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…

The generality is this: Thou art God that doth wonders, and hast declared thy power amongst people. The singularity and particularity of Gods working of wonders, is the one before, and the other behind. The singularity is in this, that he perceived that is was his own infirmity, that made him doubt of Gods promises: & yet Gods singular grace made him singularly feel & perceive that God singularly would be good unto him. The particularity is in this, that he saith: With Gods right hand God delivered the posterity of Jacob and Joseph¹ from the servitude of Egypt, &c. The way to consider the marvellous works of God is a profitable consideration & sight of them, as well to know them, as to be the better for them. For there is no man can take commodity or profit by Gods goodness showed unto a multitude, except he singularly receive gain thereby him self. As we see, when a whole multitude was fed marvellously with a few loaves and fewer fishes,² (almost five thousand people,) he taught the consolation and health of mans soul in his own blood:³ but none was the better for it, but such as believed every man for him self that which Christ spake. The miracles and merciful help of Christ unto others, had nothing profited the poor woman of Canaan:⁴ except she her self had been partaker of the same. And as it is in the works of God, that do comfort the man afflicted: so is it in the works of God, that bring men into heaviness and sorrow for sin.

The generalitie is this: Thou art God that doth wonders, and hast declared thy power amongst people. The singularitie and particularitie of Gods working of wonders, is the one before, and the other behinde. The singularitie is in this, that he perceiued that is was his owne infirmitie, that made him doubt of Gods promises: & yet Gods singular grace made him singularly féele & perceiue that God singularly would be good vnto him. The particularitie is in this, that he saith: With Gods right hand God deliuered the posteritie of Iacob and Ioseph¹ from the seruitude of Egypt, &c. The way to consider the meruellous works of God is a profitable consideration & sight of them, as wel to know them, as to be ye better for them. For there is no man can take commoditie or profite by Gods goodnesse shewed vnto a multitude, except he singularly receiue gaine therby him selfe. As we sée, when a whole multitude was fed meruellously with a fewe loaues and fewer fishes,