A03620:242
Certain comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. John Hooper, Bishop of…Certeine comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. Iohn Hooper, Bishop of…
Certain comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester written in the time of his tribulation and imprisonment, upon the XXIII. LXII. LXXIII. and LXXVII. Psalms of the prophet David.Certeine comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. Iohn Hooper, Bishop of Glocester and Worcester written in the time of his tribulation and imprisonment, vpon the XXIII. LXII. LXXIII. and LXXVII. Psalmes of the prophet Dauid.
London: printed by Henry Middleton, 1580London: printed by Henrie Middleton, 1580
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
THE Prophet by no means would have men to put their trust in flesh and blood:1 in case they do, they must needs perish. For when miserable man shall trust in vain vanity, which is man: he can be no less then vanity it self, in whom he hath trusted. And this is one misery and wretchedness, a man to be deceived of help and succour: whereas he most trusted to have been holpen and succoured. Thus must it needs happen to them that trust in men. For men of most excellency and greatest authority, riches, and power in the world, be but vanity:2 as the Prophet saith. Now as they be, so is their help. And as their help is, so is the comfort and consolation of such as seek help at their hands. Those that be trusted unto, be but flesh and blood:3 the best of flesh and blood is but vanity: the consolation and help of vanity, is misery and wretchedness: wherefore the Prophet exhorteth all men to beware, they seek not aid and comfort of man,4 for he is but vain. The Israelites used for their help against their enemies, the Egyptians: but the more flesh conspired together, the worse success had all the battles they fought. Now as we see, men that have their trust in men, suffer much trouble and misery in the world,5 because their help they trust in, is of inferior strength and power to the troubles and adversities, that they be cumbered withal. So doeth the word of God declare, that such men as trust in vanity, have not only worldly adversities against them, but also for their so doing, (trusting in flesh) they be accursed of God, as the scriptures say: Cursed be he that trusteth in man. So that we see marvellous and unspeakable harms come of the trust in man. First, miseries of the world, ⟨image 64⟩and next the enmity and curse of God. For he that putteth his trust in man, with the same one fact and doing,6 doeth two horrible evils. The one, he deceiveth him self: for the vanity that he trusteth in, can not save him. And the other, he dishonoureth God that only can save, in putting his trust in mortal man, that can not save: and so maketh of man God: to Gods high displeasure and dishonour.