1Therefore should we take instruction out of this Psalm, not to despise the word of God, but gladly to hear, and learn the same, to love it, and to make much of it, & to resort unto the little flock, where we may have it. And again on the other side, to fly and eschew those that do blaspheme and persecute it. For where this blessed light doth not shine, there is neither prosperity nor health, neither strength, nor comfort, either in body or soul, but utter disquietness, terror and despair, specially when trouble, distress, and painful death is at hand. How be it the ungodly (as the prophet sayeth) have never rest,2 whether they be in wealth or woe. For if they be in prosperity, than are they presumptuous, proud, and high minded, forget our LORD god utterly, boast, & crake only of their own power, riches, wisdom, &c. And take thought beside, how ⟨image 4⟩they may maintain and increase the same, and how they may persecute and oppress other men that lye in their ways. But if the leaf turn about with them, as doubtless it must needs do at the last: (For that sweet virgin Mary is a very sure prophetess,3 which yet hath not failed in her song) then are they of all the most miserable & careful lest people, which immediately fall to despair and mistrust. What aileth them? They know not where nor how they shall seek comfort, seeing they have not the word of God, which only teacheth the right way how to be patient, and to have a good hope, even in adversity. Roma .xv. This thing ought to warn us & move us, that we esteem nothing more excellent nor worthy upon earth, than this benefit,4 namely to have that dear blessed word, and that we can be in a place, where it may be freely preached, and professed openly. A Christen man therefore that belongeth unto a church, wherein the word of god is taught, as oft as he goeth in, should think upon this Psalm, & out of a joyful heart with the prophet to give God thanks for his unoutspeakable grace, that he hath set him (as his own sheep) in a pleasant green meadow, where there is plenty of good grass and fresh water. That is, that ⟨image 5⟩he may be in a place where he may hear & learn the word of God, & conceive rich comfort thereout, both in body, and soul.
1Therfore shulde we take instruccion out of thys Psalme, not to despyse ye worde of God, but gladlye to heare, and learne the same, to loue it, and to make muche of it, & to resorte vnto ye lytle flock, where we maye haue it. And agayne on ye other syde, to flye and eschue those that do blaspheme and persecute it. For where thys blessed lyght doth not shyne, there is nother prosperite nor health, nother strength, nor comforte, eyther in body or soule, but vtter dysquietnesse, terroure and dispayre, specially whan trouble, dystresse, and paynfull death is at hande. How be it the vngodly (as ye prophete sayeth) haue neuer rest,2 whether they be in welth or wo. For yf they be in prosperite, thā are they presumptuous, proude, and hyghe mynded, forget oure LORDE god vtterly, boaste, & crake onely of theyr owne power, ryches, wysdome, &c. And take thought besyde, how ⟨image 4⟩they maye maynteyn and increace the same, and how they may persecute and oppresse other men that lye in theyr wayes. But yf the leafe turne aboute with thē, as doutlesse it must nedes do at the last: (For that swete virgin Marye is a very sure prophetisse,3 which yet hath not fayled in hyr songe) thē are they of all the moost miserable & careful lest people, which immediatly fall to despayre and mistrust. What ayleth them? They knowe not where nor how they shall seke comforte, seynge they haue not ye worde of God, which onely teacheth ye ryght waye how to be pacient, and to haue a good hope, euen in aduersite. Roma .xv. Thys thynge ought to warn vs & moue vs, that we esteme nothynge more excellent nor worthye vpon earth, than thys benefyte,4 namely to haue yt deare blessed worde, and that we can be in a place, where it may be frelye preached, and professed openlye. A Christen mā therfore yt belongeth vnto a church, wherein the worde of god is taught, as oft as he goeth in, shuld thynke vpon thys Psalme, & out of a ioyfull harte wyth the prophete to geue God thākes for hys vnoutspeakable grace, that he hath set hym (as hys owne shepe) in a pleasaunt grene medowe, where ther is plentye of good grasse and fresh water. That is, that ⟨image 5⟩he maye be in a place where he maye heare & learne the worde of God, & conceaue ryche comforte therout, both in bodye, and soule.
- 1The doctrine to be taken of this psalm.The doctryne to be taken of this psalm.
- 2Isaiah. 57.Esaye. 57.
- 3Deposuit potentes de sede, & divites dimisit inanes.Deposuit potētes de sede, & diuites dimisit inanes.
- 4An ensample for us.An ensample for vs.
