A06500:169
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 (as ye see) is but short,1 and therefore a very fit example to show the force of prayer not to consist in many words, but in fervency of spirit. For great and weighty matters may be comprised in few words, if they proceed from the spirit & the unspeakable groanings of the heart,2 especially when our necessity is such as will not suffer any long prayer. Every prayer is long enough if it be fervent & proceed from a heart that understandeth the necessity of the Saints: not in such small matters as y• world counteth great and weighty, as poverty, loss of goods, and such other worldly incommodities, but when the Church is oppressed with violence and tyranny, when the name of God is profaned with wicked doctrine, or if there be any thing else that either hindereth the glory of God or the salvation of souls, These perils can not well be uttered in prayer, and therefore the prayer of the faithful is then most effectuous, when with grief of heart and affliction of spirit they see these things, and earnestly think upon them.
This Psalme (as ye see) is but short,1 and therefore a very fitte example to shew the force of prayer not to consist in many words, but in feruency of spirit. For great and weighty matters may be comprised in few words, if they proceede from the spirit & the vnspeakeable gronings of the heart,2 especially when our necessity is such as will not suffer any long prayer. Euery prayer is long enough if it be feruent & proceede from a heart that vnderstandeth the necessitie of the Sainets: not in such small matters as y• world counteth great and weightie, as pouerty, losse of goods, and such other worldly incommodities, but when the Church is oppressed with violence and tyranny, when the name of God is prophaned with wicked doctrine, or if there be any thing else that either hindreth the glory of God or the saluation of soules, These perils can not well be vttered in prayer, and therfore the prayer of the faithfull is then most effectuous, when with griefe of heart and affliction of spirite they see these things, and earnestly thinke vpon them.