A03620:342
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 these places we learn, that knowledge and innocency of life, worketh felicity and beatitude. We must therefore beware, that we judge not felicity to be in these inconstant, and uncertain riches of the world: but we must contemn them, and also beware we fear not the trouble that may happen, for such virtues wherein felicity doth stand. And we must understand also, that although these virtues, wherein felicity consisteth: and such as be friends of God dwelleth, be afflicted and troubled: that neither the felicity, nor the person in whom it dwelleth, is any thing the worse for troubles and adversities before God, but rather the better. As ye may see by the word of God that saith,1 Blessed be ye when men speak evil of you, and persecute you, ⟨p. 82⟩and speak all evil against you, lying, for justice sake. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven. So did they persecute the Prophets before you. 2And in an other place it is said:3 He that will come after me, let him deny him self, and take his cross and follow me. The Psalm therefore in this part, amendeth the judgement of weak and wavering Christian men, that be offended with the prosperity of the wicked: because they do not know, nor mark by Gods word, wherein felicity doth consist, and that it remaineth in such virtues as be not diminished, nor drowned in the adversities of this world, what so ever dangers happen. When was Moses stronger, then when he saw of the one side the mountains of Egypt,4 and of the other side Pharaoh and his army, and before him the red sea, and in the middest of these enemies, he and his people standing like sheep, ready for the wolves to be slain: He was never more strong, nor in this life more blessed, then at that time.5 Daniel was never better then amongest the Lions. We must therefore know the virtues, wherein felicity doth consist, to be nothing diminished by sorrow and trouble: nor any thing increased by voluptuous pleasures, and brittle honours of this world.