A06500:117
Commentary upon the Fifteen Psalms of Degrees
A commentary upon the fifteen Psalms, called Psalmi graduum, that is, Psalms of degrees faithfully copied out of the lectures of D. Martin Luther ; very fruitful and comfortable for all Christian afflicted consciences to read ; translated out of Latin into English by Henry Bull.A commentarie vpon the fiftene Psalmes, called Psalmi graduum, that is, Psalmes of degrees faithfully copied out of the lectures of D. Martin Luther ; very frutefull and comfortable for all Christian afflicted consciences to reade ; translated out of Latine into Englishe by Henry Bull.
London: printed by Thomas Vautroullier, 1577
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.
This Psalm is a thanks giving for the excellent gift of the word of God.1 Which virtue is therefore the more rare to be found, for that the word is every where so horribly contemned in the world, not only of the rude multitude, but also of those that will be counted both learned and wise: whose blasphemous tongues are sharpened against this most precious and incomparable benefit, not only in speaking contemptuously and spitefully of the Gospel, but also imputing to the wholesome word of life, what so ever mischief reigneth in the members of Satan, as seditious sects, avarice, filthy life, and such like. It is therefore ⟨p. 44⟩the great goodness of the Lord that in this horrible infidelity there are yet some which reverence the word, which gladly hear the word, which delight to talk of the word and works of the Lord. This Psalm therefore was not written to those dogs and swine the Papists, heretics and persecutors of the word, but to the elect souls and holy minds, which exult and rejoice for this heavenly visitation, whereby the day spring from on high, through the tender mercy of our God hath visited us, lying in the shadow of death, as Zechariah saith. For albeit that all men have the word, and all hear the sound of the Gospel, yet herein they differ, that some have the word only: some acknowledge and feel them selves to have it and therefore do rejoice and give thanks unto God for the same, where as other delight rather in their riches and in the pleasures of this life, then in that heavenly word, which bringeth everlasting life and salvation. Therefore S. Paul counteth it for a special grace of God, not only to have the gifts of God, but also to acknowledge them, to delight & rejoice in them, and to be thankful unto God for them.
This Psalme is a thanks giuing for the excellent gift of the worde of God.1 Which vertue is therefore the more rare to be found, for that the worde is euery where so horribly contemned in the worlde, not onely of the rude multitude, but also of those that will be counted both learned and wise: whose blasphemous tongues are sharpened against this most precious and incomparable benefite, not onely in speaking contemptuously and spitefully of the Gospell, but also imputing to the holsome worde of life, what so euer mischiefe reigneth in the members of Satan, as seditious sectes, auarice, filthy life, and such like. It is therefore