A03620:47
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.
He shall convert my soul, and bring me into the paths of righteousness, for his names sake.
He shall conuert my soule, and bring me into the pathes of righteousnesse, for his names sake.
MY soul erred and went astray from the right way of godly living, but the Lord converted me from mine errors & faults of living, and brought me to the observation of his holy laws, wherein is contained all justice, trueth, and godliness. Here is to be noted, what degrees and orders the Lord and heavenly shepherd doth use, in bringing his sheep unto the pasture of life. First, he converteth the man that is gone astray, by his wicked ways and sinful manner of living. If he were an Infidel, he bringeth him first to know, feel, and hate his infidelity, and afterwards to a true faith. If he be a persecutor, he showeth him first his tyranny, and afterward how to use him self meekly. If he be a sinful man that liveth contrary to his knowledge & profession, he bringeth him first to the knowledge and hatred of his sin, and afterwards to the forgiveness of the same. As Christ our saviour wonderfully teacheth in Saint John,1 where he saith: The holy Ghost, when he cometh, shall rebuke the world of sin, justice, and judgement. By the which words he declareth, that the faithful of God, can not profit in the Gospel of Christ, neither love nor exercise justice and virtue, except they be taught, and ⟨p. 20⟩made to feel the burden and danger of sin, and be brought to humble them selves, as men that be of them selves nothing but sin. And therefore the law and threatenings of God be very wholesome, whose nature and property is to cite and call mens conscience unto the judgment of God, and to wound the spirit of man with terror and fear. Wherefore, Christ useth a wonderful way, and teacheth the same unto his Apostles, that neither him self for that present time, nor they in time to come, could preach profitably the Gospel, wherewith men are led into the sweet and pleasant fields of Gods promises by his word, except they use this order: to lead them from sin to justice, and from death to life. And as justice and life cometh by Christ, showed unto us in his bitter passion,