A03620:508
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.
If the spirit of man judge truly and godly of him, by and by the spirit of man shall perceive and feel the heavenly influence of Gods spirit, stirring and impelling his spirit to all virtue and goodness.1 If the spirit of man be destitute of spirit of God, and judge perversely and wickedly, the spirits of man shall feel the lack of Gods spirit, and true judgement, to blind the eyes of his mind, & cast him self into all abomination & sin: as the iniquity of the man justly hath deserved. Of the which thing cometh this, that as the virtue & godliness of godly men daily increaseth: even so doeth the iniquity and abomination of the ungodly also increase.2 And look what place and preeminence God obtaineth with any man: in the same place and preeminence is the man with God. And such as do godly after Gods word, honour and reverence the almighty God: judging aright of Gods might and providence: they give most humble thanks unto the mercy of God: that alone, and none but he, can teach or instruct the ⟨p. 124⟩mind of man in true knowledge, nor incline his will to godly doings, nor inflame the soul with all her powers to the desire and fervent love of godliness and virtue. As we see by this prophet Asaph in this place, that as long as his spirit, wanted the help of Gods spirit, it judged doubtfully of Gods mercy and promises: but, when the spirit of God had exiled and banished doubtfulness, and placed this strong fortress of confidence,3 (The right hand of GOD can change this my woeful and miserable estate,) with the judgement and feeling thereof, he was rapt and stricken with a marvellous love of Gods wonders: and repeated them with great joy and consolation, what God had done generally to all men: after that, what he had done to some particular men, and private nations: naming Jacob & Joseph, whose offspring and succession he brought out of the land of Egypt, as it followeth in the Psalm.
If the spirite of man iudge truely and godly of him, by and by the spirite of man shall perceiue and féele the heauenly influence of Gods spirite, stirring and impelling his spirit to all vertue and goodnesse.