A06719:135
Davids harp full of most delectable harmony, newly stringed and set in tune by Theodore BasilDauids harpe ful of moost delectable armony, newely strynged and set in tune by Theadore Basille
printed for Joha, 1542
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.
This song of our Minstrel David must needs be very pleasant & delectable to the hearers, seeing that he singeth all things in such a godly & goodly order, & setteth every thing in his right place. For after that he hath made mention of paying his vows unto the Lord, which is to do all things according to the commandment of God, & not after the fancy of carnal reason, nor the judgment of the wise ⟨image 60⟩worldlings; whereof is like to ensue, as we have heard before, much trouble, yea very death (for the world can not abide to be rebuked nor to have his pomp, pride, pleasures, glory, honour, hypocrisy, superstition, feigned holiness, pharisaical justice, glistering righteousness, doting invention, fleshly imaginations, good ententes. &c. to be reproved yea & condemned by y• word of God) he now declareth what a dear & precious a thing the death of Saints, that is to say, of the faithful is in the sight of the LORD, be it recounted before the world of never so great ignominy, despite, reproach and shame. And this doth he to encourage men to pay their vows unto the Lord, that is to say, to be earnest in the word of God, to seek the promotion of his glory & to walk innocently before the eyes of his divine mayest, though all the ⟨image 61⟩world, yea very hell should be wood and rise up against us. Precious, saith he, in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints.
This song of our Mynstrel Da uid must nedes be very plesaūt & delectable to the hearers, seyng yt he syngethe all thynges in suche a godly & goodly order, & setteth euery thynge in his ryght place. For after that he hath made mēcion of payenge his vowes vnto the Lord, whyche is to do all thynges accordynge to the cōmaūdemēt of God, & not after the fansy of carnall reason, nor the iugemente of the wyse ⟨image 60⟩worldlynges; wherof is lyke to ensew, as we haue heard before, much trouble, yea very deth (for ye worlde can not abyde to be rebuked nor to haue his pompe, pryde, pleasures, glory, honour, hypocrisy, supersticion, fayned holynes, pharisaical iustice, glysteryng righteousnes, dotynge inuencion, fleshly imaginacions, good ententes. &c. to be reproued yea & condēned by y• worde of God) he nowe declarethe what a dere & precious a thyng the deathe of Sayntes, that is to saye, of the faythfull is in the syght of ye LORD, be it recounted before the worlde of neuer so great ignominy, despyte, reproche and shame. And this doth he to encourage men to paye theyr vowes vnto the Lorde, that is to say, to be earnest in ye word of God, to seake the promocion of his glory & to walke innocently before ye eies of his diuine maieste, though al the ⟨image 61⟩world, yea very hell should be wood and ryse vp agaynst vs. Precious, sayth he, in the syghte of the Lorde is the death of his Sayntes.
It is to be noted, that he calleth not the death of the wicked, precious in the sight of the Lord, but y• death of Saints, yea & that not popish but Gods Saints Precious, 1saith he, in the sight of y• Lord is the death of his Saints. As for the wicked, so long as they live in this world, they live more at their hearts ease, & have all things more plenteously at their own pleasure concerning temporal matters, than the true christen men and faithful Saints of God have, in as much that as we read in divers places of the holy scriptures, the godly many times complain unto God of the prosperous estate of y• wicked, & seem almost to accuse God of unrighteousness, seeing the enemies of ⟨image 61⟩God prosper so well, and have good luck in all things, & they again which most entirely favour God's word & seek his glory, are most miserably oppressed, slandered, persecuted, 2imprisoned, & ready to be slain at all hours. For as y• Psalmograph saith: The ungodly hath the overhand, & the poor is burnt. The sinner is praised in following 3the lusts of his heart, & the wicked is blessed and made much of. My feet were almost gone, saith David, my treadings had nigh slipped For I was sore grieved at the wicked to see the ungodly in such prospe rite. For they are i no peril of death, but stand fast like a palace. They come in no misfortune like other folk, neither are they plagued like other men. And this is the cause that they are so puffed in Pride, & overwhelmed with cruelty & unrighteousness. Their eyes swell for fatness ⟨image 62⟩they do even what they list. Corrupt are they & speak blasphemies maliciously, proud & presumptuous are their words They •retch forth their mouth unto heaven, & their tong goeth through the world. Therefore fall the people unto them, & thereout such they no small ava• tage. Tush, say they, how shall God perceive it. Is their knowledge in the most highest? Lo these are the ungodly, these prosper in the world These have riches in possession. These have sons ye grow up as
To be short, ⟨image 62⟩these have no mischance, no decay no trouble, no noise, no complaining in their streets that should grieve them. Jeremiah also saith, O 1LORD thou art more righteous, than that I should dispute with thee, nevertheless let me talk with the in things reasonable. Howe happeneth it, that the way of the ungodly is so prosperous, & that it goeth so well with them, which • out any shame offend & live in wickedness? Thou plantest them, they take root, they grow, and bring forth fruit. They boast much of thee, yet dost thou not punish them.
To be shorte, ⟨image 62⟩these haue no mischaunse, no decay no trouble, no noyse, no complaynynge in theyr stretes that shoulde greue them. Ieremy also saythe, O 1LORDE thou arte more ryghteous, than that I shoulde dispute wythe the, neuerthelesse let me talke with the in thynges reasonable. Howe happeneth it, that the waye of the vngodly is so prosperous, & that it goeth so well with them, which • out ony shame offend & lyue in wickednes? Thou planteste them, they take roote, they growe, and brynge forthe fruyte. They boste moche of the, yet doste thou not ponyshe thē.
Thus see we how the ungodly like fat beasts wallow & tumble them selves in all kind of pleasures, neither want they any thing in this world, that their hearts can desire, yea they have more 1prosperity, than they can away with all, yet are the godly and Saints of ⟨image 63⟩the Lord oppressed with all misery leading a life in great calamity & wretchedness, than any creatures in the world. But yet behold the end of the wicked. For suddenly they do consume, perish & come to nought. The Psalmographe saith: the death 2of the wicked sinners is very evil. Again, The unrighteous man shall receive his plagues & punishments when he dyeth. But let us behold these things as i a pure mirror by rehearsing certain Histories. Howe triumphed the wicked king Pharaoh upon the Israelites Gods people? Howe lisle regarded he the sermons spoken, and the miracles wrought by the servants of God Moses & Aaron through the divine spirit? Howe continued he to persecute the people of God even unto 3the very hour of his death. But be hold the end. When he was most puffed up in his pride, and most ⟨image 63⟩bent to do mischief, how did God trap him in his own wiliness, & even brought that upon his own head, that he intended to bring up on other? Did not God marvellously drown him with all his wicked army, & preserve his people by that means? But what was that temporal death in comparison to the death eternal, & the most grievous & intolerable pains that he now suffereth in hell fire without mercy.
Thus se we howe the vngodlye lyke fat beastes wallowe & tomble thē selues in all kynde of pleasures, neyther wante they ony thynge in this worlde, that theyr hartes can desyre, yea they haue more prosperi 1te, than they can awaye wythe all, yet are the godly and Sayntes of ⟨image 63⟩the Lord oppressed with all misery leadynge a lyfe in great calamite & wretchednes, thā ony creatures in the world. But yet beholde ye ende of the wycked. For sodenly they do consume, perysh & come to nought. The Psalmographe sayth: ye death
Again, how did Sennacherib y• 1proud king of the Assyrians boast him self not only against the good king Hezekiah, but also y• living God, yea & blasphemed him, saying, as the most cruel & lionlike tyrant the great Turk doth now a days, that he would utterly subdue both him & his company, yea & that their God should •e no more able to deliver them, than […] broken staff of read. He leaned ⟨image 64⟩much to his own politic wit & martial valiance, thinking that inasmuch as heretofore he had sub dued all kingdoms, which he inua dead, he also should have overcome y• people of God. But God, which is the living & almighty God able in a twinkling of an eye to make frustrate & vain all the fleshly imaginations of the worldly tyrants, yea & to bring to nought all their power, sent his Angel the very same night, that all the mischief was intended against his people, which smote in the host of the Assyrians an hundred four score & five thousand men. So that 2Sennacherib brake up & departed, and was shortly after slain with sword of his own sons. An end worthy such a proud & blasphemous Tyrant. But what is this unto the infernal pains, y• be endless, which he now remediless suffereth?
Agen, how dyd Sennacherib y• 1proud king of the Assirians bost hī self not only agenst the good kyng Ezechias, but also y• lyuyng God, yea & blasphemed hym, sayng, as ye moost cruel & lyonlyke tyraunt the great Turke doth nowe a dayes, yt he woulde vtterly subdue both hī & his cōpany, yea & yt theyr God shuld •e no more able to deliuer thē, than 〈…〉 broken staffe of rede. He leaned ⟨image 64⟩
What proud cracks also did y• arrogant Tyrasite Holofernes make 1against the people of Israel, thinking that there was no kingdom so invincible, strong & fortressed, but that he with his martial puissance & feats of war was able easily to overcome. So that he toke no thought, lived all in pleasure, like a careless swine, giving him self to all kind of beastlike pleasures. But how valiantly even by one woman God did overcome him, and put all his army to flight, the History maketh mention.
What proud crakes also dyd y• ar rogant Tyrasite Holofernes make 1agaynst the people of Israel, thynkyng that there was no kyngdome so inuincible, stronge & fortressed, but that he with his martiall puissaunce & feates of warre was able easly to ouercome. So that he toke no thoughte, lyued all in pleasure, lyke a careles swyne, gyuyng hym selfe to all kynde of beastelyke pleasures. But howe valeauntly euen by one woman God dyd ouercome hym, and put all his army to flight, the Hystory maketh mencion.
What shall I speak of the two Hero des, whereof the one in the midst 1of his fury when he was most hot & fiery in seeking the death of Christ, & for his sake slaying innumerable infants, miserably dyed, bringing nothing less than his cruel & blou dy purpose to effect, so valiant & mighty is our lord god to extinguish ⟨image 65⟩and quench the tyranny of these bloudsowpers, wham it is his most godly pleasure, & to preserve those, whom he will have kept free from their crudelite & furious madness.
What shal I speke of ye two Hero des, wherof the one in the myddes 1of his fury whē he was moost whot & fyry in sekyng the deth of Christ, & for his sake sleynge innumerable infantes, miserably dyed, bringing nothing lesse than his cruell & blou dy purpose to effecte, so valeaunt & myghty is our lord god to extiguish ⟨image 65⟩and quenche the tyrannye of these bloudsowpers, whā it is his moost godly pleasure, & to preserue those, whome he wyll haue kept fre from theyr crudelite & furious madnes.
The other Herod even in the midst of his pomp, honour & glory, 1being clad in his kingly apparel, & set Luciferlike on his judgement seat, after that he had most Tyrauntelyke persecuted certain of Christs church, yea & slain with sword James the brother of John, was smote of the Angel of the Lord, because he gave not the glory to god. So that he was eaten up of worms. But what need I rehearse so many Histories out of the divine letters, seeing that this one, which I shall now recite, may seem abundantly to satisfy for to show, how precious in the sight of the Lord, the death of his saints is, seem their life in this world never so ⟨image 65⟩miserable, wretched, pitiful, poor, needy, beggarly, & full of all trouble, so row, dolour & calamity. Again, how vile & detestable the death of the wicked is in the Lords sight, be their life here never so pompous, gallant, easy, voluptuous, joyful, quiet, care less & popelyke.
The other Herode euē in ye middes of his pompe, honoure & glory, 1beynge clad in his kyngly apparel, & set Luciferlike on his iudgement seate, after that he had moost Tyrauntelyke persecuted certayne of Christes chyrch, yea & slayne withe swerd Iames the brother of Iohn̄, was smote of the Aūgel of ye Lord, because he gaue not ye glory to god. So that he was eaten vp of wormes. But what nede I rehearse so many Histories oute of the diuine letters, seyng that this one, whiche I shal nowe recite, maye seme abū dantly to satisfy for to shewe, howe precious in the syght of the Lorde, the deathe of his saynctes is, seme theyr lyfe in this world neuer so mi ⟨image 65⟩serable, wretched, pitieful, poore, ne dy, beggerly, & full of all trouble, so row, dolour & camalite. Agen, how vile & detestable the death of ye wyc ked is in the Lordes syght, be theyr lyfe here neuer so pompous, galāt, easy, volupteous, ioyful, quiet, care les & popelyke.
S. Luke in his Gospel declareth, 1how there was a certain rich man, which was apparelled with purr ple & costly linen, & fared deliciously every day. In these words the Evangelist showeth manifestly how this rich man lived all in pleasure, & had all things according to his hearts desire. But behold y• end. He was cruel, merciless & unpiteful to the poor. Therefore when he dyed, the Scripture saith, that he was carried down into hell, where he was tormented with such grievous flames of fire, & intolerable burnings, that he desired Abraham ⟨image 66⟩to send down Lazarus unto him, that he might dip the tip of his finger in the water, & cool his tongue, for he was grievously tor mented in that flame. But Abraham said, remember son, that thou haste received thy pleasures in thy life, & contrary wise Lazarus received pains and troubles. Therefore is he now comforted, and thou art tor mented.
S. Luke in his Gospell declareth, 1how there was a certen ritche man, which was apparelled wt pur ple & costely lynnen, & fared deliciouslye euery daye. In these wordes the Euangelist sheweth manifestly howe this rytche man lyued all in plesure, & had al thinges according to his hartes desyre. But beholde y• ende. He was cruell, merciles & vnpiteful to the poore. Therfore whē he dyed, the Scripture sayth, that he was caried downe ito hel, where he was tormented wyth suche greuous flames of fyre, & intollerable burnynges, that he desyred Abraham ⟨image 66⟩to send downe Lazarus vnto hym, that he myght dyp the typpe of hys fynger in the water, & coole his tonge, for he was greuously tor mented in that flame. But Abrahā sayd, remember sonne, that yu haste receaued thy pleasures in thy lyfe, & cōtrary wyse Lazarus receaued paynes and troubles. Therfore is he nowe cōforted, and thou arte tor mented.
As for y• poor man, his life was so wretched beggarly & miserable, y• no man would scarcely wonchesafe once to cast their eye & to look toward him, he was such an abject so vile, so rent, so torn, so Lazarlike & full of grievous sores. Only the dog ges licked his sores. But behold the end. This poor man dyed, & was carried of the Angels into Abraham's bosom.
As for y• poore man, his lyfe was so wretched beggerly & miserable, y• no man woulde scasely wonchesafe once to cast theyr eye & to looke towarde hym, he was such an abiecte so vile, so rēt, so torne, so Lazarlyke & ful of greuous sores. Only ye dog ges lycked his sores. But beholde ye ende. This poore man dyed, & was caried of the Aūgels into Abrahās bosome.
This History declareth plainly, how precious the death of the ⟨image 66⟩Saints, that is, of the faithful is in the sight of the Lord, appear their life never so miserable before the dainty worldlings. Again, how vile & detestable the death of the wicked is in Gods sight, have they spent their life in never so much joy, pleasure & felicity, & were they recounted before the world never so blessed, happy & fortunate, and brought to the ground with never 1so great pomp and solemnity. And here see we that to be true, which is written, Woe be to you rich men, which have your• consolation. Woe be to you that are filled, for ye shall hunger. Woe be to you that laugh now, for ye shall lament and weep Woe be to you, when all men shall praise you, for according to these things did their fathers to the false Prophets. But blessed are ye that hunger now, for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye y• weep now, for ⟨image 67⟩ye shall laugh. The dainty worldlings 2receive pain after this life, but the faithful in the Lord, which be oppressed with misery & troubled for Gods trueth, shall receive joy & glory. So that as David saith, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints. Hereto agreeth the saying of S. John in his revelation. Blessed are the 3dead, which dye in the Lord. The death of Saints must needs be precious in the sight of the Lord, & they which dye in the Lord must needs be blessed, seeing that both y• glory of God is set forth by their death, & the Saints them selves set in a perpetual joy & everlasting 4quietness without any more care or trouble. For after that they have offered up this their life unto god, the souls of the righteous are straight ways in the hand of God, and the pain of death shall not touch them. ⟨image 67⟩
They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, & their Lord shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in him, shall understand the trueth, & such as be faithful will agree unto him in love, for his ⟨image 68⟩chosen shall have gifts and peace. But the ungodly shall be punished according to their own imaginations, for they have despised the righteous, and forsaken the Lord.
They shall iudge the nacions, and haue dominion ouer the people, & theyr Lord shall reygne for euer. They yt putte theyr trust in him, shal vnderstand the trueth, & suche as be faythefull wyll agre vnto hym in loue, for his ⟨image 68⟩chosen shall haue gyftes and peace. But the vngodly shall be punyshed accordyng to theyr owne imaginacions, for they haue despised ye righ teous, and forsaken the Lorde.
Moreover the righteous shall stand in great steadfastness against 1such, as have dealt extremely with them, & taken away their labours, When they see it, they shall be vexed with horrible fear, & shall wonder at the hastiness of their sudden health groaning for very distress of mind & shall say within them selves, having inward sorrow & mourning for very anguish of mind: These are they, whom we sometime had in derision, & jested upon. We fools thought their lives very madness, 2& their end to be without honour But •o, how they are counted among the children of God, & their portion is among the Saints. Therefore have we erred from y• way of trueth. ⟨image 68⟩The light of righteousness hath not shined unto us, & the sun of understanding rose not upon us. we have wearied our selves in the way of wickedness & destruction Tedious ways have we gone, but as for the way of the Lord we have not known it. What good hath our pride 3done unto us? or what profit hath the pomp of riches brought us? All these things are passed away as a shadow. &c. These and such other words, shall they that have sinned speak in hell. But the righteous 4shall live for evermore. Their reward also is with the Lord, & their remembrance with the highest.
Moreouer the ryghteous shall stonde in great stedfastnes agaynst 1suche, as haue dealte extremely wt them, & taken away theyr labours, Whan they se it, they shall be vexed with horrible feare, & shall wonder at the hastines of theyr soden helth gronyng for very distresse of mynd & shall saye within them selues, hauyng inward sorowe & mournyng for very anguyshe of mynde: These are they, whome we sometyme had in derision, & iested vpon. We fooles thought theyr lyues very madnes, 2
Therefore shall they receive a glory ous kingdom, and a beautiful crown of the Lords hand. For with his right hand shall he cover them, & with his own arm shall he de fende them. &c.
Therfore shall they receaue a glori ous kyngedome, and a beautyfull crowne of the Lordes hand. For wt his ryght hande shall he couer thē, & withe his owne arme shall he de fende them. &c.
Thus see we how dear & precious ⟨image 69⟩in the sight of the Lord the death of his Saints. S. Paul having 1experience of this thing, when he was yet alive, said on this man ner: I desire to be dissolved & loosened out of this mortal body, & to be with Christ. Also king David: Woe is me, that I tarry in this world 2so long.
Thus se we how dere & precious ⟨image 69⟩in the syght of the Lorde the death of his Saynctesis. S. Paule hauyng 1experience of this thing, whē he was yet alyue, sayd on this man ner: I desyre to be dissolued & losoned oute of this mortall bodye, & to be with Christ. Also kynge Dauid: Wo is me, that I tary ī this world 2so longe.
It is to be noted, that he calleth not the death of the wycked, precious in the syght of the Lord, but y• death of Saynctes, yea & that not popysh but Gods Sayntes Precious, 1sayth he, in the sight of y• Lord is the deth of his Sayntes. As for the wicked, so longe as they lyue in this world, they lyue more at theyr hartes ease, & haue all thiges more plenteously at theyr owne pleasure concernyng tēporall matters, thā the true christen men and faythful Sayntes of God haue, in as much that as we read in diuers places of the holye scriptures, the godly many tymes complayne vnto God of the prosperous estate of y• wycked, & seme almoost to accuse God of vn righteousnes, seyng the enemies of ⟨image 61⟩God prosper so wel, and haue good lucke in all thynges, & they agayne which moost intierly fauour Goddes word & seke his glory, are moost miserably oppressed, slaūdered, persecuted, 2empresonned, & redye to be slayne at all houres. For as y• Psalmograph sayth: The vngodly hath the ouerhande, & the poore is brēt. The siner is praysed in followyng 3the lustes of his harte, & the wicked is blyssed and made muche of. My feete were almoost gone, sayth Dauid, my treadynges had nygh slypt For I was sore greaued at the wic ked to se the vngodly in such prospe rite. For they are i no parel of deth, but stonde fast lyke a palace. They come in no misfortune lyke other folke, nother are they plaged lyke other men. And this is the cause yt they are so puffed in Pryde, & ouerwhelmed wyth cruelte & vnrighteousnes. Theyr eyes swel for fatnes ⟨image 62⟩they do euen what they lyste. Corrupte are they & speake blasphemies maliciously, proud & presumpteous are theyr wordes They •retch forth theyr mouthe vnto heauen, & theyr tong goeth thorowe ye world. Therfore fall ye people vnto them, & therout suche they no small aua• tage. Tush, say they, how shal God perceaue it. Is theyr knowledge in the moost hyghest? Lo these are the vngodly, these prosper in the world These haue rytches in possession. These haue sonnes ye growe vp as 4yonge plantes. These haue mynyō & trymme doughters, garnysshed round about euen lyke vnto a gorgious tēple. These haue theyr garners full & plenteous wyth all mā ner of stoar. These haue shepe that bryng forth thousandes & hondred thousandes in theyr pastures and feldes. These haue fatte oxen, y• are stronge to laboure.
This Hystory declareth playnely, howe precious the deathe of the ⟨image 66⟩Saynctes, that is, of the faythfull is in the syght of the Lord, appeare theyr lyfe neuer so miserable before the deynty worldlynges. Agayne, howe vile & detestable the death of the wicked is in Gods syght, haue they spēt theyr lyfe ī neuer so much ioye, pleasure & felicite, & were they recounted before the worlde neuer so blyssed, happye & fortunate, and brought to the ground with neuer 1so great pompe and solemnite. And here se we that to be true, whiche is written, Wo be to you rytche men, which haue your• consolacion. Wo be to you that are fylled, for ye shall honger. Wo be to you that laughe nowe, for ye shall lament and wepe Wo be to you, whan all menne shall prayse you, for accordynge to these thynges dyd theyr fathers to the false Prophetes. But blyssed are ye that honger now, for ye shall be fylled. Blyssed are ye y• wepe now, for ⟨image 67⟩ye shall laugh. The deynte worldeliges 2receaue payne after this life, but the faythful in ye Lorde, which be oppressed wt miserye & troubled for Gods trueth, shall receaue ioye & glory. So that as Dauid sayth, Precious in the syght of the Lorde is the death of his Sayntes. Hereto agreeth the sayenge of S. Iohn̄ in his reuelacion. Blyssed are the 3dead, whiche dye in the Lorde. The death of Saynctes muste nedes be precious in the syght of the Lorde, & they which dye in the Lorde must nedes be blyssed, seyng that bothe y• glory of God is sette forth by theyr death, & the Saynctes them selues set in a perpetual ioye & euerlastig 4quietnes without ony more care or trouble. For after yt they haue offered vp this theyr lyfe vnto god, the soules of the righteous are streight wayes in the hand of God, and the payne of deth shall not towche thē. ⟨image 67⟩In the syght of the vnwyse they ap 5peare to dye, & theyr ende is taken for very destruccion. The waye of y• righteous is iudged to be vtter destruccion, but they are in reste. And thogh they suffer payne before mē, yet is theyr hope full of immortalite. They are ponysshed but in fewe thynges, neuertheles in many thin ges shall they be wel rewarded. For God proueth them, & lyndeth them mete for himselfe, yea as golde in ye fornace doth he trye them, & receaueth them as a burnte offerynge, & whan the tyme commeth, they shall be looked vpon. They ryghteous shall shyne as the sparkes, that run 6thorowe the rede bushe.
