A06719:148
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.
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& theyr end to be wtout honour But •o, how they are coūted amōg the chyldren of God, & theyr porciō is amonge the Sayntes. Therfore haue we erred frō y• way of trueth. ⟨image 68⟩The lyghte of ryghteousnes hathe not shyned vnto vs, & the sonne of vnderstondynge rose not vpon vs. we haue weryed our selues ī ye way of wickednes & destrucciō Tedious wayes haue we gone, but as for the waye of ye Lorde we haue not knowen it. What good hath our pryde 3done vnto vs? or what profyt hath the pompe of rytches brought vs? All these thynges are passed awaye as a shadowe. &c. These and suche other wordes, shall they that haue synned speake in hell. But ye ryghteoꝰ 4shall lyue for euermore. Theyr reward also is wt ye Lord, & theyr re membraunce with the hyghest.
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
But it is to be noted, that David doth not only name himself y• servant of god, but he doubleth it & saith, yea the servant of God in deed. As though he should say, god hath done much for me, he hath bro ken my bonds, he hath delivered me out of captivity, & set me again at liberty, therefore will I be his ser vaunt, yea & that not feignedly, but his servant in deed, doing what so ever he commandeth me, yea though it should cost me my life. So it becometh us not only to pro 1fesse our selves to be the servants of God and christen men by mouth, but also to express it in very deed, seeing that not the hearers but the ⟨image 74⟩doers of the law shall be justified be fore God.
But it is to be noted, that Dauid doth not only name hymselfe y• seruaunt of god, but he doubleth it & sayth, yea the seruaunt of God in dede. As though he should saye, god hath done moch for me, he hath bro ken my bondes, he hathe delyuered me oute of captiuite, & set me agen at liberte, therfore wyll I be his ser uaūt, yea & that not fayn•dly, but his seruauut in dede, doynge what so euer he commaundethe me, yea though it shoulde coste me my lyfe. So it becometh vs not only to pro 1fesse our selues to be the seruaūtes of God and christen men by mouth, but also to expresse it in verye dede, seyng that not the hearers but the ⟨image 74⟩doers of the law shall be iustified be fore God.
O LORD GOD be merciful to us, how many be there now a days, that call themselves the ser 1vaunts of God & gospellers, & yet are nothing less in their deeds? They crake much of faith, but they bring not forth y• fruits of faith They talk much of the gospel, but they live no part of the gospel. They read the holy scriptures, but they fashion their lives nothing thereafter. They call Christ their saviour, yet walk they nothing worthy his kindness. They think them selves the sons of light, but they exercise the works of darkness. Oh that they were God's servants in deed, fervent gospellers, earnest practisers of faith, true followers of the holy Scriptures, to conclude, both lovers and livers of Christs gospel, than well were it with ⟨image 74⟩Christs church. But alas their living is so dissolute, & their manners so wicked and ungodly, that we may well say, as S. Paul writeth: They profess that they know god, 2but they deny hi with their acts, seeing they are abominable, disobedient and unapt to all good works.
O LORDE GOD be mercyfull to vs, howe many be ther nowe a dayes, that caull themselues ye ser 1uauntes of God & gospellers, & yet are nothynge lesse in theyr dedes? They crake moch of fayth, but they brynge not forth y• fruytes of fayth They talke moch of the gospel, but they lyue no part of ye gospel. They reade the holy scriptures, but they fashon theyr lyues nothyng theraf ter. They call Christ theyr sauiour, yet walke they nothynge worthye his kyndenes. They thynke thē selues the sonnes of lyghte, but they exercise the workes of darknes. Oh that they were Goddes seruaūtes in dede, feruent gospellers, earneste practisers of fayth, true followers of the holy Scriptures, to cōclude, both louers and lyuers of Christes gospell, than wel were it with Chri ⟨image 74⟩stes chyrch. But alas theyr lyuing is so dissolute, & theyr manners so wycked and vngodly, that we may well saye, as S. Paule wrytethe: They professe that they know god,
Moreover David calleth him self here not only the true & faith full servant of God, but also the son of Gods handmaid. Who is this handmaid of God? Verily the universal congregation of Christ, 1which from the beginning of the world hath served God & believed in him, whose son every one is, that believeth in God. For he is begotten of God, the son of god by faith to that congregation, whose member he is made, & that congregation by preaching begetteth him to God, that believeth the word of god. So ⟨image 75⟩that as the congregation is a mother by begetting and winning other to the faith, so is he that believeth, & is begotten unto the faith, the son of the congregation, as s. Paul writeth to the Galatians, 2My little children, of whom I tra veil in birth again, or with whom I am again with child, until Christ be fashioned in you.
Moreouer Dauid callethe hym selfe here not only the true & fayth full seruaunte of God, but also the sonne of Gods handmayd. Who is this handmayd of God? Uerely the vniuersall congregacion of Christ, 1whiche from the begynnyng of the worlde hathe serued God & beleued in hym, whose sonne euery one is, yt beleueth in God. For he is begottē of God, the sonne of god by fayth to that congregacion, whose member he is made, & that congregacion by preachynge begetteth hym to God, that beleueth the word of god. So ⟨image 75⟩that as the congregacion is a mother by begettynge and wynnyng other to the fayth, so is he that beleueth, & is begottē vnto the fayth, the sonne of the congregacion, as s. Paule wryteth to the Galathians, 2My lytle chyldren, of whome I tra uayle in byrth agayne, or wt whom I am agayne wythe chylde, vntyll Christe be fasshyoned in you.
Also to the Corinthians, although 1ye have many masters in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers. For I begat you in Christ Jesus by the gospel. He also writing to Timothy, 2calleth him his natural son in […] faith. Again Zion signifying y• Church of Christ, saith by the Pro phet, who hath begotten me these? Al so in another place: the desolate hath 3mo children, than y• married wife.
Also to the Corinthians, althoghe 1ye haue many masters ī Christ, yet haue ye not many fathers. For I begat you in Christ Iesu by the gos pell. He also writyng to Timothe, 2calleth hym his natural sonne in 〈…〉 fayth. Agayne Syon signifyeng y• Church of Christ, sayth by the Pro phet, who hath begottē me these? Al so ī another place: the desolate hath 3mo chyldren, than y• maryed wyfe.
Thus see we, that we must both be the true servants of God, and also the sons of the handmaid of god, Christs church, if we will en ⟨image 75⟩joy the benefits, that ly bent out in Christ. And verily it is not with out a cause required of us, not only that we should be the faithful servants of god, but also the sons of his handmaid For many in times past, nether want there at this day, have boasted valiantly that they were the servants of God, yea & would seem of a fervent zeal to dye for the glory of god, yet in as much as they were not the sons also of gods handmaid, they were not the servants of god in deed, but dissemblers & Hypocrites. Of this sort were all the old Heretics, Schismatics, & false Christians in times past, which sowed dissensi on in Christs church, and divided them selves from the holy catholic church, which is the fellowship of saints, by teaching strange doctrine, & maintaining erroneous opinions contrary to the doctrine of ⟨image 76⟩the holy scripture, & the teaching of the true godly fathers. Of this sort also at this time are the An• baptists, Sacramentaries & other Fanatical & frenetic Spirits which have vain visions invented 1of their own brains, sow cockle among the good wheat, in the Lords field, bring in strange sects invent new opinions, make dissension in Christs church, allure men from the old & true christen faith, corrupt the scriptures, teach doctrine contrary to the vain of god des word, trouble the common weal of Christendom. &c. All these in as much as they have divided & cut of them selves from the church of Christ, which is the hand maid of god, pertain not unto god, nether have they any part of gods mercy though they boast & crake never so much, that they be the servants of god, yea though they give their ⟨image 76⟩bodies to be plucked asunder with 2wild horses for the glory of god For with out the church of Christ, there is no health nor salvation, but altogether death & damnation. But I would 3
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.
Thus se we, that we must both be the true seruauntes of God, and also the sonnes of the handmayd of god, Christes chyrche, yf we wyl en ⟨image 75⟩ioye the benefites, that ly bent out in Christ. And verely it is not with out a cause required of vs, not only that we shoulde be the faythful seruauntes of god, but also the sonnes of his handemayd For many in tymes past, nether want ther at this daye, haue bosted valeauntly that they were the seruauntes of God, yea & woulde seme of a feruent zele to dye for the glory of god, yet in as muche as they were not the sonnes also of gods handmayde, they were not the seruauntes of god in dede, but dissemblers & Hypocrites. Of this sorte were all the olde Heretikes, Scismatikes, & false Christiās in tymes past, which sowed dissensi on in Christes chyrche, and deuided them selues from the holy catholike chyrche, whiche is the fellowshyp of sayntes, by teachyng straunge doctrine, & mayntenynge erroneous opinions cōtrary to the doctrine of ⟨image 76⟩the holy scripture, & the teachynge of the true godly fathers. Of this sorte also at this tyme are the An• baptistes, Sacramētaries & other Phanaticall & frentyke Spirites which haue vayne visions inuēted 1of theyr owne braynes, sowe cockel among the good wheat, in the Lordes felde, brynge in straunge sectes inuente newe opinions, make dissē cion in Christes churche, allure mē from the olde & true christen fayth, corrupte the scriptures, teache doctrine contrary to the vayne of god des word, trouble the cōmon weale of Christendome. &c. All these in as much as they haue deuided & cutte of them selues from the chyrche of Christ, which is the hand mayde of god, pertayne not vnto god, nether haue they any parte of gods mercy though they boste & crake neuer so much, that they be the seruauntes of god, yea though they gyue theyr ⟨image 76⟩bodies to be plucked asunder wyth 2wild horses for ye glory of god For wt out the chyrche of Christ, ther is no health nor saluaciō, but altogyther death & damnacion. But I woulde 3haue men wyse in knowynge thys chyrche of Christe, vnlesse they erre & mayntayne an whore in steade of a spouse, an vnchast harlotte for a true wyfe, a fylthy strompette for a faythfull yokefellow, a disobedient Synagoge for a christen congregacion.
