Commentary Upon Micah, Chapter 7 – Prayer
The .vii. Chapter.
WO is me, The Textfor I am lyke the gleaners of Sommer fruites, and as the braunches after the wyne harueſt. There is not a Cluſter of grapes to eate, my ſoule deſireth type fruite.
Thus doth our Prophet bewayle the meſery of hys people, he compareth the good amonges them hym ſelfe, and the other to the gleaners and gatherers after harueſt is ended, and al cleane gathered into thy barnes. And the beſt amōgs men to the wyne braunches wythered, dryed, and hauing nothyng vponupon them, wherupon the deſyrous ſoule myght be ſaſiate, Therfore he mourneth and waileth for the myſery whych of neceſſytie muſt folow ſo far ſpred iniquiti. And he ſheweth in the verſe folowynge, what fruit it is that he ſeketh. What grapes they are hys ſoule deſyreth (Biccurah the firſt ripe frutes) meanynge the fore fathers fiſt borne & the former age Abraham. Iſaac, Iacob, Dauid. Theſe doth Ieremy cal Iſrael, whiles they walked in holynes the fyrſt fruits vntounto the lord. And heare our Prophet dothe complain that al thys good rype fruit is gathered and gone, and nothyng lefte vngathered, but brambles and thornes whyche are fit for nothing but the fyre euen for the fyre of Gods wrath, whych ſhal ſhortely be kyndled, and no creature ſhalbe able to quenche it, or to abyde the heate thereof: For thys oure Prophet wayleth and cryeth wo.
The TextThe good periſheth foorthe of the earth, neyther is any ryghtuous vponupon earth. Al dooe lye in wayghte for bloud. EueryEvery man hunteth hys brother as wyth a net. They labour to make good the euyll of theyr handes. The prince aſketh, and the iudge for reward, and the greate mā ſpeaketh the deſtruccion of his owne ſoule, and they draw wyckednes as wyth a threfolde cable. The beſt amongs thē is lyke a bryar & the ryghteous lyke a thorne of the hedge. The day of thy ouerſears, the day of thy vyſitaciō is come, nowe ſhall they bee full of perplexitye.
Here may we ſe how the ſpirit of god is in hys holy ſaints & prophets is vexed & trobled for our wickednes.i. King .x. Elias thus wayleth: I hauehave lyued long inoughe, O Lord, take away my ſoule, I am no better then my fathers. And the Lorde calleth vponupon hym, & he anſwereth againe. I hauehave bene zelous & feruēt for the lord of hoſts, becauſe the children of Iſrael hauehave forſakē thy couenaūt. They hauehave deſtroied thine altars, ſlaine thy prophetes with the ſwerd, & I am left alone & they ſeke my ſoul to take it away.Eſay. lvii Eſay ſaith: the iuſt periſheth, & no man regardeth it, in his hart. The good & merciful are gathered to their graues,Pſal. xii. Pſal. liii. & no man vnderſtandeth. Dauid crieth alſo: Saue vsus O Lord, for the holy ones do fayle & waſte, ye faithful ar cōſumed frō amōgs the childrē of mē. Againe, the lord loked down frō the heauēs, vponupon the children of Adā, to ſe if ther wer any ye dyd vnderunder ſtād, or that did ſeke the Lord. Al ar gon bak together, thei ar abhominable, ther is not one that dooth good, no not one. Do you knowe nothinge O you worckers of wyckedneſſe whyche dooe eate vppe my people as men doo eate breade and calleth not vponupon God? In al theeſe thynges that oure Prophete and other holye wryters dothe charge you, O Princes iudges and Magiſtrates, examyne your owne conſcience, and iudge youre ſelues, that you be not iudged and condemned wyth the wycked. You are here likened to Caine whiche did lye in wayt for his brothers bloude. You are likened to Nimroth huntinge your brethrene to catche them in youre nettes. If you wer not ſuch, we ſhoulde not heare of ſuche ſodayne tal and ruyne of noble houſes. But what ſoeuer you doo that muſte bee well done ſaythe oure Prophet, ſo ſtoutlye wyll you defende your own doinges too make euyll good, and good euyll as Eſaye ſaythe and to cloke your wycked worckes, if you do feare anye daunger.
The Prince that beareth cheyfe rule and maye do the mooſte too hyde youre myſcheyfe he muſte be won wyth gifts, and if he be ſuche one as will receiue thē he ſhall hauehave whatſoeuer hee wyll aſke, the iudge muſt hauehave part of that whiche is geuen & the greate ryche man by this meanes bryngeth forwarde hys purpoſe to the deſtruccyon of hys owne ſoule. Whiles this thre folde cable is thus linked. Therefore dothe Eſaye threatning woo and deſtruccyon to them that thus drawe inquitie with cables of vaniti and wickednes with carte roopes. Whyche counteth euyll good, and good euyll, whyche do iuſtifye the wycked for gyftes And ſaythe farther. Lyke as the flame of the fyre dothe deuoure the ſtuble:Eſaye .v. ſo ſhal the roote of ſuche be like the coles, and theyr budde be like the duſte.
This ſimilitudes of briers and thorns are broughte in for this purpoſe to vtter the ſtinginge and prickinge of wickednes. As bryers and thrones do prycke al that handleth thē whiles thei do growe, and when they are hewen vppe they are good for nothinge but to kindle a ſpeadye fyre. So ſaythe oure Prophete that the beſt and mooſte rightuous amonges them are noiſome and harmful vntounto mē and fit fire brandes for the furi of God. This ſhalbe knowen moſt plainelye on leſſe we do repent when the daies of our viſitacion commeth (which is at hande) when affliccion ſorowe and carefulneſſe and pietie and doutfulnes ſhal come vponupon al fleſhe, as foloweth.
Geue no credence to thy frend The Texttruſte not thy brother keepe the doore of thy mouth from hyr that lieth in thy boſome. For the ſonne ſlaundereth the father, the doughter riſeth vppe agaynſte the mother, and the daughter in lawe againſte the mother in law.
Beholde the ſorowe ampietie and doubtfulneſſe whiche foloweth by iuſte plage the worldlye Tirauntes and euyl dooers. They dooe ſtynge ano prycke euerye manne that medleth wyth them like thornes, they muſte of no neceſſytye therefore feare, dyſtruſt, and be vndoutefull of euerye creature as Dionyſius the Tiraunte and ſuche lyke where of ſome not truſtinge theyr owne wifes were compelled to ſearche theyr pryuye chambers nightelye, and theyre wyfes coffers, & credite therein barbarous and cruell ſougioures. Other durſt not truſt theyr owne doughters, but fearynge all other creatures refuſed the healpe of theyre Chamberlaynes and other ſeruauntes. Durſte credyte no barboures to ſhaue theyr beardes, but vſed the help of theyr Doughters whyles they were yonge to ſhaue theyr beardes, but when theyr doughters did growe to more age and yeres wherein they were able to dyſcerne theyr fathers doinges, the fear of theyr owne conſcience like Canites for the crueltye they hadde ſhewed to other, wold not ſuffer thē to commit thē ſelues to theyr own fleſh and blud, to their bowels which did come forthe of theyr owne bodies. But ſaide within them ſelues as did cruel Cain. Eueri one that can finde the oportunitie wil ſlay me, and ſo wyth their owne handes they were compelled to ſwing of the hear of theyr own beards with brenninge coles. This is the greate and greuous plage that the almyghtye threatneth to laye vponupon the wicked. To make hym lyke a boylynge ſea whyche canne hauehave no reſt, whoſe floudes dooth rage to their owne ruin, ther is no peace nor reſte too the wycked ſaithe the Lord God.Eſay. lvii. This did appeare in Cain after he hadde killed his brother as it was ſayde before thinkinge by iuſt iudgmente therfore that euerye manne ſhoulde ſlaye him that ſhoulde mete him. And becauſe in oure peryllous tymes there is ſo many Canites, it is no meruel though eueri man be afraied of his brother, no mā truſteth another, the noble feareth ye cōmōs the commones truſteth not the nobility. Theſe are the laſt dayes wherein iniquitie dothe abounde, louelove is loſte, charitye quenſhed, faythe and truſte are dryuen forthe of mannes company. If there be anye tokens of louelove ſhewed, it is for ſome wicked purpoſe, either for the clokinge of ſome vice or the withdrawing-from vertue and godlineſſe, ſuche therefore we muſte alwaye ſuſpect. And if thy brother the ſonne of thy mother as Moiſes ſaithe, or thy ſonne, or thy doughter, or thy wife that is in thy boſome, or thy friende whom thou loueſte as thine own life be about to perſwade the to the worſhip of ſtraunge goddes or anye ſuch obhominacion, thou mayeſt not onlye not geue credence vntounto them but to help to puniſh them Deu. xiii. If the Emperour ſhould ſende his Interim into England or the Pope his decretals that all ye fayr promiſes that the wicked can imagine, defye them bothe and deteſte theyr flatterye. If anye Frenſhe or Scottiſhe Ladye ſhoulde flatter for lyke purpoſe, ſhe oughte mooſt horrible to be deteſted and abhorred remembring that Salomon by the flattering of his wifes, was brought to Idolatrye. Sampſon to his owne deſtruccion. And infinite other that hauehave fallē ſom into one vice, ſome in an other and ar length to ſhamefull endes by the flatterye of fayned friendes. Beware of flatterers therefore O kinges and princes, for be ſure when ſo euer you ſhal delite in them you ſhal not long continue withoute ſhame. The moſte preſent poyſon to a Prynce is flatterye. Beware I …aye therefore. For Iudas when he flattereth mooſte fayre, is mooſt readye too be traye his maſter. Ioab when hee kiſſeth Amaſa and and Abner and ſheweth mooſte frendſhippe is ready to kil them.
Abimelech when he flattereth hys .lxx brethrene is all readye throughe ambicion appoyncted too deſtroye them. Dadila when ſhee flattereth Sampſon too knowe his ſtrength hath the Philiſtines priuilye hid in her houſe. Abſalom dothe call to his feaſte by flattery and ther ſlai his brother Ammon, and withdraweth the heartes of the people by flattery frō hys father Dauid, and at lengthe dryueth him forth of his kingdom. Wherin appeareth the ſmal truſt to be had to the wicked worldlings and crafti flatterers, though they offer great frēdſhip, though thei be our brethrē, though thei ly in our owne boſōs. And hear mai we ſet before our eies who ar to be truſted in this wicked worlde ſo full of diſceit and who are not. They onlye which do ſeke godlines and vertue and ſetteth much bi the truth of the woorde of God. for thys truthe is mightier then women, then wine, then the kinge, it ouercommeth all. It conquereth falſhed, it condempneth flattery, it driueth away blindnes, it cauſeth the blinde to ſe, the yong ſcoler to be wyſer then the great Doctor, it trieth al, it eſpieth all, it iudgeth, it condemneth al. To the author and geuer of this truth be al glorye for euer.
Let vsus no longer truſt to manne therfore or make fleſhe our arme in thys our wicked time wherin al are geuen to falſhode, to flatterye, to deceit, to couetous, to ambicion, to lyinge, ſlaunderynge, to al euils and wickedneſſe. But contraryewiſe ſay with our Prophet eueryevery one of vsus bothe kinge and ſubiecte.
The TextI will loke vntounto the Lorde. I wil truſt vntounto God my ſauior, & my God wil heare me.
Whether it be in the day of my viſitacion whē aduerſitie ſhal come vpō me, or in ye day of proſperitie whē theſe flatterers ſhal folow me. I wil regard nothing but the Lord I wil truſte to none but to God my ſauiour. The Lorde God is the meaſurer of mi trouble he can & wil hear my cry & deliuer me from al peril. Therfore wil I cal vntounto the Lord with the holy king Dauid. Pſa. iii.Pſalm. iii. O God how are mine ennemies multiplied howe manye doth riſe vp againſt me. Many doth ſay vntounto mi ſoul: his God ſhal not ſaue him, but thou O God act the ſheilde ouer me. My glory and the lifting vp of my head. I wil cry vntounto the Lord wyth my voyce and he wil hear from his holy hil.
O thou mine enemy reioiſe not againſt me that I am fallē, The TextI am riſen vp againe, And thoughe I ſhuld ſit in darknes, the Lord is my lght. I wyl beare the diſpleſure of the Lord, becauſe I hauehave ſinned againſt him whiles yt heaueng my cauſe & do iudgmēt for me. For he wil brīg me into light & I ſhal ſe his rightouſnes. Thē mine enemi ſhal behold & be aſhamed which ſaith vntounto me: wher is ye lord thy god? mine eies ſhall behold her and now ſhall ſhe be troden vnderunder the foote like the mire of the ſtretes.
Three thnges are here to be obſerued in thys humble confeſſion of the ſinner whether thou do vnderſtād it in the perſō of a perticuler ſynner, or in the parſō of the multitude of Iſrael led into captiuity. Fyrſt a conſideracion and know ledgynge of the ſynnes committed agaynſt God: and therefore pacience to beare and to ſuffer what ſo euer the lord ſhal lay vpō theyr backs. Secōdly wher ſuch as are chaſtened of the Lord are alwayes of the wycked world deſpiſed, reuiled and ſkorned vniuſtli, and without cauſe whych doth augment theyr heauines. Here is the aduenging therof, and the iudgement of theyr innocencye towardes theyr enemies whych do perſecute them, committed vntounto God. Thirdlye here is ful and perfit fayhte of God hys fauour in the middes of the afflyccions and hope of a comfortable ende of them to the glory of god to the confuſion ſhame and deſtruccion of al hys enemyes to be learned.
For the fyrſt Dauid cryeth: O Lorde enter not thou into iudgemēte with thy ſeruaunt, for in thy ſyghte no lyuynge creature ſhalbe iuſtified. For the ſecond part he dare be bold to ſay, iudge me accordynge to my ryghtuouſnes, and the xxxv. Pſa. thorowe out for this purpoſe. For the third he ſaith. Though I do ſyt in darcknes and in the ſhadow of death yet arte thou with me. So fyrmelye perſwaded of God hys fauoure in the middes of the trouble are the elect of God, that they ſaye alwaye with Paule, who ſhall ſeparate vsus from the fauoure of God? ſhal affliccyon? ſhal anguiſhe? ſhal perſecucion, ſhall hunger? ſhall nakedneſſe? ſhall peryl? daunger or ſwearde? Naye thou haſte thus appointed, ordeyned, and therefore warned vsus longe before. That we ſhoulde bee ſlayne euerye daye for thy ſake and counted like ſhepe readye to the ſlaughter, but in al this we do ouercome, by him whiche hathe loued vsus. And as Paul ſaith in another place, we do glorye in oure afflyccion, knoweinge that affliccion bringinge pacience, pacience bringeth trial and hoope in the ende whiche is neuer ſhamed.
This leſſon of comforte maye euerye pryuate perſonne fealinge him ſelfe ſmitten for hys ſynne, learn of our Prophet. But farther nowe hee ſpeaketh in the perſon of the Iewes, and of the hole church choſen of God, and the like thinges for them maye bee marked beſydes the fall of the Chaldees, of Antechriſt & of al Tirauntes perſecutoures of the elect people whiche ſhall by the conqueſte of Chriſte theyr heade make all theyr enemies as theyr foote ſtole, to treade vponupon theym lyke the myre of the ſtreate as is here prophecied. Therfore muſt we bear pacientli a litle while, and we ſhal ſatiſfye our eyes with the ſight of theyr fall by the iuſte iudgmente of God and venginge oure cauſe like as they hauehave with oute cauſe vniuſtly triumphed ouer vsus, hated, oppreſſed and murthered vsus, deſeruing no ſuch cruelty at theyr hands, for too the Lorde longeth vengaunce. And he wyll perfourme it. Reade the .v. Chapter of wiſdome to the end. For the declaration of all thys.
To note alſo the Phraſes of lyghte and darckeneſſe, lighte ſignifieth knowledge and comfort. Eſaye .ii.ix.xlii.xlix.lx.lxi. Mathew .iiii. Luke .ii. Darkenes the contrary, perſecution, blyndeneſſe, ſorowe. Eſaye .xiii. Lamentacions .v. Micha. iii. Pſam .lxix. To ſe alſo and to beholde the ennemye is to reioyſe at the fall of hym whiche the iuſte dooe for the righteous iudgemente whyche God ſendeth vpō the enemye. Pſa. liiii, the wycked to ſatyſfy theyr malicious myndes.Pſa. xxxv. The Text
In the daye when the hedges ſhall be buylte, that day ſhal put awaye thy bondage, That daye ſhall come frome Aſſur and the walled cytyes and frome the fortreſſes vntounto the floud, frō the ſea vntounto the ſea and to the mountaine Hor,
The contrye of Iury was ſpoyled, waſted, and deſtroied, as ye hauehave hearde by the Chaldees and by the Romaines, but like as in the .iiii. Chapter, ſo is hear promiſed a wonderful deliueraunce of ye Iewes, & a myſerable plage to come vpō their enemies. Ther is a day appointed yt thy waſte places ſhall be built. Amos. ix. Ezechiel .xxxvii. A daye when al tiranny cal exaction and tribute ſhalbe taken awaye. Ezechiell .xxxviii. That daye ſhall thy people which wer caried captiue vntoo Babilon bee broughte frome theyre ſtrōg fēced cities, fortes, caſtels & holds, wherin they wer kept pryſonners home again to enhabit frō the ſtrong cities to ye flud Iordā & frō ye red ſea to ye great ſea and ſo to the hil Carmel and the mountayne called Hor. Eſay ſayth of thys gathering together Iſrael frō ye caſt I wil bring thy ſeede & frō the Weſt I wyl gather the. I wyll ſaye to the North, geue and to the Southe hinder not, bryng my ſonnes frome farre and my Doughters from the ende of the earthe.
And the lande ſhall bee deſolate for the enhabytauntes, The Textbecauſe of the fruyte of theyre imagynacyons.
Thoughe thys ſentence be hear ſpoken cheiflye of the ennemyes land, yet is it generallye true in all landes and cō tryes. The Canances were wayſted and deſtroied therefore. The Iewes thē ſelfe had theyr lande flowinge wyth mylcke and honye, ſo longe before promyſed to theyre fathers, made ſo deſolate for the fruyte of theyr owne imaginacions that no manne wente thorowe it. The Chaldees wer miſerably waſted and brought to deſolacyon by the Macedonians for the fruite of their labours? What ſhall I name the deſolations of Sodom, Gomor and the other cytie, sor the deſtruccion of the hoole worlde in the time of Noah. Do we not reade. Geneſis .vi. That God did ſe that the malice of man was greate vppon earthe and all the imaginacion of his heart was only euil? and therefore he ſaythe he wyll deſtroye from the face of the earthe bothe manne and beaſte, and Birde of the ayre. Shall we then walcke ſtyll in the fruyte of our imaginacions? One ſorte in fleſhlye pleaſures, deliting in wicked womenne, and madde mariages made for worldlye purpoſes, imagininge howe to be gyle bothe God and manne, as it wer. Another ſort too make theim ſelfe myghtye menne of greate fame, ryches and renoume, imageninge howe to begile oure yong king and to pyll and poll his poore commons
The thyrde and worſte ſorte are the vnſauerye ſalte whereof Chriſte oure maſter telleth, whiche ſhoulde ſeaſon other, but becauſe they hauehave loſte theyr ſauoure and ſalteneſſe, they are fytte for nothinge but the donge hil, and cauſeth other to ſtincke by theyr ſhameleſſe lyfe before the face of God, not darringe to rebuke thē, or elſſe not regarding them, whiles they doo ſeeke benefices and Biſhopryckes, bi flattering of their Lordes and maſters and blineding the pore commonnes theyr brethrene.
The .iiii. ſorte are of theſe ſcattered ſheepe of theeſe deſpyſed commonners whyche runneth heare and there they wotte not where for releife and ſuccour ſtyll wanderynge after theyr owne imaginacion, and not hearkeninge too the worde of God whiche byndeth them to obedience. Lo ſuch are the fruits of our imaginacions in England this dai. The gouernoures deſpiſe theyr God, the ſubiects, their gouernoures, the people, the preiſtes, the prieſts neglect their charge ouer the ſtocke. So now it is come ſo far that the boy moſte commonly dare preſume vponupon hys better withoute order againſte honeſty and al good diſciplyne, O good Lorde ſhall not oure lande be deſolate for ſuch wild figge trees, barrē of al good fruts numbe, lame, and voyde of al vertuous ſtudyes & honeſt exerciſes.
The TextFede thy people with thy ſtaf the flocke of thyne herytage whiche abydeth alone in the woodde in the myddes of Harmell lette them be fedde in Baſan and Gilead as in the olde time.
The Prophete ſeinge in ſpyryte the gloryous reſtorynge and delyueraunce of Iſrael, praieth for them that the lord woulde voutchſafe to fede theym in the ſteade of theeſe euyll paſtoures whyche fedeth them ſelues knowinge mooſte aſſuredlye that if the Lord wil be theyr paſtor, ſhepperde and feader, they ſhal lack nothinge as Dauid dothe acknowledge Pſalme .xxiii. confeſſing alſo with king Dauid that his rod and his ſtaffe doothe comforte hys ſtocke, therefore doothe he ſaie, feade thy people wyth thy rod. And Dauid dothe ſaye: thy rod and thy ſtaffe they hauehave comeforted me. The flocke of his choſen heritage he nameth to abyde alone in the mounetaynes, becauſe they ſhuld come ouer Carmel and other moū taines, like ſcattered ſhepe, one abiding and waytynge for another in that glorious reſtoringe, whiche in ſpyryte he dyd foreſee which ſhuld be like the gloryous cōqueſt in Baſā & Gilead, whē they fyrſt entered ye promyſed lande, and Manaſſe hadde theſe twayne in poſſeſſyon Ioſua .xvii. And our prophet bryngeth in ye anſwer of the Lorde, fully perſwaded that his peticion was already graūted.
Euen lyke as in the daye of thy delyueraunce foorthe of Egipte I wyl ſhewe vntounto hym my wonders, The Text.The heathen ſhal be a ſhamed of their ſtrēgth, they ſhal lay their hād vponupon theyr mouthe and their eares ſhall bee deafe. They ſhal lyk duſt lyke the ſerpent, and lyke the wormes of the earth. They ſhal come quaking foorth of theyr holes. They ſhal tremble before oure Lorde god. The ſhal they feare.
In ſuch vehement Prophecies wher ye prophetes do ſeme rauiſhed the chāge of parſons, is oft vſed, and therefore I hauehave hitherto paſſed it as a thing whiche may eaſely be marked by him which wyth any diligence doth read them. In the firſt verſe Iſrael is ſpokē vntounto both in the firſt and ſecond perſō, and in the laſt the prophet doth ſo ſpeake of God, rauiſhed by the ſeruent ſpirite. And here is a plaine promiſe of the reſtorynge agayne of Iſrael, wyth ſygnes and wonders to the ſhame, confuſion and condē nacion of the wycked Heythen, as is more at large ſet forth. Ezechyel .xxxvi. xxxvii.xxxviii.xxxix. Ieremye .xxx.xxxi. Eſaye .lxiii.
The day of the delyueraunce foorthe of Egypte, was moſt wonderfull wyth the plages ſent vponupon Pharao, and the drownyng of him in the red ſea with all hys army, the ſtandynge of the waters lyke walles, the deſtruction of the cities wythout handes, and other great workes, wherof the booke of Exodus and Ioſue are ful.
The dayes of the ſpiritual deliueraūce from the helly Pharao, as they are wonderfully begone in our Sauiour Chriſte the true Meſſiah, ſo ſhal they be by him then moſt wonderfully fynyſhed and ended, when al the power of the aduerſary ſhal be deſtroyied in ye end of the world, when the helly Pharao ſhalbe caſt into the lake of fyre and brimſtone. Ihon .xix
To laye the hand vponupon the mouth is a common phraſe too keepe ſylence for ſhame. Iob. xxxviii. That the Serpente lycke the duſte and eateth the earthe, is the curſſe of God. Geneſis in, and here it is geuen to the ſerpentes generacion to fal downe for feare and creepe into holes lyke wormes, Wherin appeareth the almyghtye power of God and the weake arme of the wycked. Therefore doth oure prophet ende wyth theſe exclamacions. They ſhall tremble before oure Lorde God. Thee ſhall they feare O Lorde. Agayne.
What God is lyke vntounto thee The Textwhyche doeſt pardon iniquitie and paſſe ouer ſynne for the remnaunt of thyne enherytaunce he hath not ſetled hys wrathe for euer, but he hath pleaſure in mercy. He wyl returne and hauehave mercye vponupon vsus. He wil tread doun our wickednes vnderunder hys feete, and caſt al our ſyns into the bottom of the ſeas, Thou wylt performe thy promes to Iacob, and thy mercye to Abraham, whyche thou haſt ſworne to oure fathers from the dayes of olde.
After our prophet hath receaued this comfortable anſwer from God, he rendreth thankes wyth an admiracion and comparyſon of the euer lyuinge God, which hath wrought theſe wonders the falſe Gods, whych can dooe nothynge. Wherin alſo he ſetteth forth the ſinful weakenes of man whyche can attayne nothinge but by pardon and mercy, according to the Pſalme .xxxi. Bleſſed are they whoſe wyckednes are forgeuē and whoſe ſyns are couered. Agayne happy is that man whom the Lord hath not charged wyth ſyn. Dauid alſo after the conſyderacion of the greate maieſtye of God maketh lyke comparyſon, and aſketh what god ther is beſydes the lord. Pſa. xvii. And Moyſes deſcribeth the Lorde by theſe properties. Exo. xxxiiii. ſaying: O Lord, Lorde, mercyfull and gracious God, pacient and aboundaunt in pytye and truth. Shewyng mercy vntounto thouſands takyng awaye iniquitye wyckednes and ſynne. &c.
So that God whyche in hys ſubſtaunce is vnſearcheable by mercy, pytye and truthe, ſheweth hym ſelfe vntounto men. Wherin alſo is comprehended the promes of Meſſiah made vntounto the fathers, by whome thys mercye and louynge kyndnes ſhoulde be ſhewed, and wyth thys he endeth, as doth the mooſt part of the prophetes, to teache vsus alwayes to hauehave confydence in God, thoughe the promyſe dooe ſeeme longe dyfferred, For he is the god that is true, he is faytheful, he performeth wyth the largeſte that he dothe promſie, he is alſo mercifull, he is pytyfull, full of louynge kindeneſſe, whych we do feale in that he did geue his own ſonne to be made man of the ſeede of Abraham for our ſakes, howe canne hee but giuegive vsus all thynges with hym? To him therefore let vsus geue all glorye. Let vsus ſerue hym wyth feare and tremblinge, walckynge before oure God as our Prophet warneth, reuerentlye, doinge iudgemente and louinge mercye all the dayes of oure lyfe, ſo ſhall the woes and curſſes threatned vntounto the wicked be turned awaye from vsus, and the bleſſinges promyſed too the obedyente chyldrene be mooſte aboundauntlie poured vponupon vsus. Graunte that wee maye this do to ye honor of thy name for thy ſonne our Lord Ieſu Chriſte his ſake. So be it.
¶ Prayſe the Lord.
A prayer for the kynge.
O Lorde euerlyuynge God Lorde of Lordes, kinge of kinges. Leade oure yonge kynge in thy faythe feare and louelove. Teache his heart thy ſecrete wiſdome. Strengthen hym therewith timelye before his people periſh, for the wicked dothe preuayle, they do wallowe in theyr wickednes. Dooe this for thy truthes ſake, whiche he doth profeſſe, Let not hys ennemies hauehave the ouer hande, leaſt they blaſpheming thy truthe do ſaye where is hys God? what relygyon hathe he profeſſed? So be it.
O kinge by truthe thou ſtandeſte defende thy truthe. By righteouſe iudgemente thy throne ſhall be eſtabliſhed, by wickednes ſubuerted. Therfor haſt thou the ſwearde by God oppointed to ſette vppe the one, too ſtrike downe the other Thus do, thou ſhal lyue & ſe good daies.
O you that be ſubiectes vnderunder thys kinge of tender age be thanckefull too God for all hys wonders wroughte in hys tyme, knoweledge yt it is God that hathe ſente him vntounto vsus, and hathe ſette forthe his truthe in his weake infancy, and mightelye defended hym frome all treaſonnes and traytoures rebellyons. Repent of al former euyls, and praye wythout ceaſſynge that the Lorde god may vouchſafe to guyde, gouern and preſerue him lōg to raigne ouer vsus with ye louelove of Iuſtice Iudgement and true holyneſſe. So be it.
End of the text · Anthony Gilby, Commentary Upon Micah (1551)