A03627:65
An exposition upon the .23. psalm of David full of fruitful and comfortable doctrine,…An exposition vpon the .23. psalme of Dauid full of frutefull and comfortable doctrin,…
An exposition upon the .23. psalm of David full of fruitful and comfortable doctrine, written to the city of London by John Hooper, bishop [sic] of Gloucester and Worcester, and holy martyr of God for the testimony of his truth. Whereunto is annexed an apology of his, against such as reported that he cursed Queen Mary, with certain godly and comfortable letters in the end.An exposition vpon the .23. psalme of Dauid full of frutefull and comfortable doctrin, written to the citye of London by Iohn Hooper, bushop [sic] of Gloceter and Worceter, and holye martyr of God for the testimonye of hys truth. Wherunto is annexed an apology of his, agaynst such as reported that he cursed Quene Mary, wyth certaine godlye and comfortable letters in the ende.
London: printed by John Tisdale and Thomas Hacket, 1562
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.
Seeing I have such a guide and defender, there is no difficulty of peril, nor fear of death, that I will pass of. For what harm can death do to him, that hath God the author of all life with ⟨image 37⟩him? Or what can the tyranny of man do, where as God is the defender? In this first part king David showeth how the Lord God doeth exercise his sheep that he fedeth with his blessed word, in dangers and troubles, and also how he will defend them in the midst of their troubles what so ever they be. In the first words of the. v. part of this sacrate 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 saith that he came too •ut fire in the world, and that the same fire should burn, meaning that he came too preach such a doctrine as ••oulde move dissension and discord between friend and friend, the father and the son, and set them at debate.1 Not that his word is a learning or doctrine of dissension and discord of it self, but that by the malice of men that can not abide t• be rebuked by the word of God,2 they will be always at discord and ⟨image 37⟩variance with the word of God, and with any friend or •oo that teacheth it.3 And the same doth Christ our heavenly shepherd show us both in his doctrine and in his life,4 who was hated and troubled more then any man before or sithens his time, and assureth all his too have troubles in this world, yea and death also. But it forceth not, for he faith I have overcome the world.5 And what so ever the daun•ers be and owe horrible so ever they seem, Christ being with us, we need not to fear. Therefore in this ynte 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 sayeth hated. Of which hatred cometh persecution and troubles, so that the people of God shall whether they will or will not, pass through