Certeine comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. Iohn Hooper, Bishop of Glocester and Worcester written in the time of his tribulation and imprisonment, vpon the XXIII. LXII. LXXIII. and LXXVII. Psalmes of the prophet Dauid.

TO ALL THE FAITH∣full flocke of Christ, grace and peace from God the Creatour, Christ the Redeemer, and the holy Ghost the comforter.

MAnie are the monu∣ments (beloued in the bowels of Christ Ie∣sus) and volumes of the faithfull left as le∣gacies to the Church of Christ: which as they are y^e true riches (for they are spiritu∣all:) so ought they to be reuerenced, not onely with outward seruice of body, but also with inward submission of soule. Among which monumentes, being the treasure of the Church, and such iewels in deede as the price of them is inualuable: this excellent worke, (though wanting bignesse, yet ful of brightnesse) of that most learned, godlie, faithfull, zelous, con∣stant, and in all points praise worthie Protestant, Maister Iohn Hooper, Bishop of Glocester and worcester, challengeth no small title of dignitie.

For, if the wordes of our Sauiour be true, (which to improue what incestuous mouth, without horrible blasphemie, a trespasse vnpardonable, dare presume, seeing he is the verie substance of truth it selfe?)* 1.1 that he is a true disciple of Christ, which continueth to the end: then is it the dutie of vs all, except we hide our profession vnder the hiue of hypocrisie: not onely by looking at the life of such a loadesman, to reforme our defor∣mities: but also, by tracing ouer and through the testimonies of the trueth (such godlie bookes I meane as are left in writing to the worlde, as vn∣doubted assurances of an vnspotted conscience) to thanke God for so singular an instrument of his Gospell: & to beseech him to worke in vs the like loue his law, that we may be partakers of such glorie, as (no doubt) this notable Martyr of God doth immortally enioy. Of whom breefly to in∣sert and say somewhat (because the brightnesse of such a glittering starre, cannot bee ouercast with the cloudes of obscuritie and darkenesse) shall be a meanes to make the worke more commenda∣ble, although (in very deed) precious things haue their proper price, and therefore consequently wil haue their deserued praise.* 1.2 And first to touch his blessed beginning, blessed (I say) euen frō aboue with the dewe of Gods grace, his education in Oxford, his prosperous proceeding in the know∣ledge of Diuinitie, his forsaking not onely of the Vniuersitie, but also his common Countrie, his flight into Germanie, his returne into Englande,

his painefulnesse in preaching, his fame and cre∣dit among the people, his obteined fauour with the Kings maiestie,* 1.3 his aduauncemēt to more thā a Bishoplike dignitie, his dispensatiō for his cere∣monious consecration, his secret enimies the sup∣porters of papistrie, his supplantation by their pri∣uie cōspiraces, his faithfull continuance notwith∣standing in sowing sincere doctrine, his painful∣nesse in hearing publike controuersies, his visiting of scholes and founteines of learning, his main∣taining of godlie discipline, his want of parciali∣tie in iudgement betwixt person and person, his Bishoplike behauiour abrode in his Dioces, his fa∣therly affection at home towardes his house and familie, &c. do warrant him the name of a Saint vpō earth: & surely God hath registred him in the Kalendar of his chosen seruāts in heauen. Againe the falling away of his fauourers when religion languished, the malicious practises of his aduer∣saries threatening his destructiō, the bloudthirstie broching of his persecution, his appearing before the Queene and her Councell, the tyrannicall cō∣tumelies of his Archenimie,* 1.4 his spitefull accusati∣on, his milde purgation, his vndeserued depriua∣tion, his cruell imprisonment, his harde intertain∣ment, his lamentable lodging, his succourles sick∣nesse, his pitifull complaintes, his restlesse tribu∣lations, his streight examinations, his apologe∣ticall aduouchments, the cōmitting of him to the Fleete, the tossing of him from the Fleete to the Counter in Southwarke, from the Counter in

Southwarke to the Clinke, from the Clinke to Newgate, his vniust degradation, his cruell con∣demnation, and his lamentable execution, &c. all these pageantes considered, as they were done, woulde make a flintie heart to mealt, and stonie eyes to sweate, not onely water, but also bloude: and to be short, the whole bodie, though all the lims thereof were as strong as steele, euen for pi∣ties sake to tremble. This comming within the compasse of my poore consideration,* 1.5 I remem∣bred that Christ Iesus, the onely begotten sonne of the almightie & eternal God, had passed the like yea and worse perilles: as by the historie of his death and passion may appeare: that the Proto∣martyr, S. Steeuen had his tormenters, S. Paule the Apostle his persecuters, and other of Christes disciples their afflicters: then thought I, that these sanctified vessels made their vocation honoura∣ble, euen by their deathes, which were opprobri∣ous: and therefore, howe can it bee, but that this our Martyr, worthie Bishop Hooper, offering vp his body a burnt sacrifice, liuely, reasonable, & acceptable vnto God, shoulde giue good credit to his doctrine, assure his profession, affirme his vo∣cation, & liue in euerlasting memorie, by the dis∣persion of his bookes, though his fauour be for∣gotten, and his body consumed? Of such a soul∣dier, so valiantly fighting vnder the ensigne of his Capteine, I cannot say sufficient. Of this I am re∣solued, that although his earthly tabernacle bee destroyed:* 1.6 yet hath hee a building giuen him of

God, euen an house not made with handes, but eternall in the heauens, where God graunt vs all to reigne,* 1.7 as ioynt heires with Christ his annoin∣ted. To proceede and approch neerer to our pur∣pose (for the premisses are effectuall enough, to breed beleefe, and to kindle reuerence, in the heart of any true Christian, towardes this our excellent Martyr, replenished with the abundance of Gods holy spirit) I commende vnto thy minde (good reader,) a good work of this so good a mā: name∣ly, Certaine expositions vpon the 23. 62. 72. and 77. Psal∣mes of the Prophet Dauid, of the which the three last (being gathered together by a godly professor of the trueth M. Henrie Bull) were neuer before printed. Their beginnings are vsually read in this maner. 23. The Lord feedeth me, & I shal lack nothing 62. My soule truly waiteth vpon God. 72. Truly God is louing vnto Israel, euen vnto such as are of a cleane hart. 77. I wil crie vnto God with my voice, euē to God will I crie with my voice, & he shall hearken vnto me. The expositions of which psalmes to be pithie, & profitable, this may be a substantial proofe: because they were written in the time of his trouble, whē (no doubt) he was talking in spirit with God: & being so occupied, his exercises could not but be heuenly, & therfore effectuall, fruitfull, and comfortable. Come there∣fore y^u sorrowing soule, which gronest for reliefe to this spring. Come hither, & heare what a good man wrote ex carcere & vinculis, out of bonds and imprisonment, for thy consolation. Heare him once, heare him twise, heare him often, for thou

for thou canst not heare him enough. He giueth thee a pleasaunt Pomander, vouchsafe it the smelling: he soundeth swete musicke, it deserueth good dansing: he bidds thee to a sumptuous ban∣quet, bee not deintie in feeding: he presenteth vn∣to thee a pretious diamond, it is worth the taking: Oh giue God thanks for all, & glorifie the Lords name, whome it hath pleased to plant in his vine∣yeard so fruitefull a vine, which beareth grapes Gods plentie, of whose iuice ô Christ vouchsafe vs to tast, that our vessels beeing seasoned with true sanctification, they may be made sweete to receiue and preserue the water of the riuer of life, flowing from the liuely rocke Christ Iesus: to whom, with the Father, and the Holy ghost, one Trinitie in Vnitie, be all laud and praise euerlasting, Amen.

Thine in Christ, A. F.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Constan∣cie & con∣tinuance required in the pro∣fessours of the trueth.
• * 1.2

  An abridg¦ment of Bishoppe Hoopers life, and death, tru∣lie gathe∣red in cir∣cūstances.
• * 1.3

  Bishop Hooper in estimation with King Edward y^e sixt.
• * 1.4

  Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winche∣ster, Bi∣shop Hoo∣pers pro∣fessed eni∣mie.
• * 1.5

  If Christe the heade haue bene persecuted euen to the death, the mem∣bers must needes bee subiect to affliction.
• * 1.6

  2. Cor. 5.
• * 1.7

  The lay∣ing down of his life for the Gospels sake, de∣serueth be liefe and reuerence.