A03620:73
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.
In this fifth part, King David showeth, how the Lord God doeth exercise his sheep, whom he feedeth with his blessed word, in dangers and troubles: & also how he will defend them in the middest of their troubles, what so ever they be. In the first words of the fifth part of this sacred and holy Hymn, the prophet declareth that the life of Gods sheep and people in this world, can not be without dangers and troubles. Therefore Christ sayeth, that He came to put fire in the world, and that the same fire should burn, meaning that he came to preach such a doctrine, as should move dissension and discord between friend and friend,1 the father and the son, and set them at debate. Not that his word is a learning or doctrine of dissension and discord of it ⟨p. 26⟩self, but that by the malice of men, that can not abide to be rebuked by the word of God, they will be always at discord and variance with the word of God,2 and with any friend or foe that teacheth it. And the same doeth Christ our heavenly shepherd show us,3 both in his doctrine and in his life, who was hated and troubled more then any man before or sithens his time,4 and assureth all his to have troubles in this world, yea and death also. But it forceth not, for he saith, I have overcome the world. And whatsoever the dangers be, and how horrible soever they seem,5 Christ being with us, we need not to fear. Therefore in this point the prophet correcteth the foolish opinion of man, that would live as one of the sheep of God in this world without troubles. It is contrary both to the person that professeth God, and also to the religion that he is professed unto, for in the world both shall be (as Christ saith) hated:) of which hatred cometh persecution and troubles, so that the people of God shall, whether they will or will not, pass through many dangers, and no less perilous then the shadows, and very image of death, as here King David showeth in this wholesome and blessed Hymn.