Dauid se and he rehearseth it for a speciall benefyte to be vnder the custodye of the LORDE whyche shulde not onely fede hym in a grene pasture but also in the heate bryngynge hym to the fresh water c. Shortly his meanynge is to declare the as lytle as a mā can come to the knowlege of God and the truthe to the ryght fayth without the worde of God So lytle can ther ony comforte and peace of conscience be founde without the same Without gods word cā no mās conscience be at rest The worldly haue also theyr comforte and ioye howe be it that endureth but the twinkelynge of an eye Whan trouble and anguysh commeth and specyally the last houre it goeth awaye As Salomon sayeth Pro. 14. After laughter commeth sorowe and after ioye commeth heuynesse But as for them that drynke of this fresshe and lyuynge water they maye well suffre trouble disease in the worlde but they shal neuer lacke the true consolacion And specyally whan it commeth to the poynt the leafe turneth ouer with them whiche is as much to saye as After shorte wepynge cōmeth euerlastynge laughter and after a lytle sorow commeth excellent ioye ii Cor. iiii For they shall not wepe mourne both here and there but as Chryste sayeth Blessed are you that wepe here for ye shall laugh Luce. vi He quyckeneth my soule and bryngeth me forthe in the vvaye of ryghteousnesse for his names sake Spiritual pasture 〈◊〉 water Here doth the prophet declare hymselfe of what maner of pasture and fresh water he spake namely euen of the same the strengtheth and quyckeneth the soule This can be nothynge els but Gods worde But for as muche as our LORDE God hath two maner of wordes the lawe and the gospell the prophete whan he sayeth He quyckeneth my soule geueth suffycienlty to vnderstonde that he speaketh not here of the lawe but of the gospell The lawe The lawe can not quycken the soule for it is a worde that requyreth and commaundeth vs to loue God wyth all our hartes c. and our neyghbour as our selues Who so doth not this hym it condempneth and speaketh this sentence ouer hym Cursed be euery man which doth not all that is written in the boke of the law Deut. 27. Galat. 3. Now is it certayne that no man vpon earth doth this therfore commeth the lawe with his iudgement fearyng and vexynge the consciences And yf ther be no helpe it goeth thorow so that they must nedes fall into dispayre and be cōdempned for euer Of this occasion doth S. Paule saye Rmo. 3. By the lawe cōmeth but the knowlege of synne Item the lawe causeth but wrath Rmo. 4. As for the gospell it is a blessed worde It requyreth none suche of vs The gospell but bryngeth vs tydynges of all good namely that God hath geuen vs poore synners his onely sōne to be our shepherde to seke agayne vs famished and dispersed shepe and to geue his lyfe for vs that he myght so delyuer vs from synne from euerlastynge death and from the power of the deuel This is the grene grasse and the fresh water where with the LORDE quyckeneth oure soules And thus are we made lowse from euell cōsciences and heuy thoughtes Of this shal we speake more in the .iiii. verse He bryngeth me forth in the waye of ryghteousnesse Here sayeth he doth not the LORDE my faythfull shepherde leaue that he fedeth me in a grene medowe leadeth me to the fresh water so quickeneth my soule but he bryngeth me forth also in the right waye that I departe not asyde go astraye so perysshe That is he holdeth me fast to the pure doctrine that I be not deceaued by false spretes To be led in the ryght way what it is and that I fall not awaye by ony other temptacion or offence Item that I maye know how I ought to leade myn outward conuersacion lyfe that I suffre not my selfe to be perswaded by the holynes and strayte lyfe of ypocrites Item what is the true doctrine fayth and seruice of God c. An excellent vertue of Gods worde This is now agayne a goodly frute vertue of the worde of God that they whiche cleue fast there vnto do not onely receaue strength cōforte of the soule therby but are preserued also from vntrue doctrine false holynesse Many mē optayne this treasure but they can not kepe it For as soone as a man is to bolde presumptuous and thynketh hymselfe sure of the matter it is done with hym Or euer he can loke aboute hym he is deceaued For the deuell also can pretende holynesse and transforme hymselfe into an angell of lyght as saynt Paul sayeth And euen so lykewyse can his minysters shewe thēselues as though they were the preachers of ryghteousnesse come ī shepes clothyng amonge the flocke of Chryst but inwardly are they rauenynge wolues Therfore is it good here to watch praye as the prophete doth in the last verse that our shepherd maye kepe vs by this treasure whiche he hath geuen vs. They that do not this certaynly they shall lese it And the ende of that man as Christ sayeth shall be worse then the begynnynge Luce. 11. For they shall afterwarde become the moost poysened enemyes of Christes flock and do more harme with theyr false doctryne then the tyrauntes with the swearde This had saynt Paul well proued by the false Apostles that made the Corinthians Galathians to erre so soone and afterwarde made diuision in all Asia We se it our felues also this daye by the Anabaptistes and other false spretes For his names sake The name of God The name of God is the preachyng of God wherby he is magnifyed and knowen to be gracyous mercyfull longe sufferyng true faythfull c. which notwithstādynge that we be the chyldren of wrath and gyltye of euerlastynge death forgeueth vs all our synnes and taketh vs for his owne chyldrē and inheritours This is his name thys doth he cause to be proclamed by his worde Thus wyll he be knowen magnifyed and honoured And accordynge vnto the fyrste commaundement he wyl euen thus declare hymselfe towarde vs as he hath caused it to be preached of hym Lyke as he doth styll strengtheth and quyckeneth our soules spiritually and kepeth vs that we fall not in to erroure hetteth vs lyuynge for our body and preserueth vs from all misfortune This honoure that he so is as we haue now sayd is geuen hym onely of them that cleue fast vnto his worde these beleue confesse playnly that all the gyftes goodes whiche they haue goostly and bodely they receaue them of God euen of his mere grace goodnesse That is to saye For his names sake not for theyr owne workes and deseruynges For this do they geue thankes vnto hym and declare the same vnto other This honour can not be geuen vnto God of ony presumptuous iusticiaryes
A very excellēt swete exposition vpon the XXII Psalme of Dauid called in Latine Dominus regit me c. ¶ Translated oute of Hye Almayne into Englyshe by Myles Couerdale Anno MDXXXVIII The .xxii. psalme of Dauid called in Latine Dominus regit me et nihil i The LORDE is my shepeherde I shall lacke nothynge ii He fedeth me in a grene pasture and leadeth me to the fresh water iii He quyckeneth my soule and bringeth me forth in the waye of ryghteousnesse for hys names sake iiii Though I walke in the valley of the shadowe of death yet feare I no euell for thou arte wyth me Thy staffe and thy shepehooke do comforte me v Thou preparest a table before me agaynste myne enemyes thou anoynteste my head wyth oyle and fyllest my cuppe full vi Oh let thy louynge kyndnesse and mercye followe me all the dayes of my lyfe that I maye dwell in the house of the LORD for euer ¶ An exposition vpon the .xxii. Psalme The effect of this Psalme IN this Psalme doth Dauid and euery christen hart geue thankes prayse vnto God for his most principal benefit namely for the preachyng of his dear holy word wherby we are called accepted and nōbred amonge the multitude which is the cōgregacion or church of God where onely and in no place els the pure doctrine the true knowlege of Gods wyll and the ryght seruice of God is founde and had But this same noble treasure doth holy Dauid prayse and extol maruaylous excellently with goodly swete fayre pure wordes yee that with lykenesses borowed out of the Gods seruice of the olde Testament Fyrst he lykeneth hymselfe to a shepe whom God hymselfe as a faythfull diligent shepherde doth wonderous well take hede vnto A shepe fedeth hym in a pleasaunt grene pasture whiche stōdeth full of good thicke grasse where ther is abundaunce also of freshe water no scarcenesse Item he lykeneth God also vnto suche a shepherde The shepherde as with his staf leadeth bryngeth the shepe the playne right way that it cā not go amysse and defēdeth hys flocke so wyth the shepehooke that the woolfe can not break in After thys doth he make hymselfe a geste A geste for whom God prepareth a table where he fyndeth both strength and comforte refreshynge and ioye and that plenteously And thus the Prophete geueth the worde of God diuerse names The word of God hath many names calleth it goodly pleasaunt grene grasse freshe water the ryght waye a staffe a shephooke a table balme or pleasaunt oyle and a cuppe that is alwaye full And thys he doth not without a cause for the power of Gods worde is many folde For why Lyke as a shepe in a fayre pleasaūt medowe besyde the grene grasse and freshe water in the presēce of hys shepherde which leadeth it wyth the staffe or rodde so that it can not go astraye and defendeth it so with the shepehoke that no harme can happē vnto it hath hys foode pleasure in al safegarde Or lyke as a mā lacketh nothynge that sytteth at a table where ther is plenty of meate and drynke and al maner of cōforte gladnesse So muche more they that be the shepe of thys shepherd wherof thys psalme syngeth lacke no good thynge are rychely prouyded for not only in soule but also in body As Christ sayeth in the sixte of Mathew Seke fyrst the kyngdome of God and the ryghteousnesse therof so shal all these thynges be mynistred vnto you For as they that wante bodely foode lyue in greate straytnesse and pensyfnesse not beynge able to fulfyl the bodyes request in thys behalfe euen so also those that wante thys wholsome and necessarye word of god can not reioyce nor be pacyfyed inwardly Yee euen as bread and wyne refresh a mans fleshy harte and make hym ioyfull euen so the worde of God quyckeneth refressheth a mans soule inwardly The preachynge of gods wod bryngeth prosperite For whan the worde of God is truly syncerely preached loke how many dyuerse names the prophete geueth it here so many commodyties and frutes doth it brynge Vnto them that are diligent and earnest to heare it whom oure LORDE God knoweth onely for hys owne shepe it is a pleasaūt grene grasse a fresh water wherewith they are satisfyed and refreshed It kepeth them also in the ryghte waye and preserueth thē that no mysfortune nor harme happen vnto them Moreouer it is vnto thē a cōtinuall wealth where ther is abūdaunce of meate drynke and all maner of ioye and pleasure That is they are not onely instructe and gyded refresshed strengthed and comforted by the worde of God but euer more more preserued in the ryght waye defended in all maner of trouble both of body and soule And fynally they haue the victory preuayle agaynste all temptacyons and troubles wherof they muste abyde ryghte many as the fourth verse doth specifye Shortly they lyue in all maner of safegarde as they vnto whome no mysfortune can happen for as much as theyr shepherde doth fede them and preserue them The doctryne to be taken of this psalm Therfore shulde we take instruccion out of thys Psalme not to despyse the worde of God but gladlye to heare and learne the same to loue it and to make muche of it to resorte vnto the lytle flock where we maye haue it And agayne on the other syde to flye and eschue those that do blaspheme and persecute it For where thys blessed lyght doth not shyne there is nother prosperite nor health nother strength nor comforte eyther in body or soule but vtter dysquietnesse terroure and dispayre specially whan trouble dystresse and paynfull death is at hande How be it the vngodly as the prophete sayeth haue neuer rest Esaye 57. whether they be in welth or wo. For yf they be in prosperite thā are they presumptuous proude and hyghe mynded forget oure LORDE god vtterly boaste crake onely of theyr owne power ryches wysdome c. And take thought besyde how they maye maynteyn and increace the same and how they may persecute and oppresse other men that lye in theyr wayes But yf the leafe turne aboute with thē as doutlesse it must nedes do at the last For that swete virgin Marye is a very sure prophetisse Deposuit potētes de sede diuites dimisit inanes which yet hath not fayled in hyr songe thē are they of all the moost miserable careful lest people which immediatly fall to despayre and mistrust What ayleth them They knowe not where nor how they shall seke comforte seynge they haue not the worde of God which onely teacheth the ryght waye how to be pacient and to haue a good hope euen in aduersite Roma .xv. Thys thynge ought to warn vs moue vs that we esteme nothynge more excellent nor worthye vpon earth than thys benefyte An ensample for vs. namely to haue that
deare blessed worde and that we can be in a place where it may be frelye preached and professed openlye A Christen mā therfore that belongeth vnto a church wherein the worde of god is taught as oft as he goeth in shuld thynke vpon thys Psalme out of a ioyfull harte wyth the prophete to geue God thākes for hys vnoutspeakable grace that he hath set hym as hys owne shepe in a pleasaunt grene medowe where ther is plentye of good grasse and fresh water That is that he maye be in a place where he maye heare learne the worde of God conceaue ryche comforte therout both in bodye and soule Thys blessed Dauid dyd well vnderstonde how worthy a treasure it is whan it maye so be had therfore can he boast singe so well of it magnifyethys benefite aboue all that is in onye estymacion or worshippe vpō earth At hym oughte we to learne thys science What we ought to learne here of Dauid and accordynge to hys ensample not onely to be thankfull vnto God oure louynge and faythfull shepherde to magni fye his vnout speakeable gyft which he of very louynge kyndnesse hath geuen vs as Dauid doth here in the fyrste fyue verses but also earnestly to desyre and pray hym as he doth in the last verses that we maye abyde by thys ryches and neuer to fal away from hys holy Christen churche And such a prayer is exceadynge necessarye For we are very weake and as the Apostle saynt Paule sayeth we carye thys treasure aboute in earthen vessels 2. Cor. 4. The deuell also our aduersary beareth deadly hate vnto vs for thys treasures sake Therfore doth he not rest but goeth aboute as a roarynge Lyon seketh how he maye deuoure vs. Besyde all thys he hath a quarel vnto vs because of our olde sacke which we carye yet vpō oure neckes wherin ther be yet also dyuerse concupiscences and synnes More ouer the deare flocke of Christe is spotted fyled with so many horrible offences or sklaūders that because of the same ther do many fall awaye frō thē Therfore I saye it is necessary that we praye and put thys vncorrupt doctryne styll in practise defēd oure selues therwith agaynst all sklaūders that we maye cōtinue vnto the ēde be saued Thys madde and blynde worlde knoweth vtterly nothynge of thys treasure and precious stone The blindnesse of the worlde but ymagyneth onely euen as a swyne or vnreasonable beast how they maye here fyll the belly Or els whan it cōmeth to the poynt they follow lyes ypocrisye As for the truthe and fayth they set it passe Therfore do they synge no Psalme vnto God for hys holy worde but rather whan he offreth it vnto them they blasphe me it and condemne it for heresye And as for those that teache it or wyl be knowen of it the worlde persecuteth them and putteth thē to death lyke as yf they were deceauers and the most vngracyous wretches that are in the worlde It shal be good therfore for thys small flocke to knowlege suche a benefyte wyth the prophete to synge a Psalme or songe of thankesgeuyng vnto God for it Of them the wolde and can not haue the worde of God But what saye ye of them that can not haue the preachynge of Gods worde As namely they that dwell here and there amonge tyrauntes and enemyes of the truthe No doute where as the worde of God is preached there can it not passe awaye wythout frute as Esay sayeth in the .lv. Chap. The good christen people also of the same place haue one vauntage which in dede is deare vnto them For they that be Christen men coūte it a very great thynge that they may be in a place where the worde of God is frely and openly taught and knowleged and the sacramentes mynistred after Christes institucion But as for these they be sowē very thynne The false christen are alwaye mo then the good The great multitude careth nothynge for Gods worde nother do they knowlege it for a benefyte that they may hear it without al harme parel Yee they are soone fylled and weery of it and esteme it but a payne to heare it and to receaue the holy sacrament Agayne they that suffre vnder tyrauntes complayne daye and nyght and long greatly for it And yf a smal morsel of oure bread that Christe hath geuen vs so rychely doth come vnto them they receaue it wyth great ioye and thankfulnesse and do them selues muche good withall Men ware weery of the worde of God where as oure swyne in the meane seasō hauynge the worthy bread them selues so rychely and many whole baskettes full therof cā not reache vnto it they are so weery of it Yee they cast it downe walowe them selues therin treade it vnder theyr fete and runne ouer it Therfore goeth it euē after the prouerbe Whā a thynge beginneth to be comune it is nomore set by but despysed be it neuer so precious And suche Prouerbes are specially founde true in the worde of God Where men haue it there wyl they not away withall Agayne where men haue it not there wolde they be gsad to haue it Where men haue a church at theyr dores wherin the word of God is taught there go they vp downe in the market in the preachynge tyme and lurcke about the graues Where they be ten or twentye myle from it there wold they be glad to go with the multitude and to passe ouer with them vnto the house of God with ioyfulnesse and thankesgeuynge as it is in the .xli. Psalme Of them the dwelvnder tyrauntes Therfore shortelye thys is myne answere vnto the question cōcernyng thē that dwel vnder tyraūtes Blessed be they which are now scattered abrode vnder the Turke or Pope beynge desritute of Gods worde wolde yet be glad wyth all theyr hartes to haue it in the meane season receaue wyth thankesgeuynge suche morsels as they can get tyll the meale be better Nowe yf they be not farre from the place where the worde of God is preached and the blessed sacrament mynyfired accordyng vnto Christes institucion they maye well go thyther enioye the same treasure lyke as many do and are therfore punyshed of theyr wycked rulers both in body and goodes But yf they dwel farre frō suche places yet do they not ceasse at the leest to sighe therafter No doute Christ oure LORDE wyll heare theyr sighynge in processe of tyme wyl he turne back theyr captyuyte Agayne vnhappye yee and vnhappie agayna are they that haue this treasure plenteouslye at theyr dores and yet care not for it On them shall the word of Christ be fulfylled where he sayeth Mathei 8 Many shall come from the easte and west shall syt wyth Abraham Isaar and Iacob in the kyngdome of heauen but the chyldrē of the kyngdome shal be cast out c. Let thys be sayde for an introduccion Nowe wyll we shortly go
great comforte helpe and counsell agaynst the iudgemēt of God agaynst Gods wrath and euerlastynge death scyng that by our selues and other we haue experience dayly and hourely how we can nother counsell nor comforte our selues in smal bodely necessityes Therfore conclude thus hardely I playne cōparison As lytle as a natural shepe can helpe it selfe in the thynges that be leest of all but muste loke for all benefites at his shepherdes hāde much lesse can a man rule comforte helpe or geue counsell vnto hymselfe in thynges belongynge to saluacion but muste loke for all such at the only hand of God his shepherd with to fulfyl ony thyng for hys shepe that is to be done is a thousande tymes more wyllynge and diligent then ony other vertuous shepherde in the worlde As for thys shepherde of whom the prophete had spoken so longe before Christe is our shepherde it is euen Christ oure louynge master which is farre an other maner of shepherde then Moyses which is harde and extreme vnto his shepe dryueth them backe in to the wyldernesse where they fynde nother pasture nor water but playnescarcenesse Exod .iii. But Chryste is the gracyous and louynge shepherde which rūneth after the famy shed and lost shepe in the wyldernesse and seketh it there And whā he findeth it he taketh it vp gladly vpon his shulders Luc .xv. Yee geneth his lyfe also for his shepe Io .x. This must nedes be a louynge shepeherde Who wolde not be glad then to be a shepe of his This shepherdes voyce wherwith he speaketh and calleth vnto his shepe The shepherdes voyce is the holy gospell wherby we be taught that we optayne grace remissiō of synnes and euerlastyng saluacion not by Moses law wher thorow he putteth vs in the more feare drede and dispayre whiche were to fearful to sore afrayed and dispayred to muche afore but by Chryst whiche is the shepherde and bysshoppe of our soules .i. Pet. it whiche hath sought vs myserable and lost shepe and fetched vs out of the wyldernes that is to say from the lawe from synne frō death from the power of the deuell from euerlastynge damnacion And in that he gaue hys lyfe for vs optayned he vs grace remission of synnes cōforte helpe and strength agaynst the deuell and all mysfortune yee and euerlastynge lyfe also This is now vnto the shepe of Chryste a louynge swete voyce which they are hartely glad to heare which they knowe ryghte well and ordre them selues therafter As for a straunge voyce that soundeth otherwyse they nother knowe it nor herken vnto it but auoyde flye awaye from it c. Ioh. x. The pasture wherwith Chryste fedeth his shepe The pasture is also the comfortable gospell wherby the soules are fed and strengthed kepte from erroure comforted in all temptacions and troubles defēded agaynste the craft and power of the deuell and fynally delyuered out of all trouble Neuerthelesse for as muche as his shepe are not all alyke stronge but some yet lost and scattred here and there abrode woūded sycke yonge and feble he doth not therofre cast them awaye but hathe much more respecte vnto them careth more dilygētly for them then for the other that haue not suche nede For as the prophete Ezechiel sayeth in the .xxxiiii. Chap. He seketh them that be lost bryngeth together them that be scattred abrode byndeth vp suche as be wounded loketh to them that be sycke And the weake lambes that be but yonge at the fyrste sayeth Esaye he taketh vp into his armes and beareth them and suche as be with yonge ones doth he dryue forth fayre and softly All this doth our louynge mayster Christ by the office of preachynge and distributynge of the holy sacrament as it is ofte and with many wordes taught in other places For to set it forth here worde by word as nede shulde requyre it were to lōge The prophete also hym selfe wyll declare it afterwarde in the Psalme We haue ben deceaued By this then maye we easely perceaue how shamefully we haue ben seduced vnder the papacy For Chryst was not so louyngly set forthe vnto vs as the dearly deloued prophetes Apostles and Chryste hym selfe doth but so fear fully was he described vnto vs that we haue ben more afrayed of hym then of Moyses yee we thought Moyses doctryne muche more lyghter and to haue much more swetnesse in it then the doctrine of Chryst And so we knewe nothynge els but that Chryst had ben a wrothfull iudge whose displeasure we myght haue reconcyled with our good workes and with our holines whose pardō we myght haue optayned through the merytes and intercessions of sayntes This is not onely a shamefull lesynge and a miserable deceauyng of poore consciences but also the hyghest blasphemy of the grace of god a denyenge of the death resurreccion and ascension of Chryste c. and of all his vnoutspeakeable benefytes sclaunderynge and condemnynge of his holy gospell a destroyenge of faythe and in steade therof a settynge vp of vtter abhomynacions lyes and errours c. Yf this be not darkenesse then can not I tell what darkenesse is Blyndnesse Yet coulde no mā in a maner perceaue it but euery mā toke it for the playne verite yet vnto this day wyl our papystes nedes take it for the ryght way and shed much innocent bloude for the same Go to then yf we can kepe and gide our selues yf we can preserue our selues from errour yf we can optayne grace and remissiō of synnes resyst the deuell all misfortune ouercome synne and death by our owne merytes Then must all the scripture be false which testifyeth of vs how that of our selues we are but lost scattred abrode woūded weake and feble shepe And so shulde we haue no nede of Chryste to be shepherde to seke vs to brynge vs together to gyde vs to bynde vs vp to loke vnto vs to strēgth vs agaynste the deuell And so hath he also geuen his lyfe for vs in vayne For yf we cābrynge al this to passe optayne it through our owne strēgth and goodnesse then haue we no nede of Chrystes helpe thys well But here thou hearest the contrary namely that thou art but a lost shepe of thy selfe canst not come to the shepherd agayn but to go astraye onely that canst thou well do And yf Chryst thy shepherd dyd not seke and fetch the agayne thou must nedes be a praye vnto the wolfe But nowe he cōmeth seketh fyndeth and bryngeth the vnto his folde that is to saye into his Chrysten congregacion through the worde sacrament geueth his lyfe for the and holdeth the styll by the ryght hande lest thou shuldest fall in to ony errour There hearest thou nothyng of thyne owne strēgth of thyne owne good workes and merytes except thou wylt call it strength a good worke and meryte to go astray to be feble and lost Chryst worketh deserueth and sheweth here
his power onely It is he that seketh beareth and gydeth the. He thorow his death deserueth lyfe for the. He onely is stronge and defendeth the lest thou shuldest perysshe and be taken awaye out of his haÌ„des Ioh. x. Vnto all this canst thou do nothynge saue applye thyne eares to heare and with thankesgeuynge to reccaue suche an vnoutspeakeable treasure and to learne to knowe well the voyce of thy shepherde to followe hym and to eschue the voyce of straungers Wherfore yf thou wylt be rychely prouyded for Take hede to thy shepherdes voyce both in body and soule aboue all thynges take good hede than to the voyce of this shepherde herken well what he sayeth vnto the let hym fede the rule the gyde the defeÌ„de the comforte the. c. That is to saye kepe the vnto his worde be glad to heare it and to learne it so no doute thou shalt be well prouyded for both in body and soule By thys that hath ben spoken of hether to I thynke it but easy to vnderstand these wordes The LORDE is my shepherde Yee and all the whole Psalme besyde They are but few wordes The LORDE is my shepherde but of a great weyght and pyth The worlde maketh great boastynge and crakynge of honoure power ryches fauour of men c. But the prophete maketh his boast of none of these for they be all vncertayne and transytory He speaketh but few wordes and good The LORDE is my shepherde Thus speaketh a sure and constant fayth which turneth hyr back vpon euery thynge that is temporall transitory howe hye and precyous so euer it be and turneth the face and hart strayght vnto the LORDE whiche is onely and altogether and doth it hym selfe alone Euen he els none whether he be Kynge or Emperour sayeth he is my shepherde Therfore goeth he forwarde in all quyetnesse and sayeth I shall lacke nothynge A generaâ—â— sentence This doth he speake in generall of all the benefytes bodely and goostly that we receaue by the offyce of preachynge As though he wolde saye Yf the LORDE be my shepherde then doutles I shall lacke nothynge I shall haue abundauÌ„ce of meate drynke clothynge alyuynge defence peace and all maner of necessaryes what so euer serueth for the sustentacion of this lyfe For I haue a ryche shepherde whiche shall not suffre me to lacke Neuertheles he doth speake moost specyasly of the spiritual goodes and gyftes that the worde of God bringeth with it and sayeth For as much as the LORDE hath taken me amonge his flock prouydeth for me with his owne pasture that is for as much as he hath rychely geuen me his holy worde he shall not suffre me to haue scarcenesse in ony thynge He shal geue his blessynge vnto the worde that it maye haue strength brynge forth frute in me He shall lykewyse geue me his sprete to stande by me to comforte me in al temtacions and troubles to make my harte also sure and certayne and that I doute not therin but that I am one of my shepherdes deare shepe And he my faythfull shepherde which wyll deale gently with me as with a poore weake shepe and wyll strength my faythe endue me also with other spirituall gyftes comforte me in all troubles heare me whan I call vpon hym defende me from the wolfe that is from the deuell so that he shall not be able to do me harme And fynally delyuer me from all mysfortune This meaneth he whan he sayeth I shall lacke nothynge Thou wylt saye An obiectioÌ„ Yee but wherby shall I perceaue that the LORDE is my shepherde I can not perceaue that he dealeth so louyngly with me as the Psalme speaketh yee the contrary do I well perceaue Dauid was an holy prophete and a man dearly be loued vnto God therfore coulde he easely talke of the matter and beleue well as he sayd As for me I shall not be able to do it after hym for I am a poore synner An answer I haue declared aboue that a shepe hath this good coÌ„dicioÌ„ proper vertue in it that it knoweth well the voyce of his shepherde and ordreth it selfe rather after the eares then after the eyes The same vertue doth Chryste prayse also in his shepe whan he sayeth Ioh. x. My shepe know my voyce Now his voyce soundeth after this maner I am a good shepherde and geue my lyfe for my shepe And I geue them euerlastyng lyfe and they shall neuer peryshe no man shall plucke them out of my hande Take good hede nowe vnto this voyce and ordre thy selfe therafter Yf thou so do then be sure that thou art one of Chrystes shepe he thy shepeherde which knoweth the ryght well and can cal the by name Now yf thou hast hym for thy shepeherde then shalt thou verely lacke nothyng yee thou hast already that thou shuldest haue euen euerlastynge lyfe Item thou shalt neuer perysshe nother shall ther be ony power so greate myghtye as to be able to pluck the out of his hand Onely be thou sure of this For doutles this shepherdes voyce shall neuer fayle the. What wylt thou more Leaue not the voyce of thy shepherde But yf thou lettest this voyce go and ordrest thy selfe after the syght of the eyes and after the felynge of that olde Adam theÌ„ lesest thou the fayth and confidence whiche thou as a shepe shuldest haue vnto hym as to thy shepeherde And so falleth ther vpon the now one ymaginacion now another so that thou canst not be in quyete but disputest by thy selfe and sayest Yf the LORDE be my shepherde why suffreth he then the worlde to plage me and persecute me so my serably contrarye to all my deseruynge I syt amonge wolues and am not sure of my lyfe the twinkelynge of an eye but I se no shepherde that wyll defende me Item why geueth he the deuell liceÌ„ce to do me so much harme with feare and despayre Besydes this I fynde my selfe all vnapte feble vnpacient and laden yet with many synnes I fynde no certaynte but doutfulnesse no consolacion but fearfulnesse and quakynge for the wrath of God Whan begynneth he to declare in me that he is my shepherde what good followeth whan one rieueth fast to gods worde Suche and many other mo wonderful cogitacions shalt thou haue yf thou let his voyce and worde passe But yf thou cleue styll fast vnto it then suffrest thou nother the deceatfulnesse of the deuell the displeasure madnesse of the worlde nother thyn owne infyrmite and vnworthynesse to ouer come the by temptacion but goest on boldly and sayest Whether the deuell the worlde or myne owne conscience do take parte agaynste me neuer so fearfly yet wyll not I therfore take ouermuch thought It muste and shal be thus that who so euer is a shepe of the LORDE he can not remayne vntempted Let it go with me as it maye yee whether they seeth me or rost me yet is this
as heretikes false spretes or enemyes and blasphemers of Gods worde for they magnifye not his name but theyr owne And though I walke in the valley of the shadowe of death yet fear I no euell for thou art with me Thy staffe and thy shephooke do comforte me Hetherto hath the prophete declared that they whiche haue loue the worde of God cā lacke nothynge For the LORDE is theyr shepherde which doth not only fede thē in a grene pasture leadeth thē to the freshe water that they may be fat stronge and refreshed both bodely goostly but also taketh suche care for thē that they be not weery of the good pasture fresh water leauyng the grene medowe departe agayne from the ryght way into the wyldernesse This is the fyrst parte of this Psalme Nowe teacheth he farther how that they whiche are the shepe of thys shepeherde What the prophet teacheth in this verse be compassed aboute with many ieopardyes and misfortunes Neuerthelesse that LORDE sayeth he not onely defendeth thē but delyuered them also out of al tēptacions troubles For he is amonge thē Nowe after what maner he is with them he declareth lykewyse well fauouredly Here thou seyft that as soone as the worde of God goeth forth and as soone as ther be ony that receaue it abide by it immediatly the deuell all his angels steppe forth moue the worlde with all the power therof agaynst it to put it downe vtterly to destroye them that haue it knowlege it Persecucion For loke what our LORD god speaketh or doth it must be tried go thorow the fyre This is very nedfull for chrysten men to knowe els myght they fayle thynke thus in theyr myndes How stondeth this together The prophet sayeth afore The LORDE is my shepherd I shall lacke nothynge And here he sayeth cōtrary namely that he muste walke in the darke valley And in the nexte verse followynge he confesseth that he hath enemyes Where by he geueth sufficiently to vnderstand that he lacketh many yee all thynges For he that hath enemyes and lyeth in a darke valley seyth no lyghte that is to saye he hath nother comforte nor hope but is forsaken of euery man and euery thynge is blacke darke before his eyes yee euē the fayre clear Sōne How is this true then that he shulde lacke nothynge We maye not ordre our selues after that our warde syght Here must thou not ordre thy selfe after thyne owne eyes followe natural reason as doth the worlde vnto whome it is vnpossyble to se this ryche and gloryous comforte of Chrysten men that they shulde lacke nothynge Yee certaynly they holde that the contrary is true namely that ther are no people vpon earth more poore more myserable and more vnhappy then christen men Yee with all theyr diligence corage helpe they therto that they maye be moost abhominably persecuted bānyshed shamed and put to death And in so doynge they thynke they do God seruyce therin It appeareth therfore outwardly as though christen men were but shepe dryuen awaye and forsaken of God and geuen ouer already in to the wolues mouthes and to be euen such as lacke nothynge but altogether The seruaūtes of Māmon Agayne they that serue that greate God Mammon or the belly appeare in the worlde to be those good shepe whiche as the Psalme sayeth lacke nothynge beynge rychely prouyded for of God cōforted and preserued from all parell and mysfortune For they haue theyr owne hartes desyre honoure good ioye pleasure euery mans fanoure c. Nother nede they be afrayed to be persecuted or put to death for that faythes sake For as longe as they put not theyr trust in Chryst the onely true shepherd nor knowlege hym whether they beleue on the deuell or his dāme or do what so euer they wyll besyde with couetousnesse c. they are taken not onely for well doers therin but also for the lyuyng sayntes which byde styll by the olde fayth and wyll not be deceaued thorowe heresye whiche is as Dauid teacheth here that the LORDE onely is the shepeherde So abhominable and greueous mortall synne is it to beleue on this shepeherde and to knowlege hym The pope wyll not forgeue hym that putteth his whole trust in Christ that ther cam neuer suche a synne vpon earth For euen the Popes holynes which els can dispense with all synnes and forgeue them can not remytte this onely cryme Therfore I saye in this thynge do not thou followe the worlde thyne owne reason whiche whyle they iudge after the outwarde appearaunce become foolysshe holde the prophete but for a lyar in that he sayeth I shall lacke nothynge But as I sayde afore holde thou the faste vnto the worde and promyses of God herken vnto thy shepherde how and what he sayeth vnto the and ordre thy selfe accordynge vnto hys voyce not accordynge to that which the eye seyth or the harte feleth And so haste thou the victory Thus doth the prophere He confesseth that he walketh in the valley of the shadowe of death Howe the Prophet behaueth hymself in tentacion trouble That is that he is cōpassed aboute with trouble heuynesse anguysshe necessite c. as thou mayst se more at large in hys storyes and other Psalmes Item that he hath nede of comforte wherby it is sufficiētly declared that he is in heuynesse Item that he hathe enemyes And yet he sayeth Though my tentacions were mo and greate and though I were in a worse case Yee though I were in deathes mouth alreadye yet do not I feare onye mysfortune Not that I am able to helpe my selfe thorowe myne owne prouysion trauayle laboure or succurre Nother do I trust to myne owne wysdome vertue kynglye power and ryches For in thys matter the helpe counsel comforte and power of all men is farre to lytle But thys is it that doth it euen that the LORDE is wyth me As yf he wolde say Certaynly of myne owne behalfe I am feble in heuynesse vexed and compassed aboute wyth al maner of parell and misfortune My harte also and conscience is not quyete because of my synnes I fele an horrible fearfulnesse of death and hel so that I myght in a maner dispayre But though al the worlde yee and the gates of hell be set agaynst me yet wyll I therfore not be dyscoraged Yee I wyll not be afrayed for all the mysfortune and payne that they are able to saye vpon me For the LORDE is wyth me The LORDE I saye whiche made heauen and earthe and all that therin is vnto whom al creatures angels deuels men synne death c. are subiecte Summa he that hath all thynges in hys owne power is my counselgeuer my comforter my defender and helper Therfore am I afrayed of no mysfortune After thys maner doth Asaph speake also in the .lxxii. Isaph Psalme where he comforteth the Christen agaynst that greate
vseth to do to his gestes thou fedest them well thou makest them lusty glad thou fyllest into them so muche that they must nedes be dronkē This is al done by the worde of grace For by the same doth the LORDE oure shepherde fede and strength so the hartes of his faythfull that they dare defye al theyr enemyes and say with the prophete I am not afrayed for thousandes of the people that cōpasse me roundeaboute Psalme iii. And here afore in the fourth verse I fear no euell for thou LORDE art with me With this yee euen thorow the same worde doth he geue them also the holy goost whiche maketh them not onely to take good stomackes vnto them to be of good corage but so quyet also in thē selues and mery that for the same great exceadynge ioye they are euen dronken This must be spiritually vnderstande He speaketh here then of a spirytuall strength of a spirituall myrth and of a spirituall dronkēnes which is a godly strēgth Rom. i. A ioye as saynt Paul calleth it in the holy goost Rom. xiiii And a blessed dronkennesse whan people are not full of wyne wherout followeth incōuenience but full of the holy goost Ephe. v. This is the harnesse the weapens wherwith our LORD God prepareth his faythfull agaynst the deuell and the worlde namely in theyr mouth geueth he them hys worde and in theyr harte he geueth corage that is to saye the holy gooste Wyth suche ordinaunce put they from them all feare and wyth gladnesse bukle they wyth all theyr enemyes smyte them and ouercome them with all theyr myght wysedome and holynesse Such souldyers were the Apostels on whitsondaye whan they went vp to Ierusalem agaynste the commaundement of the Emperoure and the hye prestes and ordred thē selues as yf they had ben very goddes and all the other but greshoppers and went euen thorowe with all power and ioye as yf they had bene dronken In so muche the some had them in derision therfore sayd They were full of swete wyne Neuerthelesse S. Peter declared out of the prophet Ioel that they were not full of swete wyne but ful of the holy goost And so he smote aboute hym with hys swearde that is he opened his mouth and preached the worde of God and felled downe thre thousande soules at once from the power of the deuell Actu ii This strength ioye and blessed dronkennesse doth not onely shewe it selfe in the faythfull whan they be in prosperite haue peace but also whan they suffre and dye As whan the counsell at Ierusalem caused the Apostles to be beaten they were glad of it that they were worthy to suffre rebuke for the name of Christe Actu v. And in the v. to the Romaynes doth saynt Paule say We reioyce also in troubles c. Afterwarde were ther many martyrs also The stedfast ioyfull hartes of them the haue fusfred death for the word of God whiche with mery harte and laughynge mouthes wente vnto theyr death as yf they had gone to somepastyme or daunce Lyke as we reade of saynt Agnes and saynt Agatha whyche were virgins .xiii. or .xiiii. yeare olde and of other mo whiche were of suche inwarde corage and confydence that they dyd not onely ouercome the deuell and the worlde by theyr death but also made good chere euen then with theyr hartes as though they had ben dronken of very ioye And this greueth the deuell excedynge sore namely whā men are at suche quyetnesse in them selues that they despyse his great myght and gyle In our tyme also haue ther be many which for the knowlege of Christe haue bene glad to suffre death We se more ouer that ther be many whyche wyth perfecte vnderstondynge and fayth dye vpon theyr beddes and saye wyth Simeon LORDE now lettest thou thy seruaunt departe in peace c. that it is a ioye to beholde thē of whom I haue sene many my selfe And all thys commeth because that as the prophete sayeth they be anoynted with the oyle whiche the .xliiii. Psalme calleth the oyle of gladnesse and because they haue dronke of the full cnppe whiche the LORDE hath fylled Yee but thou wylt saye Obiection I fele not my selfe yet so apte that I coulde be content to dye c. That maketh no matter Answere Dauid also as it is sayd afore hath not bene sure of that science at all houres but somtyme complayned that he was cast out of gods syght Other holy men also haue not alwaye had an hartye confidence towarde God and a perpetuall delyte and pacience in theyr troubles and temptacions Note this well Saynt Paul somtyme is so sure certayne in hym selfe and maketh suche boast of Christe that he careth not for the curse of the law for synne death nor for the deuell I lyue not nowe sayeth he Galat. ii but Christe lyueth in me Item I desyre to be lowsed and to be with Christ Phil i. Item Who shall separate vs from the loue of God whiche spared not is owne sonne but hath geuen hym for vs all How shall he not with hym geue vs al thynges also Shal trouble anguysh persecucion swearde c. separate vs from hym Ro. viii There speaketh he of death of the deuell and of all euell with suche a corage as yf he were the strongest and greatest of all sayntes vnto whom death were but asporte But incontinently in another place he speaketh as thoughe he were the weakest and greatest synner vpon earth i. Cor. ii I was with you sayeth he in weaknesse in feare and in muche tremblynge I am carnall solde vnder synne and takē presoner in the lawe of synne whiche is in my membres O wretched man that I am who shall delyuer me frō the body of this death Roma vii And in the fyfth to the Galath he teacheth that in the sayntes of God ther is a continual stryfe of the fleshe agaynst the sprete c. Therfore oughtest thou not immediatly to dispayre though thou felest thy selfe feble and fayntharted but praye diligently that thou mayest endure by the worde and increace in the fayth and knowlege of Christ As the prophete doth here teacheth other men lykewyse so to do and sayeth Oh let thy louynge kyndnesse and mercy followe me all the dayes of my lyfe that I maye dwell in the house of the LORDE for euer For as muche as the deuell neuer ceasseth to plage the faythfull inwardly with feare outwardely wyth deceatfulnesse of false doctours or teachers and with the violence of tyrauntes he prayeth here therfore at the ende earnestly that God which hath geuen hym this treasure wyl kepe hym fast by it also vnto the ende And sayeth O gracyous God shewe me such fauour that thy louynge kyndnesse and mercy maye followe me all the dayes of my lyfe Why the prophet maketh this prayer And immediatly he declareth what he calleth this louynge kynonesse and mercy namely that he maye remayne in the house
chapter of the Prouerbes The name of the LORDE is a stronge castel the ryghteous flyeth vnto it and shal be defeÌ„ded For the vnbeleuers haue theyr hope euen in theyr goodes but in necessyte they fynde not refuge as the faythful hath a stroÌ„ge holde and hye castell in God the LORDE Extrema gaudii luctus occupat And though the vnbeleuers haue theyr whole wyll all theyr lyfe longe yet hath it an euell ende as it had wyth the rych man whych was buryed in the hell Luce. xvi For who so beleueth not shal be damned Agayn though the faythfull be plaged and persecuted all hys lyfe longe so that he can not se how he maye be delyuered yet hath he thys comforce that the LORDE is hys God that is that he can helpe delyuer hym as an almyghty LORDE yee after suche a fashion waye as nother he hymselfe nor ony mans reason can thynke or deuyse And thoughe he do it not yet doth not the faythfull dispayre but letteth the LORDE be his God on whom he hopeth that is at whose hande he loketh for al good in the lyfe for to come and euerlastynge For hope seyth and loketh on that whych is to come whych as yet is hyd As Paule sayeth Roma the .viii. Chapter Hope that is sene is no hope for how can a maÌ„ hope that which is sene But yf we hope that which we se not we loke for it by pacience And so is this meanyng The vnbeleuers haue theyr hope in the creatures and are afrayed of God The faythfull is lorde of all creatures The faythfull hath his hope to God and is lorde ouer the creatures The vnbeleuers myscary and by the creatures fynde they no helpe in nede The faythfull myscary not but God is vnto theÌ„ a stronge holde The vnbeleuers maye well haue theyr wylles as longe as they lyue but at the last thorow theyr dispayre ther followeth euerlastynge dastinacion The faythfull may theyr lyfe longe haue disquyetnesse and tentacion but at the last thorow theyr hope ther followeth euerlastynge lyfe Suche hope shulde they haue and they haue it in dede that though they must lye vnder as longe as they lyue yet after death they shall enherete euerlastynge lyfe .. But certaynly it commeth not to passe that they must alwaye lye vnder For God is faythfull and suffreth not his to be temted aboue theyr strength but maketh the temtacion so to haue an ende that we may bear it .i. Cor. x. Therfore sayeth the prophete moreouer For he delyuereth me froÌ„ the snare of the huÌ„ter and froÌ„ the noysome pestileÌ„ce And in these wordes doth he shortly shewe vnto vs that almyghty God can and wyll delyuer his owne froÌ„ all misfortune yet euen in this lyfe Two maner of myschaunces For al the myschaunces that we be troubled wythall in thys temporall lyfe are of two sortes Some come out of the wycked deuyce of the deuell and of meÌ„ as shame and persecucion Some playnly of nature and out of the ordinaunce of God as tempest and pestilence The faythfull nowe beleueth and maketh hys boast that these myschaunces can not be so greate and myghtye but God shall delyuer hym there from And it is a goodly naturall similitude that he lykeneth the euell and wycked deuyce of the vngodly agaynste the faythfull The similitude of the wycked vnto a hunter to a nette or snare of the hunter For lyke as an hunter proueth the kynde and nature of euery wylde beast coÌ„meth pryuely after hym seketh out the course habitacion therof and afterwarde setteth the nette that he may dryue it therin Euen so do the vngodly also vnto the ryghteous Fyrst they loke how they be mynded Yf ony one be fre of langage then set they hym on fyre that he may speake somwhat sharpely as saynt Steuen dyd Actu the .vii. Chapter Yf he be geÌ„tle and frendly then ymagen they some foolyshe thynge vpoÌ„ hym and flatter awaye hys harte froÌ„ hym as Dalila dyd vnto Samson Iudi. xvi Yf he seke the saluacion of the people then sklaunder they hym Math xi as the Iewes blasphemed Christ to be a wyne supper and a companion of publicaÌ„s Yf he be symple Psal cxxxix then lye they vpon hym behynde hys backe or euer he be ware therof Then followe they vpon hym crye lye and complayne that the vertuous ChristeÌ„ man woteth not what poynte to be at or how he hath deserued it Neuerthelesse they thynke the bell is so cast that at the last it must rynge as they wyll but it fayleth them For the LORDE on whom we beleue which is our hope â— Cor. x. â—i Pet. ii refuge and God can not only preserue vs from theyr snares that we fall not therin but also whan we fall into them and they thynke we be theyr captiues he can and wyll delyuer vs yet therout In lyke maner doth God the LORDE preserue hys faythfull not onely from the noysome sycknesse of the pestilence but also whan they be taken therwyth and infecte already he delyuereth them from it and maketh theÌ„ whole agayne But how that commeth to passe and howe we shall vnderstande it it shall followe here after more clearely Why the pestilence is a noysome syckenesse Thys is nowe well to be marked also that the pestilence is a noysome sycknesse not because it bryngeth death for that do al other mortal sycknesses lykewyse and death is no losse vnto the faythfull but auauÌ„tage as Paule sayeth Philip. the fyrst Chapter but because that it taketh awaye the people very sodenly vnloked for and vnwares Wherout theÌ„ ther followeth stryfe lawyng or busynesse amonge synners and of the comune welth as euery man by hymselfe can lyghtely perceaue and vnderstande Therfore is it also an horrible punyshment ouer the synne of the worlde PestileÌ„ce is an horrible punyshment whyche concerneth both them that dye and them that are lefte alyue as here after it shall followe Where as is nowe suche a fayth as geueth credence vnto God he shall preserue hym from all wycked ymaginacions of meÌ„ lykewyse from all noysome syckenesses And at the last shall he saue hym that continueth not wythout frute but breaketh out wyth ryght loue and faythfulnesse towarde hys neghboure and desyreth also to brynge hym vnto that poynte that he maye beleue and be partaker of all suche goodes and benefites of God Therfore doth the prophete turne hys wordes now also vnto hys neghboure and sayeth farthermore He shall couer the wyth hys fethers and thyne hope shal be vnder hys wynges That is Yf thou also wylt put thy trust in hym thou shalte fynde it so lykewyse For he sheweth such his benefytes vnto all and euery one that put theyr truste in hym As for the couerynge of hys fethers and hope vnder hys wynges youre charite hath herde ynough afore what it is Now though all faythfull loke for suche helpe at God and it happeneth vnto them yet
.xxxv. Psalme Wyth the is the sprynge of lyfe and in thy lyght se we light Yf God the LORDE thē be the true lyght it followeth that all they which put theyr trust in hym be as a burnynge candle for by fayth doth God dwell in our hartes and we are the lyuynge tēple of God as Paule to the Corinthians doth wytnesse more thē once Therfore sayeth Christe of hys disciples Math. v. Ye are the lyght of the worlde And of Ihon the Baptyste He was a burnynge and shynynge lyght Ioh. v. Lykewyse yf God be the euerlastynge lyuynge fountayne it followeth that the faythfull be euen flowynge sprynges Therfore sayeth Christ also Ioh. vii Who so beleueth on me as the scripture sayeth out of hys body shall flowe streames of lyuyng water But this he sayd of the sprete whiche they that beleue on hym shulde receaue Lyke as the darkenesse of the nyght nowe can hurte no earthly or wordly lyght but must geue place and flye from the lyght Euen so Sathan also whyche is a prynce of spirytuall darkenesse can do no harme to a true ryghte beleuyng Christen mā but must feare and flye from hym For God whyche is the euerlastynge lyghte dwelleth and shyneth in hys hart and dryueth and expelleth farre from hym all the workes of darknesse And lyke as no heape of water can dryue bache ony fountayne of the grounde and hynder the quycke sprynge therof and lyke as no vnclennesse can make it foule euen so also can no aduersyte of this worlde take awaye or shorten ony Christen mans lyfe For God whyche is the fountayne of all lyfe dwelleth and lyueth in hys harte dryueth all hurtfull poyson and mortall sycknesse farre awaye from thence so the not only it can not harme hym but he also helpeth other people and delyuereth them by hys presence euen as a lyght that shyneth farre aboute it and as a sprynge the alwaye floweth runneth and maketh the grounde moyst an frutefull And thys is it that the LORDE sayeth in the Gospell in the last of Marke The tokens that shall followe them whyche beleue are these In my name shall they cast out deuels speake wyth new tunges dryue away serpentes yf they drynke ony deadlye thynge it shall not hurte them They shall laye handes vpon the sycke and they shall recouer So is it red also in the Actes of the Apostles the .v. Chapter that the sycke were made whole onely of saynt Peters shadow So vtterly must vanyshe euery thynge that is contrary and agaynste the euerlastynge lyghte and sprynge of lyfe where a ryght Christen man is in whom God dwelleth by a true belefe and out of whome the holy goost shyneth and floweth Let Sathan then preasse in here wyth all hys darknesse and wyth all hys hurtfull infection Satan is dryuen back by fayth yet shall ye se in belefe that he can not take nor destroye ony Christen mā therwyth yf he continue in fayth and kepe God in hys harte But he shal be smytten backe and dryuen awaye by force as the wonderfull workes of Christe and of all sayntes do manyfestly declare Therfor is it a great shame for a Christen man to be so afrayed for the plage of the pestilence It is a greate shame for a Christen man to feare the pestilence as to flye from them whome he is bounde to serue by Gods commaundement For by reason he shulde wythout al feare make haiste vnto them not onely to fulfyll Gods commaundemente but also by hys presence to helpe them yf theyr fayth do els worke wyth all But yf it come not to passe yet is he sure for as much as God dwelleth in hym and he walketh and goeth in Gods commaundement For certaynly thys promyse shall not fayle hym Though a thousande fall at thy syde and ten thousande at thy ryght syde yet shall it not touch the. But wyth fayth must these wordes be taken holde vpon for naturall reason doth not comprehende them in as muche as in dede it appeareth farre otherwyse And no man nedeth to thynke nor iudge that they whyche dye of thys plage be all vnchristen and faythlesse but we ought not to doute but that ther dye therof many vertuous mē and leaue many vngodly Naturall death happeneth two wayes Thys is done because that death maye happen to a mā two maner of wayes One waye after the commune course of nature accordynge as euery mans death is appoynted hym of God and we haue consented vnto it in baptyme Of thys sayeth the prophet Iob in the .xiiii. Chapter A man hath hys appoynted tyme the nōbre of hys monethes standeth wyth the thou hast appoynted him hys boundes whyche he shall not ouerpasse Another waye maye death happen to a man before the tyme by reason of hys greate greuous synnes As the LORDE hath threatened by Moses that yf hys cōmaundement be not kept he wyll cause pestilēce to reygne Wherout it is certayne that whan they be kepte the plage abydeth out Lykewyse sayeth he in the commaundementes Honour father and mother that thou mayest lyuelonge c. Out of the whyche it is certayne that hys lyfe whyche doth them not Hys lyfe that kepeth not Gods commaundementes shal be shortened shal be shortened In lyke maner sayeth Dauid in the .lv. Psal The bloud thyrsty shall not bryng theyr lyfe to the halfe nombre Wherout it is sure that they shulde lyue muche longer yf they shed not innocent bloud Lykewyse sayeth Christ Luce. xii Yf ye do not repent ye shall all peryshe as they that the tower in Siloa fell vpon Where by it is certayne that who so repenteth not maye loke for all mysfortune And of thys vntymely death onely speaketh thys Psalme and promyseth the faythfull Christen men that they shal be fre from it For from the ryght appoynted death into the whyche we haue consented in baptyme we can nor shal be delyuered Wherfore yf a vertuous ryghte Christen man dye of thys plage it is certaynly hys very houre appoynted vnto hym of God whyche he can not preuente But doutlesse ther dye of it many synners also besyde whyche myghte well lyue longer yf they repented And though some be taken because of theyr synnes yet be they not therfor damned but yf they axe forgeuenesse of synnes and beleue they shall be saued As Paule sayeth Whan we be iudged we are chastened of the LORDE that we shulde not be condemned wyth the worlde Thus goeth it then together that iuste men dye theyr owne ryght death but the wycked dye an vntymely death and therwyth doth God punyshe the worlde sorest of all because of theyr synnes but spareth hys owne for theyr faythe 's sake Therfore shulde they not be fearful nor fayntharted but as the prophete sayeth they shulde loke beholde how the vngodly are recompenced For whether the wycked dye before the tyme or the iuste in the ryghte season yet is it done both for the punyshement and plage of