A03620:466
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.
Commentary Psalm 77 › Body of exposition › Part 3 (verses 2-9): ¶The third part.
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.
But doubtless it is an easy matter for a man to speak of comfort and consolation to others: but a hard thing to feel it him self. Virtue is soon spoken of to other mens instructions: but the putting thereof in practise and ure, is very hard: yea, not only in the scholar that is taught, but also in the master that instructeth. Beware of despair, can every man say: but to eschew despair in great conflicts of the mind, is an hard matter. Read the book of the Psalms well, and ye shall see the experience thereof to be most certain and true. In the 62.1 Psalm, ye shall have this commandment to all men: Trust ye always in him ye people: yet when it came to the trial in him self, ye may see with what heaviness and great trouble of mind, he came to the trust in the Lord. Ye may learn by these Psalms indited by king David,2 that easily he taught Gods religion, and how men should put their trust in the Lord: and yet how hard it was to do and practise the thing himself that he taught ⟨image 109⟩unto others?3 Asaph also declareth the same. For in the 73. Psalm, he teacheth what men should think and judge in adversity: that God would be good unto Israel. But in this Psalm he himself being under the rod and persecution of God, is come to questioning and demanding: Will God absent him self for ever? Will he be no more entreated? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? with many other demands, declaring unspeakable troubles and difficulties of the mind: before it be brought to a perfect consent and full agreement unto the promises of God. So that we see the excellent Prophets, and most virtuous organs and instruments amongest sinful men, knew it was an easy matter to speak of faith & virtue: and yet a very hard thing to practise true faith, and to exercise virtuous living.
But doubtlesse it is an easie matter for a man to speake of comfort and consolation to others: but a hard thing to féele it him selfe. Vertue is soone spoken of to other mens instructions: but the putting thereof in practise and vre, is very hard: yea, not only in the scholer that is taught, but also in the maister that instructeth. Beware of despaire, can euery man say: but to eschue despaire in great conflictes of the minde, is an harde matter. Reade the booke of the Psalmes well, and ye shall sée the experience thereof to be most certeine and true. In the 62.