stomblynge block that the vngodlye haue such prosperyte vpon earth And that the beloued sayntes of God on the other syde are euer plaged c. and sayeth Yf I haue but the o LORDE I passe not vpon heauen nor earth Though both body and soule shulde perysshe Yet thou o God arte the cōforte of my harte and my porcion Now after what maner the LORDE is with hym he sheweth farther more and sayeth Thy staf and thy shepehooke do comforte me Howe the LORD is p̄sent with many faithful men The LORDE sayth he is wyth me but not bodely that I may se or heare hym Thys presence of the LORDE wherof I speake is not comprehended wyth the fyue wyttes Onely fayth seyth it The same is sure that the LORDE is nyer vnto vs then we are to oureselues Wherby euen by the worde Therfore sayeth he Thy staf and thy shepehooke comforte me As yf he wolde saye In al my troubles and necessityes I fynde nothynge vpon earth whereby I maye be helped to be at rest Onely the worde of God is my staf shepehooke where by I holde me and stonde vp agayne And sure I am lykewyse by it that the LORDE is with me and doth not onely strengthe and cōforte me by the same worde in all troubles and tentacions but also delyuereth me from all myne enemyes spyte of the deuell and the worlde Wyth these wordes Thy staf and thy shepehooke do cōforte me cōmeth he agayne vnto the similitude of the shepherde the shepe The similitude of the shepherd wyll say thus much Lyke as a bodely shepherde ruleth his shepe with the staf or shepehooke leadeth them to the pasture to fresh water where they fynd meate and drynke and defendeth them wyth the shepehooke agaynst all parell Euen so doth the LORD the true shepeherde gyde and rule me with hys staf That is to saye with hys worde to the intēt that in hys syght I shuld walke wyth a good belefe and a mery conscience and knowe to beware of vntrue doctryne and false holynesse Besyde thys he defendeth me also agaynst al ieopardy and mysfortune bodely and goofily and deliuereth me from all myne enemyes with his staf that is to saye wyth the same worde doth he strengthe and comforte me so rychelye that ther is no mysfortune so greate whether it be bodelye or goofilye but I am able to come out of it and to ouercome it this goeth spiritually to worke By thys thou seyste that the prophete speaketh here of no helpe defence or comforte of man Nother draweth he out ony swearde c. It goeth here all secretely and preuelye to worke euen by the worde So that no man can spye thys defence comforte but onely they that beleue And here doth Dauid wryte a generall rule for all Christen men whiche is well to be noted Namelye that ther is none other meane waye vpon earth for onye man to be delyuered out of all tentations saue onely to cast all hys burthen vpon God and to hold hym faste by hys worde of grace to cleue surelye vnto it and in no wyse to suffre it to be taken frō hym Who so doth thys can be content whether he be in prosperite or aduersyte whether he lyue or dye And fynally he can endure and must nedes prosper agaynst all deuels the worlde and mysfortune Thys me thynke is a greate prayse of the good worde of God and a greater power is ascrybed here vnto it then is the power of all angels men Thus doth S. Paule prayse it also Rom. i. The Gospell sayeth he is the power of God for the saluacion of all them that beleue thereon The office of preahige And with thys doth the prophet touche the offyce of preachynge for by the mouthly preachynge of the worde whiche goeth in at the eares and that the harte taketh holde vpon thy fayth and by the holy sacramentes doth oure LORDE God brynge ass thys to passe in his Christen congregaciō namely to the intent that the people maye haue fayth be strenthed in belefe and preserued in the true doctryne Item that they maye fynally endure agaynst all temptacions of the deuell and the worlde For sence the begynnynge of the worlde hathe God dealte thus with all his sayntes by his worde and besyde the same hath he geuē thē outwarde tokens of grace This I saye because that no man shuld take vpō hym without these meanes to medle with God or to chose hym selfe a peculyar waye vnto heauen els shall he fall and breake his necke as the pope and his hath done And as the Anabaptistes other sedicious spretes do yet this daye And with these wordes Thy staffe and thy shepehooke do comfort me wyll the prophete shewe some speciall thynge As yf he wolde say Moses is ashepherde lykwyse and hath also a staffe a shephooke neuerthelesse he doth nothynge els but cōpell and punysshe his shepe and ouerladeth thē with an intollerable burthen Act. xv Esay ix Therfore is he a fearfull a terrible shepeherde of whō the shepe are afrayed and flye from hym Neuerthesesse thou LORDE with thy staffe and shephooke compellest not thy shepe nother makest them afrayd nor ouerchargest them but geuest them comforte Therfore speaketh he here of the office of preachynge the newe Testament whereby tydynge is brought vnto the worlde that Christ came vpon earthe to saue synners and therby hath optayned them suche a saluacion that he hath geuen hys lyfe for them All they that beleue thys shall not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe Ioh. iii. Thys is the staf and shephooke wherby the soules take refreshynge The staf the shephoke comforte and ioye Wherfore in the spirytuall shepefolde that is to saye in the kyngdome of Christe ther ought none other sawe to be preached but the Gospell which the prophet with ornate wordes calleth the staf and shephooke of cōforte whereby they be strengthed in fayth refresshed in theyr hartes and receaue consolacion in all maner of troubles and euen at the poynt of death what they be thatlede Christes shepe in a grene medowe They that so preach vse the spirytuall shepherdes offyce aryght fede the shepe of Christ in a grene medowe leade them to the fresh water refresh theyr soules kepe them that they be not deceaued comforte them with the staf and shephooke of Christ c. And where thou hearest suche one be sure thou hearest Christ hymselfe Suche men also oughte to be taken for true shepherdes that is to saye for the mynysters of Christ and the stewardes of God Nother oughte it to be regarded that the worlde cryeth out vpon them and calleth them heretikes and deceauers Agayne they that teach ony thynge els contrarye to the Gospell causynge men to trust to theyr owne workes merites to theyr owne fayned holinesse these no doute though they boast thē neuer so muche to be the successours of the Apostles decke
vnbelefe that men do not beleue and trust in God that he can and wyll delyuer And thus is verifyed the sayenge The vngodly haue no peace Esay lvii For yf we wyll feare and flye where no parell is whan wyll we then bestowe oure lyues for oure neghbours as Christ hath done for vs we also be bounde to do lykewyse .i. Io. iii. Who so now desyreth to escape the wrath of God thys horrible plage let hym not axe his own reason how he shal do but beleue follow the word of God which teacheth hym not to flye euell ayre infecte places which he maye well do neuerthelesse he remayneth yet vncertayne wheter it helpeth or no but it teacheth hym to leaue of from synne as from the very originall cause of thys plage and punyshment and by true repentaunce and amendemēt of lyuyng to walke agayne in the ryght waye For that is the onely sure wholsome flyenge in thys daūgerous tyme wherby a man may escape thys plage But whyther a man ought to flye therof wyll we heare the holy gooste by the prophete in thys psalm He knoweth it much better then we can thynke and sayeth after thys maner Who so sytteth vnder the defence of the hyghest and abydeth vnder the shado we of the almyghtye He sayeth vnto the LORDE My hope and my stronge holde My God on Whom I hope For he delyuereth me from the snare of the hunter and from the noysome pestilence These wordes my moste dearely beloued shall ye take to hart and marke them well wyth all diligence For they be not the wordes of men whyche can lye and deceaue Hewbeyt though they were mens wordes some olde wyse man spake them or some well learned physician ye wolde not yet despyse them but receaue and kepe them But now be they the very wordes of the hye maiestye of God which the holy goost speaketh by the mouth of the prophete And they teach vs whether we ought to flye for thys plage that we maye be safe And certaynly they must nedes be the very truth For heauen and earth must passe but my wordes shall not passe sayeth the LORDE But that ye maye vnderstande them ryght and well ye shall remembre that it is the vse of the holy scripture specially in the psalmes to declare one meanynge with two maner of sayenges as ye haue oft tymes herde For so doth the prophete here sayeth Who so sytteth vnder the defence of the hyghest and abydeth vnder the shadow of the almyghtye To syt vnder the defence of the hyghest For to syt vnder the defence of the hyghest is euen as much to saye as to abyde vnder the shadow of the almyghtie And with these wordes meaneth the holy prophet nothynge els but who so putteth hys truste in God with aryght sure Christē belefe geueth hymselfe ouer into his proteccion and defence For such people doth God receaue to grace thē holdeth he for his owne deare chyldren and euen so they be and geueth them his holy sprete whiche worketh in them very saluacion and godly workes Therfore remayneth he also vpō them and all thynges must serue for theyr wealth as Paule sayeth Rom. viii Suche proteccion also and defence of God is set forth vnto vs euery where in the scripture as an ouershadowyng coueryng with wynges For lyke as the two Cherubins spred out theyr winges ouer the Arke Exod. xxxvii Euen so doth God sprede out the wynges of hys protectiō ouer hys electe Therfore sayeth Moses Deuter. xxxii Lyke as an Aegle steareth vp hys nest and flyeth ouer hys yonge ones so spredde he out hys fethers and bare hys people vpon hys wynges After this maner spake the holy angell Gabriell also vnto the mooste blessed and pure virgyn Mary whā she shulde be the mother of God The holy goost shall come vpon the and the power of the hyghest shall ouershadowe the Luc. i. In lyke maner spake Christ also vnto Jerusalē How oft wolde I haue gathered thy chyldren together as an henne gathereth hyr chekens vnder hir winges ye wold not Mat. xxiii For though a true beseuyng man be in dede the temple of God God dwelleth in hym yet vseth the scripture oft to speak therof as though he dyd flye aboue vs in asmuche as he doth ouershadow couer defende vs and that because the heauen and the heauen of all heauens as Salomon sayeth can not comprehende nor conteyn hym .iii. Reg. iii. But though he dwelleth in vs yet flyeth he wyde hye and lowe not only on the outsyde of vs but also on the outsyde and ouer all creatures And so in all these wordes ther is nothynge els sayde but who so euer is a ryght beleuynge Christen Marke nowe then that he sayeth not Who so is wyse strōge ryche whole or well frended Nother sayeth he also who so kepeth hym selfe thence or flyeth thether holdeth hym selfe well or vseth good phisycke but who so putteth hys trust in God Not that the foresayd good thynges be euell or maye not be had or vsed wyth profyte But that they where fayth is not may euen as soone do harme as good are in no wyse able to delyuer from the wrath of God But what doth the beleuer He sayeth vnto the LORDE my hope They that misvse Gods creatures cōmitte spiritual whordome But this do not the vngodly and vnbeleuers but set theyr hope in the forsayd poyntes put theyr trust in them and boast theron and so commyt spiritual whoredom therwith and make ydols therof But to God do not they lyfte vp theyr eyes nother thynke they vpon hym nor feare hym And whan he commeth then with hys wrath and ouertaketh them wyth a plage so that of necessite they must nedes thynke vpon hym than feare they and be afrayed of hym flye away and knowe not where to abyde Then vanysheth awaye theyr hope and boastynge whych they in tyme of prosperite had vnto the creatures Horrible is the death and ende of the vnryghteous And so commeth it to passe that theyr wysedome hath ben playne foolyshnesse theyr strength theyr own mysfortune theyr ryches theyr owne destruccion theyr health theyr owne harme theyr frēdes theyr owne ypocrytes traytours Sapie iii. ‡ Jo. viii a Psal i. b Pro. x. a. and. xi a Eccls v b Jacob. i. b ‡ And all that whyche they trusted vnto can not helpe thē Whan they wolde hyde themselues on the backsyde therof it is euen as much as whan one hydeth hym behynde a ladder And whan they wolde seke helpe thereby it is euen lyke as yf a wolfe shuld defēde a shepe or a goose But thus goeth it not wyth the beleuer for who so putteth hys trust in the LORDE shal not be cōfounded Therfore sayeth he not only that the LORDE is his hope but also hys stronge holde whyche he maye flye vnto in the whyche he maye shutte hymselfe close and be delyuered therin As Salomon sayeth in the .xviii.
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
my comforte that my shepherde hath geuen his lyfe for me Besydes this he hath also a swete and louynge voyce wherwith he comforteth and sayeth I shall neuer perysh nother shall ther ony mā plucke me out of his hande but I shall haue euerlastynge lyfe This promyse wyl he faythfully kepe with me what so euer become vpon me And thoughe somtyme ther chaunce a synne or other impediment by the reason of myne in fyrmite yet wyll he not therfore cast me awaye for he is a louynge shepherde whiche loketh to the weake shepe byndeth vp theyr woundes and healeth them And to the intent that I shulde be the surer of this not to doute theron he hathe lefte me here the holy Sacrament for a token that it is so in dede Euen thus hath the prophete done He was not mery alwaye nother coulde he at al houres singe The lord is my shepherd I shall lack nothyng He hath ben sōtyme at many a great exigēt yee al to many so that he nother felt the ryghteousnesse cōforte nor helpe of god but playne synne the wrath of God fearfulnesse dispayre the paynes of hell c. as he complayneth hymselfe in many Psalmes Neuerthelesse he turneth hym from his owne felynge and taketh holde of God by his promise concernynge Messias that then was for to come and casteth this in his mynde Howe so euer it stande with me yet is thys the cōforte of my hart that I haue a gracyous mercyfull LORDE whiche is my shepeherde whose worde and promyse doth strength and cōforte me therfore shall I lacke nothynge And euen therfore hathe he wrytten thys and other Psalmes to the intent that we shulde be sure that in very temptacyons there is els where no counsel nor comforte to be found And that this is the onely golden science namely to cleue vnto the worde and promyse of God and to iudge after the same and not aster the felynge of the harte And so no doute ther shall followe helpe comforte and not fayle in ony thynge ¶ Now followeth the seconde verse He fedeth me in a grene pasture and leadeth me to the fresh vvater In the fyrste verse hathe the Prophete shortly comprehended the meanynge of the whol psalme namely that who so euer hath the LORDE for his shepherd shall lack nothynge More than this doth not he teache in thys Psalme but onely setteth forth the same more at larg with goodly ornate wordes and similytudes how it chaunceth that they which are the lordes shepe lack nothyng and sayeth He fedeth me c. But almoost thorow out the whole Psalme as his maner is oft tymes to do he vseth wordes whiche signifye somwhat els than they sounde As whan he maketh mencion of the shepherde of the fedyng of the grene pasture of the fresh water the staf the shepe hooke c. it is easy to perceaue that he wyll haue somwhat els vnderstonde therby then we men vse to speake therof Suche maner of speakynge is very cōmune in the scripture and therfore shulde men take diligent hede thervnto that they maye be accostumed wythall and learne to vnderstonde it But se howe well fauouredlye he can speake I am sayeth he a shepe of the lordes whiche fedeth me in a grene pasture c. A naturall shepe can not be better thē whā the shepherde fedeth it in a pleasaunt grene pasture and besyde fresshe water Yf it can haue thys it thynketh no man vpon earth is more ryche or happyer then it For there it fyndeth euery thynge that it can desyre A goodly thyck plentyfull grasse wherof it waxeth stronge and fat A fresshe water wherewyth it can refresshe and quycken it selfe There hath it pleasure and ioye Euen so wyl Dauid saye herelyke wyse that God neuer shewed hym a greater grace and benefyte vpon earth then thys that he myght be in the place and among the people where the worde and dwellynge of God and the ryght Gods seruyce was For where that treasure is there goeth it well both in the spirytuall and wordlye regiment As yf he wolde saye All the nacions and kyngdomes vpon earth are nothynge They are in dede rycher myghtyer and more glorious then we Iewes and make great boastynge therof They boast also of theyr wysdome and holynesse for they haue goddes also whome they serue yet wyth all theyr pompe and glory they are but euen a playn wyldernesse and desert For there is nother shepherde nor pasture therfore muste the shepe nedes straye be famyshed perysh As for vs though we haue many wyldernesses aboute vs yet syt we here at rest safe and mery in paradyse and in a pleasaunt grene pasture where there is plentye of grasse and fresshe water and haue wyth vs oure shepherde whiche fedeth vs leadeth vs to the drynke defendeth vs c. Thefore can we lacke nothynge The chefest good vpō earthe is to haue gods word Thys man had goostly eyes and therfore sawe he ryghtwell what is the best and noblest good vpon earth He maketh no boast of his kynglye worshyppe and power he knowlegeth wel that such goodes are also the gyftes of God nother runneth he frō thē letteth thē lye but vseth them vnto the honoure of god and geueth hym thankes therfore But of this maketh he speciallye hys boast namelye that the LORDE is hys shepherde and he in hys pasture and fedynge That is that he hath Gods worde This benefyte can he neuer forgette but speaketh therof maruaylous excellentlye and with greate ioye and prayseth it farre aboue all the goodes vpon earth And thys he doth in many Psalmes as in the .cxviii. where he sayeth The lawe of thy mouth is dearer vnto me then thousandes of golde syluer Item I loue thy commanndementes aboue golde and precious stone O howe swete are thy wordes vnto my throte Yee morethen hony vnto my mouthe What we ought here to learne Thys science shulde we learne also namelye to let the worlde boast of theyr great ryches honoure power c. For it is lowse vncertayne and transytory ware whiche God casteth into the doūgeon It is a small matter for hym to geue an vngracious persone that blasphemeth and dyshonoureth hym agayne for hys rewarde a kyngdome a dukedome or ony other worshyppe and good vpon earth These worldlye goodes are hys draff and swillynges wherwyth he fylleth the hogges bellyes that he is disposed to kyll But vnto hys chyldren as Dauid speaketh here therof he geueth the ryght treasure Therfore shulde we as the deare chyldren and heyres of God nother boaste oure selues of oure wysdome strength nor ryches but of thys that we haue the precious pearle euen that worthy worde whereby we knowe God oure louynge father and Iesus Christ whome he hath sent The word of God is oure treasure Thys is oure treasure inheritaunce whiche is sure and euerlastynge and better then al the good of the worlde Who so hath thys let hym suffre other men to gather
mony together to lyue voluptuously to be proude and hye mynded But though he hymselfe be despysed and poore in the sighte of the worlde yet let not that tempte hym but let hym thanke God for hys vnoutspeakeable gyfte pray that he maye abyde thereby It maketh no matter how rych glorious we be here vpō earth Yf we kepe thys treasure we haue plentye of ryches honoure Saynt Paule was a man of lytle reputacion and poore vpō earth hauynge the deuell the worlde very fearce agaynst hym But in the syghte of God he was a man ryght deare greatly set by Besydes this he was so poore that he was fayne to get his liuyng wyth the labour of hys handes And yet for all the greate pouertye he was rycher then the emperour of Rome hauynge neuerthelesse none other ryches but the knowlege of Christe For the which sayeth he Phil. 3. I counte all thynges nothynge vpon earthe excepte very losse and dounge The God of mercye graunt vs grace that we also after the ensample of Dauid Paul other holy men maye coūte oure treasure which is euē the same that they had as greate magnifie it aboue al the goodes vpō earth and hartelye to geue God thankes therfore that he hath wetesafed it vpon vs God hath done more for vs thē for many other afore many thousandes of other He myght haue suffred vs to go astraye as well as the Turkes Egypcians Iewes and other ydolatrers which know not of that treasure Or els he myghte haue suffred vs styll to be harde harted as are the Papystes that blaspheme and condemne thys treasure of oures Where as he hath set vs now in hys owne grene medowe and prouyded vs so rychely with good pasture and fresshe water It commeth euen of hys grace therfore haue we the more to thanke hym for The medowe As for the people of God or the holye congregacion of Christ the prophet calleth it a grene medowe For it is Gods pleasaunt garden garnysshed and bewtyfyed with all maner of spirituall gyftes The grasse The pasture or grasse therin is the worde of God whereby the consciences are strengthed and refresshed In the same grene medowe doth oure LORDE God gather hys shepe together fedeth them therin with good grasse and refressheth them with fresshe water That is he committeth vnto the holy Christen church the shepherdes office deliuereth and geueth her the holy gospel and the Sacramentes to take charge and loke to hys shepe therewith that they maye be rychely prouyded for wyth doctrine with comfort wyth strength what they be that fede shepe in the wyldernesse and with defence agaynst al euell c. As for those that preach the lawe of Moses or the commaundementes of mē they fede not the shepe in a grene pasture but in the wyldernesse where they famysh and leade them to foule stynkynge waters wherof they perysh and dye By this allegorye of the grene pasture wyll the the prophete declare the great abundaunce and ryches of the holy gospell and of the knowlege of Chryst amōge the faythfull The great ryches of suche as beleue For lyke as the grasse in a grene medowe standeth goodly thycke and full and euer groweth more and more Euē so haue the faythfull not onely Gods worde wyth all plēteousnesse but also the more they vse it and medle withall the more it increaseth and groweth amonge them Therfore setteth he the wordes maruaylous playnly He sayeth not he bryngeth me once or ofte into a grene pasture but fedeth me styl therin that I maye lye take my rest and dwell euen in the myddes of the grasse and nede neuer to suffre hunger or ony scarcenesse besyde For the worde that he here vseth maye be called lyenge or restynge as a beast lyeth and resteth vpon his foure fete After the same maner doth Salomon speake also in the .lxxi. Psalme where he prophecyeth of the kyngdome of Chryste and the gospell that it shulde myghtely go thorowe and come in to all places and sayeth Ther shall be an heape of corne in the earth hye vpon the hylles c. shal be grene in the citye lyke grasse vpon the earth That Dauid also in thys Psalme speaketh lykewyse of the gospell he declareth hymselfe afterwarde wher he sayeth He quyckeneth my soule Icē Thy staffe thy shepehooke do cōforte me The fyrst frute of Gods worde This is now the fyrst frute of the worde of God that the christē are so instructe therby that they increace in faith hope learne to cōmytte all theyr doynges vnto God what so euer they haue nede of eyther in soule or body to loke for it at his hande c. And leadeth me to the fresshe water The secōd frute of Gods worde This is the second frute of gods worde It is vnto the faythfull not onely pasture and grasse wherby they are fylled strengthed in faythe But it is also vnto them a goodly colde fresshe water where by they take refresshynge and comforte Therfore leaueth he not there where he sayde He fedeth me in a grene pasture but addeth this also vnto it And leadeth me to the fresh water As yf he wolde saye In the greate heate whan the Sōne doth sore burne Psal c. xx and I can haue no shadowe then leadeth he me to the freshe water geueth me drynke and refressheth me that is in all maner of troubles anguishes and necessities goostly and bodely whan I knowe not els where to fynde helpe or comforte I holde me vnto the worde of grace There onely and no where els do I fynde the ryght cōsolacion refreshynge that plenteously Now wheras he speaketh here of this comforte with garnysshed wordes he talketh of it in another place with playne and manyfest wordes Psal 118. sayeth Yf thy worde were not my comfort and delyte I shulde perysshe in my trouble I wyll neuer forget thy worde for in my trouble it is my consolacion yet thy worde quyckeneth me Why the scripture rehearseth so oft this similitude Neuerthelesse continueth styll in the similitude of the shepherde and of the shepe And no doute it is cōmun in al the prophetes For of the shepe and other cattell had the Iewes theyr best lyuynge and were cōmunly shepeherdes as was Dauid and the Patriarkes Therfore is this similitude oftymes spoken of in the scripture But Dauid speaketh of this matter after the nature of the contry For the lande of promyse is an whote drye sandye stony lāde which hath many wyldernesses lytle water Therfore in the fyrst boke of Moses it was more thē once declared how that the heythen shepherdes stroue with the shepeherdes of the Patriarkes because of water For the whiche cause in the same contry they toke it for a speciall treasur yf they myght haue water for theyr cattell In our contryes we knowe not therof for ther is water ynoughe euery where Of this dyd
he promyseth you that shal be yee and not naye He wyl abyde faste by his promyse euen as he sayeth hymselfe I will not take away my kyndnesse from hym Psal lxxxviii nor suffre my truth to fayle I wyl not breake my conuenaunte not disanulle the thynge that is gone out of my lyppes ⧠Howe wyfe chyldren and other frendes shal be comforted the husbonde beynge dead SEynge nowe that God hath called your husbonde father or other good frende out of thys mysery into euerlastynge ioye therfore shall ye receaue it wyllyngly for it is hys worke Repyne not therfore at hys worke nother wepe agaynst his wyl cōmitte the cause vnto him take it of his hande as a fatherly prouynge saye with Iobe God hath geuen vs hym hath taken hym agayn the name of LORDE be blessed as it was the LORDES wyll so is it happened God almyghty wyll proue you as be dyd Iob how ye wyll behaue youre selfe as he taketh out of youre syght the thynge that ye loue He wyll admytte well ynough that ye be sorye For it is seldome sene but a man be he neuer so vyle Ther is no membre of the body but it hath hys proper gyfte or of so lytle reputacion hath euer a sondery gyfte wherew t he serued profyted other And the same gyftes were not greatly regarded in a man whyle he lyued for cōmunely we regarde lytle suche thynges as are present but as soone as the man is gone so soone as that vessel is spilte thā begynne we to want the gyftes that were cōteyned therin Therfore is it no maruayle that we be sory for suche a gyfte of God yf it be takē out of our syghte God is displeased wyth mysvsynge of hys gyftes As longe as we use men the gyftes accordyng as they be ordeyned of God for our necessite than do we well and that can God suffre well ynough But that we misvse thē and make an ydost of them that can not God suffre For whan we put oure trust cōforte in man or ony other creature than do we wrōgge misvse the same and the curse cōmeth vpō vs wherof it is wryttē Ierem. xvii Cursed is the mā that putteth hys trust in man For all mans helpe is to be suffred only whā they be presente and that we haue nede of them but as soone as they are gone than must we loke for other helpe namely God lettynge go it that passeth awaye thynkyng it to be tēporal faydynge at the twynklynge of an eye and vanyte that is in thys world We haue here no abydynge thyng but must loke aboute for the thynge to come that endureth for euer God can not abyde that we make much of creatures For thys cause doth God draw pull vs so from the creatures And seynge he is oure true father bridegrome husbōde he can not for he is strōge gelous abyde that we set oure hope loue or trust vpon ony creatur Thys is the cause then that he doth take vs from thē and caryeth vs vpon hym selfe For loke on what creature we haue mooste hope loue and affection that wyll he soonest take out of syght yf he doth loue vs. And whan he hath suche gelousy vpon vs than doth he mooste chefely declare hys loue towarde vs. We ought to call noman father vy◠earth By thys also it commeth that Christe Mathe .xviii. forbyddeth vs to call ony man father vpon earth for we haue onely one father in heauen namely God which wyl nor can suffre vs to call or to haue ony mā vpon earth father that because we shulde depend and hange only vpō hym lokyng for al good of hym For he wyll be the same that we maye hardely truste vnto seynge he can not nor wyll fayle vs that because he is no earthly but an heauenly father For thys cause than is that man blessed and happy that putteth hys trust hope and confidence in the LORDE as the prophete sayeth Psal xxxiii Fynally yf whan nature fulfylleth hyr course Iob. xiii man hath but cōtinual trauayl mysery after that thys course of nature is ended at rest mā is eased of so great trauayl we seme to hate rather thā to loue them that be departed yf we wold wish thē to be in this wretched worlde agayne Moreouer in makyng so muche of oure frendes departed and settyng so greate affection vpon them wysh ynge Gods worke not to be fulfylled vpon them we blame God in hys wyll and workynge as though he knew not better what were best both for them and vs than we Let vs therfore set oure wyll in Gods wyll and suffer hym to worke at hys pleasur For he knoweth best what is both oure frendes and oure soules health FINIS ¶ Printed in Southwarke by me Iames Nicolson
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