and miserable caytifes vnto thée who of thy owne accorde vsest to bee an helper to the poore and distressed Breake thou yet once at length the power of the vngodlye heare the prayers of the afflicted and finally deliuer the oppressed so that they being set free from so great terrours may giue due thanks vnto thée in thy sacred church for thy great mercye and compassion thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xj. Psalme IN thée O most good and mightye God repose wée our whole trust and confidence A prayer against the temptation of fayth therfore when our fleshe when humaine wisedome when also the vngodly do obiect and lay to our charge that our cause is turned vpside downe and quite ouerthrowne neyther any helpe at all left for the maintenance of the true doctrine and the most holy and sacred Gospell wée are not for all this perswaded to dispaire of thy mercy power â–ª who see in deede that the enimies of thy glorious name haue bent the bowe of their puyssaunce and made ready their arrowes to pearce and shoote vs thorow Moreouer wee also wey and consider that oure lyfe hath béene such as we deserue all maner of euill hap and miserie that may bée who haue not done after thy will as it became obedient children no but haue alwaies hitherto which now sore gréeueth vs rebelled agaynst thy holy commaundementes Yet nowe with all humilitie do we craue pardon for our sinnes and are very bolde to require this of thee through the confidence wée haue in thy excellent goodnesse and singuler clemencie that thou which hast thy exceding princely palace and most holy seate in the heauens from whence it is thy accustomed woont to looke downe and fixe thine eyes vpon all thinges that are done on the earth wilt at length diligently trie out the equitie of this cause and looke vpon the vngodlynesse and crueltie of our enimies But restraine thou and kéepe backe which hast very often vsed to cast fire brimstone and burning thunderboltes vpon the vngodlye at the least wise the cruell persecutors of thy blessed Churche to the intent all men maye knowe that thou beyng most righteous doest fauour the right cause and wilt bee our strong defence who haue taken vpon vs an earnest zeale and loue of thy most glorious name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another prayer out of the same Psalme WHen we O most good and mightye God do put our whole trust and coÌ„fidence in thee so much as in vs lyeth the desires of our owne fleshe the counsayles of the vngodly and the temptations of Sathan do not sléepe or cease wherewith wée are alured day and night to renounce and vtterly forsake all Godlinesse as thoughe we should be wholy oppressed and vanquished with the strength of bowe of arrowes and other force of our wicked enimies if we go on forwarde to leade such a life as becommeth thy seruauntes But we notwithstanding we be compassed about and ouerwhelmed with greauous sinnes and iniquitie yet neuerthelesse vpon the sure trust and confidence that we haue in thy rich mercy we humbly besech thee first to forgiue vs our heynous offences who do acknowledge and confesse the same vnto thy diuine Maiestie And that then thou wouldest out of thy celestiall and heauenly palace shewe forth thy louing countenaunce to be our most strong helper that at what tyme thou hast tryed and proued the case on both partes with an equall ballance then the enimies of godlinesse maye be iustly punished according to their owne desertes and on the contrary part thy beloued seruauntes trie by receyuing of saluation that thou art a defender of equitie and vpright dealing through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xij. Psalme â— praier aâ—ainst huâ—aine false 〈◊〉 erronious â—octrine IN so great a want and scarsitie of good and godly men thou onely O most mercifull and mightie God remaynest to be our strong defeÌ„ce Wherefore we drawe néere and approche vnto thée with these our dayly prayers beséeching thy diuine Maiestie to helpe at length our most troublesome and afflicted estate For vnlesse thou mightily defendest thy louing Church howe can it be in safety amongst such kinde of enimies who do not kéepe any maner of fidelitie and go alwayes aboute to deceyue plaine simple persons with vaine lyes and false flattering wordes neuer faythfullye thinking that in their hart which they vtter by word of mouth Deliuer vs not ouer O most mercifull father to be handled of them as our sinnes and wickednesse deserue but in this case haue an especiall regarde to the glory of thy puyssaunt name the mightye increasing of thy Gospell and the farre passing faythfulnesse of thy louing promises this do not for our sakes but for the causes here shewed and mencioned beare not with these men that séeke to augment and enlarge their owne power only which being straungers to Godlinesse haue no knowledge at all of thée Looke vpon the great affliction and groninges of thy blessed Church arise vp nowe and helpe vs according to thy mercifull promises For thy wordes are white and more pure then the most excellent and finest siluer Finally seing euery sort of wicked and vngodly persons did couitte with all the witte and industrie they can to bée moste mightie defende thou thy Church for thy infinite mercies sake from those mens extréeme iniuryes and cruell oppressions through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme FOrsomuch as O heauenly father during the time we liue in this transitory worlde amongst frayle mortall creatures of Godly true dealing and faythfull persons there is marueylous great want wheras contrariwise men may sée a wonderfull company of vngodly persons deceytfull men flatterers such as be great talkers and speake very prowde wordes we poure out our humble prayers before hande vnto thée who art our refuge beséeching thee that thou wouldest not so weigh and regard those things which wee haue frowardly committed against thée as to giue vs ouer vnto the lust and furye of wicked and lewde men according to our iust deserts But rather for thy great mercyes sake which is marueylous ample and excéeding large arise and with thy mightie power deliuer those that trust in thée from the snares deceipt and subtile wiles which the enimies of all godlines do practise and imagin continually against them that whilest thou art their defence mightie preseruer from the wicked and moste cursed generation all men may vnderstand thy promises and woordes to be both garnished with a singuler and vnspeakeable veritie and also most pure and vncorrupt from euery sporte of deceyuablenesse and vaine léesing through Iesus Christ oure Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the xiij Psalme WHilest that the Godly O most mightie God do sée themselues vexed with grieuous afflictions A praier that we dispayre not in trybulation and tossed with painefull miseries they greatly feare that
saluation to triumph and reioyce at our destruction forsomuch as it shal be manifested in this one poynt that thou doest make a verye great accompt of vs when as thou art our strong defender in such a noysome and troublesome tyme. Succour vs we humbly beséech thee and shew how thou doest mightily vpholde vs whereby we maye according to our bounden dutie Publishe and set forth the worthie prayses of thy most glorious name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .lxij. Psalme A prayer in distresse for the comfort of the gospell THere is none O most mightye God that well rightly considereth thy inestimable goodnesse but with a ferueÌ„t mind doth like vnto a hart that is very thirstie breathe and feruently bray vnto thée both day and night for howe can it be that any man hauing a true fayth should not make earnest haste to come vnto the liuing God but wée haue bene hitherto greatly slacke in that harty desire neyther haue we vnfeynedly sought God as we ought to doe in the sacred and holy Congregations Therefore through much heauinesse and sorrow piteous teares haue béene oure meate and drinke in these marueylous troublesome times whyles the most cruell enimies of thy blessed Church doe dayly mocke and ieast at vs saying where is their God But as thou O good God art mercifull and most gentle so lay downe and turne away we humbly beséech thée thy heauie displeasure which thou hast rightly conceiued agaynst vs and remembring thy faythfull promises graunt vnto vs although we in no wise deserue it that our assured hope and constant fayth may be most firme and strong so as our soule be not cast downe lower then it ought to bee For although flouds tempestes and bottomlesse pittes of temptations séeme to be poured out vpon thy blessed Church yet so asswage and moderate them with the goodnesse of thy singuler mercye and excellent grace that our minde and conscience be not depriued of their perfect ioy Graunt that we being stirred vp with thy holy spirite maye alwayes incourage our selues to hope and trust in thy most stedfast helpe bicause we shall yet still celebrate and prayse thy glorious name for restoring vs health and perfect quietnes through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WEe desire with our whole heart O most good and mercifull God to be knit annexed vnto thée dayly hungring and thirsting for the same bicause we can not without great sorrow and griefe heare the gyrds and scornings both of our owne minde and of our cruell aduersaries when thou séemest to haue forsaken vs wherewith they mocke at godlinesse and fayth conceyued namelye by casting vs in the téeth with the wofull cares piteous miseries and lamentable calamities that wee being sore opprest séeme in a maner to be cast downe with and that so much the more bicause our owne sinnes become euery day greater and greater We humbly beséech thee O good God for thy excellent mercies sake to pardon and forgiue vs the same whereby we maye be made able to confirme strengthen our selues being assuredly printed in our mindes by thee onely and séeing that our euill affections and greeuous terrors of punishments are very troublesome vnto vs graunt that we being mightily strengthned with thy louing promise maye comfort our owne afflicted soules perswading theÌ„ that as they trust onely in thee so shall they be in good hope chéerefully to celebrate thy moste glorious name bicause thou art both become their perfect saluation and also their true God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xliij. Psalme TAke at length vpon thée O most good and mightie God throughe thy owne aucthoritie and inuincible power A prayer in necessitie the iudgement of our cause which although it indeuoureth to maintaine and vpholde the true worshipping of thée thy pure religion for which thinges sake the same is very good and yet neuerthelesse is it forsaken and disallowed of all men Wherefore we haue excéeding great néede that thou doest deliuer vs from deceypfull and wicked men Thou onely remainest the chiefe coÌ„fort assured strength and strong defence of thy blessed Church Notwithstanding we haue liued vnworthy of thy holye name profession and doctrine but such is thy vnspeakable mercye that it hydeth such mens iniquities as vnfeynedly repent and turne vnto thée it forgiueth heynous sinnes and will not lay to the charge of the faythfull whatsoeuer they haue most wickedly committed Therefore we heartily require thée to haue pitie vpon vs and make vs in such wise partakers of thy splendent light and glorious truth that we may both here worship thée purely in the holy congregations and at the last bée conducted to the most blessed habitations of eternall life Our soule truely is nowe heauy and vtterly dismaied we are oftentimes vexed with timerous imaginations and the bowelles within vs doe tremble and quake for feare Yet we humbly besech thée O excellent father to confirme such an assured hope in vs that we may hereafter set forth thy worthie prayses and be excéeding chearefull for the obteyning of our saluation when as thou shalt declare thy selfe to be our most famous God as in very déede thou art through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WEe commit our cause to thy strong defence and puyssaunt gouernment O most mightie God being in marueylous great daunger and in so great perils of this sinfull life For although we haue no strength and power in our selues so long as we continue in this most miserable life wherevnto may we leane seing we be wretchedly ouerlayde with originall sinne and an infinite number of wickednesses adioyned thereto yet we humblye beséech thée let the cléere light of thy most louing countenaunce shine vpon vs that the darkenesse of our minde may be made bright thereby For if it happen vnto vs through thy vnspeakably mercie to be replenished with thy excéeding gladnesse and incredible ioy we will then bid our minde which otherwise would be abashed to be of good cheare This one thing we hartily require of thee to vouchsafe for to graunt vs that we maye repose our whole trust and affiaunce in thée alone bicause thou onely art become our saluation and verye true God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xliiij. Psalme prayer in â—secution â—el against â—porall eniâ—es as spiâ—all THou hast of thy singuler goodnesse O most mightie God chosen thée a Church out of many nations planted with thy puyssaunt hand and not by mans force which beyng thorowe thy singuler fauour and blessed spirite clensed and pourged from hir heinous sinnes hath hitherto escaped the mischieuous assaultes of the cruell deuill through thy mightie ayde and strong defence thou hast alwayes preserued it from hir outragious aduersaryes and put them to vtter shame endlesse rebuke which bore deadly hate thereto We
which thou hast vouchedsafe more then once to enter into with thy faythfull seruaunts We right well perceyue and the Scripture doth euery where put vs in remembraunce how thou hast alwayes stood most constantly to thy blessed couenaunts For thou hast not onely brought our Fathers out of Egipt but of thy woÌ„derful clemencie feddest them in the desert who didst according to thy faythfull promise place those thy people in the land of Canaan our earnest request and humble desire is therefore O excellent father that thou wouldst extend thy mercie truth no lesse towards vs. For performaunce whereof sende out thy most puyssant force of thy blessed word whereby the true honouring of thy holye name in thy sacred Church may be set frée from errors and darknesse so that we may at length luckily attaine to the true worshipping of thée which is the originall and piller of all wisdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxij Psalme A praier that â—he godly â—aye be â—lessed FOrsomuch as we haue not yéelded such honor vnto thée O most excellent father as was our right bounden dutie neyther haue bene obedient to thy blessed commaundementes as we ought therefore are these troublesome and difficult tymes nowe come vpon vs. For those which duely obey faythfully loue and truely worship thée according to thy prescript word do not wallow in darknesse but are strengthned in righteousnes and order all their doyngs with an vpright iudgement Let thy vnspeakable mercye therefore O most mighty God amend that in vs which hath through our lewde default béene greatly appared First vouchsafe to giue thy benigne consent vnto this that we swarue hereafter nothing at all from the perfect waye which thou hast set forth vnto vs then so strengthen oure mindes and heartes that we be not more affrayed of imminent mischiefe then néede is but vndershore thou the weakenesse of our féeble minde and graunt that we may repose our whole trust in thée onely Cause the horne of thy people to bee exalted and lifted vp in this so sharpe and perillous a battaile Thou séest how greatly ourwicked and vngodly enimies do fret at vs for if they were of abilitie they would not only destroy vs and all that we haue but also vtterly race and abolishe out of the Church the pure worshipping of thée all perfect Godlinesse and true religion who gnashe the téeth of their crueltie and with moste forceable weapons they rage without mercie Beate thou downe therefore and make frustrate their deuilishe enterprises with thy excellent might and inuincible power so that they maye fade awaye as voyde of their fond practises and all their moste detestable ymaginations vtterly perishe to the glorie and prayse of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe due feare of thée O moste mightie God that is to say reuerent godlinesse causeth men to be right blessed who care for none other thing then howe they may most readily obey thy blessed will Therefore are we moued lamentably to require thy louing mercie whereby thou mightest renue thy holye Church being in a maner come to vtter ruine for otherwyse shall not hir or rather thy posteritie or ofspring be at any time eyther famous or mightie for the abundaunce of spirituall giftes is to be looked for from none other place neither wil light burst out by any other meanes in the middle darknesse of errors and wickednesse Moreouer if godlinesse according to our earnest peticion may reuiue in hir the perfect office of charitie towards our neighbor shall not be wanting but euery man will pleasure his brethren somuch as in him lyeth ordering his doings not rashely or by chaunce but with a spirituall ghostly iudgement Wherefore we earnestly desire thée to establishe vs quickly in thy confidence from the which let not eyther tempestuous stormes gréeuous aduersities or the delight of fortunate thinges in any wise withdraw vs through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme LYke as they which indeuor themselues to the vttermost of their powers for to follow true godlinesse and the obseruation of thy holy commaundements O mercifull God do leade a right happie and blessed life euen so do we right well perceyue that it was very agréeable to thy incoÌ„parable iustice that we should be presently tormented with these troublesome times who haue coldely applied our selues to the true honoring of thée and negligently obeyed thy sacred law as becommeth vs. But take not thou O good God for thy infinite mercies sake such reuengement of our sinnes as they haue iustly deserued but cause some light to shine out vnto vs in so great a mist of darknesse whereby pure godlinesse may be set vp agayne in thy sacred Church and holy religion flourish excéedingly Graunt moreouer that thy true worde and faythfull promises may take such déepe roote in our sinfull hearts that although we heare of gréeuous mischiefes hanging ouer our heddes yet let vs not start nor stagger any thing at all from thy sacred fayth and holy purpose Vnderproppe thou vs thy owne selfe by causing it thus to fall out that we may in this dreadfull time leane stedfastly to thée alone so as Antichrist may fret and gnash with his téeth and the spitefull aduersaries of thy glorious name pine away But contrariwise let the prayse and clearenesse of thy fauourable mercie exalt it selfe more and more and be made manifest to all creatures through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxiij Psalme A prayer for the comfort coÌ„solation of Christes Church SEing that we ought to magnifie thy glorious name O most good and mercifull God so much as in vs lyeth and by all the meanes we can possibly deuise who haue not liued in such wise heretofore as to further thy worthy prayses according to our right bouÌ„den dutie but rather thy blessed truth and sacred Gospell hath through our great default and cursed lewdnesse béene muche slaundered and that thing which ought to haue béene highly commended amongst all Nations is euery where by our naughtinesse made of none accompt Wherefore we heartily acknowledge and earnestlye confesse that thou hast most gréeuously vexed and troubled vs to the intent we should the better vnderstand thy iustice vpright iudgement Yet notwithstanding our earnest request is that forsomuch as nothing can be compared vnto thee in respect of goodnes mercy thou wouldst at length be our ready helper speedy deliuerer who hast béene accustomed of thy infinite bountiousnesse to looke not onely vpon the things that are in heauen but also doest humble thy selfe to beholde all matters which be done vpon the face of the earth Haue an eye therefore vnto the troublesome estate of thy blessed Church and diligently regarde the moste greeuous oppression of thy faythfull people Forsomuch as we haue hitherto wallowed in the mâ—ery puddle of our lewd
confessing thée they maye both in this life and in the life to come be farre more happy and blessed then their enimies bicause they reioyce vaunt themselues aboue measure in their present luckie estate through Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen Another prayer out of the same psalme FOr this intent and purpose we nowe pray O most mightie God bicause we nothing at all mistrust but that thou wilt harken and giue eare to our humble petitions which we poure out before thée not of hypocrisie and double dealing but sincerely and from the heart for séeing that we desire to be tryed rather by thy iudgement then mans graunt that when wée are sore tempted and proued by greauous aduersities nothing maye be found in vs whereby we should be condemned and adiudged to perpetuall destruction but forsomuch as we are naturally euill how can this thing come to passe vnlesse thou doe stay and gouerne our steps with thy excellent grace and holy spirite and so vpholde and vndersette vs as thy vnspeakeable mercy may wonderfully vtter and shewe forth it selfe by our saluation defende and keepe vs therefore from all men which resist the force of thy glorious Gospell and striue agaynst thy holy will so much as in them lyeth Thou seest what diligent watch our enimies lay for vs and howe lyke deuouring Lions they couet to praye vpon vs they are as swordes O good God prepared to be the handes and instrumentes of thy indignation defende and kéepe vs neuerthelesse vnder the shadowe and moste sure defence of thy wings that during this wretched life wee may be comforted with thy fauourable countenaunce and in the blessed resurrection haue with an exceding great pleasure the fruition of thy glorious presence through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xviij. Psalme A prayer to be deliuered out of great distresse WE acknowledge and confesse thée O most mightie God to be our onelye health buckler defence strength and sure refuge and therefore do wée both earnestly loue thée and greatly couet to publishe and set forth thy worthy prayse euerlastingly but our extreeme enimies do now thus greauously oppresse vs bicause our sinnes deserue the same so that we being sore discomforted are almost in the straite pangues and anguishes of death wherfore it séemeth that no other helpe and succour remayneth for vs but to make our crye vnto thée and to direct our prayers towardes thy mercies seate vnto whom séeing that the Mountaines the earth the heauens lightnings windes clowdes raynes hayle and tempestes are obedient without any delaye or gainsaying it shall be a thing most easy for thée to rid and deliuer vs from the force of our outragoius enimies although they bée neuer so mightie which we earnestly require O good God that thou wouldest vouchsafe to graunt vnto the feruent praiers of thy sacred Churche hauing no regard at all to our lewde deserts but chiefly to thy exceeding great clemencye and vprightnesse of the cause it selfe so that thou mayst deale holily with the holy and contrariwise vpon the wicked sende trouble and aduersitie preserue thy afflicted people according to thy accustomed maner and in so great darckenesse lighten them with the bright lampe of fayth and perfite wisdome to the intent they may acknowledge none other buckler or defence but thee onely Graunt vs O most deere father so to walk without fal or stumbling as the féete of our fayth may not stacker in such great perilles arme and strengthen thy beloued seruants to battaile and confound them O most mightie God who go about to gainsay and resist thée to the intent thy blessed name may be spoken of and magnified amongst all Nations bycause thou hast giuen great and glorious prosperitie vnto thy renowmed Church through Iesuâ— Christ our Lord. Amen Another prayer out of the same Psalme SEing that we are verye weake by nature anâ— compassed about on euery side with most thicke clowdes of darknesse we come vnto thée O most mightie God and require at thy handes that the splendent light of thy holy spirite may bée kindled in our heartes for so shall we vnderstand thy vndefiled word and most vncorrupt spéech of thy sacred scriptures wherein it is most cléerely and euidently promised that thou wilt be an excellent strong defence for all such as haue their onely affâ—aunce in thée The sinnes truly which we haue committed deserue not that we should obteyne so much fauour and helpe at thy hande but our earnest desire is that these things may happen vnto vs euen for the glory of thy most renowmed and excellent name Forsomuch as therefore none other God is to be sought out or founde who may be compared with thée eyther in power or goodnesse garnishe thou vs with holinesse and girdâ— vs about with such strength as wee may once be led out and vtterly deliuered from imminent daungers and obteyne full triumphe and conquest ouer the enimies both of thy glorie and our saluation through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another prayer out of the same psalme WE can not choose O most mightie and mercifull God but earnestlye loue thée séeing that by the fayth whiche thou hast giuen vs wée well perceyue thée to be our onely refuge stay and deliuerer for our sinnes haue oftentymes purchased vnto vs most deadly griefes and mightye and valiaunt enimies who haue like vehement streames of water enuironed and compassed vs aboute with tribulations snares yea and death it selfe but thou O good God who as thou being the souereigne Lord of all thinges art knowne to haue thy throne in heauen euen so for thy infinite mercies sake haue respect vnto vs and when thou hast remitted and pardoned our offences vouchsafe that we maye be deliuered from thy wrath and extréeme punishments which thou art woont to laye vpoÌ„ the vngodly And grauÌ„t that whilest we inuocate cal vpon thée our loud cries and earnest praiers be not poured out in vaine through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THou knowest O mercifull and most mightie God howe many and howe great aduersaries we haue both within and without who as they can not awaye with thy name and glorie so do they also most lewdly wickedly repine at our saluation wherefore we do not without iust cause humbly sue vnto thée that as thou hast often deliuered vs out of the daungerous perilles of damnation and perpetuall destruction so now also notwithstanding the most grieuous and heynous offences which we haue committed against thée and for the which we repent vs at this time of them from the bottome of our heart it would please thée to fortefie and strength vs in such wise with thy assistaunce as we may vanquishe and ouercome what thing soeuer hath set it selfe against thy glorious kingdome whereby we maye at length shewe forth and magnifie thée onely in the chiefest assemblies of men for our alone defender and excellent sauiour throughe Iesus Christ our
to forgiue vs bycause we haue hither to so long and with such a feruent desire trusted in these transitorie riches that oure harts and mindes being withdrawne therfro thou wouldest most straightly annixe them to thee and thy sacred wordes to the intent we may delight in nothing more then to folowe thee and chéerefully indeuour to do whatsoeuer is thy holy will and pleasure least we become as brute beastes and perish like most dumme cattel through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the L. Psalme O Puyssant and most mighty God A prayer for remembranc◠in distresse of the last iudgement promises of god who of thy bountifull mercy hast vouchedsafe to gather thée a blessed Church out of all parts of the world and that first by the Apostles whom in Mount Sion thou induedst with thy sonnes most abundaunt spirite Neyther wouldest thou for any other cause gather thy very chosen and good people so wonderfully togither but that a true way how to worship thée wherein doubtlesse consisteth the whole perfection of faythfull beleuers might at length be vniuersally knowne amongst all nations and cause vs to learne that godlinesse doth not altogither consist in outward obseruations and most dumme ceremonies For like as these thinges doe please thée so long as they are witnesses and testimonies of fayth so if they be destitute thereof they are exceeding odious and very detestable in thy sight The thing that thou chiefly requirest of vs is this that thy holy name may be highly praysed and duly glorified not only in words and thoughts but with all the déedes of this our life Thy blessed will is that we shoulde vnfeynedly performe whatsoeuer we haue hartily promised and with feruent zeale vowed vnto thee so as we be assuredly perswaded that they are both agréeable to thy sacred word and a furtheraunce to perfect godlinesse Moreouer thou requirest vs to inuocate and call vpon thée when we are most touched with aduersitie and to render due thankes to thy diuine Maiestie as expedient it is so to doe at what time soeuer we be mightily deliuered therefro Thou doest exact require these things at our handes as the chiefest poynts of our religion But we O good God haue hitherto most wretchedly and vnhappily sinned who haue alwayes put no smal affiaunce in our owne rites and ceremonies and perused oftentymes the holy Scriptures when our hart was farre from them discipline hath bene displeasaunt vnto vs and we haue euerye where through our moste wicked lustes neglected thy sacred commaundementes Now therfore for thy singuler mercie and infinite goodnesse sake pardon and forgiue vs these our misdéedes and mightily deliuer vs from such as being wrapped in with rapine and vnchastnesse spake most vileynously of thy sanctified Churche and holy Gospell beleuing that thou spiest not the naughtinesse which they lewdly commit when as thou séemest not to reuenge it but very paciently to permit and suffer the same Cause them shortlye to vnderstand this right well neither let vs be haryed thus violently of them as thoughe there were none that coulde or would deliuer vs through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THou hast shewed vnto vs O most good and mightie God through that seuere sentence of thine by what thing mortall mens causes are to be decided before thy high iudgement seate and it liketh thée nothing at all to make inquisition for burnt offerings or outward sacrifices séeyng the Calues Goates wilde beastes and finally all liuing thinges that be in the worlde are in thy mightie hande and power neyther was it thy good pleasure at any tyme that these thinges should be offered vnto thee any otherwise but as manifest tokens of reuerent awe pure religion and inward godlinesse But thou hast chiefly required this of mankind that they should yeelde and render most hartie thankes for the benefites they haue receyued and to ascribe all the good thinges they inioy vnto thée onely but let them diligently annixe and ioine this therevnto that whatsoeuer they pretend or purpose to do it may according to theyr faythfull promise greatly redowne to the glorie of thy blessed name and call vpon thée onely in their great distresse and miserable calamities We do in this point as thou O good God right well knowest erre very gréeuously and therefore our harty desire is that for thy infinite goodnesse sake thou wouldest pardon and forgiue whatsoeuer we haue wickedly and after a lewde maner committed agaynst thée so as we handle not thy sacred worde to our condemnation least we be through thy vpright sentence pronounced wonderfull arrogant straunge children exceeding couetous giuen to fleshly lust and curssed speakers but rather that we may earnestly offer vnto thee an acceptable sacrifice of thankesgiuing and fashion our whole life according to the square rule of thy blessed commaundements through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lj. Psalme WEe lamentablye wyth heartye prayer call vpon thy louing mercie O moste good and gracious God that we maye be clensed A prayer for remission of sinnes washed and pourged from our heinous iniquities and excéeding detestable and mischieuous déedes who do acknowledge and confesse howe lewdly we haue hitherto behaued our selues but our gréeuous sinnes shall neuer be of such force as to make thée vniust or false of thy excellent promise we truely doe right well vnderstand that our deserts are not such as thou shouldest vouchsafe to make most large and notable promises vnto vs but stand nowe in great néede of thy vnspeakable faythfulnesse and constancie to helpe vs. Thou seest that we were brought forth into this worlde corrupted and defiled euen from our mothers wombe and were before conceyued in the same iniquities also purifie therefore our mindes and garnish them with such a passing whitenesse as séemeth acceptable vnto thee Create in vs a pure heart a right holy and seruiceable spirit that we be not cast of from thée as moste wicked persons but may recouer the true ioyes and perfect consolation If thou wilt deliuer vs from those deadly sinnes which accuse vs as gyltie of eternall death our lippes shall merily and with right great ioy shewe forth thy worthie prayse Graunt we heartily beséech thée that we may approche vnto thy diuine Maiestie with a troubled spirite and an humble and contrite heart as an offring wherein thou chiefly delightest then shall our present calamities be mollefied and then also shall we not celebrate thy prayses vnthankefully manifest thy louing kindnesse vnto Sion thy beloued Church for thou right well perceyuest the manifold perils it is subiect vnto and that she is gréeuously assaulted both without and within We hartily require thée to deliuer hir not onely from outward enimies but also reforme the same and set it in good state to the intent she may not séeme altogither vnworthie such an husband as thou art through Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other
countenaunce through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme SO long as we liue here O most mightie God all things are so vnquiet and at so small stay vnto vs through the desert of our gréeuous offences that we be on euery side assayled with the deadly assaults of the force of oure aduersaries but vnlesse thou puttest to thy helping hande we shall séeme to be swalowed vppe out of hande Wherefore to the intent we may be defended so oft as our fraile mindes be possest with a vehement feare we poure out our feruent prayers before thy mercie seate which glistereth and shineth most farre abroade that regarding and highlye estéeming thy sacred wordes and louing promises in such sort as being strengthned by them we may with a stout courage ouercome whatsoeuer sorrowfull horrible vnpleasaunt and rough thing setteth it selfe agaynst vs. As our teares O excellent father are gathered and written by thee euen so when thou art called vpon deliuer thy faythfull seruauntes from the Gyues and Fetters of their carefull myndes and thou of thy infinite goodnesse purging our gyltinesse bestow vpō vs so much strength and stedfast hope as we néede nothing at all to feare the violence and power of malicious disposed persons for if thou shalt be our redemer especially from eternal death we will alwayes in oure dayly prayers shew forth the worthie prayses of thy most glorious name through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE doe dayly indeuour our selues O moste mightie God lamentably to call vpon thy mercie when as they go about to subuert thy sacred Churche who being not a fewe in number and waxen strong aboue measure do not ceasse by sundrie meanes to assault the same Neyther is there any thing that maketh vs more afrayed then these our owne proper sinnes wherewith we haue moste greeuously offended thée and made our selues vtterlye vnworthy of thy gracious fauour yet notwithstanding of the great and vnspeakeable louing kindnesse that is in thée wée ceasse not to hope but set thy louing promises before our eyes the sayinges and words wherof we commend and approue and also so much as in vs lyeth take holde of them by fayth Graunt therefore O excellent father that we be not more feareful then is decent which the flesh is able to worke agaynst vs. We know assuredly that the wicked do now euery where maliciously rayle vpon vs bending all their deuices agaynst thy most sacred doctrine lying in wayte and séeking occasion by all meanes possible quite to subuert and vtterly ouerthrowe thy sacred Churche Dispise not thou O good God the prayers and sighes of thy faythfull seruauntes so strengthen and confirme our weake consciences that we passe nothing at all what men doe agaynst vs. Deliuer our soules from sliding and destruction so that we may both nowe and also after this life be partakers of thy most commodious and splendent blessed light throughe Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lvij. Psalme SEing that there is no refuge for vs O moste gracious and moste mightie God but to flie vnto thée onely A prayer for the aduaūcement of the Gospell contrary to hir enimies expectation we commit our whole saluation into thy tuition and gouernment to the intent thou shouldest miraculously preserue the same so that thou mayest bée our strong defence vntill this their outragious furie who violently oppresse thy sacred Church be much abated and greatly brought lowe Therefore we incessauntly call vpon thy euerlasting name through whose mightie power and high aucthority all thinges maye for the Godly be surely brought to passe Graunt we humbly beséech thée that our heynous sinnes be not the cause thou withdrawest thy mercifull goodnesse from vs which as we confesse them to be most gréeuous and infinite so are wée nothing doubtfull but that they shall be forgiuen vs for our onely mediator Iesus Christes sake through whose louing fauour thy faythfull seruaunts shal not only be preserued in the glorious kingdome of heauen but for thy excellent promise and goodnesse sake they shall also at length be brought to confusion whosoeuer they are which go aboute to oppresse thy constant and stedfast beleuers Thou thy selfe right well seest O excellent father howe his blessed Church is compelled to haue hir dwelling continually amongest Lyons in the middest of whote burning flames inuironed with moste forceable weapons and tongues chiefly that be very noysome and do excéeding great hurt To the intent therefore thou mayst shew forth and mightily declare thy inuincible power touching hir preseruation graunt that the snares and great layings awayte which be prepared for thy holy ones may in conclusion be onely hurtfull to the Authors and chiefe deuisers thereof but vouchsafe to giue vnto vs a right stedfast heart and excéeding constant minde touching the confession and publishing of thy blessed name For wée heartily acknowledge and earnestly confesse thy vnspeakable goodnesse to be so great as it deserueth high prayse not onely in voyce but with Lute and Harpe and by all wayes and meanes of commendation that possible may be which pearceth the clowdes euen vnto the glorious heauen And for bicause it may dayly increase the better and be more vnderstood lift vp thy selfe in this our age by shewing forth thy right excellent power in being oure shielde of defence and buckler through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THere is nothing that doth more reléeue and comfort our féeble mindes being in great distresse and extréeme calamities O most good and merciful God then the Ancre of fayth which dependeth most stedfastly vpon thy excellent goodnesse Wherfore seing that not without iust cause we burne and frie in our lewde vices we resort vnto thy diuine Maiestie and being marueylous sore burthened with the gréeuous fardell of our most heynous sinnes do dayly call vpon thée for thy assistant and readye helpe Send vs ayde from heauen we humbly beséech thée otherwise we shall not be in safetie from the Lions Speares Darts and deceiptfull tongues wherewith Sathan doth merueylouslye aflict thy holye Church Aduaunce thy selfe and make thy infinite power most manifest in taking vs out of our enimies handes For so thy vnspeakable clemencie and notable faythfulnesse which farre surmount the Clowdes and glorious heauens shall appéere bright in their owne excellent greatnesse and we in giuing due thankes for our deliuerance will ioyfullye sing double prayses to thy glorious name for euermore through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme SEing that thy blessed Church O moste mightie God is so vexed with the cruell enimies of thy glorious name and blessed doctrine we repose our whole confidence in thee onely and flie for succor vnder the shadowe of thy wings we acknowledge and confesse that it is our partes to direct oure supplications parpetually vnto thée when thou only and none else art
vyces and be now according to our iust deserts sore tost with the heauie burthen of extréeme aduersities Stretch thou out thy helping hand to ayde our princes armies who vsest to take the simple out of the dust doest lift the poore from the dunghill and succor thy blessed Church in such sort as it do not become altogither barren Vouchsafe that it may one day reioyce in peace and tranquillitie and graunt hir to bee made vnto thée through thy sacred worde and holye spirit a mother of many children by whom thy glorious name maye bee exalted with perpetuall prayses euen as it behoueth thē through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme WHosoeuer addict themselues to honor thée O moste mightie God wyth fayth and pure deuocion are bound to render immortal thanks to thy glorious name which they ought to paye vnto thée in all places euery yere without ceassing euery day and euery houre The puyssaunt force of thy great goodnesse extended towards vs is manifested in such wise as all men must néedes confesse that thou art no lesse mercifull then inuincible For although thou art sayde to haue placed thy kingly Court and Pallace in the highest coastes of the Heauens notwithstanding thou submittest thy diuine prouidēce to euery base thing which lyeth hid in the lowest part of the earth insomuch as nothing can be done eyther in heauen or earth but is cléerely and moste plainely séene of thée For séeing therefore we perfectly vnderstande that such thinges as bée done of vs are not vnbeknowne to thée and that it is alwayes thy accustomed maner to rayse vp the poore and needie so they beleue vnfeynedly in thée out of the fowle and filthie dust to more noble most renowmed Kingdomes who also doest often cause the childlesse and barren women to haue a plenteous houshold we doe with great humilitie lamentably require this at thy fauourable handes that thou wouldest be mercifull vnto the calamities thy blessed Church is nowe in so as it may at length by thy good meanes be most noble right famous which yet goeth bestoubered with filth and dust and whereas she séemeth to haue left child bearing let hir be glad with a perfect and substanciall ioy for the number of hir most faythfull sonnes through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxiiij Psalme WHen as thou O moste mercifull God broughtest the children of Israell by thy inuincible power A prayer for a true fayth by the contemolation of Goddes wonderfull workes from the bondage of Egypt and hadst layd sufficient greeuous punishments vpon the cruell and obstinate Egyptians hauing a fatherly carefull regarde and singuler affection towardes the people of the Iewes diddest therefore moste manifestly declare through wonderfull examples and moste abundaunt fauour that thou wert with them at the deuision of the waters in the red sea by the marueylous quaking of mount Sinay by the goyng backe of the riuer of Iordane the vncredible gushing of waters out of the hard rocke whereby we may right euidently vnderstand that al things happen prosperously and are greatly obedient to those whome thou hast vouchedsafe to regester in the number of thy elect seruaunts For which cause sake an excéeding liuely hope is raised vp in vs that séeing our assured affiaunce is that we belong to thy blessed house by the adoption of fayth it will come to passe that as we bée alreadie deliuered by thy benigne grace from the miserie of eternall death so also whatsoeuer is among thy blessed creatures whether it be the likenesse of prosperitie or aduersitie shall redounde at length moste luckely for the welfare of thy sacred church vnto the which thing as we right well perceyue that our heynous sinnes be worthily and not without iust cause a great let and hinderance so also we humbly beséech thée for thy infinite mercie and promised good willes sake to bring the same very spéedily to passe and that in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde who liueth and reigneth with thée euermore worlde without ende Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxv. Psalme AT what time we do lamentably require thy fauourable mercy O most mightie God A prayer for a constant confession of the Gospell thereby to be deliuered from such horrible calamities as do greatly assaile vs which is not done onlye to the intent we our selues shoulde receiue benefite thereby but also that thy blessed name might become more glorious through out wonderfull deliuerance For if thou shouldst suffer thy blessed seruaunts to lie vnder foote we sée it woulde easilye come to passe that the children of this wretched world will vpbrayde them accompt the hope they repose in thée onely to be as a vaine thing As for our part who being illumined with thy heauenly grace doe very well consider that what good thing soeuer is in this wretched worlde whereof the vnbeleuers haue made thēselues their ydols they haue neyther power nor habilitie at all to make men happie blessed although they both honor reuerence them Wherefore we knowe this to be still remayning for vs that so many as haue the feare of thy diuine maiesty before their eies and appertaine to the spirituall Israel be also graffed in the Kingdome priesthood of Christ should make their ful accompt to haue thée as their onely helper and defender For if that be done which they are bound to performe they shall dayly attaine greater encreasementes of perfect good thinges For which cause we heartily require thée who dwellest in the high heauen and hast ordeined vs to haue our habitation in the earth so long as this life indureth graunt vs so to liue that thou suffer vs not to passe our tyme like vnto them which be deade who can not set forth thy worthye prayses but our earnest desire is that we may both in talke and holy workes alwayes set out thy most glorious name through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxvj. Psalme THou doest then moste chiefly declare thy singuler good will towardes the Godly O almightye God A prayer to the like effe◠of the psalm◠which goe◠next before when as thou art present to helpe such as lamentably call vpon thée in the middest of their vnfortunate mishaps and the heynouser those be whereout thou doest deliuer them so much the greater is thy notable louing kindnesse manifested vppon them and the mindes of them all more inflamed to haue accesse vnto thée in their moste harde and troublesome tymes Wee therefore being sore cast downe and ouerwhelmed with the most gréeuous burthen of our heynous sinnes do humbly call vpon thée And forsomuch as we know by experience that men are lyers and all hope to be of none effect which shall be reposed in things created we hartily require thée with so much earnestnes as can be deuised to forgiue vs whatsoeuer we haue wickedly and lewdly
better for thy holy Church then for any house of honour or most large Citie of this worlde knowe assuredly that the same can by no meanes continue without thy mighty preseruatioÌ„ and that especially in this tyme when as both so many of the deuils engines and also of Antichristes subtile pollecies do much inuade vs. For that thing therefore which could not be atchieued by the painfull labour carefull watchings and great industrie of men we do most earnestly require of thée O heauenly father by continuall praiers who hast bene accustomed to grauÌ„t vnto thine as it were in their sleepe the thing which séemed otherwise to bee exceeding difficult and almost impossible First and formost take away our greeuous iniquities which are the chiefest let and stay why thou releauest not the present wretchednesse and miserable calamitie we are in for it is they and none other thing that do disseuer and withdraw vs from hauing confidence in thy vnspeakable mercie Now at what tyme thou shalt haue pardoned them as our earnest desire is that thou wouldst be so good as to increase thy blessed Church with a plentifull issue for if shée shall ingender children vnto thée let them who are worthie of thée and thy blessed spirite be sent out lyke arrowes through thy inuincible arme agaynst the outragious enimies of godlynesse and doctrine of the sacred Gospell but cause the vncorrupted Congregations and assemblies to haue a companie of valiaunt and strong men who so long as they take vpon them to defende thy sincere truth both in worde and déede may neither be ashamed not yet once shrinke backe therefro through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme AL our force and enterprices are of none effect O almightie God without thy especiall grace and fauour for if no priuate house can be maintayned or any City builded except thou layest to thy present helpe and gracious good will howe much lesse then may the blessed Church bée reedified enlarged and set at a stay vnlesse thou bée marueylous readie to assist the same with thy holye spirite and benigne grace men haue labored in vaine their rising vp early and holding long fastings shall be to none effect vainly and to no purpose shall they forespend theÌ„selues with toiles troubles Wherefore wée earnestly intreat thée O good God that thy diuine presence mightie power bée not farre from vs in any of our attempts and enterprises For what thing verily soeuer hath béene at any time gathered vp and repayred of the ruines of the Church it taketh no good successe without thee yet rather thou hast giueÌ„ the same to thy labourers as it were in their sléepe making it such a thing by thy secrete and wonderfull meanes as humane strength if it were duly considered is altogither insufficient to so puyssant a worke But séeing we haue béene nowe very vngratefull and most lewdly abused so great and manifold benefites thou hast not without iust cause begunne to vexe vs with excéeding gréeuous troubles from which mennes painefull trauayle and subtill pollecie are of no abilitie to deliuer vs. Make thou hast therefore for thy accustomed mercies sake when we thinke least hereof or iudge our selues to be in daunger of many perils to vntangle those which flie vnto thy diuine Maiestie that being set at libertie we may acknowledge thee to be the onely Authour of true and perfect saluation through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme BIcause so manie as enterprice any thing without thy especiall assistance and fauourable good will O most gracious and mercifull God do labour to no purpose and trouble themselues in vaine and that they which haue not thee for theyr readie helper cannot saue and defende themselues from their cruell enimies therefore séeing that both thy Church standeth alwayes in very great néede of building and the City of our congregation is destitute and voyde of defence we cal vpon thée onely to be our couragious helper who art readie to ayde the builders and canst strongly defend the valiaunt fighters But to the intent we may the readilier attain the same multiplie we earnestly require thée the issue of thy sacred church which may be sent out as arrowes to rayse it vppe euery where by thy blessed worde and be made so skilfull and well practised in handling thy sayinges that when those thinges bee done which apperteyne to theyr vocation they maye by no meanes be put to shame and rebuke of the most godlesse and vnfaithfull persons thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxviij Psalme â— praier that â—e may feare God leade blessed â—â—fe IF no good thing or any kinde of felicity can happen to any but to such as feare God and reuerence him and to those which through a perfect lyfe walke faythfully in the wayes of his blessed commaundements the matter is nowe manifested vnto vs why we are thus vexed with gréeuous calamities For whereas thou of thy infinite mercie O almightie God hast giuen vs a comfortable and wholesome doctrine we haue performed nothing lesse then honoured thee as is our bounden dutie who haue set more by our owne filthie desires then the feare of thée due reuerence of thy glorious name by casting aside the ordinaunces of thy blessed precepts Wherefore there is no cause why we should complaine that afflictions are wrongfully layde vpon vs at any time Pardon we hartily pray thée our gréeuous iniquities and mischieuous déedes and renue in vs for thy infinite mercies sake perfect feare true godlinesse and holy conuersation Finally shine downe out of Sion that is from thy excéeding high light and such as can not be attayned vnto vpon thy afflicted Church and deliuer the same from the number of perils which she is in daunger of But forsomuch as thou hast coupled hir vnto thée to be thy wife by faith graunt that she may haue an infinite companie of holy children let hir be as a vine spreading it selfe farre abroad which Antichrist maye not with all his industrie be of force to cut and hewe downe For wée require thys chiefly at thy mercifull handes O most excellent father that thou wouldest indue thy heauenly Hierusalem with good wholesome things and send peace and tranquilitie vpon thy true Israell through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy sacred word O most good and mercifull God doth teach vs that godlinesse onely maketh men right happie and blessed For the feare and dread wherwith godly men doe reuerence thée is an effectuall bridle to cause them for to proceede iustly in the way of thy righteousnesse But bicause this vertue is a singuler ornament of thy beloued church our earnest request is that there may be continuall labouring in the same by doctrine and example to nurter thy blessed children so that the workes be not in vaine or to none effect Let hir be dayly
made like vnto a moste fruitfull woman that may be compared to the ranke Oliues and exceeding fertile vines which vnspeakable happie giftes we mistrust not but thou wilt one day bestowe readily vppon vs if from the seate of thy Maiestie it shal please thee to behold the congregation of the faithfull with thy merciful eye bicause al things that apperteyne to true and perfect felicitie come from the will of thy inestimable goodnesse For seing we doubt not but this redowneth to the honor of thy glorious name that a continuall ofspring of thy déere children shoulde bée multiplied in the blessed Church and become notable in peace in prayses and in puritie of life we heartily require thée in our most feruent prayers to obteine the same through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxix Psalme THou knowest O moste good and mercifull God howe greatly the enimies of thy gloryous name haue fought continuallye agaynst thy sacred Church A prayer agaynst the counterfeit holinesse of such as wold be iustified by their workes and alwayes troubled the same from hir infancie yet notwithstanding thou hast done this of thy singuler fauor thou barest therevnto that hir aduersaryes coulde neuer preuaile agaynst hir who diddest it for this intent bicause thy faythfull promises should be accomplished They seemed diuers and sundry times to thrust the share of affliction verye deepe into hir backe who hauing a marueylous obstinate heart purposed to make exceeding long ridges vpon the same But thou O good God of thy perfect iustice hast alwaies cut a sunder the cordes of the vngodly in péeces Wherefore we nowe heartily beséech thée not to regard our wicked factes but the glorie of thy name For if thou shouldest deale with vs according to oure worthinesse we do not onely deserue such painefull miseries and sorowfull calamities but much more gréeuouser Yet for thy infinite mercies sake poure not out thy furious wrath on vs but vpon the vngodly let them be confounded and turned backeward and graunt that they maye quickly wither euen as the grasse before they bée any thing able to bring their lewde enterprises to an end whose deserts are not such as we ought to pray for their good successe séeing their practises bée excéeding naught But now cause the Church of thy faythfull people to inioye some blessing of peace and tranquilitie through Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe assaultes of thy faythfull people O moste good and mercifull God be not onely very many and diuers but they are also continually tempted and be inforced to fall into vtter destruction for the deuill and power of our fierce aduersaries desire nothing more then to turne thy Image vnto them from the purpose thou hast ordeyned it for And therefore we heartily crie and call vnto thée who hast an incomprehensible mercie ioyned with thy excéeding great Iustice that thou wouldest for the intire good will and louing fauour thou bearest vnto vs breake a sunder the slithe coardes of temptations and teare in péeces the subtile snares of such as lay deceyptfull trappes to snarle vs in so that the wicked enimies of our saluation maye according to their iust demerites be brought to vtter shame and confusion to the intent all men may right wel know that thy perfect righteousnesse will not suffer their deuilishe fraudes and cursed deceyptes to escape alwayes vnpunished whereby thy blessing which thou hast appoynted for the elect and chosen may not be impeached and let not the force of the deuils subtilties and craftie ymaginations disappoynt the saluation which we that hope in thy faythfull promises looke to atchieue and attaine vnto thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxx. Psalme THou art woont verye often O almightie God to punish thy faythfull seruaunts greeuously A prayer for grace in the time of nede to the intent they might therby returne vnto thée with earnest and perfect repentance which now experience teacheth vs to féele in thy sacred Church by reason of these most troublesome tymes for we that haue béene hitherto innumerable wayes very vngratful towards thée and euery where transgressed thy holy lawe and blessed commaundements are so oftentymes vexed with the fiercenesse of the cursed deuill and his bondslaues that we be inforced to crie vnto thée out of the bottomlesse pit and from the vnmeasurable déepenesse of our aduersities requiring thée not to marke our heynous sinnes so seuerely For if thou O good god wilt dulye consider and iustly punishe the iniquities that we haue committed according to their iust deserts which of vs shall be so blamelesse and holy as he may be able to stand before thy iustice But forsomuch as we right well know that thou art indued with excéeding great gentlenesse we doe both early and late looke and wayte for thy readie helpe Although therefore our iniquities are very many in number vouche thou safe for thy most abundaunt goodnesse and infinite mercies sake to redéeme vs from them all so that wée being deliuered from imminent perils and present calamities may as well beleue in thée onely as publish to the whole worlde that there is true and perfect redemption through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme SEing that we be perpetually tost O almightie God with the most déepe sea of temptations neyther are able of our selues to match them there is good reason why we do not without iust cause require thée spéedily to helpe and succour our wofull miseries But if thou who art both a rightfull iudge and perfect arbitrer of oure causes wouldst consider all things whatsoeuer we haue gréeuously offended thée in and earnestly marke the same who were able I pray thée to stand before thy tribunal seat Seing therefore thy mercie is notable and infinite our earnest desire is that we maye in such wise depend onely therevpon as the iniquities which we haue cōmitted might be redeemed thereby who are nourished dayly and hourely in this hope alone trusting that thou wilt neuer be forgetfull of the true Israell which is thy holy and blessed Church Graunt vs therefore we humblie beséech thée to obteyne at thy fauourable handes pardon and remission of sinnes as a sound and sincere fruite of this stedfast confidence through Iesus Christ our lord Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxxj. Psalme A praier that we may haue humilitie and dispise arrogancie FOrsomuch as we are marueilous vngratefull towards thée O most mightie God for the exceeding great benefits bestowed vpon vs leading a life hitherto nothing agréeable to thy holinesse and our vocation there is no cause why our heart should bée puffed vp or walke in wonders Cause thy holy spirite to be aboundantly poured vpon vs insomuch as all pride and arrogancie beeing vtterly layd aside and quite done away we maye heartily acknowledge this which is most true howe that we are heynous sinners by which
for lack of the foode of thy blessed word and euen as by thy word thou sendest forth snow yse hore frost dissoluing the same incontinent with a puffe of winde when it seemeth good in thy sight euen so with thy gracious fauour cause thou those aduersities which thou procurest for a tyme to exercise hir withall to vanishe spéedily away And thou who hast not dealt in such wyse with other nations as to reuele the misteries of thy sacred scriptures vnto them graunt that we may vse them to our soules health through Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxlviij Psalme SEing that the monuments of thy excelleÌ„t goodnesse inuincible power in all things which thou hast created O almighty God be farre néere so famous notable A praier that God may be commended in al his creatures the setting out of thy worthy prayses in them séemeth woÌ„derfull and in a maner singuler if so be that any man doth déepely wel consider the heauenly mindes the Sunne Moone Starres and workmanship of the Skies none other thing shall bee founde there then a méere commendation of thy louing fauour and vnspeakable wisedome All which things séeing that the clowdes rayne thunder windes hilles plantes liuing creatures with the whole vniuersall worke both of nature and of ciuell ordinaunce whereby common wealthes be gouerned amongest men do manifest the same vnto vs it is a thing to be wondered at how we should be so cold in this behalfe that being so pricked forward and stirred vppe with all things should kéepe silence and become almost as dumbe persons in publishing of thy worthy praises yea and which ought to séeme more hard and gréeuous in stead of praysing and glorifying thy excellent name which wée owe vnto thy diuine Maiestie for so great benefites as thou hast bestowed vppon vs we haue requited thée with slaunders reproches and blasphemies which thinges although we do not pronounce in expresse wordes yet notwithstanding forsomuch as we haue so sore defiled our selues with the most filthie spottes of sinne dishonored thy holy doctrine and by our lewde examples haue called others backe from the praysing of thy blessed name we dare not be so bolde as to speake of thy commendation and therfore worthily are our calamities made euery day more gréeuous then other But our earnest request is O good God that thou wouldst swaâ—ue nothing at all in this most sorowfull time from thy accustomed goodnesse and louing mercie who knowe thée very well to be of sufficient force for to vanquishe all maner of thinges that be repugnaunt to thy blessed will which puissaunce of thine is in no wise shaken of albeit thou hast thought good to hide it for a time to the intent we should vnderstand how sore wée haue sinned Vouchsafe now therefore that thy blessed Church maye according to thy faythfull promises both inioy and also retaine all good things which make to the glorifying of thy blessed name euen as it deserueth through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy vnmeasurable goodnesse infinite power and excellent wisedome O moste mightie God hath after a wonderfull sort set forth it selfe in all thinges which thou hast created for our sakes Wherefore it is not without iust cause sayd that euery creature doth publishe thy glorious renowme for they haue not come to light of their own proper nature but to the intent they should bée they were called out by thée and afterward when they were made thou didst not stablish them any otherwise then by thy sacred commaundement who do obserue the lawes which thou hast appoynted neyther passe they the certaine and decréed boundes that be limitted them All which things so long as we do dayly beholde with diligence it is very requisite that we should be stirred vp to magnifie thy blessed name bicause in them thy owne onely workmanship commeth to our sight and remembrance whervpon we being moued hereby do as nowe flie vnto thee for succour whome we haue learned to bée the aucthour of so great and manifold good thinges whose earnest desire is that thou wouldst lift vp the horne of thy mighty power vnto thy beloued people being thy blessed Church so as she maye haue sufficient abilitie to withstande all the force of hell and be linked dayly more and more vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxlix Psalme â— prayer for â—e aduauÌ„ceâ—ent of the Gospell EIght worthie art thou O almighty god to whom new songs should continually bée song in the sacred Church and whose prayse should be set out in the Congregation of Saints For can it be that such as are thy faythfull people will not publish thée their king and maker doyng the same not onely with hart and voyce but also with euery outwarde instrument prepared for the same purpose Seing then that thou oughtest to bée so greatly commended and highly magnified for thy nature goodnesse and excellent benefites extended towardes vs bée not so greatly prouoked at our heynous sinnes as to chastice vs in thy furie pardon vs wee humbly beséeche thée for thy infinite mercies sake when we turne vnto thée and lamentably craue thy readie helpe by continuall prayer But if thou haue so good a lyking of thy blessed people as thou hast oftentymes affirmed then assist and garnish them with thy readie helpe in so great an extremitie Giue vs this cause of exalting thy glorious name which may be euermore in the mouth of thy faythfull seruants For we doubt not but thou canst be reuenged of the nations people that blasphéeme thee and binde the kings and princes who be aduersaries to thy blessed religion with fetters and linkes of Iron by executing most seuere iustice vpon them Our earnest desire is therfore that thou wouldst either conuert them vnto thée with the two edged sworde of thy blessed worde or if it séemeth not good in thy fight so to doe remoue the same farre from our neckes that all men may right well perceyue what great things thou doest for such as commit themselues wholy to thée and be desirous to celebrate thy worthy prayses through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme FOrsomuch as thou hast from tyme to tyme O most mightie God blessed vs with new benefites it is very requisite vnlesse we will become vtterly vnmindfull of our bounden dutie that we shoulde dayly with freshe ditties and newe songes giue thanks to thy blessed name in the congregation of the faythfull For what end shall we make of praysing thée whom in all things and at all tymes we féele to be our maker and perfect king of our saluation Certenly séeing that we right well perceyue thée to be so fauourable to the faythfull and doest garnish such as be godly with most plentifull giftes it is requisite that we should vtter tokens of a right thankfull minde in thought worde and worke
of the ninth Psalme A prayer agaynst our enimies in persecution IF thou O good God wilt take our cause in hād reuenge vs vpō the enimies of thy glorious name of mans saluation we will from the bottome of our hart and with an excéeding great gladnesse shewe forth and celebrate thy wōderous and excellent actes who be afflicted in déede with temptations other like oppressions by reason of our heynous sinnes but we beséeche thée O highe and mightie God for thy goodnesse and mercies sake that as thou hast accustomed to be a Sanctuarie and sure defence for the oppressed which flie vnto thee for succour so now forsake vs not neyther séeme to be forgetful of the prayers that we vnfeinedlye poure out before thy diuine Maiestye Haue mercy vpon vs O good God deliuer and rescue vs from the Gates of death least we be swallowed vp therewith being aided and holpen by thée we shal shew forth thy worthy prayses in the congregation namely bycause our trust hath not bene reposed in thee in vaine Arise therefore and suffer not impietie vnrighteousnesse and sinne to preuayle agaynst vs but graunt also that we bearing well in minde oure owne estate and condition maye with a modest and lowlye minde be alwayes obedient to thy will and pleasure through Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen Another prayer out of the same psalme IT happened verie often in our fathers dayes O most mightie God that thy people were filled with a wonderful vnspeakable gladnes who being replenished with exceeding great ioye did set forth thy glorious name with songs and celebrated thée with high praises and that with their whole heart bicause they hauing thée for their rock of defence droue their enimies back in the daye of battayle who fell and perished at thy presence Neyther hast thou onely once giuen sentence on the behalfe of thy saintes or defended their cause but didst oftentimes rebuke and destroye the Heathen that purposed in themselues to subuert the famous Cytyes of thy people with an vtter ruyne and haste puyssauntlye ouerthrowne suche wicked men insomuche as euen the very name of them is also abolished Seeing therefore that thou reignest eternallye and hast alwayes a seate prepared for iudgement to the intent thou mayest presently trie oute the truth as touching the spilling and shedding of thy Sainctes bloud Despise not neyther yet contemne our hartie prayers O mightie God nor be thou forgetfull of them We know verily that we haue sinned and offended thy excellent maiestie dyuers sundry waies which nowe we are both hartily sorie for and also doe openlye confesse the same yet through the confidence we haue conceyued by the things which thou O Lord hast done for our fathers though of their partes vndeserued wée drawe nere vnto thy diuine Maiestie and humbly beséeche thée to be fauorable vnto thy Church haue a regarde we hartily pray thée vnto hir great trouble and deliuer the same from the cruell gates of death so that it maye daylye be able to celebrate thy worthye prayses more feruentlye Extende thy wrathe towardes them that are forgetfull of thee lette them perishe in their owne crafts and deceites and be taken in the nettes that they themselues haue laid which with such gréedie indeuor and violence séeke thy peoples destruction and vtter vndoing But let vs that are helplesse and gréeuously afflicted take a little breth and receiue some comfort vnder thy strong defence mighty protectiō Vp lord and suffer not vile mortal men to haue the vpper hand of thee and thy holye Gospell put our enimies in feare and terrefie them in such sort as they may vnderstand what a thing it is to set themselues against true godlynesse and pure religion through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the tenth Psalme A prayer agaynst enimies and tyraunts SEing that O most good mercifull God our beliefe and confidence is that thou art not onely the chiefe good thing but godlynesse it selfe we earnestly desire thée not to turne and withdrawe thy countenaunce from vs as sometime thou séemest to doe For although we do not deny but that our sinnes haue deserued that punishment yet we humbly beséech thée euen as thou art right gentle and mercifull to pardon and forgiue vs the same and that contrarie to oure desertes thou wilt notwithstanding fauour oure cause for the glorie of thy name to the intent the vngodlye may well vnderstande that they beguile themselues in thinking thée to bée no GOD neyther meanest at anye time to looke for an accompt at their handes of the heynous déedes and crymes which they doe wickedly commit who laye snares oppresse beat and miserably kill the godly being nowe fully perswaded that thou hast forgotten and art vtterlye vnmindfull of the state of the worlde Wherefore assist those whiche call vpon thée and louingly giue eare vnto their humble petitions so that the Godlye being by thée set at libertie may teache the proude and oppressors to behaue themselues after a more modest fashion when as it shall bée manifestly knowen that thou hast a most vigilant care and regard of thy beloued Church through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen Another prayer out of the same psalme THou mightest be thought O moste mercifull father to haue withdrawne thy selfe marueilous farre off from thy seruaunts in this most troublesome tyme of affliction insomuch as with closed vp eies thou forgettest to looke and beholde what the wicked Antichristes with an extréeme pride and set obstinacie attempt and enterprise agaynst thy faythfull people because the thinges they deuise haue so good and luckie successe whereby it commeth to passe that they sticke not to blaspheme thée yea and be perswaded that there is no God bicause thou séemest to haue withdrawne al kind of punishment from them their opinion and beléefe is that they shall neuer fall and assure themselues that their estate will be alwayes prosperous whereby they haue no measure in periuries deceites iniuryes and dishonestie they kill thy faithfull seruauntes both openly and priuily they do assayle vexe and oppresse thy blessed Church thinking O good god that thou regardest not the same nor hast any care at all thereof But although wee haue now wel deserued that thou shouldst turne away thy eyes from our calamityes and to consider nothing at al our troubles in that wée haue grieuouslye sinned and béene marueylous vngratefull for thy notable benefits abusing our vocation Gospell and Sacramentes and dispising the libertie offered vnto vs to serue thée according to the expresse rule of thy sacred word yet we acknowledge and confesse our selues to haue committed all these thinges against thée and other innumerable detestable factes whereof we do nowe earnestly craue perdon and most humbly beséeche thee at length to arise and with thy mightie hande to represse the wicked from the blasphemies wherewith he hath both rayled agaynst thée and thy blessed doctrine we commit our selues wretched creatures
thou art forgetfull and takest thy grace and fauour vtterly away fro them Graunt that suche maner of thoughtes and suspicions be not graft and fixed in our minds for surely we deserue to be vtterly left and quite forsaken of thée by reason of our most heynous offences but suffer not O good God for thy most glorious names sake the stoute arrogant enimies of Godlinesse eyther to preuaile any thing at all or haue occasion to triumphe ouer thy faythfull seruauntes like victorious conquerors illuminate and lighten the eyes of our minde we humblie beséech thée with thy holy spirit that wée séeing and right well allowing those thinges which be most iust may neyther honor nor worship thée amisse nor yet become slouthfull towardes the amendment of our sinfull life for so shall all occasion of reioysing and vaunting be quite taken from our aduersaries and we haue great cause to render eternall thankes vnto thy diuine Maiestie as thou hast right well deserued through Iesus christ our lord AmeÌ„ ¶ A prayer out of the .xiiij. Psalme A praier that we may perceuer in the nuÌ„ber of true christians TAke away from thy déere children O most mightie God those notorious wicked Counsels and foolishe imaginations whereby we may surmise in our mindes that thou art no God at all and although thou knowest well ynoughe that we haue oftentymes erred gone astray from the true path of righteousnesse for which cause sake we haue very well deserued euen like bread and most delicious meate of them to be deuoured and vtterly consumed as are the most mischieuous and furious enimies of godlines We humblie besech thée that as thou hast promised to ayde and assist the generation of these men and all such as put their trust in thée so thou wouldest not forsake vs being thus extréeme miserable greauously afflicted Let thy help appeere and shew forth it selfe out of the heauenlye Sion that when thou hast deliuered vs from the bondage and corruption of sinne death and the Deuill thy beloued Church maye not onely be cheered and refreshed but also be excéeding ioyous through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xv. Psalme SEing that O most mighty god none can inhabite and dwell in perpetuall felicitie and thy heauenly kingdom but such as haue béene voyde of fault and vndefiled fro the filthie corruption of wickednesse who haue in suche wise yéelded and dedicated their heart tongue and outward workes to the honor of thy blessed name that they do omit or let slip by negligence or malice none of thy sacred coÌ„maundements Hereby we nowe perceyue and right well vnderstand that if we should be dealt withal as our owne deserts are and according to the worthinesse of our workes how farre of we be from thence so as we may in a maner dispayre and be altogither doubtfull of our saluation but trusting in thy excellent goodnesse we boldely demaunde this at thy mercifull handes that the merits of our déedes beyng layde apart thy faythfull promises maye according to our assured hope still remaine most firme and stable and vouchsafe to graunt vnto vs receyued againe into thy louing fauour that being henceforth adourned with the ornamentes of perfite righteousnesse sincere truth and pure loue wee maye neuer bée drawen away from the habitation of thy blessed felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xvj. Psalme FOrsomuch as we are so poore O most déere father of heauen and thou so exceding rich in al things A praier thaâ— we may not perishe by fayth but attayne vnto glory therby â–ª and thy workes most noble and plentiful surely nothing is giuen vnto vs nor any thing at all in our power whereby we may eyther merite or increase thy most blessed estate and felicitie but yet seing that our whole trust and affiaunce dependeth on thée onely we humbly present our selues and fall downe before thy deuine Maiestie beséeching thée to preserue vs from those euils which inuiron compasse vs about on euery side And our heynous sinnes wherewith thou well perceyuest vnto be ouerladen being pardoned graunt that as thou art become our rightful inheritaunce so we may wholâ— set our ioy and delight in thée agaâ—â— and accompt it a most pleasant camely thing to set forth and commend thée onely and none else instruct thou vs counsaile thou vs be thou alwaies before our eies least we swarue at any tyme from the right way so that wee may with great ioy during this mortall life remaine and abide in thée and after the most and glorious resurrection be partakers of those euerlasting perfect pleasures which we beleue do consist onely in thy most mightie will and power through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xvij. Psalme â— praier that â—ur enimies may not get â—he victorie â—uer vs. THy blessed Churche prayeth thée O most mightie God and lifteth vp hir voice daily vnto thy throne beséeching thée to weigh and consider at one time or other hir most righteteous cause wherefore giue eare and haue regarde vnto the prayers which the faythfull sort poure out before thée with an vnfayned heart who knowe verie well that we are laden and burthened with other innumerable sinnes so as we are faine at all tymes humbly to craue pardon of thée for the same but as for those which oure aduersaries doe lay to our charge wée are nothing giltie in them wherefore if thou thy selfe who art a most righteous iudge be examined in this case we knowe nothing can be found that by thy holy worde may be condemned But our whole doing is onely for this ende and purpose that the renuing and setting vp againe of religion and true godlinesse may be aduaunced to the intent thy blessed commaundementes might be duly obserued and thy sacred law with more sinceritie obeyed And whereas this care and studie hath brought vpon vs most extreeme perils yea almost vtter destruction vnlesse thou remoue and turne the same away quite from vs we humbly beséech thée to hold vp and strengthen our goynges in thy pathes with a puyssaunt steadinesse which are otherwise of themselues very slipperie that we may neither stand in doubt nor be discouraged in these kinde of distresses Thou mayest hereby make thy excellent goodnesse O mercifull God to be much marueled and wondered at if thou wilt defende those that trust in thee at a tyme vnlooked for yea thou shalt not onely reuenge vs thy louing seruants by that meanes but thy selfe also forsomuch as they haue chiefly risen vp and beÌ„t themselues against thee Hide vs therefore vnder the shadowe of thy winges and the more prosperous successe that they seeme to haue in their doyngs so that now they hang vpon our neckes like hungry Lions the more a great deale preuent thou their furye and spéedily deliuer and rescue the life of thy faithfull seruauntes out of theyr handes and vnto the same graunt that by acknowledging
Lord. Amen Another prayer out of the same psalme SEing that we are O heauenly father during this miserable life wrapped in and compassed about with an infinite nuÌ„ber of perilles we direct our humble prayers and hartie peticions vnto thée to the intent thou wouldest stretche foorth thy mightie arme to be our defence and not suffer the great and verie strong enimyes of oure saluation to preuayle agaynst vs. When we are most busily vexed and afflicted of them O good God make it manifest that thou art our mighty protector redy defender There is no righteousnesse or puritie in our workes which we maye vaunt and boast off in thy presence wée francklye acknowledge and confesse that we haue greatly strayed from thy holy precepts Neuerthelesse yet pardon according to thy accustomed woont and mercie the grieuous sinnes committed by vs and vouchsafe of thy gracious fauour to grauÌ„t that we may hereafter liue as becommeth thy chosen blessed and innocent people so that on the other side we may finde thee elect holy and hurtlesse vnto vs throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xix. Psalme â— praier that â—s may be â—rtakers of Gods diuine â—orde THy wonderfull power wisdome and goodnesse O most mightie God which thy nature is excéeding plentifully indued withall sheweth it selfe in all places vnto vs by those things which thou hast fourmed and created The heauen truly with all hir ornaments with the alteration of tymes with the brightnesse of the Starres and of the most whote burning Sunne are nothing else but plain voices and a vniuersal doctrine for all sortes of people by the which the prayses of thy Maiestie are most amply blazed and set forth Wherfore we confesse howe that we can make no excuse at all of our so slender confidence and féeble loue towardes thée who ought truelye to haue béene assuredly perswaded by the aucthoritie of these thinges that we should vnseperably cleaue vnto thée alone being the chiefe and principall causer of so many good workes bestowed vpon vs but alas these admonishments not regarded we haue folowed the lustes and desires of our filthie fleshe with mad imaginations and feyned thinges of our owne braine and made very little accompt of thée who art the Creator and maker of all thinges And for that cause doe well deserue the offlictions which we are assayled with who haue not onelye dispised and had in contempt the workes of nature that should haue allured and drawne vs vnto thée but haue coldely altogither vnprofitably heard thy worde that is to say the holy Scripture and Gospel of thy déere and welbeloued sonne prouoking thy indignation towardes vs by that from whence we shoulde to the comfort of our soules haue drawne out wisedome light ioyfulnesse and perfect righteousnesse but although we now séeme for these weighty considerations most vnworthie of thy mercie yet we instantly require thée to pardon and forgiue vs and not to afflict thy Church according to hir deserts Graunt we humbly beséech thée that we may hereafter to our great profite and coÌ„fort haue these thy creatures in estimation and let thy wordes be not only swéeter vnto vs than hony but farre excéede all the ioy and pleasure of this world Take from vs our heynous sinnes and shewe thy selfe to be a true defender and redéemer of thy chosen people through Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE vnderstande it commeth to passe through thy excelleÌ„t goodnesse O almightie God that the knowledge of thée may be graft and imprinted in mennes mindes by the fourme order and most beautifull comlinesse of the thinges that be created whom the circles and globes of the Heauens the continuall alteration of the day and night and most goodly brightnesse of the sunne do declare to be their most wise Creator with wordes plain ynough doe teach vs both to knowe and also to wonder at thy Maiestie herevnto are added thy written lawes which haue brought vnto vs mortall creatures the true wisedome the testimonie of thy will the substanciall pleasure of the soule heauenly delicates But as we be lewd and wicked wretches so haue we neuer made an ende of abusing both these most faythfull scholemaisters Therefore our earnest request is that thou wouldest vouchsafe to pardon and forgiue wherin we haue offended thee contrary to the admonitions of so worthy instructions and graunt vs hereafter so attentiuely to beholde with due fruct the creation and workmanship of the world that we may become very earnest obseruers of thy sacred lawes through Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xx Psalme OVr dayly peticion is O almightie god that the kingdome of our Lorde Iesus Christ may be augmented A prayer for the prosperouâ— successe of christs kingdome againâ—â— the enimies thereof and appeare at length to be most perfect which thing we nowe also desire very instantly in our hartie prayers and humble supplications Be alwayes mindfull thereof O good God of his fatte and most pleasant oblation which he made for vs vpon the Aultare of the Crosse and graunt that by the tryumphe of his moste perfect victorie and conquest wée maye take both saluation and delyghtfull pleasure Althoughe wée denie not but that the same shall come to passe without oure deserts who haue through our manifolde wickednesse offended thée very many and infinite wayes yet for thy tender louing mercies sake put them to shame and confusion that repose all their trust in Charets horse and worldly power but raise and lift vp to saluation such as are wholy bent to depend vpon thee and bow downe thy merciful and fauourable eares to heare the feruent prayers and peticions whiche we make vnto thy diuine Maiestie for the mightie inlarging of our Lord Iesus christ his kingdome throughe the same Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxj. Psalme A prayer for â—he prayse â—nd augmenâ—ation of the Gospell WEe confesse with a singuler ioy O most mightie God that Iesus Christ our king being indued with power and honour after his resurrection doth abide and liue with thée And forsomuch as he hath nowe obteyned and gotten most largely whatsoeuer may bee wished or desired tending to moste perfect and euerlasting blessednesse it can not otherwise be but that verye much of his saluation giftes and glory be shedde abroade and light vpon vs also which are his members Of which felicitie and most singuler gift although we acknowledge and confesse our selues most vnworthie by reason of our wicked maners and vngodlye life yet forsomuch as we heartily repent vs of them we are nothing doubtfull of his redy helpe but doe also most assuredly beleue that he will once vanquishe and bring to nought so many as do aduaunce and sette themselues agaynst hys glorious Kingdome Graunt wée humblye beséeche thee moste deere father that their pestiferous deuices being of none offect thy high and famous power
merites of Christ and haue an especiall regard vnto thée being in no dispayre thereof at all thou at length according to thy accustomed goodnesse and vnspeakable mercie grauntest their humble requestes thou hearest theyr lowde cryes out of the deepe waters and sticking fast in myre and durt liftest them out thereof with thy most puyssaunt helpe Whereby it happeneth that they beyng mightily deliuered haue thy enestimable prayses cōtinually in their mouthes which they celebrate with new ditties both openly and priuately to the intent they would stirre vp and prouoke all men to the perfect beliefe assured hope and due feare of thée Giue vs therefore at this present such grace as we maye both repose our whole trust in thée onely and also not to passe for the prowde persons or lyers that haue risen vp togither against thy sacred church perceyuing right well that thou art the authour of all wonderfull matters who hast in the high treasures of thy diuine prouidence such deuises and purposes which no man can rehearse or shewe forth in order nor yet once to vtter in as muche as they excell in number and greatnesse all force of wordes and efficacie of speache Therfore where as we haue hitherto greeuously offended thée by reason of our heynous sinnes neyther can make sufficient satisfaction by any sacrifice of our owne graunt vs an obedient fayth to be at all tymes procliue and readie to followe thy blessed will which thou hast vouchedsafe to manifest and reuele vnto vs in the booke of thy sacred lawe graunt that we maye readily and with a frée will execute the same being surely printed in the most inwarde partes of our sinfull bodie And like as thou doest neuer withhold thy selfe from spéedie mercie and vnspeakable goodnesse towardes vs so againe let thy zealous louing seruauntes manifestly shew forth thy stedfast faythfulnesse vpright iustice and sincere truth both in their words and conuersation Thou séest howe we are borne downe and loden with gréeuous sinnes howe we are ouerwhelmed with miserable aduersities and howe both heart and witte fayleth vs wherefore haue thou an especiall regard to our saluation and make spéedy hast to helpe vs. Or rather confound and putte the fierce enimies of thy blessed name to vtter confusion but let vs which vnfeynedly séeke thée be at length greatly refreshed and cause vs to finde by proofe that it is not in vaine that thou art reported to be the most assured saluation it selfe and helper of poore siely wretches and greeuous afflicted persons through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THey which suffer the prolonging of thy fauorable helpe O most mighty God with right pacient mindes do at length well perceyue and assuredly féele that thou hearest their feruent prayers and when in good earnest they finde themselues to bée deliuered do not onely celebrate thy glorious name with due prayses but giue a sufficient example to other godly men for to do the like Nowe therefore which we may onely doe forsomuch as thou delightest not in outwarde sacrifices we indeuor and striue to obteyne thus much by oure hartie prayers that we may become verye louing and desirous to follow thy holy wil dayly more and more setting forth thy blessed truth and vnspeakeable mercye towardes vs with often or rather continuall praises But in the meane season what soeuer we haue done dishonestly or after a wicked maner agaynst thee according to thy louing mercye and excellent goodnesse forgiue it vs neyther suffer those gréeuous punishments and wofull calamities to ouerwhelme vs which our sinnes haue iustly deserued And let such as séeke thy dishonour and our confusion be put to vtter shame and rebuke but cause those that be excéeding zealous and very carefull of thy blessed name to be replenished with true ioy and perfect gladnesse But séeing thou right well knowest that we are greatlye dispised marueylous destitute of worldly and fleshly helpe make thou hast mightily to saue vs who art our puyssaunt defence and very strong fortresse through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xlj. Psalme IT is a token of no small grace O most mightie God well to iudge both of such as be féeble minded A prayer agaynst the enimies of Gods holy worde and for the worke of charitye and also of all the Godly whome thou doest sometime chastice and scourge diuers maner of wayes although thou vsest correction with a fatherly affection yet wilt thou readily deliuer them speedily quicken them and in the ende abundantly blesse them with thy excellent presence which hope we also leaning vnto and trusting vpon who are nowe most gréeuously afflicted doe here togither earnestly require thée to haue mercy vpon vs by releuing and deliuering vs from the greeuous sinnes wherewith we haue most heinously offended thée Thou knowest vndoubtedly that the cruell enimies of thy holy Gospell wishe vs muche euill thou vnderstandest what they ymagine and determine amongest themselues of our destruction They verily practise and goe about nothing more then to ouerthrow thy blessed Church and with them also do such take part as we though to haue béene allyed with vs both by religion and also for many other respectes and good turnes Extend thou therefore O good God thy mercie and compassion towardes vs whereby thou hast béene accustomed not onely to rayse vp suche as are fallen and lie vnder foote but also vtterly to confound and bring their aduersaries to vtter ruine Giue not the fierce enimies of true religion and perfect godlinesse scope to reioyce at thy faithfull seruants destruction But if thou wilt mightily deliuer vs out of these present calamities and with great force confirme the same by thy holy spirite thy blessed name shall be openly commended and highlye praysed of all godly men which thing wee earnestly require may continually come to passe and that without ceassing throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THere remaine wonderfull great rewardes O most good and mercifull God for such as haue much compassion vpon the afflicted but those that shewe mercy vnto the most miserable and such men as be in great distresse doe immitate and follow the example of thy excéeding great goodnesse For thou art woont to comfort thy faythfull seruaunt which lieth sore sicke in his bed so that thou thy selfe séemest to make the same to the intent that he which is diseased might lye the softer neyther is there anye point of dutifulnesse which wee accompt most singuler wherewith thou doest not verye fauourably pleasure and serue the turne of thy blessed people whensoeuer thou shalt thinke time conuenient to helpe them Wherefore seeing we may well perceyue that for our gréeuous sinnes we be fallen into most daungerous and sore distresses we humbly flie vnto thy goodnesse onely hoping that thou wilt vouchsafe to remit whatsoeuer we haue offended or displeased thee in neyther suffer the wicked enimies of our
able to redresse our good cause We doe not denie but that our deserts are marueylous wicked insomuch as we should verye iustly be altogither destroyed with these present calamyties who haue nothing faythfully performed that which in name and outwarde shewe hath béene of vs professed But it is thy nature O good God forsomuche as thou art mercy and very goodnesse it selfe not to cast off those which flie vnto thée for succour Sende downe thy ayding hande from heaueÌ„ we humble besech thee wherby thou mayst deliuer thy faythfull people from the reproches of vngodly and wicked persons The Antichristians rore against thy blessed Church like Lyons and theyr hote burning furie agaynst thy holy worde increaseth dayly more and more Shewe forth thy selfe therefore O excellent father and cause thy glorie wherewith thou art renowmed aboue all other to be manifestly knowen Rende the nettes fill vppe the ditches and make the deceiptes of none effect which they practise agaynst the sacred Gospell whereby our minde may daylye more and more be strengthned heartily to confesse couragiously to extoll and aboue all thinges to exalt thy wonderfull prayses vncessauntlye through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lviij Psalme â—â—ayer aâ—st our â—rall deâ—ngs froÌ„ 〈◊〉 crafty â—ges aâ—e of the â—dly THe princes of this wretched world O moste mightie God doe gréeuously assault thy blessed Church bicause sounde and vpright iudgement is not giuen vppon diuine and heauenly things by such as continually imagine mischiefe in their mindes and onelye practise violence against thy elect and chosen seruaunts But howe should they doe otherwise that euen from their mothers wombe are borne wicked into this worlde and haue a most noysome venime like vnto poyson of Serâ—ents naturally graffed in them which câ—uld neuer by any exhortations or friendly â—arnings at gods hand be taken out of theâ— for they put those thinges after none oâ—her sort from them then doe the deafe Adders that shunne the charmes of the Charmers Our heynous sinnes therefore haue verye well deserued that the outragious enimies of thy fayth doctrine should afflict vs which nowe we both hartily confesse and also for thy infinite mercies sake earnestly require thée to pardon and forgiue Furthermore we feruently desire this at thy mercifull handes that thou wouldest breake in péeces and gnashe the Lions téeth to the intent they may shed away as water and be like broken shaftes neyther let those men hurt thy faythfull seruauntes any more but cause them to wither awaye as a Snaile in hir shell and be weake as the vntimely fruite of a woman And finally let their outrage fade away euen so easily as a flame made of thornes is quenched But chéere thou vp O good God thy faithfull seruaunts who séeing the great reuengementes which thou thy selfe takest vppon the sworne aduersaries of thy blessed religion may right well perceyue that thou hast a reward laid vp in store for thy faythfull beléeuers and let their well doing be established when as they shall assuredly know and perfectly vnderstand that thou executest streight iudgement vpon the earth through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme ANtichrist with all his adherentes doe imagin none other thing in their mind agaynst thy sacred Church O most good and merciful God then mischiefe and most wicked deuices but whereas they make a goodly shewe to the intent they woulde be accompted godly and religious yet in very deede they imagine nothing but lyes going astray from thée euen from their birth hauing alwayes hitherto marueylous great delight in erronious thinges Nowe at length are they desirous to spewe out and cast forth their venome which they like the Adder haue kept in a readinesse neyther could they so be charmed with the sayings of the holy Scriptures as to ceasse from their owne lewde desires Surely O heauenly father we are not they that deserue not to be destroyed by them for oure euill déedes and lewde behauiour for somuch as through thy excellent mercy we haue wel knowen the waye of truth and life albeit we haue coÌ„tinually started aside therefro giuen our selues to vaine ymaginations wicked desires But deale thou with vs according to the glorie honor of thy name and vouchsafe to yéelde vnto vs not that which we haue deserued but that which by thy promises behight vs. Ouerthrowe grinde to powder and vtterly make voyde the subtile deuices outragious force and deuilishe power of the enimies of thy glorious name and sincere doctrine so that the godly may perfectly reioyce when as they sée thée take their cause in hande and shall perceyue that their is some fruite of righteousnesse while thou dealest by vpright iudgement through Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe behauiours of the wicked O most mighty God are so corrupt and naughtie that verye little wholsomnesse or none at all can seeme to be in their decrées they practise deceyts they offer wrong and now from their childhood haue both fallen from thée also liue in subiection to their owne caÌ„kred maliciousnes in fiercenes in hardnesse of heart in furious moode in outrage of minde in vnbrideled crueltie they may be likned vnto stinging Serpents roring Lyons such kinde of rauenous beastes therefore we earnestly require thée not to suffer vs for to fall as our heynous sinnes haue iustly deserued into such an extréeme madnesse that forsaking thee who art the Well Fountaine of all good things we may put our trust coÌ„fidence in them neither permitting vs to followe their lewde decrées fond fantasies which were so perillous a thing as the other Cause vs we humbly require thée to dissent wholy from them in the meane time let their power in doing any hurt be vtterly abated so that as men altogither vnarmed althoughe their desire to do mischiefe be not aswaged yet both habilitie and knowledge to fulfill their wicked desire and extréeme egernesse be quite taken from them Confound thou in the turning of a hande their lewde deuices cause the Congregation of the faithfull greatly to triumph when as they may right well perceyue that thou both renderest the fruit of righteousnesse to the righteous and also takest punishement of the vngodly according to their wretched and lewde desertes through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lix Psalme OVr earnest request is O moste mightie God that thou onelye wouldest be our spéedie deliuerer A prayer agaynst the Pharisies and false prâ—phets when as the extreeme enimies of thy sacred doctrine and pure religion doe gréeuously oppresse vs nowe it apperteyneth vnto thee for to defend vs froÌ„ naughty persons who gape much for our destruction and haue augmented theyr force and power with great and huge conspiracies to wipe out thy holye ones from off the earth They do persecute vs nothing at all for our heynous faultes and
mischieuous déedes whereof we acknowledge and confesse that we haue committed many but they runne vpon vs for hatred they onelye beare to sincere godlinesse and perfect religion to the intent they would both craftily with extréeme violence furnishe themselues to our destruction But thou O good God who hast dominion ouer all creatures first pardon whatsoeuer we haue wickedlye committed against thée then stirre vp thy selfe and at length discusse the cause of the godly Our most cruel enimies go to and fro they grenne like Doggs and runne aboute in all Countries for when they speake anye thing of oure matters swordes and weapons onely are in theyr lippes but thou O good God shalt laugh these men to scorne and haue them in great dirision we attend and looke for helpe altogither at thy mercifull handes who art our mightie Tower and moste strong defence Let thy sacred Church be such a partaker of thy wonderfull and vnspeakeable goodnesse as she may sée hir desire vpon the enimies of all righteousnesse Slay not these men after an accustomable maner but destroy them vtterlye in such a sort as thy blessed people may not lightly forgette the same cause thou them to become runagates beggers for euer by reason of their abhominable vices blasphemous lyes and cursed periuries wherewith they are be wrapped and abound greatly consume thou such maner of men at length bring them to naught I say as they may become a laughing stocke and by word vnto euery man to the intent all people may assuredly know and right well perceyue that thou shewest thy selfe a very God vnto thy blessed Church wherein thou oughtest to bée highly magnified as a firme defence and most strong ayde for all such as will vnfeinedly inuocate and call vpon thy glorious name throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE being hedged in O most mightie God through humaine infirmitie and bound in conscience with the chaynes of most heauie sinnes do continually with right great lamentation call vpon thy vnspeakable mercie wherewith thou mayest willingly and gently bowe downe thy fauourable eare to our humble peticions the force of our outragious enimies doth wonderfully assault marueylously inuade and greatly oppresse vs but seing that the strēgth of our nature vtterly falleth in this behalf and sheweth it selfe altogither vnuaylable arise thou O God and ouerthrowe by thy mightie puyssaunce whatsoeuer shall bée repugnant to our saluation and finally deride and mock such a one as hath a greater pleasure to resist thy blessed will then to submit himselfe therevnto as méete it is he should so doe We haue reposed the whole strength of our welfare in thée onely hauing no mistrust but that thou art oure chiefe goodnesse and most mercifull God although therefore the fierce enimies of thy glorious name compasse vs about and after a sort besiege vs with the darke and obscure blindnesse which they shead we trusting in thy excellent goodnesse hope that the malicious wickednesse they haue imagined shall not fall on vs but light vpon their owne neckes wherfore let thy inestimable goodnesse according to our assured hope be in stéed of a strong fortresse puyssaunt refuge and mightie Bulwarke vnto vs who are wonderfull desirous to celebrate and set forth thy excéeding great honor and vnspeakable mercy through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lx. Psalme THou hast vsed oftentimes O most good and mercifull God to chastice thy déere children with a fatherly correction A prayer for Gods helpe in necessitie so that they béeing at length brought low through vnfortunate mishappes and broken with miseryes may right well perceyue and vnderstand that they haue sinned greatly who aspiring with all their indeuour to come vnto thée may much couet to be deliuered from these abhominable vices wherewith they were before excedingly ouerwhelmed there doest thou yeelde thy selfe againe being altogither appeased and at attonement with them Wherefore we humbly require thée O heauenly father that thou wouldst in like maner keepe still with vs this thy auncient couenaunt and vouchsafe to take thy poore humble suters which fly vnto thee for succour from their gréeuous sorowes and lamentable miseries that our heinous sinnes doe dayly purchase vnto vs which we mistrust not but will come to passe forsomuch as we be nothing doubtfull but such things as thou hast promised shall not fade out of our remembraunce For thys cause chiefly is our minde much reuiued hereby we be well cheered and finally by this wée are certainly perswaded that wée which séemed in tymes past and that lately to be reiected of thée are nowe in verye déede and that wholy receyued into thy louing fauour Procéede and go forwarde therefore to succour vs so that we béeyng furthered by thy mighty defence may boldly and manfully go thorow with the matter to the glorie of thy blessed name by Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THou séemest verye often O most good and merciful God to put back thy faithfull seruauntes from thee and being in a maner sore angrie with these men doest scatter them abroade into diuers partes of the worlde but thou comforting thy blessed people againe with thy excéeding great clemencie bowest downe thy fauour and louing kindnesse afreshe towardes them by meanes whereof our hope is renued in vs that seing it hath séemed good vnto thee to moue the lande in this our age and to dismay the inhabiters thereof with a newe and extraordinarie feare thou wilt also heale hir gréeuous wounds And although it be thy good will now and then to vex thy faythfull people with hard and most bitter mishappes in like wise as if thou shouldest giue them a poysoned cup to drinke of yet notwithstanding thou raysest vp the banner of saluation vnlooked for vnto such as dayly feare and perfectly honor thee to the intent that thy louing promises being assuredly performed they may lead their life verye prosperously vnder the same nowe therefore turne thou alway thy eyes from the sinnes we haue most greeuously committed for we denie not but that we haue done very wickedly and peruersely but for so much as of thy infinite mercy fake thou wilt pardon and quite forgiue such as vnfeynedly call vpon thee finally ayde thou thy beloued Church according to thy accustomed vse and mightily preserue hir with thy puyssant right hande But go thou O good God which seemest to haue forsaken thy blessed people for a time nowe forth with vs and rayse vp thy selfe to be our readie helper for we craue not thy fauourable ayde without iust cause who haue learned euen by experience it selfe that mans power and strength is but a vaine thing to stay by Be thou therefore a present succour vnto those which repose their whole trust and confidence in thée graunt that they may deale manfully doe mightie actes so that they may by thy meanes get the victorie ouer their most cruell
sake thou stablishest the MouÌ„taines stillest the raging of the sea appeasest the madnesse of the people and doest refresh and lighten with great ioy the vttermost partes of the earth through the brightnesse of the heauenly fiers Thou sendest seasonable and timely showers whereby onely commeth fertilitie and the fieldes wonderfull garnished with all kinde of fruits whereby both men and beastes haue abundantly whereon to feede Graunt thou therefore thus much also vnto vs who art the auctour of so many good things that we may render moste condigne thankes and vse to oure health and comforte those thinges which thou so louingly bestowest vpoÌ„ vs through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxvj. Psalme A prayer in necessitie to the glorie of God for setâ—ing vs at libertie SVch is thy mightye power and inuincible force O moste good and mercifull God that thou at length vsest to subdue vnder thy obeysaunce the enimies of thy name and glory euen by thy puyssaunt strength how muche so euer they striue agaynst thée in their furious madnesse which thing the godly duly waying with themselues haue a very great and feruent desire to honour thy diuine Maiestie to exalt thée with prayses and faythfully to worship thy excellencie For as thou in tymes past causedst the sea to open hir selfe vnto the children of Israell and didst turne aside the riuer of Iordane agaynst his streame and hast expulsed the Iewes enimies from their auncient inheritaunce who séemed otherwise not to be subduable so we now earnestly require thée that thou wouldest doe the like for thy déerely beloued let them flourishe in heauenly giftes so that they faint not through exercise of temptations but being well tryed fined and thorowly pourged with vnfortunate mishaps they maye shine in the brightnesse of vertues who hauing comfortable things prepared for them of thée being their father creator after their gréeuous afflictions much troublesomnesse of minde let them in the ende render vnto thée the vowes of praise and songes of commendation Moue vs forwarde I humblie beséech thée to feare and honor him by hauing his benifites very diligently in our remembraunce which of his infinite goodnesse he hath bestowed vpoÌ„ vs who being prouoked by our thankfulnesse may hereafter giue a more louing and fauourable attentiue eare to our lowly prayers through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxvij. Psalme THe two thinges O most mightie God which mortall creatures doe very greatly wishe for are these A prayer for the augmentation of the Gospell namely that they may be acceptable to thy diuine Maiestie replenished with the light and brightnesse of thy louing couÌ„tenaunce which two we right well know do faile vs by reason of the sinnes we haue very gréeuously committed therefore our earnest request is that thou wouldst heale our deadly woundes with the playster of thy vnspeakeable mercie and whatsoeuer we haue offended thée in let thy louing fauor wholy remit and cause thy most gladsome light to driue away the darknesse that we haue procured vnto our selues which sute if we may obteyne yet shall we readily acknowledge although we be inuironed with the darknesse of this mortall life the deuises ordinaunces meanes wherby thou doest greatly gouerne prouidently mainteine puyssauntly defende and mightily preserue all things with incomparable goodnesse and faythfulnesse and prouidest wonderfully for thy blessed people which things being well seene and rightly considered we and all people shall shewe foorth thy worthie prayses and be also thorowly replenished with pleasaunt ioy forsomuch as thou rulest all Nations Prouinces and Kingdomes with rightful iudgement and most indifferent iustice For if al people did manifestly know the same in such sort as it is euery man would praise thée in the open face of the worlde Graunt vnto vs therefore O excellent father these two things neyther disdeyne to adde vnto them a plenteous fruitfulnesse of the earth for the more bouÌ„tifully thou dealest with thy déerely beloued children the more shalt thou be feared amplier honored through the whole vniuersal world by Iesus christ our lord AmeÌ„ ¶ A prayer out of the Lxviij Psalme A prayer for the vnity anâ— inlargement of the Christian Congregation WE haue both our health and also all other commodities of this life at thy mercifull handes O most good and mightie God being the fountaine and originall of all good things who doest both adorne and continually bestowe so great benefites vpon thy faithfull seruants that impossible it is to compt the nuÌ„ber of them But this chiefly ought not to be passed ouer with silence that thou thy selfe hast so happily with so good successe fought our battailes against sinne death the deuill and all euilles insomuch as the deadly enimies of our saluation felt thée to be our present helpe when as thou diddest puyssauntly ouercome mightilye subdue and greeuously punishe them Wherefore it is our right bounden duty to render perpetuall thankes wyth Psalmes louing prayses godly songes and all kinde of ditties and Musicke which thing that it may not be done maliciously and grudgingly but with a minde voyd and frée from fleshly cares and carnal desires we humbly beséeche thée to pardon whatsoeuer we haue transgressed either through the darknesse of ignoraunce or weaknesse of minde and procéede also euer hereafter to defende vs from the craftie snares and subtill layings awayte of the force of our enimies as thou hast heretofore stedfastlye from tyme to tyme assisted such as trust in thée whereby all men shall assuredly perceyue that thou so fauourest the faythfull beleuers as thou giuest vnto them aboundaunce of strength and power inuincible through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme SEing that thy power is such O moste good and mercifull God as no enimies although they be neuer so strong mightie are able to stand agaynst thée our earnest request is that thou wouldest for thy infinite mercies sake most puyssauntly arise to helpe vs. The children of Israell felt thy presence to be a continual safegard vnto them at what time they encountred to fight with their enimies althoughe kinges and armies throughlye furnished were raysed vp agaynst them forsomuch as therefore thou hast lifted vp thy inuincible power and puissant strength on high disdaine not wée humbly beseeche thée to turne thy louing countenaunce towardes vs who do continually wrestle with Sathan the fleshe and lustes thereof surely we acknowledge that thou art our sole and onely defence who flye therefore vnto thée bicause thou art the fountaine and roote of all good things requiring that wée being mightily deliuered from the mischieuous euilles which inuiron vs on euery side may set forth the worthy prayses of thy most glorious name euen as it hath right well deserued through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy force and puyssaunce O most good and mighty god is of so great a
streÌ„gth that when thou mouest and stirrest vp thy selfe they are immediately scattered from their place and put to flight whosoeuer they be the beare hatred to thy blessed name and glorious kingdome wherefore neyther do we doubt but that at this tyme the power of Sathan and his adherents who ceasse not euery where to ouerthrowe thy faythfull people shall be dispatched and come to naught euen lyke vnto smoke that vanisheth and mistes which passe away And for this cause there is layde vp a great pleasure and excéeding comfort vnto the faythfull whereof we heartily require thee that we also may be partakers and that thou wouldst ease vs of the fardell of sinne wherwith we are most gréeuously burthened that taking vs vnto thy gracious fauour againe thou wilt indue vs very largely with thy holy spirite Seing that thou arte the father of the fatherlesse and a reuenger of such as be miserably oppressed vouchsafe also to deliuer vs from the fetters of our iniquities neyther be thou any thing lesse our strong defence then thou wert the children of Israelles mightie protector in the wildernesse Wée bée as thou well perceyuest by reason of our heynous sinnes greatly disfigured let therefore the bright fauour and light of thy fauourable countenaunce be present with vs wherby our mindes may be made splendent reformed vnto the souereigne blesse and highest felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme SVch is thy excellent wisdome O moste good and mercifull God that as thou hast an innumerable maner of wayes and infinite meanes to preserue thy faythfull seruaunts so hast thou also as manye to bring the wicked to perdicion Wherefore in restoring thy blessed people being sore opprest both of sinne and Sathan in getting great famous victories of thy cruell enimies out of all doubt thou deseruest that so many as naturallye apperteyne to the stocke and linage of Israell should set out thy worthie prayses and moste noble triumphes with a wonderfull great gladnesse Wherefore we humbly require thée by thy notable and exceding great power that what giftes of saluation thou hast begunne to bestowe vpon vs thou wouldest from day to day augmeÌ„t and increase with a prosperous successe whereby we may offer vnto thée who art borne vp beyond the heauens with noble triumph not the sacrifices of brute beastes but our selues as an acceptable and blamelesse fréewill offering to the intent it may be left for a sufficient witnesse both vnto vs to all others that it onely apperteyneth vnto thy singuler force and incomparable power to bring thy elect children vnto the moste desired felicitie and chiefest place of blesse they looke for through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxix Psalme A prayer in â—ribulation â—or the glory â—f the resurâ—ection MAns weake and fraile nature O most mighty God is continually tost and turmoyled with infinite calamities Neyther should that séeme a matter so greatly to be lamented if in this vniuersall case such as faythfully honor and worship thee were not séene to be more greeuously afflicted and punished then the rest but the worlde goeth so that the stormie waues the clammie mire the déepe and whirling gulphes of temptations doe little better then choke vppe those which haue a stedfast beliefe and assured trust in thee Which matters being done to the intent they may paciently and with a quiet mind suffer whatsoeuer is commodious for them doth certainlye not muche further the saluation of such as be weake who see these things come to passe vnlesse thou for thy infinit goodnesse and vnspeakable mercies sake wherwith thou art plentifully indued puttest too quickly thy spéedy furtheraunce for so shall the thing which seemeth to haue weakened and dismayed their heartes wonderfullye cheere and refreshe them for if thou shalt giue eare vnto our lowly prayers as our assured trust is and deliuer vs out of so great perils according to our humble peticions these gréeuous afflictions truly shal bring forth fruit not to be repented of Graunt we hartily beséech thée O excellent father that suche as be in a maner consumed and at deathes doore for the zeale they beare to thy glorie may according to their feruent praiers obtaine this of thée both the inlarging of thy most famous kingdome and also their welfare which assault the same and be sworne aduersaries thereto through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme SVch was thy excéeding great goodnesse and clemencie towardes mankinde O most good and mercifull God that to saue them thou diddest suffer thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde to be touched with moste greeuous reproches and heynous sclaunders insomuch that euen at the houre of his death he being greatlye a thirst they gaue him none other drink but most sharp and sowre vinegar mingled with gall If we be any thing forgetfull of these things eyther we shewe that we are vtterly destitute of fayth or make our selues giltie of most hatefull vngratitute We haue before our eyes the moste gréeuous vengeaunce which in the ende thou tookest of those wicked and vngodly persons who raged so greatly agaynst thy most déerely beloued sonne and yet are not moued by their example to amende our naughtie factes and wicked life then the which looke howe much he is nowe more glorious and excellent then he was at that tyme so much the more wrong and reproch is done vnto him on our behalfe We therefore humbly require and earnestly intreate thée that thou wouldest vouchesafe to inspire into vs a more perfect minde a better desire which professe his glorious name and most pure religion by the selfe same Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxx. Psalme FOr this intent and purpose O most good and merciful God haue we recourse in our feruent prayers to thy gracious tuicion and fauourable mercie A prayer iâ— necessitie for that we see nothing in this life eyther voyde of perils or in safety from the outragious enimies of our saluation through whose spitefull malice deuilishe falshoode and tyrannous crueltie we finde all thinges very froward and full of most gréeuous enmitie but bicause we feele our selues giltie of no smal or light crimes and are nothing ignorant how thou of thy iustice takest punishment of our greeuous sinnes we humbly beséech thée according to thy woonted and accustomed mercie to forgiue vs whatsoeuer we haue filthily coÌ„mitted and what vengeaunce or punishment is worthilye and of desert due vnto vs may eyther be vtterly released or else mercifully mittigated So shall so many as be sworne aduersaries to thy true religion which we professe be abashed and put to vtter shame when thou shalt haue helped and assisted vs but contrariwise they which be greatly desirous to set forth thy glorious name shall be right glad and triumphantly reioyce with vs. Therefore make no long tarying to be our readie helper least
that oure sinnes bée not the occasion thou withdrawest thy selfe from so laudable and renowmed a custome of thy excellencye But if thy sacred Church be a little while afflicted and greeuously troubled as wee haue well deserued make thou for the glorie of thy name hir puyssaunt aduersaries yea rather thine of such féeblenesse as those be which are a slepe so that if they will abuse their strength let them greatly faile thereof and cause both their footmen and horsemen throughe thy rebuking of them to be of no force at all We right wel know O good God that thou onely oughtest to be feared insomuch as no man is able to indure thy wrathfull displeasure Arise therefore to iudge thy sacred Churches cause insomuch as hir milde Citizens may by thy puyssant helpe be mightily preserued that whatsoeuer the most disdainfull enimies haue interprised by threates to doe against the same it maye redowne to thy owne prayse and renowmed glorie Graunt O good God that we maye with an excéeding cheerefulnesse and ioyfulnesse of heart render such thankes giuinges as we haue vowed vnto thee for so great a benefite when as we shall perceyue all the kinges of the earth to stande in great feare of thy excellent Maiesty and that thou hast abated the courages of the mightie princes of this wretched worlde throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxvij Psalme â— prayer of â—onsolation â— distresse â— coÌ„sidering â—â—e wonderâ—ll workes â— God WE crye vnto thée in heart voyce O most mightie God with such an assured confidence that seing thou be our puyssaunt God wée are heard of thée in théese our sorowfull tribulations who through our earnest repentance and hartie inuocation of thy blessed name make diligent searche for thée whilest we are on euery side oppressed with much anguishe and sore afflictions neither is there any other firme substanciall consolatioÌ„ remayning vnto vs. For so long as our minde is gréeuously troubled and hart excéedingly disquieted what other thing remaineth but that we being moued with extréeme heauinesse and dolefull sorrowe doe make our mone and heauie complaint vnto thée Aboue all other things our heynous sinnes do sting vs whereby we both right well knowe that thou art offended and also féele by experience a troublesome and wounded conscience in oure selues Wherefore our mindes are miserably afflicted and being ouerwhelmed with feare and sorrowe all our strength doth vtterly fade away Our eyes attend diligently vpon thée whose minde and heart being broken and cast downe wée lamentably require thy fauourable mercie Ah God most déere father shall our manifolde sinnes bée the cause why thou wilt alwayes hyde thy selfe from vs Wilt thou ceasse to shewe thy selfe both merciful and gentle vnto vs For thou truely art of nature patient and long suffering wherefore let vs not be destitute of thy mercie and louing kindnesse which are vnmeasurable Be not thou O good God who art the father of mercie forgetfull to shew thy fauourable compassion towardes vs. We verily haue prouoked thy heauie displeasure by reason of oure naughty behauiour notwithstanding thou canst with thy most high right hand easily alter the same and pardon our gréeuous offences which we haue no mistrust of so long as thy excellent workes depart not out of our remeÌ„brance Thou wert woont to shewe wonders in deliuering thy faythfull people therefore at this time also stretch out thy mightie power against the vngodlye who haue assayled thy blessed flocke with deceyptfull pollecies and warlike crueltie and deale with them according to thy olde accustomed maner It is not vnbeknowen to vs how wonderfully thou diddest deliuer the Israelites from the Egyptians The waters of the great depe the clowdes the thunders the lightnings and al creatures haue at thy forceable word set forth their safegarde and welfare insomuch as thou didst lead out thy chosen people like shéepe by the hands of Moyses and Aaron euen whither soeuer it pleased thée Be thou O excellent father in such wise assistant vnto vs with thy armies that being deliuered from our moste cruell enimies we may through an vnfeyned fayth and pure conuersation of life be drawne vnto thée who art our assured hope and chiefe thing we delight in through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme WE haue a perpetual regard to thy excelleÌ„t goodnesse O almightie God in these most troublesome times who make thée wearie through our dayly prayers and very feruent peticions flying to thy diuine Maiestie as vnto our only Sauior whilest thy blessed Church is in so great peril Neither is our sorrow and mournings smally increased so long as we call to remembraunce the things that were done in olde time wherein a man might with an assured minde and very quiet conscience peaceablye and without offence haue addicted himselfe to set forth with high prayses both thy glorious name and also thy excellent doctrine But forsomuch as we haue very muche abused the gift of so great securitie and most sound quietnesse we do now earnestly beséech thée O excellent father to forgiue whatsoeuer we haue committed agaynst thy excellent Maiestie but seing it cannot come to passe that thou shouldest be forgetfull to shewe mercie towardes thy faythfull seruauntes cast vs not vtterly away And forsomuch as it behoueth thy louing promises to take place at length withdraw not thy fauourable mercie altogither from vs. We doe nowe right well cal to remembrance thy wonderous works of olde which thou wroughtest in deliuering the children of Israell out of Egypt for so soone as the waters in the sea behelde thy omnipotent power they were sore afrayed and moued after a marueylous sort Thou didst fight against the vngodly with darke clowdes thunderinges lightnings windes and an horrible tempest In lyke maner therefore thou then deliueredst thy people of Israel euen so now preserue thy blessed Church from the outragious crueltie of Sathan and enuious enterprises of his wretched adherentes throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe greater the afflictions be O moste good and merciful God that we indure so muche the more are we accustomed to pray the ferueÌ„tlier vnto thée for seing that we nowe right well perceyue and do dayly more more feele that thy sacred church is miserably tormented and vexed sundrye wayes we come and make intreatance to thy gentlenesse beséeching thée to ayde hir in such wise as thou wert woont to doe in hir first age Doubtlesse thy most perfect nature and also thy excéeding constancie wherewith thou art indued can not abide that thou who hast béene alwayes fauourable towards those which thou didst most tenderly loue shouldest nowe gather thy goodnesse togither in a bundel to the intent thou wouldest withdrawe the same from them Wherefore our earnest and hartye desire is that thou wouldest vtter thy auncient inuincible power towardes vs at this instant in raysing cherishing and restoring thy holy
administration of thy holy Sacraments and others innumerable which belong to the bewtefying of this thy heritage But wée alas being vngratefull of all these moste excellent and singuler giftes haue accomplished nothing as was required of vs. Therefore the wicked and barbarous Nations are not without iust desert stirred vp togither through thy wrathfull indignation to inuade thy holy Churche and to shed the bloud of thy faythfull people and blessed inheritance as if it were water making of vs a verye scorne and laughing stocke and that which is more lamentable and greatlier to be sorowed they persecute in vs not our deadly sinnes but thy owne selfe thy holy Gospell thy diuine honor and pure worshipping of thée Wherfore O God most déere father our earnest request is that thou wouldest not bée alwayes angrie with thy people and shéepe of thy pasture Poure out therefore thys thy wrath which is kindled against vs for our sinnes vpon the heathen that haue not knowne thée and suffer not thy blessed Church to be deuoured of the vngodly We hartily desire thée for thy infinite mercies sake and by the intercession of thy moste déerely beloued sonne our Lorde to haue no more in remembrance our olde heynous sinnes And séeing that we put our whole trust and confidence in thy goodnesse onely assist and deliuer such as crie and call vnto thée euen for the glorie of thy names sake Be mercifull vnto our gréeuous sinnes otherwise the vngodly will say that thou hast reiected thy owne case Let the sorrowfull sighing lamentable teares of the oppressed came before thée and not be put out of thy sight pardō whatsoeuer we haue gréeuously cōmitted agaynst thee and vouchsafe to shew vpon vs the force of thy assistant help to the intent that we thy louing heritage thy faythfull people and shéepe of thy good pasture maye giue thee thankes for euer and shewe forth thy worthie prayses from one generation to another through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme LEt the wonderfull examples of thy rygorous iustice O moste mightie God wherewith thou hast subuerted the Kingdome of Israell and wrapped that people for their rebelliousnesse agaynst thee in slaughters rapes booties burnings captiuities with all kinde of miseries and infelicitie be a wholesome and comfortable admonition vnto vs so that we may with a right chéerefull minde lay hold vpon true repentaunce and be deliuered therby from most gréeuous torments which through our innumerable heynous sinnes we haue worthely deserued For verye méete it is that thou shouldst haue an especiall regard vnto thy moste blessed and glorious name but if thou shalt poure out thy wrath vpon vs the wicked will imagine that thou hadst no care to helpe such as duely honor thée and craue thy assistaunce with abundance of teares for if any calamitie or aduersitie light vpon thy sacred Church it is incontinent their accustomed maner malipartly to scoffe agaynst the same saying where is nowe their God become What profite haue they by theyr religion By meanes whereof this kinde of reproch redowndeth vnto thée ▪ vpon thy sacred doctrine and vpon thy holy Gospell Wherefore our humble and earnest request is that being right mindfull of the sheepe of thy pasture thou wouldest so defende and mainteyne vs as we may perpetually in all places both publish and also set forth thy worthye prayses through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxx. Psalme A prayer for the repairing of the afflicted Church THou hast alwayes hitherto béene accustomed O most mightie god to be present like a louing shéepeherd with thy faythfull people and to lead them forth vnder thy protection as if they were sheepe We now therefore require thée to stirre vp thy mightye power in so great perilles and shewe vs the bright light of thy fauourable countenaunce Rayse vp thy selfe and be ready to helpe and deliuer vs. We truely acknowledge and earnestly confesse that in consideration of our heynous iniquities most gréeuous sinnes committed against thée thy heauie wrath hath not without good desert béene kindled agaynst vs and thy iustice to be the principall cause why these excéeding great mischiefes wherewith thy blessed Church is nowe opprest haue inuaded the same But séeing that at this present we are right hartily sorie for all the sinnes which haue by vs béene committed agaynst thée and that we may lamentably require thy louing fauour and mercie how long wilt thou be angrie with vs Howe long wilt thou suffer the great strife gréeuous rebukes and opprobrious slaunders wherewith the vngodly and moste lewde persons do touch thée in vs Turne vnto vs O excellent father in this most troublesome time the quiet and cheerefull coūtenaunce of thy inestimable goodnesse and be mindfull of thy notable benefits which thou hast bestowed vpon thy sacred church and séeing that thou hast hitherto nourished it bewtified it and alwayes garnished the same with the most plentiful and large giftes of thy blessed spirite Deliuer hir not now ouer we humbly beséeche thée to be spoyled of the outragious vngodly most cruell Antichristians suffer not so pleasant and chosen a vineyarde which with thy most high excéeding mightie right hand thou hast planted increased to be shamefully and after a very wretched maner cast downe set on fire and vtterlye rooted vp Looke downe from heauen and haue an especiall regard vnto suche as earnestly crie and call for thy spéedy assistaunce let the vngodly perish at the rebuke of thy louing countenaunce who doe perpetually blasphéeme cruell bondage of Antichrist but we vile wretches haue most filthily abused our fredome and benefite of quietnesse Thou hast oftner then once as thou didst vnto the Israelites both by the sacred Scriptures and also through the ministers of thy blessed worde protest vnto vs on this wise giue eare vnto me O my people and acknowledge me truly to be thy God not in words I say only but in minde verily and with a perfect and most pure worshipping But we alas haue turned our heart from thy holy wordes whereby our heynous sinnes are continually more and more increased and the aduersaries of thy holy Church also whome thou without doubt wouldest haue ouerthrowne and cast downe if wée had giuen credite vnto thée are nowe become a very terrour vnto vs for we that might exceeding quietly and carelesly haue inioyed thy most swéete and pleasant gifts are nowe ouerthrowne day by day wyth greater and more greeuous afflictions Yet we humblye beséeche thée for thy singuler mercyes sake not to forsake thy sacred Church being vexed so miserably and after such a wretched sort Be present at length therevnto in such wise that she may perpetually kéepe and retaine the true Religion and pure doctrine which thou hast set forth and deliuered vnto hir through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxij Psalme THe gouernment of all kingdomes and earthly power appertayneth vnto thée
O moste good and mercifull God who neyther minister iustice nor right vnto their people A prayer for a good Magistrate vnlesse they be ruled and guided with thy blessed spirite Wherefore we earnestly requyre thee to helpe mortall mens causes which be farre out of order both by multiplying and mainteyning of good Princes and also by correcting the lewde and outragious so that poore mens suyts be not neglected that the oppressed may be set at libertie and that godlinesse in especiall maye flourishe and greatly go forward And as thou hast vouchedsafe through thy diuine power to bewtifie our Maiestrates Princes and King with thy heauenly name euen so we hartily require thée also of thy vnspeakeable goodnesse to cause their worke and ministerie to be such and so duly executed as the faythfull so long as they liue in this wretched worlde may honor thée purelye and lead a right vertuous and godly life so that togither with them they maye be brought vnto thée who art king of kings and Lord of Lordes where they may ioyntly be pertakers of eternall good thinges and moste excellent felicitie throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE hartily acknowledge and earnestly confesse O moste mightie God that thy chosen people who haue neglected their obedience towardes thée are very often inforced to be in subiection vnto wicked rulers and vnbeleuing Princes neither is there any cause why we should complaine of iniurie profered vnto vs in so doing For we haue so gréeuously and after such a froward maner sinned against thée as wée haue not only deserued these but also much more heynouser punishments Notwithstanding the assured hope we repose in thy blessed wordes and louing promises wée most heartily and with much feruencie beséeche thée to succor thy sacred Church in these most troublesome times And thou who hast vouchedsafe to bewtifie the superior powers and Magistrates with the name and title of Gods vouchsafe also to ouerlooke their counsels with thy iustice shewing thy selfe as an vpright iudge amongst them least they being left vnto their owne sensualitie and lewdnesse wherwith mans corrupt nature is of it selfe greatly ouercharged do not very wrongfully persecute thy holy Church and yéeld vnto vngodlinesse those thinges which be neither méete nor conuenient If thou O most déere father do according to our earnest prayers intermeddle thy selfe amongst them in ordring the common wealth we doubt not but thou wilt by thy direction and furtheraunce reuenge the poore and fatherlesse and set such at liberty from their most gréeuous and extréeme perils as be exceedingly afflicted and very sore opprest Our earnest request is that thou wouldest not deliuer thy blessed Church vnder their rule dominion which walke in darknesse who hauing no maner of vnderstanding nor perceyueraunce of their duetie go about so much as in them lyeth to ouerthrowe all right iustice and godlinesse Nowe when these men who are so highly promoted by thée as to be called Gods and the Sonnes of the moste highest doe neyther perceyue nor yet vnderstande the same they deserue to be cast away and die like most vile persons The Church O good God is thy chosen heritage wherefore mightily assist it and take thou thy selfe vpon thée hir case to mainteine and defende through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxiij Psalme â— praier that â—od would â—fende hys â—ord in disâ—te of the â—ngodly THe hatred armies deceipts and pernicious deuices of the fierce enimies of our saluation O almightie God do so dayly increase that we are inforced to crie vpon thée continually Whose whole driftes tende to none other purpose then to pull vs from thée and that there might not any person be found which should eyther trust in thée or purely call vpon thy blessed name as he ought to do For our owne fleshe our senses and vngodly men haue togither with the fierce rulers of darknesse conspired against thy sacred Churche and finally all earthly and worldlye affections and habilitie haue lift vp themselues to ouerthrow the same Wherefore our earnest request is that thou wouldest not keepe silence neyther holde thy peace nor yet be in quiet for like as thou hast of olde time ouerthrowne the Egyptians Madianites Cananites and Philistines for the safegard of the Israelites euen so at this day deliuer thou those which haue wholy committed themselues to thy faythfull protection and gouernement whose force puyssaunce and saluation is layde vp in thee onely Bridle thou so the boldnesse of our outragious enimies or rather of thine to the entent all men may perceyue that thou onely art the God whom reiecting all maner of supersticions they ought wholy to worship and purely call vpon through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxiiij Psalme A prayer for â—he increasement of â—ayth LOke what earnest and feruent desire so euer the olde fathers had O most mightie God to come vnto the place wherein thou haddest appointed a Tabernacle to thy selfe for that tyme euen the like are we kindled withall in beholding the repayring of thy sacred Church and to sée therin a very great companie of Godly men lawfully assembled togither for the aduauncement of thy glorie hearing thy holy doctrine and duly receyuing of thy blessed sacraments accordingly Wherefore we humbly besech thée which art our God and King that we may one day or other reioyce to be there for what felicitie soeuer maye bee attayned vnto in this frayle life we doubt not but it will light vpon the sacred companie of the godly Giue eare therefore O excellent father vnto our earnest prayers and graunt that we make none other accompt of thy blessed house then thy will and pleasure is wée should do for a more blessed thing it were for vs to haue one dayes méeting and abode therein then if we abide neuer so great a time of continuaunce in the congregation of the vngodlye or in suche a one as is not lawfully assembled with the aduauntage and ouerplus of all the pleasures of thys transitorie world Seeing that therefore thou art our most splendent light strong defence cause our assemblies on the earth so to redound to thy vnspeakeable glory that our assured hope by comming in the ende vnto thée into the euerlasting tabernacles of the heauens may be augmented and very muche increased through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxv. Psalme SHewe thy selfe gentle and gracious O almightie God towards thy beloued Churche A prayer fâ— the whole congregatâ— of Christ for thy excéedinge great gloryes sake and mercie moste magnificent that we may be miraculously delyuered from the horrible fardell and cruell bondage of our deadlye sinnes who haue hitherto béene bond slaues to the fleshe and wretched prisoners of the diuill and yet hast thou vouchedsafe to release forgiue vs the whole number of our deadly iniquities and couered all our heynous
when as the cruell aduersaries of thy glorie shall right well vnderstand the same they may in good earnest vnfeynedly turne and bée conuerted vnto thée throughe Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxvij Psalme SEing that the Church is thy blessed house wherein thou O Lord God art highly praysed greatly coÌ„mended A prayer for the reedifying of the christian congregation Vouchsafe we humbly beseech thee that the foundation thereof be not made vpon sand but in a large plaine ground cituated vpon the hils of thy most holy Saints whose head and Chieftain is Christ And to the intent thou O good Lord mayst continually abide therein or the place of thy habitation to be wonderfull pleasant and delectable in which thou speakest things of very great importance wherevnto men haue recourse from all partes and borders of the worlde being augmented through the mighty preaching of thy blessed worde and is notably increased vpon all men by the comfort of thy excéeding sweete promise let hir fame be very largely spred abroad for that she hath no respect of persons or deserts but cause all thy sanctified children bée they Iewes or Ethnicks Lordes or seruauntes to spring and grow vp in the same togither through the stedfast and vnremoueable fayth they haue in Christ Iesu For this was thy owne purposed will O most high mightie God euen from the beginning to gather some togither out of diuers nations of the world throughe the most manifest declaratioÌ„ of straunge vnknowne tongues by whom thou mightest be highly celebrated in pleasaunt songes and lowde blastes of glorious Trumpettes through Iesus Christ our Lorde So be it ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxviij Psalme A prayer in the tryall of fayth SEing that our onelye saluation dependeth wholy vpon thy diuine Maiestie O almightie God and that we doe crie dayly vpon thée bowe downe thy fauourable eare to our humble prayers turne not away thy face from them but permit the same to come into thy blessed presence specially at thys tyme when we be so glutted with aduersitie who are neyther vniustly nor yet without good cause punished with these troublesome and most sharpe afflictions for wée haue behaued our selues so vnthankfully liued after such a wicked sort and so negligently honored thée as all those euilles light vpon vs for our naughtie and lewde behauiour How be it we are excéeding sorie for the same and doe lamentably in our most feruent prayers require thy fauourable mercy besâ—eching thee not to deale with vs according to our iniquities and naughtie vsages Make vs not like vnto them that nowe lie in the graue neyther recken vs with those that goe downe into the pit Thou séest what mans strength is what succour is to be had in fleshly handes and howe vaine a thing outwarde power is wherefore make haste to be our readie helper neyther establishe thou thy wrath vppon vs nor yet suffer vs to be drowned in these stormie tymes of Antichrist We are become an open shame vnto the aduersaries of thy glorious name and Gospell our friendes and acquaintaunce withdraw and hide themselues from vs. For which cause we call earnestly vppon thée and stretche forth our sorrowfull handes vnto thy most fauourable mercies seate hide not thy louing face from vs we humbly beséech thée whereas otherwise we shall die like miserable wretches neyther be able to abide the terror of thy fierce iustice Althoughe our déere friendes nere neighbors and familier acquaintaunce withdraw themselues farre from vs yet shewe thou thy selfe present with vs and lighten vs in such wise with thy most redie helpe to the intent that being deliuered from so great perilles wée maye not prayse thée in the graue or in death but amongs such as remaine a liue through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme BYcause O most mightie God we often fall from thée like men so long as wée here liue our mindes being ouercast with darknesse and wée who ought to walke outwardly in thy blessed wayes haue dyuers times eyther fallen or else do cowardly lye still from the which thou of thy vnspeakable goodnesse hast béene accustomed to rayse vp such as thou well fauourest either with some sicknesse or aduersitie to the intent thou mayest shake of their vnpalpable darknesse and slouthfull sluggishnesse from them which thing we assuredly knowe thou wilt presentlye doe and that without any delay who feele our selues so bowed to the grounde and made crooked with the heauy burthen of woful miseries as we are euen in a maner brought to vtter confusion and vndoing Wherefore our earnest request is O moste déere Father that thou wouldest not chastice vs in thy furie nor destroy vs with the wrath of thy sore displeasure but we woulde that the things which haue hitherto happened might make to our renuing or restoremeÌ„t For we nowe poure out our humble peticions and lamentable cryes before thy eye sight thou séest how our friends and alies are gone cleane against vs that the aduersaries laying awayt for our lyfe ceasse not to pitche snares who do alwayes imagine craftes and deceypts whereby they might do vs some notable mischiefe Giue eare O good God to our feruent prayers and earnest peticions and suffer not the enimies of thy glorious name to triumph ouer vs. Forsake vs not vtterly holde not thy selfe aloofe from vs and make haste to bée our readie helper forsomuche as the whole hope of our saluation consisteth only in thée through Iesus Christ oure Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme FOrsomuch as O almightie God during this wretched life we are hedged in with naughtinesse on euery side who haue such plentie of calamities and bée so glutted with miseries that being yet aliue we walke in the middest of death therefore with vehement and continuall prayer we crie vnto thée without ceassing whom we accompt as our onely Sauiour Behold we humbly beséech thée howe we by reason of our heinous sinnes are so sore pined away as we be now in a maner swalowed vp of finall destruction thy gréeuous wrath and heauie indignation being kindled for their sakes doth make vs much afrayde and miserably vexeth vs. Neyther can our faithfull friends louing neighbors or well willers helpe vs any thing at al touching our deliueraunce from so greeuous inconueniences Wherefore make hast O excellent father to helpe vs and for thy infinite mercies sake pardon whatsoeuer we haue most lewdly coÌ„mitted against thée which if thou doest not so loÌ„g as we here liue that which our desire is thou wouldst remoue from vs can take no place after thy laste iudgement and sentence of condemnation Shew forth againe the light of thy fauourable countenaunce vpon vs which by reason of our most wicked and lewde deserts thou seemedst worthily to haue turned so long time from vs whereas otherwise we shall not be able to indure anye longer our conscience accusing vs and
the sharpe hands of thy iustice ouerwhelming vs through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxix Psalme THy inestimable mercy O almightie god is most manifestly knoweÌ„ A prayer to put God in remeÌ„brance of his promise both bicause all Saintes do celebrate the same and also for that it doth continually vtter and shewe forth it selfe throughout all generations by meanes whereof thou art brought to make a couenant with thy elect people the Christes kingdome his séede which is the Church should alwayes indure neyther ought any mortall man to feare or stande in doubt that thou art not able to performe whatsoeuer thou hast stedfastlye and with a solemne othe promised The euident proofes of thy almightie power appeared by punishing the Egyptians and seeing that the heauens the earth the whole circuit of the worlde the windes the seas and whatsoeuer thou hast made perteyne to thy mightie gouernement we doubt not but thou canst right well preserue thy beloued people whom thou hast adopted vnto thée and which walke in the light of thy blessed countenaunce And herevpon wée haue great néede that thou shouldest doe thus much for vs in especially namely to vouchsafe to forgiue vs the sinnes wherwith we confesse our selues to haue most gréeuously offended thée forsomuch as they truely be the onely things why we are sore afflicted and it is the waight of them that presse vs most downe Giue pardon therefore vnto such as humbly cal to thée for readie helpe and be our strong defence against the fierce aduersaries of thy blessed name stretche out thy mightie arme make thy hand stroÌ„g for our preseruation and in these daungers arme thy puyssaunt right hande for our deliueraunce least the outragious violence of the vngodly preuaile against vs and suffer not the children of iniquitie to trouble vs according to their hatred and malicious euill will Shake thou those and turne thou them so aside that they be not able to execute the mischieuous deuises which they intend to doe agaynst our holy Gospell We call vpon thee being our only Sauiour louing God and mercifull father performe therefore and kéepe thy sacred couenant which thou hast fauourably made with thy faithfull ones We haue vtterly forsaken thy diuine law we haue not walked in thy holy commaundements we haue vnhallowed thy sacred thinges neyther haue we bene obedient to thy blessed will wherefore refuse we not to be beaten with the roddes of thy heauie displeasure or to be kept vnder with the scourges of thy most greeuous chasticement but this onelye is our humble request that thou wouldest not berefe vs of thy vnspeakeable mercie fauourable louing kindnesse and vnspotted truth through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE hartily acknowledge O almightie God that it is the vse and guise of the Godly to set forth thy vnspeakeable mercie and fauourable goodnesse when as their affayres haue so good successe as they would gladly wish but if we vndoubtedly shall reteyne and kéepe that custome in vnfortunate mishappes and greeuous calamities as to set out thy fauourable mercie and louing kindnesse continually thorowout all generations then shall we bée most assuredly able to beare witnesse of the effectuall working of thy grace in vs. Suffer therefore we humbly beséech thée the promises and couenaunts which thou madest with Dauid thy moste faythfull seruaunt neuer to slip out of our memories namely that thou wouldst of his séede giue Iesus Christ a moste puyssant and euerlasting king for all faythfull beleuers vnder whose gouernment the vniuersall Church should both be defended from the enimies force and also greatly flourish being right well garnished with all kinde of good thinges More then once we haue tryed the assurednesse of these faythfull promises For thou hast oftentimes deliuered thy blessed people from moste gréeuous and horrible daungers for none other cause theÌ„ this onely and therefore are we nowe incouraged to be importunate vpon thée that thou wouldest according to thy olde woont and accustomed maner prouide remedy for the necessitie of thy louing people when they stande in most neede thereof through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THou hast not onely promised vnto vs O most mightie God abundaunce of grace in Christ Iesus our Lorde whereby we maye be acceptable vnto thee and become thy trustie friends déere children and peculier heyres but also thou hast taken vpon thee to bestow so great clemencie vpon vs that if we fall into any kinde of vice through our weaknesse thou wilt chastice our iniquities with a fatherly rodde and mercifull scourge and not turne away thy louing countenaunce well inclined mind from thy blessed Church at any tyme. Bée mindfull therefore O heauenly father of this thy sacred couenaunt which thou didst once determine to bée more firme and of stedfaster continuaunce then the high heauen the bright Sunne and the splendent Moone but forsomuch as thy wrathful indignation is not a little kindled by reason of our most gréeuous sinnes and that thou séemest to thrust down the case of thy faithfull seruauntes and not a little to fauour the aduersaries of true godlynesse and enimies of thy glorious name shewe forth nowe at length we humbly beséech thée thy great mercies of olde neyther suffer vs which are the déere members of Christ although of our partes marueylous vnworthie not to be made a laughter and mocking stocke for the vnbeleuers to iest at through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xc. Psalme â— praier both 〈◊〉 attain vnâ—â— the knowâ—dge of god â—nd the vaâ—tie of this â—e also FOrsomuch as thou O almighty God wouldest we shoulde haue this knowledge of thy holy Tabernacle that it was not in déede of so great bignesse as it could conteine thy infinite power and vnmeasurable nature therefore do we nowe hartily confesse thys to be most manifest that thou art the only tabernacle habitation sure refuge to our weaknesse neyther art thou to be compted a fresh or new made dwelling place for the faythfull but such a one as is perpetuall and permanent seing thou choosest them before the making and constitution of the worlde And therefore the gréeuous calamities and painfull miseries which we indure driue vs from all sides vnto thée our mightie bulwark and most strong defence Surely we lead both a very miserable fugitiue life which floweth abroad like water fadeth away as a sleepe and withereth incontinent in such sort as doth a gréene herbe while we are continually consumed and putte in feare by thy greeuous wrath and heauy indignation We acknowledge that the heynous sinnes which we haue lewdly committed be the onely cause why thou art iustly sore displeased with vs for if thou didst purpose assuredly to be reuenged of them thy most arden displeasure woulde vtterly consume and bring vs to naught Our earnest request is therefore O mightie God that thou wouldest
whereby we may so purely and with such safetie finishe our iourney through the deserts of this sinfull lyfe as in the ende we may reioyce for béeing come vnto thée with pourged minds into euerlasting tabernacles thorow Iesus christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme OVr fayth O most good and mercifull God is more feeble and weake then it ought to be whereof it commeth that wée sinne oftentymes with our fathers whilest that we do not faythfully trust to thy blessed promises but as thou who art God hast not dealt with the children of Israell according to their infidelitie and vnbeliefe but didst deliuer them with a strong arme and most puyssaunt power from the bondage of the Egyptians euen so we humbly beséech thee to be in suche wise present with vs by vanquishing beating downe the gréeuous sinnes whereby we are led into captiuitie as thou hast drowned the Egyptians in the depth of the Sea to the intent that we being moued with the féeling of this thy vnspeakeable goodnesse maye haue a more firme and constant fayth nothing pampering our lustes in passing thorowe the desert of this wretched life least we also in like maner kindle not thy heauy displeasure agaynst vs as did the Israelits who prouoked thy wrathfull indignation agaynst theÌ„ through their sundrie naughtie and lewde desires Let vs we heartily pray thée haue their penalties and punishments alwayes before our eyes who being admonished by other mens perils and mischiefe may behaue our selues warelier and with more wisedome in thy blessed house which is thy sacred Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cvj. Psalme A prayer for perfect conâ—ssion that grace which God hath inâ—ued vs with â—aye haue â—uch rule â—uer vs. WE are all greatly bound to magnifie thy blessed name so much as in vs lyeth O moste excellent God for thy singuler goodnesse and euerlasting mercie who hast very often shewed the vnspeakeable force of thy puyssant strength for thy faythfull peoples deliuerance the like we nowe doe humblie beséech thée to visite and comfort thy afflicted Church withall which nowe is little better then opprest with the furie of Antichrist and lewde practises of euill persons But forsomuch as it is thy blessed heritage we haue a merueylous earnest desire once to behold the peace ioy and prosperity therof We know right well and plainly confesse that we haue committed very muche lewdnesse togither with our fathers so that wée haue sinned exceeding gréeuously and haue most wretchedly fallen from thée our God yet doe we not therefore dispaire bicause we verily perceyue that thou didst alwayes shewe thy selfe to be such a one towards thy chosen people of olde time which thou diddest adorne with incredible benefites who although they were altogither forgetfull of the same in starting aside to ydolatry and vngodlinesse yet didst thou onely not vtterlye ouerthrowe those men but being chastised with a fatherly correction for a season restoredst theÌ„ to their former quietnesse at what time they returned into the way of thy holy coÌ„maundements Wherfore we humbly besech thee O most mightye God to preserue vs none otherwise not according to our deserts but for the glorie of thy name only that like as we are gathered togither out of manye nations so also being deliuered from a number of great perils may shew forth thy moste worthie prayses and speake very much honor of thée through Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THy inestimable clemencie and wonderfull goodnesse O most good and merciful God is such that the déepelier we consider the same by thy glorious workes somuch séemeth it to be a more difficult thing to prayse thée according to thy desert and worthinesse yet seeing the mindes of the beholders hereof doe alwayes perfectly sée that such are blessed which execute Iustice and equitie and contrariwise those moste vnfortunate that in their life and conuersasion swarne from thy sacred lawes We earnestly require thée therefore to kéepe vs through the grace and fauour of our Lord Iesus Christ in the obedience of thy moste holy will and call vs backe from our innumerable most gréeuous sinnes vouchsafing finally to preserue thy blessed church not verily for hir owne desertes sake but for the honor of thy most glorious name Let it neuer be forgetfull of thy vnspeakeable benefites which if we doe not alwayes well consider we shall readily yéeld to worldlye and fleshly desires Remoue farre from hir hatred and sectes whereby thy faythfull Ministers haue béene sometime vexed by the craft and subtiltie of the Deuill And like as thou hast of olde time spared thy people whome thou determinedst to destroy at Moses intercession euen so pardon and forgiue vs all maner of crimes and faultes that we haue offended thée in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe fathers in the wildernesse behaued themselues hedlessely towardes thée O most mightie God and were so shamelesse as they are a spectacle vnto vs who did in a maner parpetually or at the least within a short while one after another prouoke thy wrathfull indignation swaruing marueylous vnfortunately from thee through their lewde temptations wicked grudginges and most odious repinings Wherefore thou wert rightly and not without good cause moued agaynst them for which thinges sake thou shewedst forth thy heauie displeasure nowe and then in suffering and permitting their cruell enimies marueilous seuerely to chastice them These things ought to be an ensample and warning vnto vs for to haue an especiall regard to eschewe those kinde of vices for the which we know they were cast of from thée Howbeit we are so apt and plyable to wickednesse that we haue miserably defiled our selues with the selfe same vices no lesse then they did And therefore haue wée oftner then once felt that thou who art a righteous Iudge hast giuen vs vp to be punished by our owne wickednesses and lewde desires but séeing we haue nowe suffered punishment ynough we humblye besech thee that like as thou didst helpe the Israelites when they called vpon thee in the chiefest stormes of their calamities being nothing forgetfull of the couenaunt thou madest with theÌ„ so also thou wouldst be our mightie defence and set vs at libertie from our errors and bondage of sinnes that we are gréeuously burthened withall into the fauour of our Lorde Iesus Christ thy sonne who liueth and reigneth with thée euermore world without end AmeÌ„ ¶ A prayer out of the Cvij Psalme SVch verily are greatly bound to thy clemencie O almightie God A prayer for the knowledgâ— of Gods benefites contrary to all worldly lewâ— thinges vnto whom so long as they saile and are miserably toste of stormie tempestes and windie waues thou sendest thy readie helpe in time conuenient and that bicause they haue faythfully called vppon thée Also thy mightie power is no lesse shewed in giuing
force of all his outragious enimies may bée like a footestoole cast vnder him our earnest request is that he would nowe set out and publishe his mightie power in this great needfull time of the Church Let him rayse vnto himselfe willing and forward labourers for such a noble excellent and moste commodious a worke who being inflamed with the zeale of his honor and dignitie may establishe the truth of his doctrine amend mens maners and set vp integritie of life amongst thy faythfull people For séeing we heartily acknowledge and humbly confesse that we haue both defiled and polluted our selues by diuers innumerable and moste gréeuous crimes we earnestly beséech thée to absolue vs of them through the expiation of Christ our mediatour and high priest which thing vnlesse he doth it who is ordeyned a priest for vs after the order of Melchisedech wee can none other wayes obteyne the same Forsomuch therefore as our heynous sinnes are blotted out and wiped away by him turne thy heauie displeasure from vs and poure it out agaynst the stubburne and rebellious enimies of al godlinesse Giue sentence in such wise vpon the wicked people that at what time thy streight iustice shall bée séene knowne and manifestly perceyued al men in generall may lift thée vp with perpetual prayses according to thy worthie desertes through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme WE know O almightie God that the desolution of the world is not so long deferred and that our Lorde Iesus Christ thy most dearely beloued sonne being conueyed out of our sight sitteth on thy right hand in glorie for any other cause but that all the enimies of the Gospell should in the meane while fall downe flat vnder his féet and that his doctrine which by the impulsion of the holy Ghost is spred abroad from Mount Sion thorowout the whole world shoulde both be published farre and néere and also bring forth fruit in such wise that thou mayest haue whole nations true worshippers of thée not now constrayned and brought thereto by compulsion but of a willing heart and such as will thinke it a goodly matter to spende not onely all their goodes but euen their life also for the defence of thy sacred truth Seing that thou O excellent father hast promised with an assured othe to performe these thinges in very deede we do chalenge thée at this time vpon thy faythfulnesse to accomplish them with so muche spéede as possible may bée pronounce sentence I heartily pray thée with thy sacred Church which the prince of darkenesse hath of such long time and so sharpely assayled Teare in péeces the deuils cursed engines mad outrage wherewith the infernall powers kéepeth hir besieged so that one time or other Christ may put vp his bright hed amongst vs who lyueth and reigneth with thée in the vnity of the holye Ghost euermore worlde without ende Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxj. Psalme AL thy works O most mightie god A praier th◠Gods wonderful wor◠may be mad◠manifest are very great wonderfull which if we did deuoutly and with much feruencie search out we should find nothing in them that shoulde not greatly satisfie our desires But alas for sorrowe séeing that we are so much burthened with a corrupt life and an innumerable multitude of sinnes we are not able purely and with singlenesse of heart to beholde the magnificence and vprightnesse that thou vsest in thy marueylous workes Yet notwithstanding by calling to remembraunce the vnspeakable benefites which thou hast bestowed vpon vs and our fathers we can not but say that thou art louing and mercifull vnto vs. Abolishe not thou therefore who neuer hast forsaken thy faythfull seruauntes by nourishing and giuing them the promised heritage of the Gentiles the holye couenaunt which thou madest wyth them neyther be forgetfull of vs for thy infinite mercies sake but shewe forth thy selfe an earnest louer of iudgement and veritie by manifesting the equitie iustice and vprightnesse of thy blessed will The cause why our fierce enimies doe so assaile vs is not vnbeknowen to thée but thou vnderstandest right well the cruell malice and mischieuous hatred they haue borne to sincere godlinesse true religion and pure inuocation of thy blessed name who can not abide that the Gospell should flourishe in our Churches for which cause they are so earnestly bent to swallow vs vp Sende thou therefore redemption vnto thy faythfull people and let the blessed couenaunt which thou haste made wyth thy sacred Church be inuiolable and euerlasting in respect whereof we humbly beséech thée mightily to deliuer vs so that all men may right well perceyue thy infinite goodnesse and greatly feare and stand much in awe of thy diuine Maiestie but cause vs alwayes to celebrate thy most worthie prayses thorow Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme IF we did diligently pervse and seeke out the thinges which thou O almightie God hast created we should euen with all our heart be inforced to acknowledge the equity and vprightnesse of them forsomuch as we see nothing amongest all thy creatures but is wonderfull notable and most excellent Moreouer the famous tokens of thy inestimable goodnesse which thou doest for men are of euerlasting memoriall and ought at no time to be forgottē Thy faithfull seruaunts haue hitherto neuer lacked or béene destitute of thy readie helpe who hast very carefully thought alwayes of the couenāt thou madest with them For thou giuest vs abundauntly all maner of things which are for the health of the bodie thou adornest them with an excéeding great heritage doest furnishe them with doctrine most wholesome precepts adding moreouer herevnto the wonderfull promises annixed to a marueylous stedfast veritie and finally hast béene accustomed to deliuer thē from sorowfull bondage and greeuous oppression We that beleue assuredly these things do nowe with much humilitie present our selues before thy gracious presence requiring thée to remit the most gréeuous sinnes wherewith we haue offended thee and to deliuer vs from imminent perils so that we being voyd of fearefulnesse and frée from wicked persons shall by that meanes haue the feare of thée which is the beginning of wisdome and the true vnderstanding of thy blessed law through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE ought to poure out both openly and in priuate places no fained praises before thée O moste good and mercifull God but such as procéede from the bottom of the heart for thy notable factes whereby thou hast linked vs vnto thée are so to bée marueyled at of all men as the Godly doe not search those out but for a singuler delight they take in them Neyther doubt we but that thou wilt yet doe such thinges for our preseruation as shall be worthie to be regestred in perpetuall memorie for wée are nothing mistrustfull that thou canst be at any time forgetfull of thy holy couenant
Antichrist and his cursed members haue worse dealt with vs thē our deserts required but know assuredly that thou doest not chasten and correct vs in thy furious displeasure but with fatherly mercie and louing kindnesse Wherefore we whom thou sore chastisest hauing recourse vnto thée require these thinges at thy mercifull handes that thou wouldst open the eyes of our minde wyth thy healthfull light so that we be not blinded at the beholding of thy wonderous workes let not thy sacred precepts be hid from vs so long as we be pilgrimes in this wretched world causing our mindes to bée continually inflamed with a moste ardent desire towardes those thinges which thou hast giuen in commaundement to be obserued Graunt that our deserts be not such henceforth as we be reproued amongst the lewde sort or cursed like execrable thinges bicause we haue greatly swarued from thy holy precepts Thou séest right well the slaunders and reproches wherwith thy cruell enimies do euery where assaile vs and after what sort the great princes and mighty rulers of this wretched world when they were set togither agaynst vs did striue not onely by worde but also by indeuour to turne vs away from thy sincere worde from the deuout worshipping of thee and from thy pure ceremonies Thou therefore so strengthē and quicken vs with thy puyssaunt force and mightie power as we may bée assuredly perswaded that thy faythfull promises are most true and certain through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Aleph Beth. SVch truelye are to bée accompted right happie amongst mortall men O moste good and mercifull God as haue thy sacred law alwayes set out before the eyes of their minde which they make as a patterne to beginne their life by and as a rule to proceede by when they haue begunne so that if they shal perhappes go astray their fault may both be amended thereby and they also lead a vertuous life according vnto iustice These shal liue blamelesse and when their doinges shall be examined by vpright iudgemēt they shal not be ashamed which will greatly auaile if it be diligently practised from the tender age But we heartily acknowledge and earnestlye confesse O most deere father that all mans pollicie is altogither vnprofitable and none accompt at all to be made thereof vnlesse thou bee present with thy blessed spirite and doest direct our minds for otherwise what gaine may wée haue by meditating of thy holye law then a colde and very hurtfull knowledge Wherefore our earnest request is that thou wouldest not onelye minister strength vnto vs by thy grace for the accomplishing of those thinges which thou commaundest in thy diuine lawe but also to bring this vnto good effect so that wée may haue more felicitie in them then in all our owne deuices and take a greater delight in the execution hereof then in anye fleshly or worldly pleasures through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Gimel Daleth SEing that all the force wee haue dependeth vpon thee O most good and mercyfull God and that wée do nothing wythout thy gracious ayde and furtheraunce which may please thée wée haue good cause to flie vnto thy excellent mercie seate so that we may through the helpe and assistaunce of thy good grace frame our deedes altogither confirmable vnto thy holye lawes which thing can in no wise happen vnlesse thou remouest from oure eyes the vale which euill lustes and lewd desires do alwayes put betwixt vs and thy wholsome doctrine by reason whereof we do not wel consider the beneficiall thinges which are there commaunded vs to obserue Driue also farre from vs we heartily beséech thée the swelling of the minde and a haute conceypt wherethrough wée are accustomed beyond all measure to haue mens ordinances and humaine deuices in marueylous admiration so that sometime thy holy preceptes séeme vile vnto vs in comparison of them and that moste chiefly when as wée be afraid to abide the displeasure of mightie men and the shame of this wretched world At what tyme therefore our minde shall be thus diuersly seuered refreshe thou vs O good God with thy blessed worde and mittigate with thy spirituall calmnesse the ouer vnquiet thoughtfulnesse of our mind and suffer vs not to be deceyued by the leasings of this corrupt life being of themselues marueylous pleasaunt and flattering For if thou shalt once set our destressed hart at libertie there can be no cause to the contrarie but that we may make wonderfull expedition for the accomplishing of thy sacred commaundements which we humbly beséech thée to vouchsafe that we may obteyne with as earnest an intention as can be possibly deuised through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen He Vau. WHen as we on the one side doe consider the weakenesse of oure owne strength O moste mightie God and contrariwise the absolutenesse and perfectnesse of thy blessed lawe wée euidently perceyue that for the obteyning thereof thy moste puyssant helpe will stand vs in very great steade first therefore teache vs the true wayes of thy holye commaundementes moreouer illuminate in such sort our mind and vnderstanding as we may be able to incline with great feruencie vnto those things which thou hast both taught commaunded Furthermore it is néedefull for thee to graunt vs power and habilitie to performe whatsoeuer we haue learned of thée otherwise it shall profite vs little or nothing at all to haue knowledge vnlesse some part of obedience be eyther performed or at least wise begunne in vs which the lewde inclination of our sinfull heart doth greatly hinder and finally our senses and corrupt affections are wonderfull huge aduersaries herevnto Succor thou vs therefore we humbly beséech thée with thy good grace and abundant fauor forgiuing whatsoeuer we haue committed and do dayly after a most sinfull maner agaynst thy sacred lawe neyther let it be imputed vnto vs for our eternall destruction And in the meane season O good God let thy louing mercies vtter and shewe forth themselues to be a strong defence and mightie preseruation for thy sanctified Church which thou seest gréeuously tormented with great perilles mischieuous reproches and diuerse kyndes of afflictions not permitting hir to bée in such sort wrested out of thy handes as shée may be robbed eyther of thy blessed worde or of the lawfull holy and most pure honoring of thée through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Zain Heth. WE flie vnto thée in this most troublesome time O almightie God when as we see thy blessed church so sore afflicted and that thorow our owne euill desertes who haue greatly sinned against thee done very lewdely and transgressed thy sacred lawes innumerable wayes and there is but one thing onely which rayseth vp our hope and comforteth vs most in these our gréeuous afflictions namely that we know how thou art right mindfull of the louing promises made to thy faythfull seruaunts Forsomuch as our sinnes former wretched life doe marueylously accuse vs wée humbly beséech thée therefore so to quicken and lift vs vp with thy
thing soeuer wée haue committed agaynst thée so that wée maye not decline anye more hereafter from the perfect waye of thy blessed commaundements then may we clayme vnto our selues the true substanciall delightes wherin our soules may liue yea and lead such a pleasant life as they may by al meanes indeuour to set forth thy most worthie prayses For séeing that we haue wandred hitherto like brute beastes therfore call thou vs away O excellent father who art our onely sauiour from the heynous errours and gréeuous sinnes we are infected withall so that euery one of vs may be wholy addicted to obey thy sacred will and holye commaundements through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen Schin Thau ALthough the malice and deceyptes of those which in the worlde are alwayes aduersaryes to thy glorye O almightie God be both mightie and of great force against our féeble courage yet notwithstanding on the contrarie part so great is the pleasure which thy sacred worde bringeth vnto vs that it is nowe déerer vnto the godly then anye spoyles bée they neuer so fatte or then any pray be it neuer so ritche for they pricke vs forward to render day by day wonderfull prayses vnto thée And this onely remayneth as a speciall comfort that thou wilt not suffer vs to be depriued of the saluation which we looke for at thy mercifull handes Our earnest request is that thou wouldest for this cause giue an attentiue and readie eare to our humble petitions that forsomuch as the righteousnesse of thy blessed law is in all pointes true and stedfast furnishe vs fully with this thy holy spirite that whatsoeuer we haue nowe chosen to kéepe through the grace thereof we may accomplishe so much as our feeble nature is able to do and where the weaknesse of the fleshe fayleth there let the inuincible power and notable strength of thy holy spirite supplie We haue wandred hitherto O Lorde God diuers wayes lyke foolish misled shéepe for vnlesse thou doest séeke vs out with a fatherly and shepherdlike prouidence we shall readily perishe in our naughtinesse and therefore suffer vs not who are in verye great daunger to walke any more in darknesse and amongst rauening Wolues through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxx. Psalme WEe being wearied and sore troubled O almightie GOD with most gréeuous and excéeding perillous mishappes A prayer agaynst the enimies of Gods diuiâ— worde as thou right well knowest do dayly flie vnto thy gracious mercies seate humbly requiring thée to giue eare at length vnto the ferueÌ„t prayers which we alwayes make namely that thou wouldest deliuer thy blessed Church from the deceypts lyes and false ymaginations of Antichrist and his retinue For the blasphemies reproches slaunders wherewith they inuade and defame thy holy gospell may be compared to deadly sharpe arrowes and whot burning coles through which the heartes of the godly are striken wyth excéeding great sorrowe and their mindes bée inflamed with zeale and rightfull anger for the glorie of thy name We acknowledge our selues verily to haue wel deserued for to be troubled with such vncleane infection and outragious pestilence bicause we haue sinned moste heynously agaynst thée and thy diuine lawe But our earnest request is that of thy naturall and frée mercie wherewith thou art indued we who are so greatly desirous of perfect peace for the true honouring sincere celebrating and due setting out thy worthy prayse may at length attaine thereto through thy most gracious fauour sore agaynst their willes which are chiefest enimies to the peace and tranquillitie of thy faythful through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme WE know by experience O almightie God howe great the affliction and miserie of the Church is for the vices and lyes of corrupt opinions sakes which are brought into it Wherefore we humbly beséech thée to deliuer hir from this kinde of calamitie for we haue nowe at length begonne right well to vnderstande how deceyptfull and craftie the seducementes of Antichrist hath bene hitherto Cause henceforth the puyssaunt force and moste sharpe weapons of thy blessed worde to be present whereby all the subtiltie of Sathan maye be confounded and brought to nought Yea rather thurst thou in thy most mighty shaft which thou vsest diuers tymes to punishe vngodlinesse withall agaynst this pestilent plague so that all malicious snares may thereby be consumed as it were with moste whote burning coales whereas otherwise if thou doest not laye to thy moste strong and puissaunt hand our pilgrimage shall be continued in wofull miseryes and sinfull wickednesse without end For there is no hope of peace to be loked for where thy sacred truth is had in deadly contempt yea rather it séemeth dayly to be the further of from thy blessed Church the more loue and earnest desire she hath thereto Seing therfore that it behoueth vs to wage continuall warre agaynst spirituall wickednesse refuse not thou O excellent father redily to helpe such as vnfeynedly call vpon thée for the same through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxj. Psalme A prayer in necessitie for Gods diuine â—reseruation WE looke for thy assistant helpe O most mightie God with an excéeding heauinesse of minde in these our most troublesome mishaps eliuating our eyes to thee onelye through whose mightie power like as we knowe that heauen and earth was created so also our assured hope is that thou canst deliuer vs from these present mischiefes Verilye we acknowledge our sinnes to be such as they haue deserued to bée punished with these sore afflictions and greeuous chasticements For we haue not yéelded due honor and reuerence vnto thee when as thou didst call vs to the profession of thy sacred gospel but seeking our owne profite onely haue miserably neglected thy renowmed honour and famous glory Wey not therefore O good GOD this our ingratitude and wickednesse committed but for thy infinite mercies sake keepe our féete from falling by setling them so in thy holy lawe and sacred commaundementes as they swarue not at all therfro Moreouer séeme not to slumber or sleepe touching the defence and preseruation of thy blessed Church being so sore afflicted If it hath béene thy accustomable maner to defende thy faythfull seruaunts from the heate of the Sunne in the day tyme and from the colde of the Moone in the night dispise not vs that suffer so many and great tormentes through the furie and outragious woodnesse of Antichrist preserue not onely our soules and life from his subtile deuices but especially maintain thou thy pure religion which he doth most of all fight against For our earnest request is that thou wouldest so direct the begynnings and endings of our doinges in the true pathes of thy blessed coÌ„maundements as they may perpetually abyde in the perfect rule thereof through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme SO long as wée O almightie
God are tormented with these sorrowfull most troublesome times our heartes and eyes are erected to thee onelye as vnder whose dominion we doubt not but the chiefe force of all thinges consisteth whereby we are greatly inflamed lamentably to requyre thy readie helpe For by what most excellent power thou hast formed the heauen and earth it is nowe very needefull for thée to helpe thy blessed Church with the same when it is in a maner swalowed vp with the most noysome Iawes of hir cruell enimies Suffer not wée humbly beseech thée the féete of our fayth to stagger or folter for of it selfe such is the infirmitye wherewith we are clothed rounde about it is weake and wauering ynough We truly fell first from thée and swarued wretchedly from the law and decrées of thy blessed wil but vouchsafe we humbly beséech thée not to deale with vs according to our worthinesse but after thy vnspeakable goodnesse and most excellent mercie preseruing the Church being well hedged in and compassed about with thy puyssaunt defence for if thou shouldest forsake hir who art otherwise the keeper of Israell shée can in no wise indure But if it be bereft and spoiled of thy mightie protection then through whose care and industrie maye shée bée preserued Graunt that we maye gather our wittes to vs and call them backe vnto thée to the intent thou mayest not onely be our defender but also the preseruer of all that euer we haue through Iesus christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme FOrsomuch as we are alwayes subiect to aduersities O most mightie god during this wretched life therfore do we loke euery where about vs with our eyes froÌ„ whence found and perfect helpe might be ministred vnto vs and thou before all things méetest with our fayth For seeing we right well know that all creatures were made by thée euen from the beginning and that thou nourishest with thy perpetuall goodnesse both celestiall powers and also terrestriall we humbly beséeche thée that whereas otherwise thy high and excellent prouidence is not vsed to be interrupted thou wouldst shewe thy selfe to be a most vigilant shepheard towards vs. Let thy louing fauour we heartily pray thee be euery where our sure defence that we burne not with to feruent an heate of filthye lustes or through coldnesse of infidelitie graft in our sinfull heartes both the loue we ought to beare towards our neighbours and also the godly deuotion which of right is due to thée be not vtterly extinguished O that we might by dayly prayer and intercession obteyne to be kept pure by thée from all infection of vices so that our lyfe maye be such as eyther by our going or comming we may be both clensed from our wicked faultes and also plentiously garnished with most excellent vertues through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxij Psalme A praier that â—he christian Church may throughe â—ayth chaâ—itie be reâ—ayred THe Godly do continually stirre vp one another to make holy assemblies O almightie God with woÌ„derfull exhortations wherein thy blessed name is lifted vp with high praises the faythfull instructed in thy sacred words and thy holye Sacraments duly receyued Nowe forsomuch as wee see presently before our eyes that this is in a maner hindered by Antichrist to our excéeding great sorow for like a naughtie packe and cast away as he is he practiseth nothing else but that the holy Hierusalem which is newlye begunne to be edified and repayred should fall to decaye againe and be vtterly ouerthrowne to the intent the pure worshipping and holye inuocating of thy blessed name might haue no more place there We earnestly and with a feruent minde and vehement affection humbly beséeche thée O most excellent father who well considerest how great a broyle and trouble he maketh that thou wouldst cause those things for to haue good successe which appertaine vnto the quietnesse of Ierusalem being thy holy and santified Churche our vnséemely deserts somewhat layde apart For séeing we do exceeding filthtly transgresse and moste lewdly defile thy sacred lawes we ought of right to assure our selues of no good thing But when as we haue an especiall regard to the honor of thy glorious name then taking a courage again we do boldly require thée that thou wouldest be present with theÌ„ which are assembled togither in the name of Iesus Christ and do call vpon thée therby to the entent we may one day repose our selues in the true Hierusalem being quite deliuered from the furious and violent inuasion of Antichrist And cause that those Citizens which doe credite the sacred doctrine of thy holy Church may by thy excellent benefites become friendes and faythful brethren one to an other through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme ALthough the holy Scriptures doe teach vs euery where that the heaueÌ„ O most good and mercifull God is thy dwelling place yet the same doe in such wise set out thy infinit goodnesse as the Church is both called and also is in déede thy sanctified house wherein thou most frequentest at what time therefore we shall come togither in the holy congregations our earnest request is that we may be there with chéerfull and very desirous mindes For thou truly hast of an excéeding liberalitie adorned thy holy Church with most flourishing and excellent giftes neyther is there any thing pretermitted that apperteyneth to hir garnishing which maye eyther belong to the spirituall decking and bewtifiyng thereof or to the plenteous inriching of it in abundaunce of all heauenly good things Which seeing they haue procéeded most fully from thée this only remayneth that thou wouldest so condiscend vnto our feruent prayers as the members therof may be annixed togither with a perpetuall concorde cause their meetinges to bée in such sort as they may render due honor vnto thée let the sacred scriptures be there purely and sincerely interpreted and let thy glorious Kingdome from day to day be more and more inlarged making all these things to be stablished with thy ioyous peace and the tranquilitie of thy holy spirite For so long as we pray for the quietnesse and felicitie hereof let vs procure substanciall and perfect good things both to our neighbours and also vnto thy blessed house through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxiij Psalme THere remayneth no greater helpe for thy faythful seruaunts O most mightie God then that which coÌ„meth from heauen A prayer foâ— the mercie of God for the puissant force of Antichrist and his deuilish practises haue so greatly preuayled as true godlynesse and the right honoring of thée are in a maner extinguished and vtterlye ouerthrowne Therefore lift we vp our eyes to heauen vnto thée to the intent thy helping hand may reuiue vs againe and that wée may escape out of so manyfold great daungers For as the eyes of seruauntes and maydes looke vnto their Maisters and
in such wise rise vp gnash their téeth rage swell for anger as thy faythfull seruants are nowe in a maner almoste drowned of them vnlesse thou doest verye spéedily asswage and thrust back the storme of vngodlinesse huge waues of the deuill Turne away thy furious wrath from vs we heartily pray thée O heauenly father and punish not thée wickednesse which we haue committed agaynst thée according to our iust deserts who doe not this onely to the intent thou shouldest consider our worthinesse but that thou mightest not fayle thy owne name thy pure doctrine and thy faythfull promises Graunt that we may once say verilye our God is to be magnified and praysed which will not suffer hys blessed Church to bée dispersed of wicked mens outragious crueltie but hath taken hir from the snares and Iawes of vngracious persons by his excéeding famous and most puyssant arme Cut their Nettes asunder let their naughtie enterprises bee frustrated and make their force to fayle them who do nowe greatly terrifie all such O good God as stand in feare of thée let vs looke for helpe at thy mercifull handes onelye who hast made heauen and earth Wherefore our earnest petition and hartie request is that thou wouldest of thy singuler mercie and excellent clemencie yéeld thy selfe plyable to our feruent prayers through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme SVch as belong to thy heritage and are the true Israell must needes confesse with vs O most mightie God that vnlesse we had béene preserued and holpen by thy singuler fauour and mightie power wée should haue beene swallowed vp and vtterly consumed to nothing more then once by the fierce enimies of our saluation For if we looke for helpe else where to succor vs we know assuredly that it is of no force at all The violence and outrage of those men which do greeuously assault vs is lyke most swift streames of water that doe sodainly ouerflow the fieldes whose outragious crueltie may bée fully compared to the fiercenesse of brute beastes which men also vse such craftie and couert snares to trap vs in as the fowlers and hunters are nothing comparable vnto them herein but séeme very simple farre theyr inferiors Wherfore according to our bounden duetie wée render condigne thankes vnto thée forsomuch as thou hast hitherto deliuered thy simple and féeble flocke from so great perillous daungers and request this at thy mercifull hands that thou wouldst in lykewise not suffer thy sacred Church hereafter to bee ouerthrowne neither by outragious violence nor yet through subtile deceipt so as our assured cōfidence in thée may be dayly more and more greatly augmented and mightily increased through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxv. Psalme FOrsomuch as mannes helpe O most good and mercifull God is verye weake A prayer for the preseruation and long continuance of fayth wonderfull vncertain and merueylous deceyuable we are euidētly taught to repose our whole confidence in thée onely vnto whom whosoeuer they bée that doe annixe themselues they neuer go nor yet wander out of the right way Thou therefore which hast promised to stablishe Mount Sion being thy holy Church in such wise with thy mightie protection as it maye abide for euer agaynst all the craftie assaultes and layings awayte of hir outragious aduersaries haue the like regarde wée humbly beséech thée to the same at this present neither permit the rod of the vngodly to waxe fierce vpon hir For if it bée inforced to bée in subiection to thy wicked enimies euen they also which seeme godly men shall fall redily into impietie Punish our sinnes O good GOD which be great and gréeuous with an other maner of chasticement and correction for we do desire no more at this tyme but that we may not be oppressed by Antichrist requyring thée to defend the congregations of thy faythfull inuironing them about on euery side lyke most defenceable Mountaynes so that the wicked aduersaries of thy glorious name haue no power to make hauocke of them at theyr will and pleasure Deale louingly fauorably in these dayes with such as be greatly desirous of goodnesse and vpright dealing but cause those to féele and haue in tryall what the workers of iniquitie doe deserue whose mindes are not onelye wrapped altogither full of vngodlinesse by practising mischiefe naughtinesse but also indeuour so much as in thē lyeth that thy blessed worde may no where flourish that true religion might be vtterly extinguished and the perfect inuocating and calling vpon thy glorious name quite rooted vp But as for thy beloued Israell after she hath inioyed peace and tranquilitie let it be ioyned more and more vnto thee so as shée maye continually lay sure holde vpon thy worthie prayses through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme IN whose minds soeuer the beliefe of thy faythfull promises O moste mightie God is assuredly graffed and firmely established they being like vnto wel grounded Mountaynes do nothing shake in troublesome tymes but their constancie and vnremoueablenesse is of such force as their assured hope is that they be no lesse armed with thy mightie protection and sure defence then was the Citie of Ierusalem inuironed with a rampire of Mountaynes which did ouerlooke it rounde aboute on euery side Now therefore when as the mischiefe and flame of the vngodlye is occupied on this one poynt how to scatter the Church and to oppresse it assist the same O excellent father and make it manifest vnto hir what a singuler loue thou bearest therto But if as wée openly and with a sincere fayth acknowledge and confesse our horrible naughtinesse haue deserued the being depriued and left destitute of thy ayde we should be giuen ouer into the woodnesse and cruell handes of the Antichristians wey not we humbly beseech thée what our misdéedes do rightly deserue but haue a regard how we are cōmitted vnto thee that thou art put in trust with vs in christ neyther shew thy selfe wrathful contrary to thy old and auncient custome whereby thou neuer gauest libertie to the tyranny of wicked persons to persecute the godly any long time least if thy vpright iudgements should be prolonged they perhaps who are righteous may be boldned to reuolt therefro and yéelde to naughtinesse as the cōmon sort do Be thou O most mighty god good louing mercifull vnto these men whose earnest desire it is to haue the zeale of godlinesse imprinted in their hearts and extend thy indignation rather vpon those which thinke and do nothing but rather that which is lewde vnrighteous and wicked But preserue and increase for thy infinite mercies sake the accustomable peace of thy beloued Israell through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WHosoeuer do giue credit to thy sacred truth O almightie God as becommeth them remaine irremoueable like vnto stedfast Mountaynes and moste strong rockes
hearts of kings and princes are vnder thy dominion thou doest coÌ„tinually bow them so farre as the preseruation of thy faythfull seruaunts doth require which is sufficiently manifested ynough by Pharao king of Egypt Sion and Og moste puyssaunt princes of the lande of Canaan By reason whereof the hope that we haue assuredly conceyued in thy beloued promises is so confirmed and established that althoughe wée maye sée the Churche gréeuouslye oppressed with excéeding great perilles yet our onelye trust is that thou wilt so aide and helpe the same out of the hidde and secrete treasures of thy louing mercie as first and formoste to pardon our innumerable and most shamefull declinings from thee wherwith wée haue mischieuously polluted our selues and that thou wilt also in such wise vanquish subdue and represse the malipertnesse of the deuill and his gard as we be not inforced anye more by them to imbrace againe an ydolatrous trade of worshipping thée and giue honor to those Images which can neither speake heare nor yet haue breath although they séeme as if they had both eares hands mouthes Graunt we heartily pray thee O excellent father that all men may perpetually laude and set forth thy glorious name out of Sion which is thy true Church with an auncient yea rather an euerlasting peace and tranquilitie through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THou deseruest verye great commendation for a number of excellent causes O almightie God and diuers wayes to be extolled with moste noble prayses first and formost thou art good thy name is marueylous pleasant and wonderfull amiable Moreouer thou hast chosen vs to be thy peculiar people that is true Israell who art of such an inuincible force as there is onely not any creature but also none other God at all that may be compared to thée in power For thou onelye doest wonderous things in heauen in earth in the sea and in the déepes and bottomlesse pit thou also stirrest vp and bridlest at thy will and pleasure the flaming lightninges boysterous windes raynie showers raging waters and stormie tempestes Whose mightie puyssaunce the Egyptians Amorreites and Chenaneits haue felt when thou didst defend the children of Israell with thy accustomable clemency and gouernedst them through an vnspeakable louing kindnesse and wonderfull mercie that thou didst extend towards them Iudge thou therefore thy faythful people who hast béene accustomed to rule the course of nature by suche a wonderful meanes and finally comfort thy beloued seruants haue an especiall regard behold and sée we humbly pray thée the gréeuous calamities of thy sacred Church neither deale with vs according to our wicked lewde deserts We acknowledge verily euen from the heart that we haue led a lyfe to muche vnbeséeming thy glorious name and our vocation who doe not nowe returne vnto dumb Idolles when we are thus gréeuously afflicted being the workes of mens hands hauing as it were a mouth eyes and eares and yet do they not speake neyther sée nor vnderstande but haue recourse vnto thée our true and onely God that like as thou louest the sacred Church and wouldst be highly praysed therein so vouchsafe to deliuer the same from imminent perils through Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THere be two thinges O most good and mercifull God which ought chiefly to styrre vs vp to speake of thy worthy praises whereof the one is this for that nothing can be found or ymagined greater theÌ„ thou art the other bicause there is a pure ioy and assured pleasure conceyued in the very setting out of thy worthy praises Moreouer the number of thy notable benefits are so great as not only matter to the publishing of thy glorie is ministred euery where but also that it doth in a maner ouerwhelme such as thinke thervpon any thing earnestly as they can readily finde neither beginning nor yet ende for the setting forth of thy glorious name without the wonderfull assistaunce of thy holy spirite Which thing so long as it is duly coÌ„sidered of our parts we doe earnestly require in our dayly praiers that especially in the sacred assemblies we may with moste pure fayth set out thy worthie prayses yéeld thée thy true worshippe and publishe thy renoume with a pure life and holye conuersation through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxxvj. Psalme A prayer for 〈◊〉 knowledge â—f Gods omâ—ipotent goodnesse THy puyssaunt power and singuler goodnesse O moste gracious and mercifull God doth euery where so abounde vppon vs as mannes thought and ymagination can not sufficiently comprehend the same for if we looke vnto the skie that is garnished with excéeding bewtifull and almoste innumerable lightes or if we consider the earth which is marueylous abundauntly replenished and decked with most pleasant fruites they bee alwayes wonderful tokens of thy vnspeakable and passing good will towardes vs. Herevnto are added the wonders which thou didst in Egypt where through when thou hadst spoyled the tyraunt of all that euer he had and finally bereft him of hys lyfe thou madest it manifest what a pleasure the fredome of the children of Israll was to thée vnto whom thou shewedst thy selfe no lesse a most stedfast preseruer in the wast lothsome wildernesse then an excéeding strong defender at what tyme they walked through the whole lande of Canaan and causedst the huge mightie kingdomes thereof to be vnder their subiection Thou therefore who art indued with excellent goodnesse wonderfull clemency and vnspeakable mercie that neuer hath ende haue an especiall regard we heartily pray thée vnto thy beloued Church being nowe in marueylous great perill and extreeme daunger neyther let the most lewde déedes wherewith we haue both polluted our owne selues and also thy sacred Gospell drawe thée from thy natiue louing kindnesse Pardon we heartily pray thee what soeuer we haue committed agaynst thy diuine Maiestie and suffer not thou who giuest sustinaunce to all fleshe thy faythfull seruauntes to bée depriued of a perfect doctrine and most pure and sound sacraments which are in déede the feede of eternall lyfe Vouchsafe that euery man may hereby perceyue howe good and mightie thou art to the intent all persons maye euery where as right méete it is feare and loue thée with a most feruent and heartie good will through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy goodnesse is such and of so great force O most mightie God as thou wouldst not onely haue vs fedde thereby but also which is not the least part of our felicitie that we should féele and perfectly acknowledge the same who hast for this cause brought forth excéeding bewtifull thinges as well in heauen as in the earth after a most wonderful artificial maner All which matters if we did beholde with a godly affection and well disposed minde our heart without doubt should alwayes be kindled and inflamed with a