A06719:143
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.
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
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.
Therefore how so ever the wicked worldlings recount the death of the Saints, whither it chanceth to them by famine, hunger, sword water, fire halter or any otherwise undoubtedly it is precious in the sight of the Lord, appear it before the world of never so great ignominy, reproach, infamy, shame, and rebuke. Happy therefore is he, that dyeth this death, how so ever it chanceth unto him. Blessed is the Cross, which bringeth this glory. But let us see how it cometh to pass, that the death of Saints is so precious ⟨image 69⟩in the sight of the Lord. It followeth.
Therfore howe so euer the wycked worldlynges recount the death of the Sayntes, whyther it chaun ceth to thē by famyn, hōger, swerde water, fyre halter or ony otherwise vndoubtedlye it is precious in the sight of the Lord, appeare it before the world of neuer so great ignomi ny, reproche, infamy, shame, and re buke. Happy therfore is he, that dy eth this death, how so euer it chaū seth vnto hym. Blyssed is ye Crosse, which bryngeth this glory. But let vs se how it commeth to passe, that the deth of Sayntes is so precious ⟨image 69⟩in the syght of the Lorde. It followeth.
O Lord I am thy servant / yea thy servant in deed / & the son of thy handmaid thou hast broken my bond / des.
O Lord I am thy seruāt / yea thy seruaunt ī dede / & the son of thy handmayde thou hast broken my bon / des.
Because no man, be he never so holy, good and perfect, should think that through his own holiness, goodness & perfection, he had deserved that his death should be dear, precious, and of great valour in the Lords sight, or else because that he had suffered many great tor merits for the glory of God, yea & perchance very death, & so by that means recount himself worthy by his own deserts of the life eternal: our Minstrel David in this verse of his song, not unto the ⟨image 70⟩derogation of the saints honour, which are not to be defrauded of their praise, but unto the promotion & setting forth of Gods glory, singeth here, how it cometh to pass, that the death of Saints, that is, of the faithful, is so precious i the sight of the Lord. The cause is this, saith he, because God hath broken their bonds. For what is man, that he may appear righteous 1in the sight of God, before whom a child of one day old is not pure, nor the stars in the Element, nor nor yet the Angels in heaven. 2There is no man good, but God alone. All our righteousnesses are as a clothe polluted with menstrue. Who is able to say, my hart is pure & I am clean without sin? The most righteous man in the world may pray on this manner with David, Lord enter not into judge meant with thy servant, for none ⟨image 70⟩y• liveth, shall be found righteous in 3thy sight. Is it any marvel, when of our selves we are not able to think a good thought, much less to work any good deed by our own power, before we be regenerate, borne a new, and made other men by Christs Spirit.
BEcause no man, be he neuer so holy, good and perfecte, should thyncke that thorowe his owne holynes, goodnes & perfeccion, he had deserued that his deathe shoulde be dere, precious, and of great valour in the Lordes syght, or els because that he had suffred many great tor mentes for the glorye of God, yea & perchaunse very death, & so by that meanes recounte hymselfe worthy by hys owne desertes of the lyfe eternall: oure Mynstrell Dauid in this verse of his songe, not vnto the
And as touching the affliction and trouble, that we suffer in this world, seem it to the flesh never so great, painful and intolerable, yet can it not be compared to the glory, that shall be showed to us, as S. Paul saith. Notwithstanding if 1we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with Christ, yea & be glorify ed with him, not that we of our selves have deserved so great glory, but because God hath so promised which can not lye, but is faithful in all his words, & leaveth no good deed unrewarded, that is done in Christ, yea and that for his promise ⟨image 71⟩sake through his unmeasurable mercy 2poured forth plenteously in the most precious blood of Christ Jesus. Now seeing ye not we only but also 3all ye ever we do of our selves is un pure & unclean in the sight of god, until both we & all our deeds be purified by the divine spirit, therefore before we can bring forth any thing that may be approved and accepted before God, we must be de lyuered from that most miserable 4captivity, whereunto we ware caste of Satan through the sin of Adam. Our bonds must be broken, we must be set at liberty from the power of Satan, sin, death, hell. &c. This thing once done, than what 5so ever we do in Christ and in our new regeneration, must needs be allowed before God, & received as an acceptable Sacrifice. Yea whither we live or dye, both our life & our death is right dear and precious ⟨image 71⟩in y• sight of the Lord. But let us return unto our song.
And as towchyng the affliccion and trouble, that we suffer in this worlde, seme it to the flesh neuer so greate, paynefull and intollerable, yet can it not be compared to ye glo ry, that shalbe shewed to vs, as S. Paule sayth. Notwitstandynge yf
Although it be true, & nothing more true, that God of his own mere 1mercy & free goodness & undeserved benignity saved us when we ware so utterly lost, that by no means we could seek any part of our own salvation, nor recover by our own strength & power any thing at all that we before had lost in Adam, so that both our creation, election, redemption, salvation, justification, & glorification cometh only of him 2through his most entirely beloved Son, our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. Yet do these his benefits only belong unto them, that are his faithful servants, & the sons of his handmaid, as David saith here: O Lord because I am thy ser vaunt, yea thy servant in deed, & the son of thy handmaid, thou hast broken my bonds. We see here ⟨image 72⟩that David confesseth, that God 3brake his bonds, but he addeth also, that he therefore is his servant, yea his unfeigned servant & y• son of his handmaid. Whereby we may easily learn that the merciful been fites of God the father, which lie poured out in Christs blood, pertain not unto all persons universally, but only unto those, that are his servants, yea & that not feigned, but true, hearty, loving and faithful, & the sons of his hand maid. God hath performed the oath, saith y• good priest Zechariah father to S. John baptist, which he sware 4unto Abraham our father, to give us, that we being without fear & delivered from the power of our enemies, should serve him with holiness & righteousness before him all the days of our life. We are delivered saith this good priest, from the power of our enemies not y• we should ⟨image 72⟩live wickedly & ungodly, but that we should serve our LORD God, not in our own fleshly imaginations & blind good ententes, but in holiness & righteousness, yea & that not a day or two, but all the days of our life. God hath not called us, saith S. Paul, unto uncleanness,
Paul & the other Apostles in all their Epistles call them selves the servants of God, because unto the uttermost of their power they ever fulfilled those thin ⟨image 73⟩ges that were enjoined them of god. For it becometh a servant to fulfil his masters commandment, & not to work after his own fancy, so may he be bold to appear in his masters sight, when so ever he be called, & to ask that which his master hath promised him. In like man ner if we will be counted & so proved the servants of God unfeignedly, we must earnestly consider every man according to his call lynge, what God hath commanded us in his holy law, and that we must labour unto the uttermost of our power for to fulfil, or else we are no true servants of God. For by no means may we leave the will of God unfilled, & practise things of our own imagination. If any 1man loveth me, saith Christ, he will keep my word & my father shall love him, & we will come unto him and dwell with him. He that hath my ⟨image 73⟩commandments & keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. For not every 2one that saith unto me, Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of he uē, but he that doth the will of my father, which is in heaven.
Paule & the other Apostles ī al theyr Epistles call thē selues the seruauntes of God, bycause vnto the vttermoost of theyr power they euer fulfylled those thī ⟨image 73⟩ges that were enioyned thē of god. For it becommeth a seruaūt to fulfyll his masters cōmaundemente, & not to worke after his owne fansy, so maye he be bolde to appere in his masters syghte, whan so euer he be called, & to aske that which his master hath promised him. In lyke mā ner yf we wyll be counted & so proued the seruauntes of God vnfaynedlye, we muste earnestelye consider euery mā accordynge to his cal lynge, what God hathe commaunded vs in his holy law, and that we must laboure vnto the vttermoost of our power for to fulfyl, or els we are no true seruaūtes of God. For by no meanes may we leaue ye wyll of God vnfylled, & practise thynges of oure owne imaginacion. If ony
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.
Although it be true, & nothynge more true, yt God of his owne mere 1mercy & fre goodnes & vndeserued benignite saued vs whan we ware so vtterly loste, that by no meanes we could seke ony parte of our own saluacion, nor recouer by our owne strength & power ony thynge at all that we before had lost in Adam, so that both oure creācion, eleccion, re demcion, saluacion, iustificacion, & glorificacion commeth only of hym 2thorow his moost entierly beloued sonne, our Lord & Sauiour Iesus Christe. Yet do these his benefites only belonge vnto thē, that are his faythfull seruauntes, & the sonnes of his handemayd, as Dauid sayth here: O Lord because I am thy ser uaunte, yea thy seruaunt in dede, & the sonne of thy handmayde, thou hast broken my bondes. We se here ⟨image 72⟩that Dauid confessethe, that God 3brake his bondes, but he addeth also, that he therfore is his seruaunt, yea his vnfayned seruaūte & y• sōne of his handmayd. Wherby we maye easly learne that the merciful bene fites of God the father, which lyghe poured out in Christes bloude, pertayne not vnto all persons vniuersallye, but only vnto those, that are his seruauntes, yea & that not fayned, but true, hartye, louynge and faythful, & the sonnes of his hande mayd. God hath performed ye othe, sayth y• good preste Zachary father to S. Iohn̄ baptist, which he sware 4vnto Abraham our father, to gyue vs, that we beyng without feare & delyuered frō the power of our enemies, shoulde serue hym wt holynes & ryghteousnesse before hym all the dayes of our lyfe. We are delyuered sayth this good preste, from the power of our enemiesnot y• we should ⟨image 72⟩lyue wickedly & vngodly, but that we shoulde serue oure LORDE God, not in our owne fleshly ymaginacions & blynde good ententes, but in holynes & righteousnes, yea & that not a daye or two, but al the dayes of our lyfe. God hath not called vs, saythe S. Paule, vnto vnclennes, 5but vnto sanctificacion. God hathe blyssed you, saythe the scripture, by his sonne Iesus, that euery one of you shoulde turne from his wicked nes. God hath broken our bondes, that we shoulde be his faythfull ser uauntes & the sonnes of his hande mayd, as Dauid sayth. Now what 6is it to be the seruaunt of God? Ue rely to do those thynges that we be commaunded of God. In considera cion wherof S.
