscience agaynst feare and drede of death and the wrath and iudgemēt of Godt but outwardly also thorowe the same worde I am become so valeaunt and so inuincible a giaunt that al myne enemyes can bryng nothynge to passe agaynst me The more wroth madde and vnreasonable they are agaynst me the lesse I regarde it Yet I am so much the more quyete in my selfe glad content And that of none other occasion saue onely that I haue thy worde The same geueth me such power and corage agaynst all myne enemyes So that whan they rage fearsly and are moost madde of all I am better content in my mynde then yf I satte at a table where I myght haue all that my harte coulde desyre meate drynke myrthe pleasure mynstrelsye c. An hye cōmendaciō of Gods worde There hearest thou agayne how hyghly this holy Dauid magnifyeth prayseth the good worde of God namely how that by the same they that beleue ouercome and wynne the victory agaynst the deuell the worlde the fleshe synne a mans owne conscience and agaynst death For yf a man haue the worde and take sure holde of it by fayth then must all these enemyes whiche els are inuincible be fayne to geue backe and to yelde them selues And it is a maruaylous victory and power yee and a very stoute boastynge of suche as beleue that they subdue and ouercome all these horrible yee and in maner almyghtye enemyes not with ragynge not wyth bytynge not wyth resystynge not with strykyng agayne not with takynge of vengeaunce not wyth sekynge of counsell and helpe here and there but with eatynge drynkynge pleasure syttynge beynge mery and takyng of rest Which thynges as it is sayde afore come all to passe thorowe the worde To eate and drynke what it is For to eate and drynke is called in the scripture to beleue to take sure holde on Gods worde wherout ther followeth peace ioye comforte strēgth c. The naturall reason of man Natural reason can geue no iudgemēt in this wonderfull victory of the faythfull for here commeth the matter to passe cleane contrarye to the outwarde senses of man The worlde doth alwaye persecute slaye the Christen as the moost hurtfull people vpon earthe Now whan naturall reason seyth thys it can not thynke otherwyse but that the Christen lye vnder agayne that theyr enemyes preuayle and haue the victory Thus dyd the Iewes intreate Christe the Apostles and the faythfull and put thē euer to execucion Whan they had slayne them or at the leest banished thē then cryed they Now haue we the victory these fellowes that haue hurte vs shall now trouble vs no more Now shall we handle euery thyng as we wyll But whan they thought them selues to haue bene surest of all our LORDE God sent vpon them the Romaynes whiche dealte so horriblye wyth them that it is a terrible thynge to heare Then after certayne hundreth yeares as for the Romaynes whiche thorow oute all the empyre of Rome had slayne manye thousande martyrs God rewarded them afterward and suffred the cytie of Rome in few yeares to be four tymes spoyled by the Gothies and Vandalyes finally to be brent destroyed and the empyre to decaye Who had now the victory The Iewes and Romaynes that shed the bloud of sayntes lyke water or the poore Christen that suffred them selues to be ordred lyke slaughter shepe and had none other harnesse and weapen but the good worde of God Howe it goeth with the multitude of thē that beleue in Christe Thus doth Dauid declare wyth these wordes howe it goeth wyth the holy Christen congregaciō For he speaketh not here of his owne person only setteth her forth in hyr coloures and descrybeth her well fauouredly Namely how that in the syghts of God she is euen as a pleasaunt grene medowe whiche hath plentye of grasse and fresshe water That is to say that she is the paradyse and pleasaūt garden of God garnysshhed wyth all hys gyftes and hath hys vnoutspeakeable treasure the holy Sacramentes and that good worde wherewyth he instructeth gydeth refresheth and cōforteth his flocke But in the syght of the worlde hath thys congregacion a farre other appearaunce euē as though she were a blacke darke valleye where a man can se nother pleasure nor ioye but trouble sorowe and aduersyte For the deuell wyth al his
power setteth hym selfe agaynst it for thys treasures sake Inwardly plageth he the congregacion of God wyth hys venymous fyrye dartes Outwardly treadeth he her downe by sectes and offences Then kyndleth he also hys brande vpon her euen the worlde which mynystreth vnto her all sorowe and heuynesse of harte with persecutynge sklaundrynge blasphemynge condemnynge and murthurynge In so muche that it were no wōder that deare flock of Christ were vtterly destroyed in the twyncklynge of an eye by such greate soltytye and myght both of the deuell and of the worlde For she cā not kepe her selfe from hyr enemyes they are farre to stronge to deceatfull and to myghtye for her She is euen as the prophet doth here descrybe her An innocent symple and wapenlesse lambe whiche nother wyll nor can do ony mā harme but is alway readye not onely to do good but also to take euell for good Howe happeneth it then that the congregacion of Christ in such weaknesse Howe the flocke of Christ winneth can escape the craftinesse and tyrāny of the deuell and the worlde The LORDE is hyr shepeherde therfore lacketh she nothynge He fedeth and refressheth her goostlye and bodely he kepeth her in the ryght waye he geueth her also hys staf and shephooke in steade of a swearde which she beareth not in the hand but in the mouth And not onely comforteth the sorowfull therwyth but dryueth awaye the deuell also and all hys Apostels be they neuer so sotyll and spitefull Besydes thys the LORDE hath prepared for her also a table and Easter lambe Whan hyr enemyes are verye wrothfull gnasshe theyr tethe together ouer her are mad vnreasonable in a rage and out of theyr wyttes and take all theyr sotyltye power and myghte to helpe them for to destroye her vtterlye Then doth the beloued bryde of Christe set her downe at hyr LORDES table eateth the Easter-lambe drinketh of the fresh water is mery and syngeth The LORDE is my shepherde I shall lacke nothynge These are hyr weapens and gōnes wherwith she hath hetherto smytten ouercome all hyr enemyes and after the same maner shall she haue the victorye styll vnto domes daye The more also that the deuell and the worlde doth hurt vexe her the better is it with her For hyr edifyenge and increace stondeth in persecucion affliction and death Out of thys occasion dyd one of the olde fathers saye The bloud of martyrs is a sede A notable sayenge where one is caste there ryse an hundreth vp agayne Of thys wonderfull victory synge certayne Psalmes as the .ix. x. c. After thys same maner haue I also thorowe the grace of God behaued my selfe thys eyghtene yeare The authour of this boke I haue euer suffred myne enemyes to be wroth to threatē to blaspheme and condemne me to cast theyr heades styll agaynst me to ymagin many euell wayes to vse diuerse vnthryftye poyntes I haue suffred them to take wonderous greate thought howe they myght destroye me and myne yee gods doctrine Morouer I haue ben glad and merye but more at one tyme then at another and not greatly regarded theyr ragynge madnesse but haue holden me by the staf of cōforte and had recourse vnto the LORDES table That is I haue cōmitted the cause vnto God wherin he hath so led me that I haue optayned all my wil and mynde And in the meane tyme haue I done lytle or nothinge but spokē vnto hym a pater noster or some lytle Psalme This is al my harnesse wherwith I haue defended me hetherto not only agaynst myne enemyes but also thorow the grace of god brought so much to passe that whan I loke behynde me call to remēbraunce how it hath stond in the Papistrye I do euē wonder that the matter is come so farre I wold neuer haue thought that the tenth parte shulde haue come to passe as it is now before oure eyes He that hath begon it shal brynge it well to an ende Yee though nyne helles and worldes were set on an heap together agaynst it Let euery Christen man therfore learne thys science namely that he hold hym by this staf shepehooke resort vnto this table whan heuynesse or ony other mysfortune is at hande And so shall he doutles receaue strength cōforte agaynste euery thyng that oppresseth hym The oyntment The second similitude is of the oyntmēt wherof ther is mēciō made ofttymes in the holy scripture It was some precious oyle as Balme or els som other swete smellinge water the vse was to anoynte the kynges prestes withal Whan the Iewes also held theyr solemne feastes and were disposed to be mery they dyd anoynte or sprenkle them selues with such precious oyntmēt as Christe declared lykewyse in the sixte of Mathewe wher he sayeth whan thou fastest anoynte thyne heade and wash thy face c. The vse then of this oyntmēt was had among those people whan they were disposed to be mery glad Lyke as the Magdalene also thought to make the LORDE mery whan she poured vpon hys heade the precious water of Nardus for she sawe that he was heuy The full cuppe The thyrde similitude is of the cuppe which they broughte in theyr Gods seruice whan they offered drynke offerynges and were merye before the LORDE Wyth these wordes then Thou anoyntest my head with oyle The ryche comfort of christē mē and fillest my cuppe ful wyll the prophete descrybe the greate ryche comforte which they that are faythfull haue by the worde of God so that theyr consciences are quyete glad and at rest in the myddes of all tentacions and troubles Yee euen of death As yf he wold saye doutlesse the LORDE maketh me a maruaylous man of warre and harnesseth me wonderously agaynst myne enemyes I thought he shulde haue put materiall harnesse vpon me set an helmet vpon myne heade geuē me asweard in my hande haue warned me to be circūspecte to take diligent hede to my matter lest myne enemyes shulde ouertake me Nowe commeth he and setteth me downe at a table and prepareth me a goodly banket anoynteth myne heade with precious Balme Or after the maner of our contry setteth a garlande vpon myne heade as yf I shulde go to some pastyme or daūsynge and not fyght with myne enemyes And to the intent that ther shulde be no scarcenesse he fylleth my cuppe full that I maye drynke make good chere be dronken The table thē prepared is my harnesse the precious oyntmēt is my helmet the ful cuppe is my sweard With these do I ouercome all myne enemies Is not this a maruailous preparyng to warre yet a more wonderfull victory Thus wyll he saye LORDE thy gestes whiche syt at thy table that is to saye the faythfull shall not onely be stronge and valeaunt giauntes agaynst al theyr enemyes but they shal be mery also and dronken Spiritual drōkēnesse For why thou makest them good chere as a ryche hooft
the vngodly God punysheth men by the death of other Yf vertuous fathers mothers dye from wycked dysobedient chyldren then be the chyldren plaged for they are afterwarde euell nurtoured hanged or slayn Yf yonge chyldren dye from wycked fathers and mothers then be the chyldren delyuered the fathers and mothers punyshed in that they haue gathered theyr goodes for those that they wyshe them not vnto Yf tyraūtes dye then bethey punyshed and the persecuted Christen delyuered Yf good rulers dye which wyth theyr wysdome haue maynteyned peace and good gouernaunce then be they in peace And so the vngodly whyche are left alyue rayse vp warre and sedicion and be alwaye punyshed worse and worse Shortly who so hath eyes of fayth seyth that true beleuers dye in a ryght season Good mē dye or lyue for theyr welth but the wycked for theyr punyshment but the vngodly before the tyme. Wherfore whether good mē dye or lyue it is done for theyr welthe But whether the wycked dye or lyue it is done for theyr punyshment and by all wayes shall they be plaged and theyr wyckednesse shall be rewarded them Wherfore my moost derely beloued take ye such doctrine comforte to harte and follow the same Flye in good earnest by true repentaunce amendement from synne wher wyth the world hath deserued thys horryble plage And flye by a true vpryght fayth vnto Gods word wherin is the fountayne of lyfe and the lyght of men Then shall ye be whole and safe from thys and other plages so lyue to the honoure of God and welth of your neghbour tyll the appoynted tyme come wherin God the father in the death of Christ that we be baptised in shal sende for vs out of thys myserable lyfe to hys owne euerlastynge kyngdome Which God graūt vnto vs all Amen ⧠Howe they ought to be comforted that are in bodyly sycknesse or trouble DEarly beloued brother I truste ye beleue that all thynges whether it be sycknesse anguyshe or what misfortune so euer it be it commeth all from almyghtye God For yf he be your faythfull father Rom. viii All thynges serue for the beste vnto thē that loue God thā doth he it to your furtheraunce that he taketh holde on your olde Adam and leadeth hym presoner wyth thys bonde of your sycknesse and helpeth you to tame and to mortyfy hym that so ye maye yelde youre selfe the better vnto your LORDE God and hange on the crosse wyth Christe For thys cause is suche sycknesse of yours a fatherly chastenynge For whome God loueth Heb. xii hym doth he chasten And of hys fatherly mercy taketh he thus holde vpon you wyth very truthe and loue Happely he seyth that your olde Adam wyll be to wanton and rash for you and waxeth to stronge fearce for you And for thys cause putteth the LORDE a brydle into hys mouth whereby he be not hurtfull vnts your noble soule and myscary her Flesh and bloude is stronger in you thā the sprete therfore helpeth he your sprete to fyghte Perchaunce yf ye were whole it myghte entyce you to synne agaynste God whereby hys holy name myghte be blasphemed and so were youre soule the more cursed for the fylthynesse of manyfolde synnes But nowe doth he auoyde all that from you thorow fatherly mercy and turneth awaye youre flesh and bloude that alwaye rageth agaynste the sprete Rom. vii and leadeth it captiue so that it hath no more rowme nor occasion to couet all maner of synnes Seynge than that hys fatherly wyll is suche and that suche thynges do happen vnto you to good therfore do I earnestly admonysh you that by no meanes ye do wythstande hys fatherly wyll but praye hartely that hys wyll be done and fulfylled in you vnto hys prayse And hūbly beseke to graunte you his mercy tha tye may beare thys crosse of hys paciently Rom. v. For pacience bryngeth experience experience bryngeth hope but hope letteth vs not come to confusion Thus haue ye nowe occasion to be paciente and wyllyngly to suffre al maner of thynge that God sendeth vnto you for so muche as ye perceaue in your harte that he meaneth the thynge in very dede and thys commeth by tryenge For wythout ye assaye it wyth the dede how good it is so to retayne the LORDE as Dauid sayeth Psal c. xviii i. It is good to my that I haue ben in trouble that I maye learne thy ryghteousnesses ye can not hope and truste in hym In so muche as ye haue not assayed that such fatherly loue is hyd vnder thys rodde But whan ye haue perceaued suche a thynge than are ye bolde in all sufferynge and take hope vnto you the lōger the more seynge God doth so truely assiste you And though he do let you syncke a lytle whyle styck faste yet doth he drawe you forth agayne though it be longe He suffreth you a lytle to swymme and to douke but not to drowne Wherby ye maye perceaue that he wyll neuer forsake you whyche hath so ofte and many tymes ayded you Yf he doth brynge you sometyme in greate anguyshe Dan. xiiii so that ye myght thynke it all to be done wyth you yet forsake hym not but let your trust and hope remayne faste and sure in hym for ye haue heretofore learned well ynough the propertye and nature home he goeth aboute wyth hys ye knowe also that it is not done of anger or hate but of pure and entier loue Abyde therfore for the LORDE in all your sufferynge and truste wholy and inceassaūtly in his mercy and helpe how longe so euer he wythdraweth hymselfe and taryeth And be fully persuaded that thys your sycknesse or suche other grefe is not vnto death Ioh. ix xi but for the honoure of God and your profyte saluacion For who so darre truste so in God and beleue his promyses stedfastly the same shall neuer dye as Christe hymselfe sayeth Yee and byndeth it also wyth an oth that it be so in dede Ioh. viii sayenge Verely verely I saye vnto you Yf ony man kepe my word he shall neuer se death And in another place sayeth Christe Ioh. xi I am the resurrection and the lyfe He that beleueth on me shall lyue though he were deade already and who so euer lyueth beleueth on me shall neuer dye Kepe and holde sure thys comforte and be bolde there vpon For who so beleueth in Christe shall not tayste of death but is already passed from death to lyfe Euen as he wytnesseth of hymselfe where he sayeth Who so beleueth on me Ioh. v hath euerlastynge lyfe But thys is the lyfe euerlastynge Ioh. xvi◠that they knowe the that thou only arte the true God whom thou hast sente Iesus Christ The lyfe euerlastyng begynneth here in this lyfe ēdureth euer For who so hath Christ thesame truely hath very lyfe for he hym selfe is the lyfe Ioh. xv He is also the truth What so euer
ouer the Psalme ¶ The LORDE is my shepherde I shall lacke nothynge FYrst of all the prophet and euery faythfull hart calleth God hys shepherde Nowe though the scripture geueth God many louynge names Yet thys whiche the Prophete geueth here vnto God is a much more swete and gracyous name where he calleth hym a shepherde and sayeth A swetâ— name The LORD is my shepherde It is very comfortable whan the scripture calleth God our hope oure strength oure stonye rocke our castell our shelde our coÌ„forte our deliuerer our kynge c. For verely he declareth the thynge so styll in dede vnto his owne that he is euen so as the scripture describeth hym But excedynge coÌ„fortable is it that he is called here and many tymes els in the scripture a shepeherde For in this only word Shepe herde is almost all compreheÌ„ded together what good and comfortable thynge so euer is spoken of God The cause the moâ—ed the prophet to cal God his shey herds Therfore doth the prophete speake thys worde wyth a ioyfull and sorowlesse hart whych is full of fayth and for very great gladnesse coÌ„forte exceadeth And sayeth not The LORDE is my streÌ„gth castel c. Whiche were a maruaylous comfortable sayenge But the LORD is my shepherde As yf he wolde say Yf the LORDE be my shepherde and I his shepe then am I wonde rous well prouided for both in body soule he shall get me a competent lyuynge he shall defende me kepe me fro mysfortune he shal care for me he shall helpe me out of all trou ble he shall confort me he shall strength me c. Summa he shall do for me what so euer a good shepherde ought to do All these benefites and mo doth he coÌ„preheÌ„de in this onely worde Shepherde as he expoundeth it hymselfe immediatly where he sayeth I shall lacke nothynge Besydes this some of the other names which the scripture ascribe vnto God sounde partly to glorious and to hye brynge in a maner a feare with them whaÌ„ men heare theÌ„ to be named As whaÌ„ the scripture calleth God our LORDE Kynge Maker c. Of such a nature is not this worde Shepherde but soundeth very frendly and vnto theÌ„ the be godly it bryngeth in a maner a confidence coÌ„forte and trust with it whaÌ„ they reade or hear it lyke as this worde Father and other mo whaÌ„ they be appropriated vnto God A vâ—â—â—y coÌ„fortaâ— le similitâ—de Therfore is this one of the most louyng and coÌ„fortable similitudes yet very coÌ„meÌ„ in the scripture that it lykeneth the maiesty of god to avertuous faythful or as Christ sayeth a good shepherde and vs poore weake and wretched synners to a shepe Now can not thys coÌ„fortable louynge similitude be better vnderstande thaÌ„ to go into the creatures themselues wherout the prophetes toke thys such other lyke similitudes and to learne diligently thereby what the condicioÌ„ and property of a naturall shepe is and the office labour and diligence of a good shepherde Who so taketh good hede therunto maye not onely wyth ease vnderstande this and other similitudes in the scripture concernynge the shepherde and the shepe but also they shal be vnto him exceadynge swete and comfortable A shepe must lyue only by the helpe de fence and diligeÌ„ce of hys shepherde The condicion of a shepe as soone as it leseth hym it is compassed about with all maner of parell and must nedes perysh for it can not helpe it selfe For why it is a poore weake and innocent beast that can nother fede nor gyde it selfe nor fynde the ryght waye nor kepe it selfe agaynst ony vnhappynesse or misfortune Sauynge this that of nature it is fearfull flyeth goeth astraye And yf it go but a lytle out of the waye and come from hys shepherde it is not possible for it selfe to fynde hym agayne but runneth euer farther and farther from him And though it come to other shepherdes and shepe yet is it nothynge helped therwith For it knoweth not the voyce of strauÌ„ge shepherdes therfore flyeth it from them and runneth so longe astraye tyll the wolfe rauysh it or tyll it perysh some other wayes Neuerthelesse as weake a beaste as it is yet hath it thys condicion The propertie of a shepe that wyth all diligeÌ„ce it bydeth with his owne shepherde and seketh comforte at hys helpe and defeÌ„ce And how or whether so euer he leadeth it it followeth And yf it can but be with hym it careth for nomore nother feareth it ony maÌ„ but is carelesse and mery for it lacketh nothynge It hath also thys good vertue in it whiche is well to be marked for Christ doth specially prayse the same in hys shepe thys vertue I saye it hath that it wyll be earnest and sure to heare and knowe the voyce of hys shepherde and ordreth it selfe therafter and wyl for nothynge go from it but followeth strayght the same Agayne it regardeth no straunge shepherdes voyce And though they call and whistle vppon it neuer so frendly yet careth not it therfore much lesse doth it followe them Agayne The office of a shepherde this is yâ— office of a good shepherde that he doth not only prouyde for his shepe pasture and other mo thynges that belonge therto but defendeth them also that no harme chaunce vnto them Besydes this he taketh diligent hede that he lefe none Yf ony go astraye he runneth after it seketh it and fetcheth it agayne As for such as be yonge feble and sicke he dealeth gently with them kepeth them holdeth them vp and caryeth theÌ„ tyll they be olde stroÌ„ge whole c. Euen thus goeth it also in the spirituall shepfolde that is to saye How it goeth in the shep folde of Christ in the flocke of Christ Loke how lytle a naturall shepe can kepe gyde rule saue or defeÌ„de it selfe against daunger and mysfortune for it is a feble and wapenlesse beast So lytle caÌ„ we poore weak and miserable people kepe rule our selues spiritually walke and endure in the ryght waye or of our owne streÌ„gth to defeÌ„de vs agaynst all euel and to get vs helpe and comforte in trouble and distresse For how shulde he haue skyll to gyde hym selfe after a godly fashion The misery of oure nature that knoweth nothynge of God that is conceaued and borne in synne as we all are and of nature the chylde of wrath and the enemye of God How shuld we fynd the ryght waye and coÌ„tinue therin seynge that as the prophet Esay sayeth we can do nothynge but go astray Howe is it possible that we shulde defende our selues from the dyuell which is a prince and lorde of this worlde whose presoners also we be euery one seynge that with all oure power and myghte we can not do so muche as to hynder a smale leafe to hurte vs or a poore flee from greuynge vs Why wyll we poore wretched people boaste so muche of
his power onely It is he that seketh beareth and gydeth the. He thorow his death deserueth lyfe for the. He onely is stronge and defendeth the lest thou shuldest perysshe and be taken awaye out of his haÌ„des Ioh. x. Vnto all this canst thou do nothynge saue applye thyne eares to heare and with thankesgeuynge to reccaue suche an vnoutspeakeable treasure and to learne to knowe well the voyce of thy shepherde to followe hym and to eschue the voyce of straungers Wherfore yf thou wylt be rychely prouyded for Take hede to thy shepherdes voyce both in body and soule aboue all thynges take good hede than to the voyce of this shepherde herken well what he sayeth vnto the let hym fede the rule the gyde the defeÌ„de the comforte the. c. That is to saye kepe the vnto his worde be glad to heare it and to learne it so no doute thou shalt be well prouyded for both in body and soule By thys that hath ben spoken of hether to I thynke it but easy to vnderstand these wordes The LORDE is my shepherde Yee and all the whole Psalme besyde They are but few wordes The LORDE is my shepherde but of a great weyght and pyth The worlde maketh great boastynge and crakynge of honoure power ryches fauour of men c. But the prophete maketh his boast of none of these for they be all vncertayne and transytory He speaketh but few wordes and good The LORDE is my shepherde Thus speaketh a sure and constant fayth which turneth hyr back vpon euery thynge that is temporall transitory howe hye and precyous so euer it be and turneth the face and hart strayght vnto the LORDE whiche is onely and altogether and doth it hym selfe alone Euen he els none whether he be Kynge or Emperour sayeth he is my shepherde Therfore goeth he forwarde in all quyetnesse and sayeth I shall lacke nothynge A generaâ—â— sentence This doth he speake in generall of all the benefytes bodely and goostly that we receaue by the offyce of preachynge As though he wolde saye Yf the LORDE be my shepherde then doutles I shall lacke nothynge I shall haue abundauÌ„ce of meate drynke clothynge alyuynge defence peace and all maner of necessaryes what so euer serueth for the sustentacion of this lyfe For I haue a ryche shepherde whiche shall not suffre me to lacke Neuertheles he doth speake moost specyasly of the spiritual goodes and gyftes that the worde of God bringeth with it and sayeth For as much as the LORDE hath taken me amonge his flock prouydeth for me with his owne pasture that is for as much as he hath rychely geuen me his holy worde he shall not suffre me to haue scarcenesse in ony thynge He shal geue his blessynge vnto the worde that it maye haue strength brynge forth frute in me He shall lykewyse geue me his sprete to stande by me to comforte me in al temtacions and troubles to make my harte also sure and certayne and that I doute not therin but that I am one of my shepherdes deare shepe And he my faythfull shepherde which wyll deale gently with me as with a poore weake shepe and wyll strength my faythe endue me also with other spirituall gyftes comforte me in all troubles heare me whan I call vpon hym defende me from the wolfe that is from the deuell so that he shall not be able to do me harme And fynally delyuer me from all mysfortune This meaneth he whan he sayeth I shall lacke nothynge Thou wylt saye An obiectioÌ„ Yee but wherby shall I perceaue that the LORDE is my shepherde I can not perceaue that he dealeth so louyngly with me as the Psalme speaketh yee the contrary do I well perceaue Dauid was an holy prophete and a man dearly be loued vnto God therfore coulde he easely talke of the matter and beleue well as he sayd As for me I shall not be able to do it after hym for I am a poore synner An answer I haue declared aboue that a shepe hath this good coÌ„dicioÌ„ proper vertue in it that it knoweth well the voyce of his shepherde and ordreth it selfe rather after the eares then after the eyes The same vertue doth Chryste prayse also in his shepe whan he sayeth Ioh. x. My shepe know my voyce Now his voyce soundeth after this maner I am a good shepherde and geue my lyfe for my shepe And I geue them euerlastyng lyfe and they shall neuer peryshe no man shall plucke them out of my hande Take good hede nowe vnto this voyce and ordre thy selfe therafter Yf thou so do then be sure that thou art one of Chrystes shepe he thy shepeherde which knoweth the ryght well and can cal the by name Now yf thou hast hym for thy shepeherde then shalt thou verely lacke nothyng yee thou hast already that thou shuldest haue euen euerlastynge lyfe Item thou shalt neuer perysshe nother shall ther be ony power so greate myghtye as to be able to pluck the out of his hand Onely be thou sure of this For doutles this shepherdes voyce shall neuer fayle the. What wylt thou more Leaue not the voyce of thy shepherde But yf thou lettest this voyce go and ordrest thy selfe after the syght of the eyes and after the felynge of that olde Adam theÌ„ lesest thou the fayth and confidence whiche thou as a shepe shuldest haue vnto hym as to thy shepeherde And so falleth ther vpon the now one ymaginacion now another so that thou canst not be in quyete but disputest by thy selfe and sayest Yf the LORDE be my shepherde why suffreth he then the worlde to plage me and persecute me so my serably contrarye to all my deseruynge I syt amonge wolues and am not sure of my lyfe the twinkelynge of an eye but I se no shepherde that wyll defende me Item why geueth he the deuell liceÌ„ce to do me so much harme with feare and despayre Besydes this I fynde my selfe all vnapte feble vnpacient and laden yet with many synnes I fynde no certaynte but doutfulnesse no consolacion but fearfulnesse and quakynge for the wrath of God Whan begynneth he to declare in me that he is my shepherde what good followeth whan one rieueth fast to gods worde Suche and many other mo wonderful cogitacions shalt thou haue yf thou let his voyce and worde passe But yf thou cleue styll fast vnto it then suffrest thou nother the deceatfulnesse of the deuell the displeasure madnesse of the worlde nother thyn owne infyrmite and vnworthynesse to ouer come the by temptacion but goest on boldly and sayest Whether the deuell the worlde or myne owne conscience do take parte agaynste me neuer so fearfly yet wyll not I therfore take ouermuch thought It muste and shal be thus that who so euer is a shepe of the LORDE he can not remayne vntempted Let it go with me as it maye yee whether they seeth me or rost me yet is this
Dauid se and he rehearseth it for a speciall benefyte to be vnder the custodye of the LORDE whyche shulde not onely fede hym in a grene pasture but also in the heate bryngynge hym to the fresh water c. Shortly his meanynge is to declare the as lytle as a mā can come to the knowlege of God and the truthe to the ryght fayth without the worde of God So lytle can ther ony comforte and peace of conscience be founde without the same Without gods word cā no mās conscience be at rest The worldly haue also theyr comforte and ioye howe be it that endureth but the twinkelynge of an eye Whan trouble and anguysh commeth and specyally the last houre it goeth awaye As Salomon sayeth Pro. 14. After laughter commeth sorowe and after ioye commeth heuynesse But as for them that drynke of this fresshe and lyuynge water they maye well suffre trouble disease in the worlde but they shal neuer lacke the true consolacion And specyally whan it commeth to the poynt the leafe turneth ouer with them whiche is as much to saye as After shorte wepynge cōmeth euerlastynge laughter and after a lytle sorow commeth excellent ioye ii Cor. iiii For they shall not wepe mourne both here and there but as Chryste sayeth Blessed are you that wepe here for ye shall laugh Luce. vi He quyckeneth my soule and bryngeth me forthe in the vvaye of ryghteousnesse for his names sake Spiritual pasture 〈◊〉 water Here doth the prophet declare hymselfe of what maner of pasture and fresh water he spake namely euen of the same the strengtheth and quyckeneth the soule This can be nothynge els but Gods worde But for as muche as our LORDE God hath two maner of wordes the lawe and the gospell the prophete whan he sayeth He quyckeneth my soule geueth suffycienlty to vnderstonde that he speaketh not here of the lawe but of the gospell The lawe The lawe can not quycken the soule for it is a worde that requyreth and commaundeth vs to loue God wyth all our hartes c. and our neyghbour as our selues Who so doth not this hym it condempneth and speaketh this sentence ouer hym Cursed be euery man which doth not all that is written in the boke of the law Deut. 27. Galat. 3. Now is it certayne that no man vpon earth doth this therfore commeth the lawe with his iudgement fearyng and vexynge the consciences And yf ther be no helpe it goeth thorow so that they must nedes fall into dispayre and be cōdempned for euer Of this occasion doth S. Paule saye Rmo. 3. By the lawe cōmeth but the knowlege of synne Item the lawe causeth but wrath Rmo. 4. As for the gospell it is a blessed worde It requyreth none suche of vs The gospell but bryngeth vs tydynges of all good namely that God hath geuen vs poore synners his onely sōne to be our shepherde to seke agayne vs famished and dispersed shepe and to geue his lyfe for vs that he myght so delyuer vs from synne from euerlastynge death and from the power of the deuel This is the grene grasse and the fresh water where with the LORDE quyckeneth oure soules And thus are we made lowse from euell cōsciences and heuy thoughtes Of this shal we speake more in the .iiii. verse He bryngeth me forth in the waye of ryghteousnesse Here sayeth he doth not the LORDE my faythfull shepherde leaue that he fedeth me in a grene medowe leadeth me to the fresh water so quickeneth my soule but he bryngeth me forth also in the right waye that I departe not asyde go astraye so perysshe That is he holdeth me fast to the pure doctrine that I be not deceaued by false spretes To be led in the ryght way what it is and that I fall not awaye by ony other temptacion or offence Item that I maye know how I ought to leade myn outward conuersacion lyfe that I suffre not my selfe to be perswaded by the holynes and strayte lyfe of ypocrites Item what is the true doctrine fayth and seruice of God c. An excellent vertue of Gods worde This is now agayne a goodly frute vertue of the worde of God that they whiche cleue fast there vnto do not onely receaue strength cōforte of the soule therby but are preserued also from vntrue doctrine false holynesse Many mē optayne this treasure but they can not kepe it For as soone as a man is to bolde presumptuous and thynketh hymselfe sure of the matter it is done with hym Or euer he can loke aboute hym he is deceaued For the deuell also can pretende holynesse and transforme hymselfe into an angell of lyght as saynt Paul sayeth And euen so lykewyse can his minysters shewe thēselues as though they were the preachers of ryghteousnesse come ī shepes clothyng amonge the flocke of Chryst but inwardly are they rauenynge wolues Therfore is it good here to watch praye as the prophete doth in the last verse that our shepherd maye kepe vs by this treasure whiche he hath geuen vs. They that do not this certaynly they shall lese it And the ende of that man as Christ sayeth shall be worse then the begynnynge Luce. 11. For they shall afterwarde become the moost poysened enemyes of Christes flock and do more harme with theyr false doctryne then the tyrauntes with the swearde This had saynt Paul well proued by the false Apostles that made the Corinthians Galathians to erre so soone and afterwarde made diuision in all Asia We se it our felues also this daye by the Anabaptistes and other false spretes For his names sake The name of God The name of God is the preachyng of God wherby he is magnifyed and knowen to be gracyous mercyfull longe sufferyng true faythfull c. which notwithstādynge that we be the chyldren of wrath and gyltye of euerlastynge death forgeueth vs all our synnes and taketh vs for his owne chyldrē and inheritours This is his name thys doth he cause to be proclamed by his worde Thus wyll he be knowen magnifyed and honoured And accordynge vnto the fyrste commaundement he wyl euen thus declare hymselfe towarde vs as he hath caused it to be preached of hym Lyke as he doth styll strengtheth and quyckeneth our soules spiritually and kepeth vs that we fall not in to erroure hetteth vs lyuynge for our body and preserueth vs from all misfortune This honoure that he so is as we haue now sayd is geuen hym onely of them that cleue fast vnto his worde these beleue confesse playnly that all the gyftes goodes whiche they haue goostly and bodely they receaue them of God euen of his mere grace goodnesse That is to saye For his names sake not for theyr owne workes and deseruynges For this do they geue thankes vnto hym and declare the same vnto other This honour can not be geuen vnto God of ony presumptuous iusticiaryes
stomblynge block that the vngodlye haue such prosperyte vpon earth And that the beloued sayntes of God on the other syde are euer plaged c. and sayeth Yf I haue but the o LORDE I passe not vpon heauen nor earth Though both body and soule shulde perysshe Yet thou o God arte the cōforte of my harte and my porcion Now after what maner the LORDE is with hym he sheweth farther more and sayeth Thy staf and thy shepehooke do comforte me Howe the LORD is p̄sent with many faithful men The LORDE sayth he is wyth me but not bodely that I may se or heare hym Thys presence of the LORDE wherof I speake is not comprehended wyth the fyue wyttes Onely fayth seyth it The same is sure that the LORDE is nyer vnto vs then we are to oureselues Wherby euen by the worde Therfore sayeth he Thy staf and thy shepehooke comforte me As yf he wolde saye In al my troubles and necessityes I fynde nothynge vpon earth whereby I maye be helped to be at rest Onely the worde of God is my staf shepehooke where by I holde me and stonde vp agayne And sure I am lykewyse by it that the LORDE is with me and doth not onely strengthe and cōforte me by the same worde in all troubles and tentacions but also delyuereth me from all myne enemyes spyte of the deuell and the worlde Wyth these wordes Thy staf and thy shepehooke do cōforte me cōmeth he agayne vnto the similitude of the shepherde the shepe The similitude of the shepherd wyll say thus much Lyke as a bodely shepherde ruleth his shepe with the staf or shepehooke leadeth them to the pasture to fresh water where they fynd meate and drynke and defendeth them wyth the shepehooke agaynst all parell Euen so doth the LORD the true shepeherde gyde and rule me with hys staf That is to saye with hys worde to the intēt that in hys syght I shuld walke wyth a good belefe and a mery conscience and knowe to beware of vntrue doctryne and false holynesse Besyde thys he defendeth me also agaynst al ieopardy and mysfortune bodely and goofily and deliuereth me from all myne enemyes with his staf that is to saye wyth the same worde doth he strengthe and comforte me so rychelye that ther is no mysfortune so greate whether it be bodelye or goofilye but I am able to come out of it and to ouercome it this goeth spiritually to worke By thys thou seyste that the prophete speaketh here of no helpe defence or comforte of man Nother draweth he out ony swearde c. It goeth here all secretely and preuelye to worke euen by the worde So that no man can spye thys defence comforte but onely they that beleue And here doth Dauid wryte a generall rule for all Christen men whiche is well to be noted Namelye that ther is none other meane waye vpon earth for onye man to be delyuered out of all tentations saue onely to cast all hys burthen vpon God and to hold hym faste by hys worde of grace to cleue surelye vnto it and in no wyse to suffre it to be taken frō hym Who so doth thys can be content whether he be in prosperite or aduersyte whether he lyue or dye And fynally he can endure and must nedes prosper agaynst all deuels the worlde and mysfortune Thys me thynke is a greate prayse of the good worde of God and a greater power is ascrybed here vnto it then is the power of all angels men Thus doth S. Paule prayse it also Rom. i. The Gospell sayeth he is the power of God for the saluacion of all them that beleue thereon The office of preahige And with thys doth the prophet touche the offyce of preachynge for by the mouthly preachynge of the worde whiche goeth in at the eares and that the harte taketh holde vpon thy fayth and by the holy sacramentes doth oure LORDE God brynge ass thys to passe in his Christen congregaciō namely to the intent that the people maye haue fayth be strenthed in belefe and preserued in the true doctryne Item that they maye fynally endure agaynst all temptacions of the deuell and the worlde For sence the begynnynge of the worlde hathe God dealte thus with all his sayntes by his worde and besyde the same hath he geuē thē outwarde tokens of grace This I saye because that no man shuld take vpō hym without these meanes to medle with God or to chose hym selfe a peculyar waye vnto heauen els shall he fall and breake his necke as the pope and his hath done And as the Anabaptistes other sedicious spretes do yet this daye And with these wordes Thy staffe and thy shepehooke do comfort me wyll the prophete shewe some speciall thynge As yf he wolde say Moses is ashepherde lykwyse and hath also a staffe a shephooke neuerthelesse he doth nothynge els but cōpell and punysshe his shepe and ouerladeth thē with an intollerable burthen Act. xv Esay ix Therfore is he a fearfull a terrible shepeherde of whō the shepe are afrayed and flye from hym Neuerthesesse thou LORDE with thy staffe and shephooke compellest not thy shepe nother makest them afrayd nor ouerchargest them but geuest them comforte Therfore speaketh he here of the office of preachynge the newe Testament whereby tydynge is brought vnto the worlde that Christ came vpon earthe to saue synners and therby hath optayned them suche a saluacion that he hath geuen hys lyfe for them All they that beleue thys shall not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe Ioh. iii. Thys is the staf and shephooke wherby the soules take refreshynge The staf the shephoke comforte and ioye Wherfore in the spirytuall shepefolde that is to saye in the kyngdome of Christe ther ought none other sawe to be preached but the Gospell which the prophet with ornate wordes calleth the staf and shephooke of cōforte whereby they be strengthed in fayth refresshed in theyr hartes and receaue consolacion in all maner of troubles and euen at the poynt of death what they be thatlede Christes shepe in a grene medowe They that so preach vse the spirytuall shepherdes offyce aryght fede the shepe of Christ in a grene medowe leade them to the fresh water refresh theyr soules kepe them that they be not deceaued comforte them with the staf and shephooke of Christ c. And where thou hearest suche one be sure thou hearest Christ hymselfe Suche men also oughte to be taken for true shepherdes that is to saye for the mynysters of Christ and the stewardes of God Nother oughte it to be regarded that the worlde cryeth out vpon them and calleth them heretikes and deceauers Agayne they that teach ony thynge els contrarye to the Gospell causynge men to trust to theyr owne workes merites to theyr owne fayned holinesse these no doute though they boast thē neuer so muche to be the successours of the Apostles decke
vseth to do to his gestes thou fedest them well thou makest them lusty glad thou fyllest into them so muche that they must nedes be dronkē This is al done by the worde of grace For by the same doth the LORDE oure shepherde fede and strength so the hartes of his faythfull that they dare defye al theyr enemyes and say with the prophete I am not afrayed for thousandes of the people that cōpasse me roundeaboute Psalme iii. And here afore in the fourth verse I fear no euell for thou LORDE art with me With this yee euen thorow the same worde doth he geue them also the holy goost whiche maketh them not onely to take good stomackes vnto them to be of good corage but so quyet also in thē selues and mery that for the same great exceadynge ioye they are euen dronken This must be spiritually vnderstande He speaketh here then of a spirytuall strength of a spirituall myrth and of a spirituall dronkēnes which is a godly strēgth Rom. i. A ioye as saynt Paul calleth it in the holy goost Rom. xiiii And a blessed dronkennesse whan people are not full of wyne wherout followeth incōuenience but full of the holy goost Ephe. v. This is the harnesse the weapens wherwith our LORD God prepareth his faythfull agaynst the deuell and the worlde namely in theyr mouth geueth he them hys worde and in theyr harte he geueth corage that is to saye the holy gooste Wyth suche ordinaunce put they from them all feare and wyth gladnesse bukle they wyth all theyr enemyes smyte them and ouercome them with all theyr myght wysedome and holynesse Such souldyers were the Apostels on whitsondaye whan they went vp to Ierusalem agaynste the commaundement of the Emperoure and the hye prestes and ordred thē selues as yf they had ben very goddes and all the other but greshoppers and went euen thorowe with all power and ioye as yf they had bene dronken In so muche the some had them in derision therfore sayd They were full of swete wyne Neuerthelesse S. Peter declared out of the prophet Ioel that they were not full of swete wyne but ful of the holy goost And so he smote aboute hym with hys swearde that is he opened his mouth and preached the worde of God and felled downe thre thousande soules at once from the power of the deuell Actu ii This strength ioye and blessed dronkennesse doth not onely shewe it selfe in the faythfull whan they be in prosperite haue peace but also whan they suffre and dye As whan the counsell at Ierusalem caused the Apostles to be beaten they were glad of it that they were worthy to suffre rebuke for the name of Christe Actu v. And in the v. to the Romaynes doth saynt Paule say We reioyce also in troubles c. Afterwarde were ther many martyrs also The stedfast ioyfull hartes of them the haue fusfred death for the word of God whiche with mery harte and laughynge mouthes wente vnto theyr death as yf they had gone to somepastyme or daunce Lyke as we reade of saynt Agnes and saynt Agatha whyche were virgins .xiii. or .xiiii. yeare olde and of other mo whiche were of suche inwarde corage and confydence that they dyd not onely ouercome the deuell and the worlde by theyr death but also made good chere euen then with theyr hartes as though they had ben dronken of very ioye And this greueth the deuell excedynge sore namely whā men are at suche quyetnesse in them selues that they despyse his great myght and gyle In our tyme also haue ther be many which for the knowlege of Christe haue bene glad to suffre death We se more ouer that ther be many whyche wyth perfecte vnderstondynge and fayth dye vpon theyr beddes and saye wyth Simeon LORDE now lettest thou thy seruaunt departe in peace c. that it is a ioye to beholde thē of whom I haue sene many my selfe And all thys commeth because that as the prophete sayeth they be anoynted with the oyle whiche the .xliiii. Psalme calleth the oyle of gladnesse and because they haue dronke of the full cnppe whiche the LORDE hath fylled Yee but thou wylt saye Obiection I fele not my selfe yet so apte that I coulde be content to dye c. That maketh no matter Answere Dauid also as it is sayd afore hath not bene sure of that science at all houres but somtyme complayned that he was cast out of gods syght Other holy men also haue not alwaye had an hartye confidence towarde God and a perpetuall delyte and pacience in theyr troubles and temptacions Note this well Saynt Paul somtyme is so sure certayne in hym selfe and maketh suche boast of Christe that he careth not for the curse of the law for synne death nor for the deuell I lyue not nowe sayeth he Galat. ii but Christe lyueth in me Item I desyre to be lowsed and to be with Christ Phil i. Item Who shall separate vs from the loue of God whiche spared not is owne sonne but hath geuen hym for vs all How shall he not with hym geue vs al thynges also Shal trouble anguysh persecucion swearde c. separate vs from hym Ro. viii There speaketh he of death of the deuell and of all euell with suche a corage as yf he were the strongest and greatest of all sayntes vnto whom death were but asporte But incontinently in another place he speaketh as thoughe he were the weakest and greatest synner vpon earth i. Cor. ii I was with you sayeth he in weaknesse in feare and in muche tremblynge I am carnall solde vnder synne and takē presoner in the lawe of synne whiche is in my membres O wretched man that I am who shall delyuer me frō the body of this death Roma vii And in the fyfth to the Galath he teacheth that in the sayntes of God ther is a continual stryfe of the fleshe agaynst the sprete c. Therfore oughtest thou not immediatly to dispayre though thou felest thy selfe feble and fayntharted but praye diligently that thou mayest endure by the worde and increace in the fayth and knowlege of Christ As the prophete doth here teacheth other men lykewyse so to do and sayeth Oh let thy louynge kyndnesse and mercy followe me all the dayes of my lyfe that I maye dwell in the house of the LORDE for euer For as muche as the deuell neuer ceasseth to plage the faythfull inwardly with feare outwardely wyth deceatfulnesse of false doctours or teachers and with the violence of tyrauntes he prayeth here therfore at the ende earnestly that God which hath geuen hym this treasure wyl kepe hym fast by it also vnto the ende And sayeth O gracyous God shewe me such fauour that thy louynge kyndnesse and mercy maye followe me all the dayes of my lyfe Why the prophet maketh this prayer And immediatly he declareth what he calleth this louynge kynonesse and mercy namely that he maye remayne in the house