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…

If the Prophet Asaph, had been as the most part of people now a days be, that fall sick and into many kinds of trouble, & had sent for an ignorant fool, (which commonly is called a ghostly father,) he had been in as good taking as these wretched souls be, that being comfortless seek comfort where none is to be had, seek knowledge where none is, & seek ⟨p. 119⟩counsel where ignorance aboundeth. Let all men therefore remember this verse, that when the Prophet was in trouble, he remembered the wisdom and marvellous works of God: (for he knew them before:) so let all men and women learn, before they come into trouble, a true knowledge of God, that in the time of trouble they may remember it to their consolation. But now to the second word, where he saith, He will meditate in all the works of God.

If the Prophet Asaph, had béene as the most part of people now a dayes be, that fall sick and into many kinds of trouble, & had sent for an ignorant foole, (which commonly is called a ghostly father,) he had béene in as good taking as these wretched soules be, that béeing comfortlesse séeke comfort where none is to be had, séeke knowledge where none is, & séeke ⟨p. 119⟩counsell where ignorance aboundeth. Let all men therefore remember this verse, that when the Prophet was in trouble, he remembred the wisedome and meruellous workes of God: (for he knew them before:) so let all men and women learne, before they come into trouble, a true knowledge of God, that in the time of trouble they may remember it to their consolation. But now to the second word, where he saith, He will meditate in all the workes of God.

Here is another notable doctrine, that neither the learning of Gods word, nor the remembrance thereof profiteth any thing, except it be understanded and applied to the use that God hath appointed it for. And here be two sorts of people wonderfully condemned. The one sort be those, that for custom or bondage to their profession, do learn without the book a great part of the Scripture: or else by daily use in singing or saying their service (as it is called) they learn to sing and say a great part of the Bible. But this availeth nothing, nor they understand it not in the sense and meaning that the holy ghost appointed it for: nor perchance the Grammatical construction thereof. And these remembrances of Gods word, be nothing but lip labour, and honouring of God with the mouth,