Christian meditations upon eight Psalms of the prophet David. Made and newly set forthChristian meditations vpon eight Psalmes of the prophet Dauid. Made and newly set forth
Christian meditations upon eight Psalms of the prophet David. Made and newly set forth by Theodore Beza. Translated out of French, for the common benefit, into the vulgar tongue by I.S.Christian meditations vpon eight Psalmes of the prophet Dauid. Made and newly set forth by Theodore Beza. Translated out of French, for the common benefite, into the vulgare tongue by I.S.
Theodore Beza 1519–1605Imprinted at London : In Bacon house, by Christopher Barker, printer to the Queens most excellent Majesty, 1582Imprinted at London : In Bacon house, by Christopher Barker, printer to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie, 1582
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.
6 This encouraged me, my God, to stretch forth mine hands to thee: this I say,1 strengthened my poor conscience to address it self to thee, yea with more burning desire, then ever the most parched ground gaped for the moisture of thy rain.
6 This incouraged me, my God, to stretche foorth myne handes to thee: this I say,1 strengthened my poore conscience to addresse it selfe to thee, yea with more burning desire, then euer the most parched ground gaped for the moysture of thy rayne.
17 Hear me speedily, O Lord, for my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, else I shall be like unto them that go down into the pit7 Heare me speedily, O Lorde, for my spirite fayleth: hide not thy face from me, else I shall be like vnto them that goe downe into the pit
7 But what is to be done? Even forthwith haste thee, answer me O eternal God,1 for I can endure no longer: Behold me dead, lying in the dust of the grave, unless thou show forth that cheerful eye which with one only look can revive the dead: without the sound of thy most gentle voice, I am cast away: make it then to sound and sound again in mine ears, & in mine heart, for ⟨image 59⟩I am of the number of those to whom thou hast bound thy self, no whit, alas, for any merit of mine, but thine only free mercy. I am, I say, one of those by thy grace, to wit, of those which hope for that which thou hast promised, & given them grace to believe: without this I wot not where to become, nor which way to turn me. And therefore, O high God, I prepare my self to thee, that thou mightest teach me which way to hold:
thou seest how mine enemies hem me in: deliver me, O eternal, who alone canst and wilt do it, for so much as I have no refuge but under thy covert. Alas, I weened with my self to have seen many trim starting holes: & again I am tempted to assay infinite means. But, God forbid, I should herein follow that which
⟨image 59⟩
this blind & froward nature would suggest. Hence from me, thou unwise wit, foolish wisdom, unreasonable reason, and all the passions which can do nought but carry me headlong on mine own head. It is thou, O Lord, that I will hold, & hold fast for my God: consequently,
nothing will I will, save that thou willest. And because I can neither understand this will, nor take pleasure to follow it when I have understood it, teach it me, O Lord, and lead me in it, not alone to know it, but also to practise it, Let thy good spirit be my loads man in the right way,
and not that tempting spirit, nor yet flesh and blood.
7 But what is to be done? Euen forthwith haste thee, answere me O eternal God,1 for I cā endure no longer: Beholde me dead, lying in the dust of the graue, vnlesse thou shew forth that cheerefull eye which with one onely looke can reuiue the dead: without the sound of thy most gentle voyce, I am cast away: make it then to sounde and sound agayne in mine eares, & in mine heart, for ⟨image 59⟩I am of ye number of those to whō thou hast bound thy selfe, no whit, alas, for any merit of mine, but thine only free mercy. I am, I say, one of those by thy grace, to wit, of those which hope for yt which thou hast promised, & giuen them grace to beleeue: without this I wot not where to become, nor which way to turne me. And therefore, O high God, I prepare my selfe to thee, that thou mightest teache me which way to holde:2 thou seest howe mine enemies hemme me in: deliuer me, O eternall, who alone canst and wilt do it, for so much as I haue no refuge but vnder thy couert. Alas, I weened with my selfe to haue seene many trim starting holes: & agayne I am tempted to assay infinite meanes. But, God forbid, I shoulde herein followe that which ⟨image 59⟩this blind & froward nature would suggest. Hence from mee, thou vnwise wit, foolish wisedome, vnreasonable reason, and all ye passions which can doe nought but cary me headlong on mine owne heade. It is thou, O Lord, that I will hold, & hold fast for my God: consequently,3 nothing will I will, saue that thou willest. And because I can neither vnderstand this will, nor take pleasure to followe it when I haue vnderstood it, teach it me, O Lord, and leade me in it, not alone to knowe it, but also to practise it, Let thy good spirit be my loads man in the right way,4 and not that tempting spirit, nor yet flesh and blood.
18 Let me hear thy loving kindness in the morning, for in thee is my trust: show me the way, yt I should walk in, for I lift up my soul unto thee.8 Let mee heare thy louing kindnes in the morning, for in thee is my trust: shewe me the way, yt I should walke in, for I lift vp my soule vnto thee.
29 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: for I hid me with thee.9 Deliuer me, O Lord, from mine enemies: for I hid mee with thee.
310 Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God: let thy good Spirit lead me unto the land of righteousness.10 Teache mee to do thy wil, for thou art my God: let thy good Spirit lead me vnto the land of righteousnesse.
411 Quicken me, O Lord for thy Names take, & for thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.11 Quicken me, O Lord for thy Names take, & for thy righteousnes bring my soule out of trouble.
11 Up now then my poor spirit hitherunto desolate: comfort thy self, for the eternal will draw comfort forth of him self to revive ⟨image 60⟩she, because it hath pleased him that his name should be called upon in thee, and according to his infinite bounty will deliver thee out of all anguishes.
11 Vp nowe then my poore spirit hitherunto desolate: comfort thy selfe, for the eternall will drawe comfort forth of him selfe to reuiue ⟨image 60⟩shee, because it hath pleased him that his name should be called vpon in thee, and according to his infinite bounty will deliuer thee out of all anguishes.
112 Doeth Satan amaze thee? he hath vanquished him for thee. Doth the corruption of thy nature astonish thee? the son of God making him self man hath fully sanctified it for thee. Do thy sins affright thee which be fruits of this corruption? He hath borne them all upon the tree, and hath paid for thy discharge: which more is, his righteousness is thine, sith he himself is thine. Art thou afraid of men, sith God is for thee? Doth death affray thee? it is vanquished and turned into an entry of life. Behold then all thine enemies scattered, behold quite under foot, all such as ⟨image 60⟩afflicted thee within and without, because the Lord alloweth thee for one of his servants and household. Amen.
112 Doeth Sathan amase thee? hee hath vanquished him for thee. Doth the corruption of thy nature astonish thee? the sonne of God making him selfe man hath fully sanctified it for thee. Doe thy sinnes affright thee which be fruits of this corruption? He hath borne them all vpon the tree, and hath payd for thy discharge: which more is, his righteousnesse is thine, sith he himselfe is thine. Art thou afrayde of men, sith God is for thee? Doth death affray thee? it is vanquished and turned into an entry of life. Beholde then all thine enemies scattered, behold quite vnder foote, all such as ⟨image 60⟩afflicted thee within and without, because the Lorde alloweth thee for one of his seruants and houshold. Amen.
112 And for thy mercy stay mine enemies, & destroy all them that oppress my soul: for I am thy servant.12 And for thy mercy stay mine enemies, & destroy all them that oppresse my soule: for I am thy seruant.
