Cœli enarrant gloriam dei.
Psalme. xix.
T.S.
To the intent he might moue the faithfull to a deper consideration of
Gods glory, he setteth before theyr eyes the most exquisite workemāship
of the Heauens, with theyr proportion and ornamentes. And afterwarde
calleth them to the law wherin God hath reueled hymselfe
more familiarly to his chosen people. The whiche peculiar grace by
commending the lawe, he setteth foorth more at large, and at thende, he concludeth with a Prayer.
[_]
Sing this as the .xiiii. psalme.
The
heauens and the firmament,
doo wonderously declare:
The glory of God omnipotent,
his workes and what they are.
The wonderous workes of God apere
by euery dayes successe:
The nightes, which likewise theyr race run
the self same thinges expresse.
Roma. x.d. actes. xiiii, c.
There is no language, tong, or speach,
where theyr sounde is not heard:
In all the earth and coastes therof
their knowledge is conferd.
In them the Lorde made for the sunne,
a place of great renome:
Who like a bridegrome ready trimde,
doth from hys chamber come.
And as a valiaunt champion,
He noteth thre
excellent qualyties in the sūne his beautie, sweftnes and heate.
who for to get a pryce:
With ioy doth hast to take in hande,
some noble enterprise.
And all the skie from ende to ende,
he compasseth about:
Nothyng can hide it from his heat,
but he will finde it out.
Howe perfect is the law of God,
how is his couenaunt sure?
Conuerting soules and makyng wyse,
the simple and obscure.
Iust are the Lordes commaundimēts,
Mans inuentions
are croked, without cōfort, filthy and blind
and glad both hart and mynde:
His precept pure and geueth light,
to eyes that be full blynde.
The feare of God is excellent,
and doth indure for euer:
What so euer
mans fantasye doth inuent, is but lyes, and vanitie.
The iudgements of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
And more to be embraste alwayes,
then fined golde, I say:
The hony and the hony combe,
are not so swete as they.
By them thy seruaunt is forewarnde,
to haue God in regarde:
And in performance of the same,
there shalbe great rewarde.
But lord what earthly man doth know
the errours of hys lyfe?
Then clense my soule from secreat sinnes,
whyche are in me most ryfe.
And kepe me that presumptuous sinnes,
preuayle not ouer me:
And then shall I be innocent,
and great offences flee.
Accept my mouth and eke my hart,
my wordes and thoughts echone:
For my redemer and my strength,
O Lorde thou art alone.
