A03620:26
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.
Of this part of the Psalm,1 what the Prophet hath said of God and of man, we must for our own doctrine and learning, gather some things to be the better by. For S. Paul saith, What so ever is written, is written for our learning. Two things we learn of this first place: The one, a certainty that God hath the cure and charge of us: and the other, a ⟨p. 12⟩consolation and comfort, that we & all ours be under his protection and governance. The first doctrine to be certain and sure of Gods defence, and care over us, maketh us constant and strong to suffer & bear all adversities and troubles that God shall send us. And the second doctrine shall cause us patiently and thankfully to bear our cross, and to follow Christ. Both these doctrines the Prophet David expresseth in the third and fourth verse of this Psalm: If I should (saith he) travel and pass through places contagious and infected, where appeareth nothing but the image and shadow of death, or be compelled to pass through the hands and tyranny of mine enemies, I will not fear, for thou art with me (O GOD) and defendest me. 2In the 91. Psalm, he setteth forth the assurance and felicity of all them that put their whole trust in the mercy of God, and therein also the Prophet reckoneth up a wonderful sort of dangers, and layeth them before the eyes of the faithful, that he may by the sight and knowledge of the dangers, fix and place the more constantly his faith and trust in God, that hath the charge and cure of him: He shall (saith he) defend us from pestilence most infective: from fleeing arrows in the day, &c. By the which the Prophet understandeth all kind of evils, that may come unto us, by the means of the devil, or of wicked men. And these things the faithful shall escape (saith the Prophet) because they say from their hearts unto GOD,3 Quoniam tu es spes mea, that is to say, For thou art my hope: even as he said in the beginning of this Psalm, The Lord feedeth me, and I shall want nothing. Such certainty and assurance of Gods defence, and such consolation in troubles of this life, we must learn & pray to have out of Gods word, or else it were as good never to hear ⟨image 9⟩