A03620:473
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 4 (verses 10-20): ¶The fourth 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.
Here is life and death, and the occasions of both marvellously set forth. He said that it was his infirmity that caused him to question & doubt of Gods mercy. Wherein he hath disburdened God, and charged him self with sin and doubtfulness. And so much all men see and find in them selves, that damnation is of our selves:1 and salvation only of God. There is also to be noted in thi• infirmity, that it occupieth not only the body: but also the soul. For he saith, These cogitations and questions (as touching the doubtfulness of Gods mercy) were the devises and acts of his mind: so that both his body and soul were comfortless. And good cause why: for in both of them were sin and abomination against God. And of these two parts of man, the body & the spirit, came these dubitations of God and of his promises. The which fruits of corruption, engender (except sin be forgiven) eternal death.2 And here is the wisdom of the flesh seen to be very enmity unto God, working continually the breach of Gods commandments, and the destruction of mans salvation, as much as lieth in it. But in the second part of the verse is life, & the occasion thereof: which is a sure trust that God can remove despair, & put in place thereof,3 faith, hope, & sure confidence. And the occasion of this help is not mans merits, but the right hand of God: that is to say, Gods power inclined to save man by mercy. Of this doctrine be certain things to be marked of every reader & hearer of this Psalm. First, in this verse is declared how man taketh consolation in time of his trouble, which is the 4. part of the Psalm, & in the same part the Psalm endeth. He saith, It was his infirmity, that made him to question & demand in his spirit so doubtful ⟨image 111⟩things of God, and of his promises. Whereof we learn, that consolation beginneth where sorrow and heaviness is first felt: for the spirit can take no solace by Gods promises, until such time as it feeleth by Gods law, how sinful it is for the transgression thereof.4 Therefore Solomon saith: The just man is the first accuser of him self. And so doth the Prophet Asaph in this place confess, that these cogitations and profound thoughts against God, came of his own infirmity and sin.