the Lordes syght or els because that he had suffred many great tor mentes for the glorye of God yea perchaunse very death so by that meanes recounte hymselfe worthy by hys owne desertes of the lyfe eternall oure Mynstrell Dauid in this verse of his songe not vnto the derogacion of the sayntes honour whiche are not to be defrauded of theyr prayse but vnto the promocion settynge forth of Gods glory syngeth here howe it commethe to passe that the death of Saynctes that is of the faythfull is so precious i the sight of y e Lord. The cause is this sayth he because God hath broken theyr bondes For what is man that he maye appeare righteous in y e sight of God before whom a chyld of one day olde is not pure nor the starres in the Eliment nor nor yet the Aungelles in heauen There is no man good but God alone All our righteousnesses are as a clothe polluted wythe menstrue Who is able to say my hart is pure I am cleane without synne The moost ryghteous man in the world maye pray on this manner wythe Dauid Lorde enter not into iudge ment with thy seruaunte for none y â— lyueth shallbe fouÌ„d ryghteous in thy sight Is it ony maruayle wheÌ„ of our selues we are not able to thike a good thoughte moche lesse to worke ony good dede by our owne power before we be regeÌ„erate bor ne a newe and made other men by Christes Spirite And as towchyng the affliccion and trouble that we suffer in this worlde seme it to the flesh neuer so greate paynefull and intollerable yet can it not be compared to y e glo ry that shalbe shewed to vs as S. Paule sayth Notwitstandynge yf we suffer with Christ we shall also reygne with Christ yea be glorifi ed with hym not that we of our selues haue deserued so great glorye but because God hath so promised which can not lye but is faythfull in al his wordes leaueth no good dede vnrewarded that is done in Christ yea and that for his promise sake thorow his vnmesurable mercy poured forthe plenteously in the moost precioê° bloud of Christ Iesu. Now seyng y e not we onlye but also al y e euer we do of oure selues is vn pure vnclene in the syght of god vntyl both we al our dedes be pu rified by the diuine spirite therfore before we canne brynge forthe ony thinge that maye be approued and accepted before God we must be de lyuered from that moost miserable captiuite wherunto we ware caste of Satan thorowe the synne of Adam Our bondes must be broken we muste be set at liberte from the power of Satan syn death hel c. This thynge once done thaÌ„ what so euer we do in Christ and in oure newe regeneracion muste nedes be allowed before God receaued as an acceptable Sacrifice Yea whyther we lyue or dye both our lyfe oure death is right dere and precious in y â— syghte of the Lorde But let vs returne vnto our songe Although it be true nothynge more true y t God of his owne mere mercy fre goodnes vndeserued benignite saued vs whan we ware so vtterly loste that by no meanes we could seke ony parte of our own saluacion nor recouer by our owne strength power ony thynge at all that we before had lost in Adam so that both oure creaÌ„cion eleccion re demcion saluacion iustificacion glorificacion commeth only of hym thorow his moost entierly beloued sonne our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christe Yet do these his benefites only belonge vnto theÌ„ that are his faythfull seruauntes the sonnes of his handemayd as Dauid sayth here O Lord because I am thy ser uaunte yea thy seruaunt in dede the sonne of thy handmayde thou hast broken my bondes We se here that Dauid confessethe that God brake his bondes but he addeth also that he therfore is his seruaunt yea his vnfayned seruauÌ„te y â— soÌ„ne of his handmayd Wherby we maye easly learne that the merciful bene fites of God the father which lyghe poured out in Christes bloude pertayne not vnto all persons vniuersallye but only vnto those that are his seruauntes yea that not fayned but true hartye louynge and faythful the sonnes of his hande mayd God hath performed y e othe sayth y â— good preste Zachary father to S. IohnÌ„ baptist which he sware vnto Abraham our father to gyue vs that we beyng without feare delyuered froÌ„ the power of our enemies shoulde serue hym w t holynes ryghteousnesse before hym all the dayes of our lyfe We are delyuered sayth this good preste from the power of our enemiesnot y â— we should lyue wickedly vngodly but that we shoulde serue oure LORDE God not in our owne fleshly ymaginacions blynde good ententes but in holynes righteousnes yea that not a daye or two but al the dayes of our lyfe God hath not called vs saythe S. Paule vnto vnclennes but vnto sanctificacion God hathe blyssed you saythe the scripture by his sonne Iesus that euery one of you shoulde turne from his wicked nes God hath broken our bondes that we shoulde be his faythfull ser uauntes the sonnes of his hande mayd as Dauid sayth Now what is it to be the seruaunt of God Ue rely to do those thynges that we be commaunded of God In considera cion wherof S. Paule the other Apostles iÌ„ al theyr Epistles call theÌ„ selues the seruauntes of God bycause vnto the vttermoost of theyr power they euer fulfylled those thiÌ„ ges that were enioyned theÌ„ of god For it becommeth a seruauÌ„t to fulfyll his masters coÌ„maundemente not to worke after his owne fansy so maye he be bolde to appere in his masters syghte whan so euer he be called to aske that which his master hath promised him In lyke maÌ„ ner yf we wyll be counted so proued the seruauntes of God vnfaynedlye we muste earnestelye consider euery maÌ„ accordynge to his cal lynge what God hathe commaunded vs in his holy law and that we must laboure vnto the vttermoost of our power for to fulfyl or els we are no true seruauÌ„tes of God For by no meanes may we leaue y e wyll of God vnfylled practise thynges of oure owne imaginacion If ony man loueth me sayth Christ he wyl kepe my word my father shal loue hym we wyl come vnto hym and dwell with him He that hath my coÌ„ maundemeÌ„tes kepeth them he it is that louethe me For not euery one that sayth vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kyngdome of he ueÌ„ but he that doth the wyll of my father which is in heauen But it is to be noted that Dauid doth not only name hymselfe y â— seruaunt of god but he doubleth it sayth yea the seruaunt of God in dede As though he should
ChristeÌ„ religion seyng that infidelite vn faythfulnes is the destruccion and vtter decaye therof For so long as fayth remayneth so longe doth the Christen religion continew prosper well but let faythe be exiled vnfaythfulnes once inuade the har tes of Christen men theÌ„ goeth all to hauocke as we maye se in oure fyrst parentes Adam Eua which so longe as they beleued the worde of God walked therafter prospered liued ryght wel but wha they once gaue ouer y t fel vnto incredâ—… lite beleuyng the wordes of y e crafty serpente rather then the gentle admonicioÌ„s of so bouÌ„teous a lorde they became subiecte boÌ„de thraul to all kynde of miserye wretchednes so that thorow theyr vnfaythfulnes coÌ„ioyned w t lyke disobedieÌ„ce not they them selues only fell into captiuite but also all theyr posteri te Nowe to be made free from this thrauldome to recouer the libertie whiche before we loste thorowe disobedient vnfaythfulnes y e next moost redye waye is to beleue as Dauid teachethe here or els by no menes can we come vnto God nor yet please hym For he y t coÌ„meth to godsayth s. Paule must beleue So y t if we wyll come agen to God we must beleue But what shall we beleue certes not only y e god is which thynge the dyuels also do but that he is a rewarder beneficial father to theÌ„ that seke hym as the Apostle teachethe For althoughe we were dead thorowe synne walked after the fashon of this world eueÌ„ as meÌ„ altogyther vngodly and whollye estraunged froÌ„ all goodnes yet hath God which is rytche in mercye for his great charite wherwithe he loued vs quickened made vs alyue agayne yea that thorowe Christ in whome he hath shewed the exceâ—… dynge abundance rytches of hys grace for whose sake also he is well pleased with man so that he spared not his owne soune but gaue hym euen vnto the very deathe for our sake that by that one oblacion of his moost blyssed body an omnisufficient perpetuall sacrifice for euer to endure all alone sufficiente shoulde be offred for them that are saÌ„ctified These thynges to be true the holy scriptures shew euidently Therfore yf we wyll be of God and come vnto hym we muste not only beleuâ—… y e God is but y t al these thyn ges are true shall vndoubtedlye chaunse vnto vs as God hath promysed For the true christeÌ„ fayth cleaueth faste to the worde of God only doubteth nothynge therof as S. Paule sayth fayth coÌ„methe by hearynge hearyng by y e word of God Nowe as we ware loste before by beleuynge Satans deceatfull promises so the only way to be saued is to beleue the swete coÌ„fort a ble and infallible promises of God which he hath made to vs so plente ouslye in y e moost precious bloud of his derely beloued son oâ—…re Lorde sauiour Iesu Christ. For this fayth maketh vs of the chyldren of the di uell the soÌ„nes of God as S. IohnÌ„ testifie the so many as receaued hiÌ„ he gaue theÌ„ power to be made y e son nes of God in as muche as they be letted on his name Also S. Paule ye are all y e sonnes of God bycause ye haue beleuedi Christ Iesu. Now yf by fayth we be y e sonnes of God than are we also heyres Yea verely we are y e heyres of god fellow hey res with Christ. Agayne by faythe are we maried vnto god as god hiÌ„selfe witnesseth by his Prophet say enge I wyll marye the vnto me in fayth By fayth also are we iustified made ryghteous as S. Paule sayth we brynge iustified by fayth haue peace with god thorowe oure Lorde Iesus Christ. Thus se we what an excelleÌ„t tresure this true christen fayth is howe by y â— all good thynges chauÌ„se vnto vs without y t all that euer we do must nedes come to nought worke to vs damnacion But seynge that I haue spoken muche of faythe in all my workes almooste which I haue hytherto set forth I wyll nowe cease to speake ony more of it at this preseÌ„t go forth with the residue of Dauids Harpe only addynge this one thynge that the fayth which the scripture so hyghlyauaunceth is no dead vnfruit full fayth but lyuysh myghty in operacion beyng alwaye bent and seakynge an occasion to do good whaÌ„ tyme coÌ„meth is no lesse ready to brynge forth good workes than a womaÌ„ bygge w t chylde is redy to brynge forth her chylde whan her tyme of delyuerauÌ„ce is once come as it followeth ¶ The seconde strynge And therfore haue I spoken VUe heard before that fayth is the foundacion of the ChristeÌ„ religion the mother nourse of all godly workes Which thynge to be true our Mynstrell prouethe here For after he hath made mencion of faythe he syngeth also of good workes I beleued sayth he therfore haue I spoken Here se we that the true christen fayth worketh euer by charite whiche extendeth bothe vnto god our neyghboure What was y e cause that Dauid did speke Uerely his fayth I beleued saythe he therfore haue I spokeÌ„ Faythe goeth before workes followe For fyrst he beleued al thiÌ„ges to be true which god promised hym in the holy scriptures or otherwyse as by y e mouthe of his holy Prophetes and therof afterwarde ensewed a verye earnest feruent loue toward god which made hym to loue god agen to speake those thynges wherby the glory of god was set forth the health of his neyghbour sought so y â— by this menes he shewed hymselfe perfectely faythful both before god and man And this is it that saynt Paule wryteth it is beleued wyth the harte vnto ryghteousnes but with the mouth is confession made vnto helth A christen man setting before the eyes of his mynde the vn mesurable goodnes of God toward vs thorowe his sonne Christe gyuynge earnest fayth therunto can none otherwise but loue God agen seake all meanes possible to please hym to worke his wyll to do that which he requireth of him He is re dy at al tymes to bryng forth good workes after the exaÌ„ple of Dauid as to speke the misteries of God to set forth y e glory of God to publysh his moost holy worde to brynge all men to the true knowledge of God euen to engraffe theÌ„ in the bodye of Christ. All these thiÌ„ges worketh y â— quicke lyuysh fayth in him thorowe the spirite of God For fayth wyl not suffer him to be idle but al though thorowe fayth he be deliue red out of captiuite made the soÌ„ne of God iustified alredy in the sight of God before he bryngeth forth ony outward good workes yet doth thys true christen faythe kyndle such a loue in his hart
Dauid my treadynges had nygh slypt For I was sore greaued at the wic ked to se the vngodly in such prospe rite For they are i no parel of deth but stonde fast lyke a palace They come in no misfortune lyke other folke nother are they plaged lyke other men And this is the cause y t they are so puffed in Pryde ouerwhelmed wyth cruelte vnrighteousnes Theyr eyes swel for fatnes they do euen what they lyste Corrupte are they speake blasphemies maliciously proud presumpteous are theyr wordes They â—…retch forth theyr mouthe vnto heauen theyr tong goeth thorowe y e world Therfore fall y e people vnto them therout suche they no small auaâ—… tage Tush say they how shal God perceaue it Is theyr knowledge in the moost hyghest Lo these are the vngodly these prosper in the world These haue rytches in possession These haue sonnes y e growe vp as yonge plantes These haue mynyoÌ„ trymme doughters garnysshed round about euen lyke vnto a gorgious teÌ„ple These haue theyr garners full plenteous wyth all maÌ„ner of stoar These haue shepe that bryng forth thousandes hondred thousandes in theyr pastures and feldes These haue fatte oxen y â— are stronge to laboure To be shorte these haue no mischaunse no decay no trouble no noyse no complaynynge in theyr stretes that shoulde greue them Ieremy also saythe O LORDE thou arte more ryghteous than that I shoulde dispute wythe the neuerthelesse let me talke with the in thynges reasonable Howe happeneth it that the waye of the vngodly is so prosperous that it goeth so well with them which â—…out ony shame offend lyue in wickednes Thou planteste them they take roote they growe and brynge forthe fruyte They boste moche of the yet doste thou not ponyshe theÌ„ Thus se we howe the vngodlye lyke fat beastes wallowe tomble theÌ„ selues in all kynde of pleasures neyther wante they ony thynge in this worlde that theyr hartes can desyre yea they haue more prosperi te than they can awaye wythe all yet are the godly and Sayntes of the Lord oppressed with all misery leadynge a lyfe in great calamite wretchednes thaÌ„ ony creatures in the world But yet beholde y e ende of the wycked For sodenly they do consume perysh come to nought The Psalmographe sayth y e death of the wicked synners is very euel Agayne The vnrighteous maÌ„ shal receaue his plages ponyshmeÌ„tes whan he dyeth But let vs beholde these thynges as i a pure myrrour by rehearsyng certayne Hystories Howe triumphed the wycked kyng Pharao vpon the Israelites Gods people Howe lysle regarded he the sermons spoken and the myracles wroughte by the seruauÌ„tes of God Moses Aaron thorow the diuine spirite Howe continued he to persecute the people of God euen vnto the very hour of his death But be hold the ende Whan he was moost puffed vp in his pryde and mooste bent to do mischefe howe dyd God trap hym in his owne wylynesse euen broughte that vpon his owne head that he enteÌ„ded to brynge vp on other Dyd not God meruaylously drowne hym with al his wic ked army preserue his people by that meanes But what was that temporall deathe in comparison to the death eternall the moost greuous intollerable paynes that he nowe suffreth in hell fyre without mercye Agen how dyd Sennacherib y â— proud king of the Assirians bost hiÌ„ self not only agenst the good kyng Ezechias but also y â— lyuyng God yea blasphemed hym sayng as y e moost cruel lyonlyke tyraunt the great Turke doth nowe a dayes y t he woulde vtterly subdue both hiÌ„ his coÌ„pany yea y t theyr God shuld â—…e no more able to deliuer theÌ„ than 〈◊〉 broken staffe of rede He leaned muche to his owne poletyke wytte martiall valeaunce thynkyng y t in asmuch as heretofore he had sub dued all kyngdoms which he inua ded he also should haue ouercome y â— people of God But God which is the lyuynge almyghtye God able in a twyncklyng of an eye to make frustrate vayne all the fleshly ima ginacions of the worldly tyrauntes yea to brynge to noughte all theyr power sent his Aungell the very same nyghte that all the mischefe was enteÌ„ded agaynst his peo ple which smote in the hoost of the Assirians an hondred foure score fyue thousand men So that Sen nacherib brake vp departed and was shortely after slayne w t swerde of his owne sonnes An ende worthye suche a proude blasphemous Tyraunte But what is this vnto the infernall paynes y â— be endeles which he nowe remediles suffreth What proud crakes also dyd y â— ar rogant Tyrasite Holofernes make agaynst the people of Israel thynkyng that there was no kyngdome so inuincible stronge fortressed but that he with his martiall puissaunce feates of warre was able easly to ouercome So that he toke no thoughte lyued all in pleasure lyke a careles swyne gyuyng hym selfe to all kynde of beastelyke pleasures But howe valeauntly euen by one woman God dyd ouercome hym and put all his army to flight the Hystory maketh mencion What shal I speke of y e two Hero des wherof the one in the myddes of his fury wheÌ„ he was moost whot fyry in sekyng the deth of Christ for his sake sleynge innumerable infantes miserably dyed bringing nothing lesse than his cruell blou dy purpose to effecte so valeaunt myghty is our lord god to extiguish and quenche the tyrannye of these bloudsowpers whaÌ„ it is his moost godly pleasure to preserue those whome he wyll haue kept fre from theyr crudelite furious madnes The other Herode eueÌ„ in y e middes of his pompe honoure glory beynge clad in his kyngly apparel set Luciferlike on his iudgement seate after that he had moost Tyrauntelyke persecuted certayne of Christes chyrch yea slayne withe swerd Iames the brother of IohnÌ„ was smote of the AuÌ„gel of y e Lord because he gaue not y e glory to god So that he was eaten vp of wormes But what nede I rehearse so many Histories oute of the diuine letters seyng that this one whiche I shal nowe recite maye seme abuÌ„dantly to satisfy for to shewe howe precious in the syght of the Lorde the deathe of his saynctes is seme theyr lyfe in this world neuer so mi serable wretched pitieful poore ne dy beggerly full of all trouble so row dolour camalite Agen how vile detestable the death of y e wyc ked is in the Lordes syght be theyr lyfe here neuer so pompous galaÌ„t easy volupteous ioyful quiet care les popelyke S. Luke in his Gospell declareth how there was a certen ritche man which was apparelled w t pur ple costely lynnen fared deliciouslye euery daye In these wordes the Euangelist sheweth manifestly howe this