A03620:40
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.
even so must every Christian man take heed, that he learn the same doctrine, or else it were no commodity to have the scripture of God delivered and taught unto us. And every reader and hearer must learn of this Psalm, that there is none other food nor meat for the soul, but Gods word, And who so ever do refuse it, when it is offered or preached: or when they know the truth thereof, do yet of malice, fear, lucre and gain of the world, or any other way repugn it, they be unworthy of all mercy and forgiveness. Let every man and woman therefore examine their own conscience, without flattering of them selves, and they shall find that the most part of this realm of England in the time of our holy and blessed king Edward the sixth, were fed with this holy food of Gods word, or else might have been fed with it. For it was offered and sent unto them, as well by most godly statutes and laws of Parliament, as by many Noble men, and virtuous learned Preachers. If they fed not upon it accordingly, or now their teeth stand on edge, and their stomachs be cloyed with it, to their peril be it. Thus Christ saith:1 They have nothing whereby justly to excuse them selves of their sin. And likewise he faith, that Whosoever hateth him, hateth also his father. ⟨p. 18⟩By which words it appeareth manifestly, that no man can hate Christs doctrine, but he must hate Christ him self: and no man can hate Christ, but he must also hate the father of heaven. Wherefore, it is expedient for every man to mark such places. For it was not Christs name, nor Christs person, that the Jews hated so mortally Christ for: but they hated him to death for his doctrine sake, and it was Christs doctrine that condemned the world, and showed the life and learning of the world to be evil,2 and could not abide the light of Gods word, and therefore in no case they could abide to hear of it: as ye see the like in his poor Preachers.3 For his words sake they be less passed of, then dogs or brute beasts: for they be hated to death, and more favour doeth Barabbas the murderer find, then Peter the preacher of Christ, that would lead the flock redeemed with Christs precious blood, into the pastures of Gods word with the Prophet David: