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…

There is to be noted of these verses also this doctrine, that what soever trouble the spirit was brought unto, whatsoever watch had taken his eyes, & what soever vehemency of disease had taken his speech ⟨p. 104⟩from him: yet under all these crosses he cursed not God, nor grudged against his plagues, but as a man contented, gave himself to record and to call to memory, how God was wont to be unto men afflicted, and took account how in times past he had spent his years, and found that he had made certain Psalms or Hymns to the glory of God, and to the praise of his holy name. Of the which we learn not only patience in the time of trouble and persecution, but also how to spend our youth and transitory life in doing or making some things, that may be records and remembrances when we be gone, that we lived here to serve God, and not to serve our selves. And it is a great help and no small consolation for a man that is in trouble & heaviness, to think that he in his life before sought the glory of God: & that testimony of conscience is more worth in the time of trouble, then all other mens deeds for him. Not in that his seeking Gods glory & setting forth of the same, can be his gage and ransom before God: but because it is a very testimony, that God once loved him, and gave him of his blessed spirit, to indite something to Gods praise and honour. And as godly Psalms and virtuous Hymns, be testimonies of a virtuous spirit: so be wanton and adulterous ballads, records of a vicious and sinful spirit. And as the remembrance of good & virtuous works in the time of sickness and trouble, be joyful and comfortable: so is the remembrance of wicked doings sorrowful and painful.

There is to be noted of these verses also this doctrine, that what soeuer trouble ye spirit was brought vnto, whatsoeuer watch had taken his eyes, & what soeuer vehemencie of disease had taken his speach ⟨p. 104⟩from him: yet vnder all these crosses he cursed not God, nor grudged against his plagues, but as a man contented, gaue himselfe to record and to call to memorie, how God was wont to be vnto men afflicted, and tooke accompt how in times past he had spent his yeares, and found that he had made certeine Psalmes or Hymnes to the glorie of God, and to the praise of his holy name. Of the which we learne not onely patience in the time of trouble and persequution, but also how to spend our youth and transitorie life in doing or making some thinges, that may be recordes and remembrances when we be gonne, that we liued here to serue God, and not to serue our selues. And it is a great helpe and no small consolation for a man that is in trouble & heauines, to thinke that he in his life before sought the glorie of God: & that testimonie of conscience is more worth in the time of trouble, then all other mens déedes for him. Not in that his séeking Gods glorie & setting foorth of the same, can be his gage and raunsome before God: but because it is a very testimonie, that God once loued him, and gaue him of his blessed spirite, to indite something to Gods praise and honour. And as godly Psalmes and vertuous Hymnes, be testimonies of a vertuous spirite: so be wanton and adulterous ballads, records of a vicious and sinnefull spirite. And as the remembrance of good & vertuous workes in the time of sicknes and trouble, be ioyful and comfortable: so is the remembrance of wicked doinges sorrowful and painefull.