Iesus Christ Goddes sonne maketh vs clene from all synne Thus se we y t by Christ by Christes death passion bloud the bondes of synne are broken and we sette agayne at liberte As for death hel desperacion what can they do Are not they also ouercome Let vs heare what y e Scripture sayth out of the power of deathe saythe the LORDE wyll I delyuer them from death wyll I redeme theÌ„ O death I wyll be thy deathe O hell I wyll swallowe the vp S. Paule also saythe Death is swallowed vp into victorye Where is thy stynge O deathe Where is thy victorye O hell The stynge of deathe is synne the power of syn is the lawe But thankes be to god whiche hathe gyuen vs the victory thorowe our LORDE Iesus Christ. Agen By death hath Christ put hiÌ„ to flyght that had lordshyppe ouer death that is to say the dyuel that he myght delyuer them which thorow the fere of death were al theyr lyfe tyme in daunger of bondage O swete and confortable sayenges O thalone true and christen pleasu res As touchynge oure last enemy whiche is the curse of the lawe are not we also made free from that by Christ What sayth the scripture Christ hath redemed vs froÌ„ y â— curse of the lawe whyle he was made accursed for our sake Agayne Christe is y e perfect fulfyllyng of y e lawe to iustificacion for euery one that beleuethe Also in another place be it knowen vnto you ye men brethreÌ„ that thorow this man Christ is pre ched to you the forgyuenesse of synnes from al the thynges wherby ye coulde not be iustifyed by y e lawe of Moses thorowe hym euery one that beleueth is iustified Thus se we that our boÌ„des are broken thorow Christ we also set at liberte froÌ„ the daunger of all our enemies so that now there is no coÌ„ demnacion for theÌ„ that are engraffed in christ Iesu whiche walke not after the flesh but after the spirite For the lawe of the Spirite of lyfe thorowe Christe Iesus hathe made them fre from the law of synne and death Who wyl now lay ony thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifyeth who can than condeÌ„ne Hereof coÌ„meth it to passe that after we be once delyuered froÌ„ y e power of our enemies haue oure bondes broken set at liberte thorowe christ christes passion death bloud by whome Satan is vanquisshed synne put to flyght death ouercome hel swallowed vp desperacion driueÌ„ out of place the curse of the lawe vtterly takeÌ„ away yea the lawe fulfylled and heaueÌ„ gates open for the faythfull all that euer we do in christ is acceptable in the sight of God taken to good worth moche made of not for the dignite of the worke it selfe but because it is salted with y e dignite holines ryghteousnes purite innocency of Christ in whose name what so euer is done smelleth swetely before GOD so that bothe the thoghtes wordes dedes lyfe death of y e Sayntes that is of the faythfull yea all y e euer we do is precious in the syght of y â— Lorde as we herd before For sure we are that all thin ges worke to the best for them that loue God whiche are called of purpose For those whome he knewe before hathe he ordened also before y t they should be lyke fashoned vnto y â— shape of his sonne that he might be the fyrst begotteÌ„ amonge many bro thren As for those whome he hath ordyned before them hath he called also whoÌ„e he hath called theÌ„ hath he also made ryghteous whoÌ„e he hath made ryghteous them hathe he glorified also What shall we saye than vnto these thynges If God be on our syde who can be agaynste vs But let vs se what is to be ren dred gyuen agayne vnto God for these his inestimable benefytes toward vs miserable synners ¶ The seuenth verse I wyll offer to the the sacrifyce of prayse on the name of the Lorde wyl I call ¶ The tente strynge OUr Mynstrell Dauid goethe forth to be lyke hymself y â— is to saye to shewe that he is one of a very gentle thankefull nature redy at all times vnto the vttermoost of his power to recompeÌ„ce and make amendes for ony poynte of kyndenes that is shewed to hiÌ„ as we may se here For after y â— he hath songe of the singulare incoÌ„parable benefi tes of god which are shewed not on ly to hym but also to all mankynd I meane so many as are the faythfull people of God beleue in hym lyue accordynge to his diuine wyll and hathe consydered howe greatly both he all the faythfull are blyssed of God thorowe them in Christ Iesu he now taketh an occasion to ponder wyth hym selfe how he may shewe hym selfe thankefull agayne to God as he dyd before in y â— â—…ourth fyfte verse of this his songe For he desyreth nothynge to be more estraunged from his manners than ingratitude vnthankefulnes He thyncketh it no poynte of humanite to leaue the beneficence and gentle liberalite of a mortall maÌ„ vnrecompensed to neglecte therfore and nothynge to regarde the inestimable goodnes the infinite benefites of God he recouÌ„teth it an acte highly to be detested and abhored of ony christen harte To shewe hymselfe therfore thankefull to God for his benignite he is now full bent But what wyll he gyue God agayne What amendes wyll he make him In what thynges wyll he shewe 〈◊〉 selfe thanckefull agayne vnto the LORDE â–ª Wyll he gyue hym mountaynes of golde Wyl he bryng him heapes of precious stones Wyll he fetche hym frankensence and other swete sauours out of Araby Wyll he offer vnto hym fatte oxen lusty hayffers well lykynge shepe c. Na verely for he knoweth ful wel that GOD reiectethe all these thynges in many places of the holy Scripture neyther hathe he ony nede of Dauids goodes which hath bothe heauen and earth at his owne plea sure and all that is contayned in them Dauid knowethe full well y â— his goodes were gyuen hym of god that he should help his poore neigh bours with theÌ„ What wyl he gyue God than Uerely the sacrifyce of prayse of thanckes gyuynge For this is that thynge whiche God de syreth so greatly as he hymselfe testifyethe The Sacrifyce of prayse sayth he shall honour me Agayne offer to God the sacrifyce of prayse What so euer ye do sayth s. Paule in worde dede do all thynges in y â— name of the LORDE Iesu gyuynge thanckes to God and the father by hym Agayne he mercyfull Also in another place Gyue thaÌ„kes alway for all thynges in the name of oure LORDE Iesu Christ to God the fa ther. To the Hebrewes also he wry teth on this maÌ„ner By hym he me
delyght only in his moost holy law seke the accomplysshment of his diuine wyll by no meanes admytte nor heare the voyce of ony straūger For as y e womā is an whore thogh she bereth y e name of an honest wife neuer so moche y e is not contented with her owne husbonde but followeth other men ronnethe a whore huntynge after straung louers castyng away the sincere true loue that she ought to beare toward her husbonde So lykewyse if suche as call thē selues the chyrche spouse of Christe forsake theyr husbonde Christe be not contented w t hym his word alone but followe straūg doctrines ronne a whorehūtinge after new lawmakers which teach thynges cōtrary to the wyll of this bridegrome yea or els they themsel ues make lawes decrees actes con stitucions c. that fyght withe th◅ voyce of this heauenlye shepparde Brydegrome and husbonde Christ Iesu surely surely let them beleue me they are not y ◠spouse of Christ but fylthy whores vnclene harlottes stynckynge strompettes abhominable adultresses stulyke Goshyppes thoughe they weare neuer so many triple crownes carnal hat tes glysterynge myters forked cap pes c. vpon theyr heades haue neuer so many pilers pollaxes cros ses crosser staues syluer roddes borne before them For y e spouse of Christ only hereth the voyce of her husbonde followeth that cleaueth to that by no meanes ronneth a whorehuntynge after straunge louers neyther carethe she for theyr voyce fayre wordes flatterynge promyses seynge she knowethe full well that no man can shewe thynges more necessary profytable vn to her health saluacion than her husbonde hath already done Ther fore recounteth it she a very vayne madde thynge to forsake this her true alone husbond Iesus christ to followe straungers I am gelous ouer you sayth S. Paule w t a godly ielosye For I haue maryed you to one man to brynge a chaste virgine vnto Christ. This moche haue I spoken by the waye concernynge the chyrch y ◠all men maye knowe the chyrche of Christ whiche is the handmayde of God the spouse of Christ hauing nother spor nor wryncle but altogither glorious pure vndefyled from the Synagoge of Antichrist be no more deceaued w t outward appearaunces glysterynge visars and paynted clokes vnlesse they go forthe to worship reuerence haue in honour certayne deceatfull shadowes for y e self trueth as we haue done in tymes paste God make vs al the seruauntes of y e Lordes hand mayd and graunt that we maye so abyde in the olde catholyke fayth in the doctrine of Christes chyrche y ◠we may be blissed haue our bondes broken as it followeth O LORDE because I am thy seruaunte yea thy seruaunte in dede sayth Dauid and the sonne of thy handemayde thou haste broken my bondes What bōdes are these that God hath broken made vs fre frō them thorowe Christe settynge vs agen at liberte Uerely the bondes of Satan synne death hell desperacion and the curse of the lawe Fyrst as concernyng Satā eue ry man knoweth howe we were in captiuite bondage to hym by the sinne of our fyrst father Adā which thorowe his disobedience dyd caste vs into the bondes of that infernal Prince made vs captiue thraull so that by our owne strēgth power wytte polecy free wyll we could neuer haue set oure selues agayne at liberte But God of his tender mercy fre goodnes whan we had caste our selues into this bondage promised vs deliueraunce when he spake these wordes vnto y ◠serpent I wyll set emnite betwene the and an woman betwene her seed thy seed That selfe seed shal trede down thy heade And so many as beleued them were at that very instant de lyuered from the bondes of Satā For what other thig is it to treade downe the heade of the serpent thā to vanquish subdue hym to make his power frustrate of no strēgth yea and to set those agen at liberte whiche before were his bonde preso ners Nowe although this promise were not streyghtwayes fulfylled yet stode it in effect with y ◠faithful they so sone as they beleued were deliuered out of captiuite set at liberte agayne made the sonnes of God thorowe the faythe that they had i Gods promise which he made vnto thē in his derely beloued sōne Christ Iesu. But whan christ was once come had fulfylled this promyse of hys celestiall father than was Satans power vtterly adnihilated and made of no strength His bōdes were broken wherwithe so miserably he dyd detayne hold vs as S. Iohn̄ testifieth The sōne of god dyd appere for this purpose euen to dissolue losen breake the workes of the dyuell So that now Satan hathe no more power ouer vs excepte wyllyngly we cast oure selues agayne into hys bondes as S. Iames sayth resist the dyuell he shal flye from you For although he goeth about lyke a roryng lyon seakyng whome he maye deuoure yet can not he deuour no nor yet so muche as once byte or towche ony faythfull man excepte he wyll of a set purpose caste hymselfe into that Dragons rauenyng teth to be rent torne the sōne of God hath set vs at such libertie gyuen vs our ma numission so frely and plenteously Nowe seyng that Satan which is our moost vtter enemye is so vā quisshed subdued we vtterly de liuered from his captiuite that our bondes are brokē wherwith he had vs bound it is to be thoughte that synne death hell desperacion and the curse of the lawe can worcke vs ony euell or that theyr power is so gret that they are able to make vs styll captiue and bonde presoners As towchynge synne to whome is it vnknowen that as the power of Satā is vāquisshed by Christ so in lyke māner is synne thorow hym put to flyghte He is that lambe of God which taketh away the synne of the worlde He is that sauioure which saueth his people from theyr synnes He is yea he is that Lorde in dede whiche putteth awaye our iniquities yea that for his owne sake wyll remēber them no more He came into y ◠worlde to saue synners He beynge without all synne offered hym selfe vpon the altare of the crosse a swetesmellynge Sacri fice to God y ◠father for vs made a sufficiēt satisfacciō for al our syn nes Thorow his name all the Pro phetes beare witnes that so many as belue in him shall receaue remis sion of theyr synnes For ther is no health in ony other nether is there ony other name gyuen vnto men wherby they myghte be saued but only the name of Iesus Christe He is that Bysshop whiche w t one oblacion yea that once for all hathe made them perfecte for euer more y t are sanctified To be short y e bloud of
Dauids Harpe ful of moost delectable armony newely strynged and set in tune by Theodore Basille Psal. 97. ¶ Prayse the Lorde vpon the Harpe and syng to the Harpe wyth a Psalme of thankes giuynge Wyth Trompectes also Shawmes oh shewe your selues ioyeful before the Lord the Kynge ¶ The principall contentes of this boke i. Of faythe Of the confession of fayth of good workes ii Of the crosse persecucion trouble for the truethes sake iii Of the vanite falsehode vnrighteousnes of man iiii Of the benefites and great gyftes of God v Of bearynge the Crosse callynge on the name of the LORDE vi Of vowes to be payde what they vii Of y e death of sayntes howe are precious it is in the syghte of God viii Of the Chyrch of Christ and y â— Sy nagoge of Antechrist ix Of the free delyueraunce from the bondes of Satan thorowe Christ. x Of the Sacrifice of prayse Read and thou shalte reioyse For hearyng this heueÌ„ly voyce ¶ To the ryghte honorable Syr George Broke Lord Cob ham Theodore Basille wys sheth long lyfe coÌ„tinu al helth prosperoê° felicite ALthoughe in the whole psalmody of Da uid there canne not be foâ—…e one Psalme whi che is not able to replenysh the spirituall true Christen man wyth suche so great ioye as is ineffable can by no meanes be expressed yet in my iudgement and opinioÌ„ this Psalme which I haue nowe from all the other selected to declare beynge in nomber the hun dred fyftene after the coÌ„mon Laten translacioÌ„ farre excellethe and chalengethe the preeminence as I may so speake For verely so oft as I redeâ—…t me thik I am in a ioyfuland delectable Paradyse wher al kynd of pleasures do abound so ofte as I taste of it it semeth vnto me lyke a goldeÌ„ floude which floweth forth wyth moost goodly and pleasaunte stremes to conclude this Psalme so ofte as I heare the wordes of it beteth replenyssheth myne eares w t suche swete and delectable armony as none maye iustely be compared vnto it so that neyther Mercurius Apollo nor his sonne Orpheus nor yet any other whome the auncient Poetes do so greatly coÌ„mend exalte wyth incomparable encomies prayses in theyr moost eloquente lucubracions and ornate monumeÌ„tes are able to compare wyth thys our Mynstrell Dauid beynge not only an excellent Musicion but also a puyssaunt kynge and a diuine Prophet Although they shame not to wryte that wyth theyr musicall instrumentes they ware able theyr melody beyng of so great efficacye vertue strength myghte power to make the greate Okes to shake theyr toppes to cause whole flockes of shepe goates oxen c. to followe them daunsyng pleasauntly to moue mountaynes to make the swyfte streames of the runnynge floudes to stonde styl yea to fetch oute soules euen out of hell For all these thynges dothe this our mynstrell Dauid also much more truely thaÌ„ they fayne of theyr old Musicions What other thyng I pray you dreamed they by the shakynge of the greate and harde Okes toppes but only to shewe y t the worde of God is of so great strength that the Princes and rulers yea euen y â— myghtye Tyrauntes of the worlde can none otherwyse then shake treÌ„ ble bowe do reuerence vnto it graunte that it is the almyghtye worde of trueth lyfe health salua cioÌ„ wherto they must nedes obey submyt theÌ„ selues seyng y t agenst it they can neuer preuayle neyther by act couÌ„cell wysdoÌ„e asseÌ„bly synode congregacion or ony other humayne polecy as Salomon testifiethe ther is no wysdoÌ„e there is no forcast there is no couÌ„sayle y â— caÌ„ preuayle agenst y â— LORD or els y â— what so euer they go in hand with all shall come to noughte shall not prosper yea that they them selues also shall be destroyed as Christ saythe Who so falleth on this stone shall be brokeÌ„ on peces loke vpon whome it falleth it shall grynd hym to poulder Agayne what ment they by the followynge and daunsynge of the shape gotes oxes c. but only to de clare that at y â— preachynge of God des word all people reiâ—…se are mery as we maye se in the moost blyssed virgin Mary which replete w t y â— great ioy of this worde songe on this maÌ„ner My soule magnifyeth the LORDE my spirite hath reioy sed in God my sauioure S. Elizabethe also wyfe to the moost vertuous preste â—…acharias mother to the holye man S. IohnÌ„ Baptiste sayd vnto Mary her Cosyn whan she came had saluted her Behold when I hearde the voyce of thy salutacioÌ„ the babe dyd skyppe in my wombe for ioye The Aungels also sayd to the Sheppardes Beholde I shew to you great ioye For there is borne to you this daye a Sauyour whiche is Christ the LORDE in y â— Cytie of Dauid What can make vs soner to be merye to daunse to skyppe to leape for ioye than to heare that by Christ the alone sauiour of the worlde we are delyuered from our spiritual enemy Pharao the dyuell and that by hym we are made safe froÌ„ synne death hell desperacion c. to whome all thorowe the synne of oure father Adam we ware made seruile captiue bonde thraull that we are nowe replenysshed wyth lyfe ioye pleasure felicite wealth rest peace traÌ„quilite quietnes of conscience and al kynd of gladnes Moreouer what is signified by the mouynge of mountaynes but the coÌ„uersion of men of power from infidelite vnto fayth froÌ„ ydolatry vnto the true worshyppynge of God from supersticion vnto god ly religion froÌ„ the dedes of the flesh vnto the fruytes of the spirite froÌ„ affiauÌ„ce reposed in theyr owne carnal politike workes vnto y e trust in the true and lyuynge God Furthermore what other thyng dyd they figure shadowe by y e stoÌ„dyng styl of the swyfte floudes but only the great admyracion merue lynge stupoure wonderynge of y e Gentyles whan they heard a newe kynde of religion taughte them as we maye se in the Actes of the Apo stles To be shorte as towchynge y â— fetchyng of soules out of hel what other thynge mente they theÌ„ that by the preachynge of Christes Gospel the very dead in synne shall reuiue be made alyue agen as Dauid sayth the lawe of the LORDE is pure it turnethe soules The wytnes of the LORDE is faythfull and gyuethe wisdome vnto babes The statutes of the LORDE are ryght reioyse the harte the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of the Lorde is pure gyueth light to the eyes Christ also sayth I am y e resurreccion lyfe he y t beleueth in me although he be dead yet shal he liue euery one that liueth and beleueth in me shall neuer dye Is not the Gospell of Christ called the word of lyfe in dyuers places of the holy
Scripture bycause it quickeneth gyueth lyfe to them that be fore were dead laye buryed in the stynckynge donge hyll of synne Thus se we that what so euer the olde Poetes haue wrytten in ti mes past coÌ„cernyng y e excellency of y e musike of theyr Minstrelles it is altogither nothiÌ„g elles than a very type figure cloud shadow of this our Mynstrell Dauid which doth y â— very same thynge in dede which they fayned in wordes So that al the glory prayse of true Musyke ought of ryght only to redowne vn to oure moost excellente Musicion Dauid And althoughe he sheweth hymselfe a very perfecte Musicion connynge Mynstrell in all his other soÌ„ges Psalmes yet me thiÌ„ke in this our Psalme he farre excelleth almoste ouercoÌ„meth himself his Harpe soundeth so pleasauntly his songe is so ful of moost swete delectable armony Neither doth he entreate of vayne childish lyght tryflynge thiges but of serious graue earnest weyghty matters For he syngeth of fayth of the confession of his fayth of good workes of the crosse trouble affliccion of the vanitie noughtynes of man of the benefites of God of the inuo cacion callynge on the name of y â— LORDE of the vowes to be performed vnto the LORDE before his peo ple of the deathe of Saynctes and howe precious it is in the syght of God of the free delyueraunce from Satan synne death hell desperacion c. thorowe Christ of the Sacrifice of prayse and as I maye at the last make an ende of the ryghte institucion of a Christen mans life in this worlde What songe may be coÌ„pared vnto this our song What Harpe maketh so goodly plesauÌ„te melodye as this Harpe of Dauid doth Let all mynstrels gyue place to this our Mynstrel Let all Harpes other musicall instrumentes be silente holde theyr peace whan Dauids harpe entreth coÌ„meth in place Let all songes be banysshed whan Dauids Psalmes be songe For what so euer Dauid syngethe it is excellent incoÌ„parable He w t his songes exciteth prouoketh en flameth y e myndes of the faythefull diligent hearers vnto the loue desyre not of traÌ„sitory but of heaueÌ„ ly thynges He conforteth the conforteles He exhorteth the synnner vnto amendmeÌ„t of lyfe He lyfteth vp the desperate vnto the hoope of Goddes mercy He corroborateth maketh stronge the weake He healeth the diseased He rayseth vp the dead vnto lyfe He makethe the sad mery He exhilarateth reioycethe y â— merely disposed To coÌ„clude he is a Mynstrell fytte for all kynde of parsons so y â— they be bent vnto god lynes Ah woulde God y â— all Mynstrels in the world yea all sorte of parsons both olde yonge woulde ones leaue theyr lasciuious wantoÌ„ vnclene balades syng such god ly vertuous songes as Dauid te cheth them wherby they myght be auocated called away from synne excited stored vp vnto vertue goodnes For it is not vncomly for Christen men to synge ChristeÌ„ songes yea that in all places so that it be done reuerently w toute ony iestynge scoffynge raylynge or reproche of other persons Moreouer who can deny y â— there is much great vertue in Dauids Harpe seynge that the sounde ther of dyd chase dryue awaye the vncleane wycked spirite out of king Saul wherwith at other tymes he was miserably afflicted troubled Agayne must not Dauids songes be of great excellency seyng that y â— sonne of god came downe from the glorious throne of his heauenly fa ther to accoÌ„plish fulfyl theÌ„ Doth not Paule also saye be ye fylled w t the spirite speakynge among your selues in Psalmes Hymnes spirituall songes syngyng makyng melody in your hartes to y e LORDE euer gyuyng thanckes for all thinges in the name of our LORDE Iesu Christ Certes the Psalmody of Dauid maye well be called y â— Trea sure house of the holye Scripture For it contayne the what so euer is necessary for a christeÌ„ maÌ„ to know There is nothynge in the lawe no thynge in the Prophetes nothyng in y e prechyng of Christ of his apo stles y t this noble Mynstrell Kyng Prophet doth not decantate and synge w t moost goodly manifeste wordes He syngeth all the workes woÌ„derous miracles of God from the begynnynge of the worlde vntyll the redeÌ„pcion of mankynde by Christ. He syngeth Christes incarnacion preachinge workyng of miracles passion death resurreccion ascencion glory the blessynge of all nacions the conuersion of the GeÌ„tiles withe all other misteries that pertayne to our helth He syngethe the iudgement mercy of God He syngeth the discoÌ„mendacion of vice auauncement of vertue He syngeth the vanite vnryghteousnes of mens streÌ„gthes without y e helpe of God To be short he sigeth what so euer is expidiente for a Christen maÌ„s knowledge So that eueÌ„ this one boke alone of Dauids songes had ben sufficieÌ„t truly to instructe a man in the ryghteousnes of God but y t the goodnes of God would y â— our fragilite weakenes ignorancy shoulde be holpen w t mo scriptures O the wonderful meruelous strength of Dauids Harpe O the great excedyng vertu of Dauids songes Happy is that man that de lyghteth hath a pleasure in them for he shal neuer be vexed w tan euel spirite He shall alwaye abhore vice enbrase vertue He shall neuer be sadde but euer reioyce w t a godly spiritual myrth Would God that all men of honoure woulde noryshe such Mynstrelles in theyr houses as Dauid is that might syng vn to theÌ„ bothe at dyner supper yea and at all other tymes these moost swete delectable songes of Dauid So should both they all theyr family be desposed to lyue more vertuously than many be nowe a dayes be prouoked to leaue theyr poÌ„pous galaÌ„t wycked venereal fleshly beastlyke vncleane manner of lyuynge Would God also that all fathers mothers al masters and mastresses would brynge vp theyr chyldren and seruauÌ„tes in the syngynge of these moost godly songes Agayne woulde God y â— all Scholemasters teachers of youth would in stede of Uirgile Ouide Horas Catullus Tibullus Propertiê° c teach these verses of Dauid For so shoulde they not only obtayne eloquence but also diuine erudicion godlye knoweledge spirituall wisdome encrease in all kynde of ver tue vnto the great glory of God y â— saluacion of theyr owne soules the ryght institucioÌ„ of theyr owne lyfe the great ioye of theyr parentes y â— good reporte of theyr techers and to the hygh coÌ„modite of the ChristeÌ„ publique weale God grafit that it maye once thus come to passe But I wyll returne vnto our Psalme which I haue entiteled iÌ„ the forhed of my boke Dauids Harpe Some man wyll meruayle peradueÌ„ture whye I call this Psalme Dauids Harpe