Martin Luther on Psalms 129:2

Verse. 2. They haue often tymes afflicted me from my youth, but they could not preuayle against me.

He nameth no certein enemie, to the ende he may comprehend all. Where he sayth: From my youth, he vnderstandeth all the time from their primitiue Church (as we call it) vntill Israel beganne first to be ye people of God. For albeit we euer praise those thinges which are most auncient and of greatest antiquitie (as the primitiue Church is in deede worthy to be praysed) yet God regardeth not this difference. For in all times and euen in the last ages of the Church he gaue notable Prophets to the people of Israell: as before the captiuitie Esay, of all other the most excellent: after the captiuitie Aggaeus, Zachary and others. In the meane time betwene Moises and these, were Helias, Heliseus, &c. So we see that the primitiue Church was more pure from heretikes and wicked opinions. But yet notwithstanding there were some notable Prophets and other excellent men euen in the later times. And when ye roote of Iesse seemed now to be withered, yet God reised vp Anna, Symeon, Zachary & Elisabeth. For God preserueth his Church though it be neuer so much assailed and oppressed, according to his promise. Onely let vs open our eyes that we may see from whence this commeth.

And here we may not looke to those things which the world especially estemeth and magnifieth, but we must behold the Church as it is afflicted, oppressed, & full of calamitie. For this is the true face of the Church of God, that it is weake, enuironed with all deadly engines, and compassed with all the furies of the deuill, the world, the flesh▪ sinne and death. These thinges he that will not behold, but flieth and abhorreth them, shall neuer finde out the true Church in deede. For that is not the true picture and image of the Church which the painters see forth, which paynt her as a goodly virgin, as a citie well armed, adorned and bewtified. In deede that is a true picture, but not according to the eies of the flesh. But spirituall eyes doe see this great bewty, that Christ is her husband, & begot her vnto him self by the holy Ghost, bewtified her & made her glorious with his owne blood, with his merites and with his righteousnes. Of all these thinges the flesh can see nothing, can iudge nothing, but seeth rather the contrary, how she is subiect to most bitter hatred, malice, vexations & torments. Wherefore if it would paint her out in such sort as he seeth and beholdeth her, then must it paint and set her forth as a deformed and a poore maiden, sitting in a daungerous wood or desart in the middest of cruell and hungry lyo[illegible: 1 letter]s, beares, wolues, swine & venimous serpents: also in the middes of outragious & furyous men, attempting with sword, fire and water to destroy her, and to roote her out from the face of the earth: Cap. 12. As there is in the Apocalyps set forth a goodly picture (then ye which there is nothing more excellent in that booke) that the church as a desolate woman, flyeth from the old serpent or dragon persecuting her & her child. Wherfore these words which Dauid here vseth, may very wel be applied to her: Many times haue mine enemies afflicted me, many times haue they vexed me.

But this affliction seemeth rather to be an vtter destruction, if we follow the iudgement of the flesh: As if the enemies did so preuaile and ouercome, that the Church were vtterly oppressed and vanquished for euer: As we all find by our owne experience in our conflicts which priuately we suffer in our harts, when Satan terrifieth & confoundeth our consciences. For then are reysed vp such terrors, that no man can otherwise iudge but that the victory is Satans, oppressing vs with heauy & bitter cogitations, with tentations, vexations and anguish of spirit, & spoyling vs (as to the flesh it seemeth) of all the sweete consolations which by the merite of Christ and the word are offred vnto vs. According to this sence we may well say: Often times haue they afflicted mee. For this seemeth to be, not onely an affliction, but an vtter desolation & destruction. As we priuatly feele this euery one in our owne hartes and consciences: so the whole body of the church in all times doth confesse that it is vehemently assailed with strong and mighty armies of most deadly enemies of all nations, and oppugned with ye engines of all tentations & tribulations, euen from her youth, that is, from the time that, when the people were deliuered out of Egypt, they began to be knowne from other nations, and to be the people of God.

But here the church and the children of God comfort and reyse vp them selues agayne, hauing good experience that in all these calamities God shewed forth his power, and not onely remitted their sinne, but also turned away the punishment thereof, so that still there remayned a Church, and the practises of their enemies were brought to naught. Wherefore the Prophet here, not onely repeteth the daunger and calamitie of the Church, but with great ioy he addeth withall an exhortation, that euery member of this body should praise the mercy and goodnes of the Lorde, and say: They could not preuaile against me. This is a singular consolation, not only for the whole Church of God, but also for euery one of vs perticularly, against the proud bragges of our enemies, and the great hope which they haue conceiued, that they shall preuaile against vs. Heretikes and sectaries doe glory that they shall haue the victory. The Pope vaunting of his owne strength & the power of Princes, cryeth out: we shall ouercome. Satan ioyneth with them both and reyseth vp such troubles, that it seemeth doubtfull to whom the victory will fall. This oppresseth, not onely euery man priuatly with great heauines and sorrow, but also the whole Church. As we by experience did proue in the assembly gathered at August, where it seemed that our enemies should vtterly haue swallowed vs vp. But did not we there find these wordes to be full of consolation? They could not preuaile. This cōsolation we must hold fast euen when we are killed, as by the examples of the primitiue Church we are taught. For the Church is as it were watered with the blood of the faithful, that the greater encrease may come thereof. Now, like as these words of the Prophet are rightly applyed to that persecution which is done with the sword, so must they be applyed also to the assaults of heretikes and Sectaries: For it is their propertie to boast and bragge of the victory, & alwayes to triumph before the victory. But how so euer our aduersaries triumph & glory, let vs endeuour to hold fast the word, and what so euer we doe, let vs apply it wholy to the amplifying of the kingdom of Christ and his word. If then (as needes it must be) assaultes and battells doe follow, yet let vs sing with Dauid: They could not preuaile. For albeit they kill vs, yet neither the Pope, nor any other heretiks, nor the Turke, nor Satan him self shall euer be able to quench the word: Neither yet shall they preuaile against vs if we stedfastly abide in the word. In deede this will we graunt vnto Satan, that he is stronger then we, and vexeth vs many wayes. For many are the troubles of ye iust, but God will deliuer them out of all. And why? Because it is the word of God which they professe & teach: and moreouer it is Gods owne cause which they defend. Wherfore although the Pope attempt and practise neuer so much mischief, and goe about to styrre vppe the whole world against vs: although false brethren which walke not in true & sound doctrine, continually vexe vs, although Satan him selfe neuer cease to reyse vp the gates of hell agaynst vs, yet will we sing with Dauid euen to the ende: They coulde not preuaile, yea and that onely because of the word.