Miles Coverdale made many lasting contributions to the English Reformation. He is well known for his work on the English Bible. After William Tyndale’s arrest, Coverdale continued the work of translation and produced the Coverdale Bible in 1535, the first complete English Bible of the era.
During this period, he also produced a book of hymns based on Scripture. His work, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs, was published between 1535 and 1539.
In the preface to this work, Coverdale writes about the importance of worship and argues that worship should be based on the words of Scripture.
In this blog post, I’d like to introduce you to Miles Coverdale and his thoughts on worship and the Scriptures by way of 22 quotes. These quotations have been slightly modernized and edited for spelling and punctuation.
I hope that the following quotes encourage you as you reflect on the thoughts of a pastor, translator and hymn writer who dedicated his life to serving the church to the glory of our triune God.
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It grieveth me, most dear reader, when I consider the unthankfulness of men, notwithstanding the great abundant mercy and kindness of Almighty God, which so plenteously is heaped upon us on every side.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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We thank thee, Lord, for thy sweet word, and for thy kindness shewed therein; for thy mercy, Lord, we pray thee, strengthen us therewith against all sin.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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For truly, as we love, so we sing…
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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O that men would praise the goodness of the Lord, and the wonders that he doth for the children of men!
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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When our hearts are tangled with the vain lusts of this corrupt world, then, if we be merry and are disposed to gladness, our mirth is nothing but wantonness and inordinate pastime; and when we are sad, our heaviness is either desperation, or else some carefulness of this vain world.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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To give our youth of England some occasion to change their foul and corrupt ballads into sweet songs and spiritual hymns of God’s honor, and for their own consolation in him, I have here, good reader, set out certain comfortable songs grounded on God’s word, and taken some out of the Holy Scripture, specially out of the Psalms of David.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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O that we would remember what great things the Father of mercy hath done, doth daily, and is ever ready to do for our souls!
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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And this is the very right use wherefore psalms should be sung; namely, to comfort a man’s heart in God, to make him thankful, and to exercise him in his word, to encourage him in the way of godliness, and to provoke other men unto the same.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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By this thou mayest perceive, what spiritual edifying cometh of godly psalms and songs of God’s word; and what inconvenience followeth the corrupt ballads of this vain world.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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Yea, would God that our minstrels had none other thing to play upon, neither our carters and ploughmen other thing to whistle upon, save psalms, hymns, and such godly songs…
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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Let us not have thy word only in our mouth and in our talking; but both in deed and verity let us shewe it in our living. Make us fruitful in everything, and in good works so to increase, that while we live, we may thee please…
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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Come, Holy Spirit, most blessed Lord, fill our hearts now with thy grace; and make our minds of one accord, kindle them with love in every place.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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God the Father, dwell us by, and let us never do amiss; give us grace with will to die, and make us ready to thy bliss.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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O heavenly Lord, thy godly word hath long been kept always from us; but through thy grace now in our days thou hast shewed thee so plenteous, that very well we can now tell what thy apostles have written all; and now we see thy word openly, hath given antichrist a great fall.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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Christ is now risen again from his death and all his pain; therefore will we merry be and rejoice with him gladly.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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As for the common sort of ballads which now are used in the world, I report me to every good man’s conscience, what wicked fruits they bring. Corrupt they not the manners of young persons? Do they not tangle them in the snares of uncleanness? Yes, truly, and blind so the eyes of their understanding, that they can neither think well in their hearts nor outwardly enter into the way of godly and virtuous living.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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O glorious God, full of mercy, we thank thee evermore; thou hast shewed us thy verity; thy name be praised therefore. For thy sweet word, O gracious Lord, let us be ever thankful to thee.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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For if we would open our eyes, and remember well, what kindness it is that the Father of mercy hath shewed us in Christ, and what great benefits he hath done, and daily doth, for us in him and for his sake; we would not only fall down upon our faces and give him thanks, but with loud voices would we praise him, and in the midst of the congregation would we extol his name, as David and Asaph do almost in every psalm.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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Call on thee, Lord Jesus Christ, I have none other help but thee; my heart is never set at rest, till thy sweet word have comforted me.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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For doubtless whoso believeth that God loveth him, feeleth by his faith that he hath forgiven him all his sins, careth for him, and delivereth him from all evil; whosoever he be, I say, that feeleth this in his heart shall be compelled by the Spirit of God to break out into praise and thanksgiving therefore. Yea, he shall not be content nor fully satisfied in his mind till other men know also what God hath done for him, but shall cry and call upon them.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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Let not the courtier rejoice in his ballads, let not youth take their lust and pastime in wantonness and ignorance of God, or in misspending the fruits of their fathers’ labor. But let us altogether, from the most unto the least, be glad, rejoice, and be merry even from our heart, that we have gotten the knowledge of the Lord among us, that we are sure of his love and favor, and that our names are written in heaven.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
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And if thou feelest in thine heart that all the Lord’s dealing is very mercy and kindness, cease not then to be thankful unto him therefore, but in thy mirth be always singing of him, that his blessed name may be praised now and ever. Amen.
Miles Coverdale, Ghostly Psalms and Spiritual Songs
Conclusion
If you appreciated these quotes, please click to this blog post with additional quotes from Coverdale on Scripture.
A new biography of Miles Coverdale has recently been published. Here is a book review which summaries the book and also provides links to other resources on the web about Coverdale and his translations.
