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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.
Imprinted 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
¶A Meditation upon the first Psalm of David.¶A Meditation vpon the first Psalme of Dauid.
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.
12 Now then poor creature, abused by thy self, and mislead by others, hearken at the last what the Lord will teach thee, Blessed is that man which taketh pleasure in the Lords law, and which meditateth thereof daily and nightly: what say I, Thy law Lord? why, that is it which astonisheth me, which condemneth me, which killeth me, as ⟨image 10⟩wherein there is never a commandment which carieth not my death sentence withal. For, how many creatures have I set in thy place? oh gold and silver, thou hast occupied a great part of my heart and of mine hope: ye honours and worldly pleasures, have been the god which I have adored: oh abused heart, thou hast been the altar whereon have been set up so many idols as thou hast passionate affections, whereunto thou hast thralled thy self. The whole course of my inordinate life hath been a continual dishonour of thy precious name. Howe many times have I sworn untruly and been disloyal? Who can reckon the leasings which make me faulty even before my neighbours? When have I ceased from mine own works to do thine? Thy ⟨image 11⟩word (Lord) what deaf ear have I given it, and how have I practised it? Holy Baptism wherewith thou hast vouchsafed to honour me, hath it not been a thousand times by me dishonoured, polluted, and villainously abused? O how unworthily have I presented my self to thy holy board! How oft have I lied unto thee! And can I boast of any obedience towards them where I owe it, since I have so little feared to disobey thee? If in thy sight, O just Judge, he be a murderer which saith to his brother Racha, if he be an adulterer which castes a look at his brothers wife with a lusting eye, then how can I cxempt my self from either of these crimes? And yet nevertheless according to thy most just law, there is no atonement for blood among men: how ⟨image 11⟩then shall I compound for so many murders towards thee, O thou judge of the very thoughts? If lust alone without any further act do make me an adulterer, and if no adulterer have any part in the kingdom of heaven, poor creature that thou art, what shall become of thee?