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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.
33 In mean while, O Lord my God, shall I be idle, and find leisure to do nothing, but only to occupy my thoughts in contemplation? Not so: for though he be nothing less then idle which exerciseth that part of him self received from thee, to know thee and consider thee in thy word and in thy works, and that no mans actions can be conducted but by the good discourse and resolution of the spirit: yet forasmuch as man was created ⟨image 14⟩at the beginning, and since that time again made a new creature by thee the second time, to be a singular instrument in thine hand, it is necessary that his soul being taught by thee, should employ it self, and that instrument which thou hast given it, in such actions as are agreeable to thy will, and in that vocation, for which thou hast created it. If then the idle body be guilty in thy sight, as by good right the workman may find fault with that tool, which will not abide to be handled, yea he may mar it and break it: what shall be thought of that tool, that will occupy it self as it listeth, and when the workman would use it, it will not be stirred? and when you would handle it of one side, it will turn it self quite awke? Be this far from me my ⟨image 14⟩God, since thou hast fashioned and framed me. For rather will I be not an instrument of a dead matter, but I shall have a natural & lively strength in me,2 which I find already to come upon me. To be short, I shall be as a fair fruit bearing tree, planted by thine hand in thy house, grafted upon that right and kindly O live, shooting up to heavenward, my fresh green branches garnished with fruits proceeding from thy grace,3 which will alway water me at the root, and will preserve from frosts, heats, winds and other tempests, so as from them I shall rather gather fresh forces to yield plenteous fruit: whereas sinners shall be dry at the root.4 And if they make any gay show for a while, yet in the turning of an hand they come down ⟨image 15⟩