A03620:327
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.
¶Out of the second part are divers things also to be noted.
¶Out of the second part are diuers things also to be noted.
2 My feet were almost gone, &c.
2 My feete were almost gone, &c.
First the Prophet noteth, how wretched and miserable man is, and how soon inclined to do evil. He saith, that He was ready and prest to have slipped from God: even with the beholding of Gods own works, when he saw God give unto the wicked felicity and prosperity, which things be only Gods riches to give to whom he will. Although he bestowed none of his upon the wicked, yet was he offended that he should bestow his own where he lusted.1 The same occasion took the workmen in the vineyard, to murmur against God: as it is in the Gospel of Saint Matthew. So that we be naturally given to this, that God giveth always too much unto other, and too little unto us: yea, although he would give us all the world, and yet keep any one thing for himself, ⟨p. 78⟩(even his very Godhead,) in case he will not give also that unto us:2 we be ready to bid him farewell. And in case he will not also give us as much, as is in him: such is our nature, that we will by some means or other seek to have it. As we may see, when he had made Adam, and given him both knowledge and power, above all other creatures made for his use, because he was not made God altogether: he fell most heinously from God: and slipped not only in his feet: but also in soul and body, to his utter ruin and destruction, and of us all that come of him. For this is our condition. Let God give us never so much, we think it too little, (except we have a singular grace to consider it.) And let us surrender unto God never so little homage or service: we think it all too much. Such is our cursed nature and first birth, to be ready to slip from God upon the lightest occasion of the world: yea, when GOD doth other men good,