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
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
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
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
well vnderstande that thou mightily preseruest thy faithfull seruauntes and doest greatly strengthen such as honor and reuerence thee with an vnfeyned heart through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme LEt thy fauourable and louing countenaunce O most mightie God shine vpon vs from whence commeth all consolation ioy and gladnesse vnto thy beloued seruaunts and seing we craue for thy ready helpe bring vtterly to naught the subtile inuentions craftes deceptes and laiyngs awaite of the violent force of our enimies Surely most great most bewtifull and most ioyfull is the swéetenesse of thy inestimable goodnesse which thou hast layde vp for those that repose their whole trust in thée that the sinnes therfore which we haue lewdly committed seclude vs not from the same we hartily beséeche thée to clense and purifie vs with thy gracious fauour For if we once obteyne this there is no doubt but that we shall be both hidden and also defended from all imminent mischiefes vnder the tabernacle strong defence of thy mightie protection so as we boldely and stedfastly perseuering in thy blessed loue may at length be brought and conueyed vnto thée being the piller and chiefe stay of our saluation through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe confidence O most mightie God which the Godly repose in thée hath this notable and singuler propertie that it maketh no man ashamed thereof nor defraudeth any person of his iust desire the same therefore doth greatly inforce vs to craue thy readie helpe that thou wouldest alwayes be our puyssaunt strength strong defence assured stay valiaunt Capitaine and most prouident nourisher Moreouer we know right well that by reason of our manifolde sinnes the malicious enimies of thy glorious name and our saluation haue euery where layde snares trappes and ambushes for vs. Therefore doe wée commit our whole spirite and lyfe to thy faythfull custodie and put them into thy hands to be strongly defended forsomuch as thou séest our innumerable infirmities and howe we are alwayes inuironed and compassed about with the violent force of our fierce enimies be mercifull therfore to our sorowfull estate and helpe vs presently without any delay And as thou hast both life and death in thy puyssant hands graunt that we thy faythfull seruants may liue and rest with thée for euer through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxxij. Psalme WEe are admonished by thée O most good and mercifull God that the felicitie of thy faythfull seruaunts consisteth herein A praier thaâ— our sinfull crimes may be pardoned that their sinnes are forgiuen couered and not imputed vnto them in thy iust iudgement which thing if euer we had néede to obteyne certainly we nowe séeme to lacke it most when as through present calamities our heynous sinnes are set before our eyes For we feele thy hande to waxe heauie ouer thy sacred Church wherefore we haue thought good not to hide our sinnes but publikely and openly to confesse them before thy dâ—uine Maiestie neyther doe we any thing at all mistrust the vnspeakable goodnesse thou art indued withall who incontinent doest quite pardon and vtterly forgiue vs our gréeuous offences Therfore we that be thy déere beloued seruants doe nowe earnestly require thée doubting not but thou art to be found not to permit thy faythfull people to be violently oppressed of their cruell enimies who be like vnto ouerflowing waters Be thou a denne and place of refuge for vs in these moste greeuous afflictions Informe and teache vs the right way of blessed saluation and whatsoeuer brutishe and beastlye lust remayneth as yet in vs kéepe thou it so vnder with the hard bit and bridle of thy holy spirite that wée bée not for the same cast downe hedlong into perpetual destruction and finally poure out lamentable sorowes and pitious calamities vpon the aduersaryes of thy most glorious name but let such as trust onely in thée be inclosed and fortified with thy singuler louing kindenesse as with a strong rampire that those which haue a feruent zeale to thy excellent name and be of an vpright heart maye chéerefully reioyce in thée and triumphe with a perfite gladnesse throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THey without doubt are right happie and blessed O most mightie God to whom thou of thy vnspeakable mercy hast forgiuen their gréeuous sinnes not imputing them but couering and remitting what wicked and naughtie thing soeuer they haue bene stayned and polluted with Wée doe most manifestly acknowledge that so great and notable a benefite coulde not haue happened vnto vs vnlesse oure sinnes verilye were openly knowen and disclosed to thée and that we poure into thy blessed bosome what sinnes so euer we haue lewdely and shamelessely committed agaynst thy sacred lawe Therefore we acknowledge and confesse vnto thée O heauenly father that our vnrighteousnesse is excéeding great and our soules miserably burthened with the waight of our impietie wherefore nowe ayde and helpe vs with thy fauourable mercye and we heartily beseeche thee to wipe away after a louing gentle maner what naughtinesse soeuer doth remain behind Deliuer vs froÌ„ the sorowful calamities and greeuous miseries that are hanging ouer our heades make vs to haue an vncorrupt minde and gouerne vs with thy prouident care least through our euill affections we do not degenerate into most foolishe brute beastes but being inuironed and compassed about with thy excellent goodnesse let vs be cheared vp with rightfull mirth and assured ioy before thée through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxxiij. Psalme A prayer for prayse and â—hankes gyâ—ing to God â—or his omniâ—otencie HOw many soeuer O most mighty God as haue attayned vnto righteousnesse throughe an vnfeyned fayth doe well vnderstande howe much prayse and glorie thou art worthy of by reason of thy maruelous works There is nothing in the world but it beareth witnes that thou art good The heauens stand fast and all the hostes of them were made by thy sacred worde neyther are the waters of the sea and great déepes conteyned within their boundes by any other power then through thy holy spirite and mightie force Therefore it is and hath béene oure dutie both to honour and feare thée onely euen as thou hast rightly deserued but we haue O sinfull wretches that we are done nothing lesse in all our whole lyfe And therefore haue well and iustly deserued the great troubles and daungerous perilles we now are in But séeing that thy infinite goodnesse cannot be drayned drie through mens naughtinesse and lewd behauior be they neuer so innumerable we craue pardon and forgiuenesse of all those thinges which we haue committed agaynst thy diuine Maiestie and heartily require thee according to thy woonted mercy to make voyde all the subtile counsayles and lewde deuices wherewith the fierce enimies of godlinesse pretend to subuert and ouerthrowe thy sacred
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
Church no lesse then thou shewedst the same in tymes past touching the deliueraunce of the Israelites from the Egyptians bondage and seruitude to the intent that howe much the more care thou hast therof so much the more a great deale it may appéere that thou hast mightily deliuered the same from the deuill sinne and moste cruell death through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxviij Psalme A prayer for grace and â—prightnesse of heart FOrsomuch as the diuine scriptures haue most perfectly published thy excéeding glorious workes O most mightie God by setting thy children at libertie in Egypt assuredlye knowing that what thinges soeuer are set forth in the holy Bible they all make very much to our comfort and consolation wée nowe most heartily require thée that thou wouldest in these excéeding daungerous tymes continuallye renue our memorie with thy holye spirite who béeing moued herewith may repose our whole coÌ„fidence in thee onely Thou broughtest thy children of Israell oute of Egypt in working of dreadfull things agaynst Pharao The sea gaue place a clowde couered them a light of fire guided them on their iourney the rocke gaue water the heauen sent them both Manna and fleshe and in Mount Sinai thou shewedst thy selfe at what tyme it pleased thée to giue them a law by Moyses Thou therefore who hast done so great and manifold things for the Israelites forsake vs not in such wise as the shepe of thy flocke may be scattered abroade by the Deuill and Antichrist We verily haue sinned agaynst thee and that gréeuously and very often howbeit they also were oftentymes rebellious and murmured agaynst thy diuine Maiestie in the wildernesse when as they had lesse credite to thy sacred worde then beseemed them There thou diddest sharpely punishe that people neyther yet sufferedst thy heritage to be destroyed but knewest well that they were fleshe and had a verye wauering spirite wherefore thou wert so touched with mercy that thou didst helpe them in aduersitie We therfore earnestly require thee O good God that thou wouldest doe none otherwise to thy blessed Church at this present in mightie defending and valiant deliuering hir after any other sort then thou didst the Iewes when thou haddest layde thy rod of correction somewhat vpon them through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WEe heartily acknowledge and earnestly confesse O most mighty god that the ingratitude of mankinde is excéeding great which thing truely appeareth plainly by our lewd deedes but séeing that it is an easie matter for euery man to bee blind in his owne case it is more manifestly set forth by our forefathers actes which are most truely made mencion of in the holy scriptures We haue heard that the childreÌ„ of Israell were deliuered through thée by a number of miracles when as thou broughtest them out of Egypt who being gouerned defended and nourished in the desert with such a diligent studie and prudent care as no greater could be deuised and imagined yet for all this the same people are reported to shewe themselues so much vngratefull and obliuious of thy excellent benefites that they alwayes murmured against thée their god their maker deliuerer guide most iust Therefore we humbly beseeche thée O excellent father that seéing thou of thy frée mercie hast elected vs and moreouer bewtified vs with the highest ornamentes of thy grace thou wouldest neuer suffer or cause the same to depart out of our memory but rather stirre vs vp euery moment with thy blessed spirit to render such kinde of thankes vnto thée wherby both thou mayst be most honored and we greatly prouoked forward to leade a godlye and vertuous life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme BEsides the prodigious wonders and marueylous signes O moste good and mercifull God whereby thou thoughtest good diuers and sundry times to maintaine and defend the fathers in the olde lawe the selfe same hast thou commaunded both to be set forth for the commoditie of those that come after and also to be registred for a perpetuall remembraunce to the intent that so many as shall perceyue the things by fayth may conceyue as assured an hope of thy mercie louing kindnesse and faythfulnesse toward themselues as they wonder excéeding greatly at thy vnspeakeable goodnesse extended vpon their olde fathers For the séeing of those mens chasticements by the seueritie of thy iust iudgement may also be a verye great warning vnto them that they shall be no more spared then the others when through their lewde behauiour they ceasse not to prouoke thy wrathfull indignation agaynst them Our earnest request is therefore O heauenly father that we may reape much commoditie hereby For we verilye are through thy gracious fauor deliuered from euerlasting destruction euen as they were out of Egypt But this is our most earnest request which we require as nowe at thy mercifull handes that we be not ledde by our filthie lustes and lewd desires to prouoke thy heauie wrath vnto our confusion in such sort as they were by grudging at thy vnestimable goodnesse in the wildernesse through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme WE may right well perceyue O most good and mercifull God that the desires of our wicked lustes be much hurtful either bicause we are prouoked through theÌ„ to poure out complaints agaynst thée who art most perfectly good or else for that in compassing the filthie desires of them we purchase greatly vnto our selues the most seuere punishmentes of thy vnspeakable iustice for we are now admonished in due tyme by the holy ghost of all such thinges as happened vnto the Israelits in the wildernesse Wherefore we being taught by other mens perilles are very carefull least we be wrapped in semblable misfortunes through the like misbehauiour Our earnest desire is therefore that thou wouldest giue eare vnto our feruent prayers wherein we humbly beséech thee to giue vs grace that we may neuer be forgetfull of thy excellencie neyther let it come at any time into our harts either by words or thought to dallye with thée in whome is nothing but most perfect veritie For whensoeuer we fall through humaine infirmitie haue thou mercie vpon vs who knowest vs to he both frayle fleshe and also very weake spirited and so of thy infinite goodnesse incline thy selfe nowe partly to rayse vs vp being alreadie fallen and partlye also to confirme vs that we be not thrust downe into euerlasting destruction through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxix Psalme A prayer for obteyning of mercie and fauor agaynst the persecutors of the Church THou hast chosen vs O most mightie God to be thy heritage and doubtlesse there is nothing permitted which might be a furtheraunce to the furnishing garnishing and making vs right blessed thou hast giuen vs the knowledge of thy sacred scriptures the preaching of thy blessed Gospel the
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
be ordered there by thy spirituall wisdome and auoyde those offences therefro vnto which euerlasting damnation is due by iustice Let them depart thence which fall from thée by infidelitie and are through obstinate wilfulnesse trayterous rebelles to thy sacred lawe let backebiters togither with suche as are proude and those which dare shameleslye presume any thing bée vtterly rooted out And coÌ„trariwise let there be space in especiallye for suche as be verye zealous of the truth Let not these be onely conuersant there before thée but cause them to féed thy blessed people with a singuler fayth and innoâ—sie minister all things diligently vnto them which be necessary toward saluation Remoue far from thence far from them O excellent father be all mans inueÌ„tion and deceyptfull ydolatrie so that finally all Godlinesse maye be vtterly rooted vp from the Congregation of the faythfull through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cij Psalme WE are of our owne selues altogither vnworthie O most mightie God A prayeâ— the tryal fayth aâ—â—fliction â— Church that thou shouldest gyue eare vnto our prayers seeing we haue euery where transgressed thy sacred lawe and blessed commaundements and liued excéeding dishonestly towards thy holy Gospel and our vocation Howbeit hide thou not away thy face for thy infinit mercies sake from our humble petitions earnest supplications For we are greeuously assayled and sore opprest with most great perilles And therefore bowe downe thy fauourable eare vnto vs and graunt them with spéede their desires which inuocate and call vpon thée First we require to be deliuered from our heynous sinnes and lewde corruptioÌ„s and let our weake and feeble heartes bée strengthned in thy blessed way and the withered powers of our minde which are dried vp watered with the holy Ghost that we may liue vnto thée who being altogither repaired and wholy renued may cause thy glorious name and sacred Gospell to be well spoken of This once done extende thy inuincible power and might vpon such as rayse vp innumerable slaunders and reproches vpon the name of thy Sonne and his holy doctrine Haue mercy out of hande we humbly beséech thée of Sion that is to say thy blessed Church for the time is now come that she standeth in great néede of thy readie helpe Looke out we heartily pray thée from thy high dwelling place behold our gréeuous calamities and heare theyr pitifull cryes which are in great bondes much beaten and gréeuously tormented to death diuers maner of wayes for thy glorious names sake by preseruing thy chosen sheepe out of so great daungers whom the Antichristians doe adiudge not onelye to death but also to vtter destruction that thy adobted children maye one time or other lead a peaceable and quiet life before thée through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THe whole company of thy faithfull people O most good and mercifull God do lamentably require thy fauourable helpe which is cruelly opprest through the tyrannie of sinne and the sacred sappe of godlinesse almoste dryed vp in the same for hir mouth is in a maner so stopped vp that she cannot sing thy worthie prayses and there remayneth not well néere any member in hir bodie that may execute his office in helping one another Thou therefore which alwayes florishest fresher and fresher rise vp to be our spéedie helper bicause we haue now thought it highe time for thée to assist thy blessed Church so gréeuously afflicted which thing if thou wilt graunt vs wée doubt not but the feare of thy glorious name and sincere godlinesse shall bée spred very farre abroade For if thou wilt deliuer thy faythfull people from so great and mischeeuous daungers thou shalt teach thereby that thy louing promise remayneth alwayes firme and vnappayred in such wise that although the heauen earth be troubled with wonderfull interchaunges and be so shaken as they perishe yet doth the same continue alwayes one towardes thy elect seruaunts whereby we heartily beséech thée to be both preserued and also set in good estate againe not according to our owne strength and desertes but throughe his mercy and gentlenesse effectually working the same by Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Ciij Psalme WE are bounde O moste mightye God for thy singuler deserts extended towards vs A prayer for a newe life to prayse thée continually with minde heart all our whole power rendring condigne thanks vnto thy diuine maiesty vnlesse we will like vngratefull persons forget all those thinges which thou hast hitherto bestowed vpoÌ„ vs. First thou hast freely offred vs forgiuenesse of sinnes by Christ and regeneration throughe his precious bloud herevnto is added doctrine sacraments bodily life and whatsoeuer else apperteyneth to the preseruation both of the outwarde and inwarde man But wee heartily acknowledge that we haue notwithstanding moste filthily abused all these thy excellent benefites for we haue done nothing faythfully that aunswereth fully to our calling We nowe therefore do humbly beséech thée to pardon our gréeuous offences and lewd behauiour amending our corrupt maners and the dishonest life which we haue led hitherto Deale not with vs after our sinnes neyther reward vs according to our iniquities Wilt thou seing that singuler louing kindnesse and mercie preuayleth with thee bée alwayes reuengeable or correct and chastice vs in thy furie Remember that thou art our father and therefore earnestly do we desire thee to shewe forth a fatherly affection towards such as both honour and worship thée It is not vnbeknowne to thy diuine Maiestie that we are dust and vnlesse thou be present with vs the vaynest things that euer were made we are more lither then grasse and flowers Regard not therefore our lewde and wicked factes but way rather the league made betwixt thée and vs and deliuer thy faythfull people from the hands of thy cursed and most mischieuous enimies so that we may magnifie thy wonderous workes with the glorious Aungels and all holy men for euermore through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme MAnnes weake and féeble nature can at no tyme O almightye GOD prayse thée according to thy worthinesse for thou doest not onelye bestowe vppon vs the benefites whereby we both obteyne lyfe and also doe from day to day continue and maintain the same but thou hast forgiuen thy faythfull people their most gréeuous and infinite sinnes by Christ which surmounteth al other things that thou hast participated amongst vs for the which most excellent and notable gift we yéelde thee heartie thankes although not such as we ought yet such as we can and to the intent we may thereby become more chéerefull in requiring the same our earnest request is O excellent Father that thou wouldest establishe and perpetually maintaine the worde of pure and sincere doctrine in the mouth of thy blessed Church so that an alteration of hir olde Leuen being made she may like
committed by taking away those punishments from thy sacred Church which our deadly sinnes haue worthilye deserued that we being mightily deliuered may bée exceeding ioyfull before thée and both quaffe the cup of thankes giuing and also cause thy singuler louing kindnesse towardes vs to be made manifest vnto all men And like as thou hast alwayes had not onely a speciall regarde vnto the death of the blessed saints but also vnto their miserable affliction and most pitious lamentation so wée humbly beséech thée to take pitie at this time vpon the féeblenesse of thy sacred Church being in a maner as nowe distroyed brought to vtter ruine through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxvij Psalme â— prayer for â—e perfect â—nowledge â— Christ THou hast created mankinde O most mightie God to the intent all Nations should be knitte togither to render vniuersall prayses vnto thy glorious name for the doing whereof thou didst in olde time ordeine the Patriarkes Prophetes and Apostles to this office at this time when all things were now defaced with darknesse fond abvses and filthie defilinges thou hast gathered vs in the sacred Church for the selfe same worke and purpose Which thing to the intent we may commodiously and very conueniently accomplishe we humbly require thée that our heynous iniquities and most deadly sinnes be not an hinderaunce herevnto which as we heartily acknowledge and earnestly coÌ„fesse to be right gréeuous and innumerable so we humbly desire thée that they may be vtterly wiped away cléerely remitted and quite pardoned who be nowe as thou well seest so hedged in with great perils and little better then alreadie opprest bicause we haue reposed our whole trust and confidence in thée alone Looke therefore we humbly beseeche thee that our fayth maye be so vnderpropped with thy blessed spirit as it shrinke not in these troublesome daies Set we hartily pray thée thy vnspeakeable goodnesse before our eyes which thou hast alwayes moste louingly bestowed vpon the godlye that we acknowledging the same fullye and euidently may be nothing mistrustfull but that thou wilt at this present be a faithfull patrone and assured defender of thy blessed Church through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme AT such time as mankind O most good and mercifull God was striken with a wonderfull blindnesse and ouerwhelmed with mischiefes innumerable then was thy vnfallible mercie at hande vnto him through the which thou diddest vouchsafe to deliuer thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde for the saluation of the world therefore are we bound to giue thée immortall thankes who sée our selues preserued by thy méere and singuler goodnesse onely and not through our owne deserts And forsomuch as we haue founde thée so constant and right faythfull in thy louing promises we doubt not but thou wilt of thy excellent mercy and vnspeakable goodnesse at thy appoynted tyme fully accomplishe those small thinges which are yet remayning to be fulfilled Our earnest request is therefore that thou wouldest so fortifie our weake mindes with the spirite of fayth as we may not onely lay holde vppon the good things thou proferest vs without any mistrustfulnesse but also render thee condigne thanks in thy sacred Church with all people and nations for so great bountifulnesse and liberalitie bestowed vpon thy faythfull seruauntes through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxviij Psalme SO manye as feare God A praier â— we may â— comforted in fayth and bée graffed in Christ and haue a feruent zeale to godlinesse are dayly allured and prouoked by newe meanes and infinite benefites to magnifie his blessed name for séeing that they well know Gods goodnesse to be of suche great force as he is present therewith vnto those that vnfeynedly call vpon him for the same and deliuereth them from all perill and disquietnesse of minde who causeth them to haue so great fayth and confidence as they neede not to stand in néede of mans power bée it of neuer so great a force Wherefore in as much as the same is not at this present vnbeknowne to vs we coÌ„mit our selues to thée onely O most mightie God who art our alone sauiour requiring that thou wouldest vouchsafe to defend thy blessed Church being as now hedged in and compassed about on euery side with extreeme perils our sinnes haue iustly deserued farre gréeuouser thinges who do confesse O good God that we haue heynously and like miserable wretches offended thée but here it behoueth that for thy singuler clemeÌ„cies sake our wicked déedes shoulde be vanquished of thy vnspeakable mercie Graunt vs therefore being chastised by thée as disobedient and rebellious children not so to be deliuered to subiection and destruction as we may not highly celebrate worthily prayse and duly magnifie thy woÌ„derous workes within the Gates of thy glorious kingdome amidst the congregation of the righteous Vouchsafe that we who are now as reprobates castawayes and made a laughing stock to al men may be aduaunced so muche in righteousnesse holinesse and good liuing as all men may right well vnderstand that whatsoeuer we determine or go about to do touching religion it is not mans deuise but thy owne onely worke through Iesus Christ oure Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE are continually tost with so many gréeuous stormes of aduersities O almightie God as it behoueth vs to haue accesse and recourse vnto thy mercie onely that we be not ouerwhelmed vnder them But now we know for a certayntie that mans power can do nothing touching their ouerthrow whome thou hast appoynted to saluation Forsomuch as therefore we sée them fed with a false and deceiptfull hope which haue anye confidence in men wée iudge this to be a singuler poynt of wisedome of the godly to trust hereafter in no mortall creature but to repose their whole affiaunce in thee alone For which cause we humblie beséech thy diuine Maiestie O excellent father that although thou art sometime angrie and by reason of our heinous sinnes doest worthilye chastice and subdue our stubbornnesse yet let vs not fal vtterly away from thée which thing shall verily come to passe if thou wilt builde vs vpon that most firme corner stone who as he was layde aside and dissalowed of men so is he aduaunced by thée to the chiefest top and piller of glorie through our Lord Iesus Christ thy sonne who liueth and reigneth with thée euermore worlde without ende Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxix Psalme â— prayer in â—ecessitie anâ—uishe and â—stresse THou hast alwayes of thy vnspeakable goodnesse and clemencie O most good and merciful God from time to time indued vs with notable and plentifull benefites but we of the contrary part who ought to obey thy blessed coÌ„maundements with all earnestnesse haue very miserably transgressed the same and procured vnto oure selues the euilles wherewith we are sore oppressed neyther can we iustlye complaine that
seruauntes Let the kinges therefore assemble togither and the princes conspire as they thinke good vtterly to subuert and ouerthrow hir yet shall they be inforced to leaue of their fonde deuices as who at the féeling of thy mighty power present being striken with excéeding feare must néedes ceasse from their wicked attempts for such as thou strykest a feare into they are ouertaken wyth sorrowe as women laboring of childe Wherefore O good God suffer not our heynous sinnes to excéede surmount thy vnspeakable goodnesse we truely haue offended thée verye gréeuously neyther doe we denie the same but togither with oure heynous sinnes wée acknowledge also thy excéeding great mercy which we séeke for with sorowfull teares that we may at length be reconciled vnto thée not for our owne deserts but through the inestimable goodnesse louing fauour and bening grace of thy deere sonne and graunt that the fierce enimies of thy blessed Church may in likewise come to vtter ruine as shippes are oftentymes torne amiddest the sea through the very great and excéeding hideous noyse of the wind which is sodenlye stirred vp so that like as wée haue heard with our eares thy most large promises set forth and preached out of the holy Scriptures so we may also with our eyes sée them mightily come to passe and be performed We haue alreadie conceyued an assured hope and stedfast confidence by those thinges which are set out vnto vs in thy most blessed worde now graunt wée humbly beséech thée that the thing maye take so good successe as through the publishing of thy glorious name and goodnesse incontinent after the performaunce of thy excellent benefites we may with great solemnitie render due thankes for the same And to the intent it maye be euery where knowne that whatsoeuer procéedeth from thée is nothing else but vpright iustice be thou our God euen our God I say both so long as we here liue and also euerlastingly through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme ALl creatures O most good and mercifull God doe plainelye and euidentlye acknowledge thy great goodnesse but thy sacred Church is the especial worke wherin thou art singularlye preached and magnified From thence all the whole worlde receyueth gladnesse for so much as the sounde doctrine is there wherby both thou thy selfe art manifestly knowne we also called to heauen for what most pleasaunt ioyful and blessed thing so euer can be had vppon earth it florisheth there And therefore no maruell is it though the aduersaries force rageth against hir with cruell threatning outragious madnesse and furious violence if thou be at hande without delay thou doest maintain fauor and defend it in such wise that the mighty rulers of the worlde and princes of darkenesse are inforced will they nill they to be sore troubled to runne hedlong away to be marueylously disquieted with excéeding great feare Their impotent threatnings are vtterly disapoynted through thy mighty power but there thy faithfull seruants are vnburthened of their heauie cares and sadde gréefes which benifites of thine we now and then féele not bicause we fall excéeding miserably and meruelous painfullye into sundrie and manifolde faults being driuen therto partly by infirmitie and partly through ignoraunce By this so great honor of thy glorious house we humbly beséech thée therefore to blot out whatsoeuer we haue committed against thée to the intent that thou thy selfe mayst rule and gouerne vs in the same Church to the glory of thy most excellent name through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xlix. Psalme WE heartily require thée O most mightie God that fayth may be annixed to the doctrine of thy holy Ghost A praier that we abuse not temporall goodes when as being greeuouslye afflicted through the naughtie behauiour of our outragious enimies we maye duely way this with our selues that they stay most vpon their transitorie riches and welth wherein they much abounde for they verilye perceyue not that men can by no riches in this world redeme themselues from death and eternall damnation Bridle thou O excellent father our affections in such wise that no fraile things take any place at all in vs. Let the common infirmity and miserie which is wholy sowne in such as we be admonish vs or else verie death that spreadeth it selfe ouer all people how wise or foolish soeuer men be they can in no sort so mocke death as alwayes to kéepe and inioy the goods they haue gotten in this wreched world We also doe plainly confesse that we haue oftentimes fallen on this behalfe who trusting in worldlye strength were perswaded of wonderfull victories pompes triumphes as though our names shoulde haue beene exalted aboue all measure Neyther did we well consider that a good fortune and prosperous successe of the fleshe endureth but a time and so many as haue assured confidence in them shall perishe at length lyke beastes and are put into hell and inprisoned vnder an euerlasting night Forgiue vs O good God this heynous crime that putting awaye and casting aside all vayne hope of worldly welth thou thy selfe mayst take vs vp into thy tuition and rayse vs from eternal death and the paines of Hell Graunt that we stande in no feare at all of them who haue greatly increased themselues and their houses with riches and honor all which things are but commodious onely for this present life that they might be the better able to follow the sensuall appetite of their fleshly lustes Finally wée humbly require thée O good God to deliuer thy blessed church from these outragious enimies which haue not this perceyueraunce as to vnderstande that the honor and authoritie they haue is giuen them of God whoe dye not onely like senselesse beastes but being depriued of their worldly goods shall after this wretched life suffer eternall punishment through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe renowmed oracles of the sacred doctrine which thou hast vouched safe to set out in the holye scriptures ought men O mightie God well to consider with most attentiue mindes yea there is no man so ignoraunt or any of so high degree but it behoueth him verie diligentlye to ponder and waye the excellent things that thou speakest And this thou chiefly admonishest vs off that we haue not that confidence in the pleasures of this world being verie vayne and frayle which wée ought to repose in thee only What thing soeuer is wonderfull puissaunt excéeding strong meruailous excellent or verye honourable amongst men are of no force to redéeme and deliuer vs from death but such is their propertie and condicion that they are quicly chaunged perish in the twinckling of an eie neyther may the man which hath his whole affiaunce in these abide anye while in honor For so soone as they wither and perish so sone also doth their counterfeit renowne fade away Wherefore we earnestly require thée O good father
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
and outragious enimies through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxj. Psalme A prayer for constant â—â—ith in christ â—esus OVr earnest and feruent desire is O most good and mercifull God that as thou art in déede a singuler good father and wonderfull mercifull vnto vs so thou wouldst heare the lamentable cries which we poure out before thée by reason of the excéeding heauinesse wee are oppressed withall and for the gréeuous temptations we indure suffer not thy beloued seruaunts miserably to perishe in whome the deuill goeth about to quenche and burie thy benigne grace and especiall good giftes Permit vs therefore to haue a fort and strong Tower with thée wherevnto bicause we are not able to clime vp of our owne power breath thou thy louing fauour downe vpon vs in such wise as we may bée lifted vp vnto the Tabernacle of thy glorious sight and vnder the couering of thy glistering winges so that by thys meanes we shall bée deliuered from the thresholde and iawes of death We truely haue transgressed thy holy lawe through our moste heynous sinnes haue defiled the sacred bodie of thy blessed Church How be it whilest wee acknowledge this and lamentably require thy fauourable mercie surely we féele verye great ease comfort neyther are we now afrayed of any bytter mishaps forsomuch as our whole confideÌ„ce dependeth vpon thy inestimable goodnesse but rather our heart is inflamed with an ardent loue both in celebrating thy glorious name and also in rendring moste abundant thankes for those thinges which by our profession we owe and thinke to be due vnto thée throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxij Psalme â— prayer for true fayth â—nd contempt â—f mutable â—hinges SEing that we are perswaded O most good and mercifull God that thou art our strong defence inuincible tower sure ayde mightie safegarde we kéepe a quiet and verye peaceable minde euen in the middest of our extréeme miseries and gréeuous calamities For we doubt not but that the deuill and his wicked members shal haue no successe at all in those thinges they enterprise to do agaynst our welfare and whosoeuer they be which thrust forwarde themselues contrary to thy blessed will are in no wise able to stand and abide but are at the ende disappoynted of that they looke for Wherefore we humblye require thee that our offences being done away which by reason of our infirmitie we denie not but are an infinite number thou wouldest still perseuer to be our Buckler and sure defence as thou hast hitherto beene accustomed Forsomuch as through thy especiall helpe wée shake of all worldly mens feare as whom we know to be altogither vaine yea and so foolishe that if they were weyed in a ballance they should be found altogither lighter then vanitie it selfe And as we dreade them nothing at al so likewise our earnest request is that we may haue no affiaunce in euill gotten goodes and flourishing ryches but alwayes well and diligently to set before our eyes that thou art iust mercifull of a wonderfull inuincible power through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxiij Psalme WEe doe in this wretched life O most good and mighty God with great feruencie sighe desire A prayer iâ— distresse for the comforâ— of the gospeâ— and earnestly thirst for thee onelye when as all thinges are become troublesome horrible and cruell vnto vs. We are greatly desirous cléerely to beholde thy singuler vertue excellent honor for nothing can happeÌ„ more blessed nothing more ioyful nothing more pleasaÌ„t to mortal creatures then the perfect knowledge thereof We may through thy readie helpe O heaueÌ„ly father exalt thy glorious name continually when as we render due thanks for the excellent benefites thou hast bestowed vpon vs alwayes requiring of thée in our earnest peticions and most ardent prayers those things which may be both to thy glorie and our owne saluation These verily are the meere delites of the godly there is the minde fed with perfect and true gladnesse when as euen at midnight in the bed it is not forgetfull of thy goodnesse and clemencie But our heynous offences are a very great hinderance to this singuler benifite whereinto both our infirmitie and ignoraunce driueth vs which we humbly beséech thée for thy infinite mercies sake to wipe away be our ready helper as thou hast begunne hide vs vnder thy fauourable winges and cause our mindes to be linked alwayes vnto thee But as for such as resist thy glorye obstinately and with stubburnesse let them runne hedlong into the déepe gulfe of perdicion and make vs euermore reioyce and be glad in thy comfort and consolation through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxiiij Psalme IF we were not altogither drowsie minded and vtterly dulled O heauenly father we are dayly stirred vp to inuocate and call vpon thée with our feruent prayer For why A prayer agaynst the wicked enimies of the Godly Sathan and his wicked retinue make great haste both day and night to destroy vs and the filthinesse of the flesh striueth continually to driue vs hedlong into the disobedience of thy blessed commaundements Séeyng that therefore our minde is on sides assayled and the strength we haue become féeble and deminished through a false tongue deceiptfull wordes most pearcing stinges and deadly darts we flie vnto thée onely being the true hauen of safegarde and require that sith thou perceiuest vs to be sore and painefully troubled sundrie wayes for the sinnes and gréeuous offences we haue committed thou wouldest for thy tender mercies sake pardon and forgiue what spotte or giltinesse soeuer we are infected with ruling and gouerning vs in suche sort as wée maye laye all the burthens wherwith we are gréeuously oppressed on thée onely So shall we haue iust cause to be excéeding ioyous neyther shall it repent vs any thing at all but contrariwise wée will greatly glorie for that we haue betaken our selues wholy to thy protection and gouernment through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxv. Psalme â— prayer for â—stenaunce â—nd all kinde â—f Gods beâ—efites SO great and manifold are thy benefites O most good mercifull God towards maÌ„kind as al people in euery place ought greatly to land wonderfully to prayse highly to extol thy blessed name for what thing can be more pleasant to men then that thou doest easily heare them at what tyme they call vpon thée for such things as they stande in néede of In what other good thing ought we more to reioyce of then this for that thou yeeldest thy selfe appeased and fauourable to our iniquities Or why be we not right happie and blessed whome thou didst vouchsafe to annix vnto thy selfe in thy sacred coÌ„gregatioÌ„ in féeding our hungry stomacks with spirituall good things heauenly dainties Thou dealest fauorably euen with all other creatures for thy elects
and very ioyfull For although thy faithful seruants be punished for a while so loÌ„g as they are in this wretched life yet the time will one day come when thou by fire and with the cléere lightsome presence of thy diuine Maiestie shalt iudge the world rewarding euery man vprightly according to his deserts Then shall the very heauens shewe foorth thy righteousnesse and al men compelled whether they will or no to say that thou art most iust and then also shall thy blessed Church be filled with true and perfect ioy Seing that therefore the matter standeth thus so long as we are here strauÌ„gers from thée cause light to rise in vs and a spirituall reioycing with excéeding purenesse of heart whereby we may sincerely and after a due maner ioy in thée onely so that one of vs maye alwayes put an other in remembraunce not to bée forgetfull to publish thy vnspeakable holinesse through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xcviij. Psalme A prayer for the fauour of Christ through his glorious resurrection THou hast shewed oftentimes that saluation belongeth vnto thee only O moste mightie God for the doing and accomplishing whereof thou hast no néede of any creatures assistaunce Thou shewedst marueylous wonders in our fathers dayes and diddest often preserue them with thy onely right hande and blessed arme for thou hast in such wise extended thy readie helpe towards them that thy excellent mercy vnspeakable goodnes became manifest to al nations Seing that therfore thou hast not hitherto bene forgetful of thy faithful promises but rather hast alwayes assisted thy beloued seruants wheÌ„ soeuer they stoode in néede of a deliuerer whervpoÌ„ they thought thy glorious name was to be extolled praysed all maner of wayes so much as in them lay both with heart voyce trumpets harpes shawmes and sundrie ditties of songes we therfore thy faythfull people doe in like sort pray at this present that thou hidest not thy selfe from vs in this time Thou truely art not ignoraunt how many and howe great the perils are which do gréeuously molest vs. And so long as we do wey the case by our owne deserts they séeme to be more hard and gréeuous vnto vs then we be able in any wise to beare for we haue sinned in such wise agaynst thee so impudeÌ„tly transgressed thy sacred lawes and so often playd the rebelles agaynst thy diuine Maiestie that if thou shouldest reward vs according to our lewde lyfe and filthie condicions we may be euen in vtter dispayre of our saluation But we do greatly with much feruencie labour to obteyne this at thy fauourable handes both that thou wouldst deale with vs according to thy accustomed maner by forgiuing the penitent pardoning their heynous offences which vncessauntly call vpon thy blessed name and being mercifull vnto such as faythfully trust in thée And also that of thy singuler iustice and excellent clemencie thou wouldst mightily deliuer vs after a puyssaunt maner maintaine vs and defend vs with an inuincible force from the most cruell enimies of thy blessed name through Iesus Christ oure Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme AL mankind in generall O most mightie God are bounde to prayse and sette forth thy blessed name excéedingly for the notable benefits thou bestowest vpoÌ„ them and most especially for that thou hast deliuered vs from euerlasting death by the helpe of none other creature but onelye through the sole oblation of thy alone and most dearly beloued Sonne insomuch as we may rightly saye that thou onely defendest vs with thy holy arme and puissant right hande Thou hast verye certainlye shewed howe mindfull and what a good kéeper thou art of faythfulnesse and goodnesse which the whole endes of the earth and all mortal creatures may assuredly see and right well perceyue by our redemption but we be so dull rude and blockishe that we haue in a maner lost the whole perceyueraunce of so noble and great liberalitie the fault whereof we must impute to our heynous wickednesse and mischieuous déedes Wherefore with a mightye lamentation and verye sorrowfull crie wée doe earnestly call vpon thy inestimable mercie to forgiue whatsoeuer wée haue moste gréeuously committed agaynst thée and to take from thy blessed Churche the occasions of so great sorrow For whilest we knowe godlinesse and religion to hang in so great distresse we can in no wise sing vnto thée with heart and voyce as we ought to do or prouoke all creatures through oure great ioye to vnspeakeable gladnesse We do nowe earnestly require thée to come and iudge the case of thy faithfull people Rayse vp and sustaine with thy iudgement such as mourne and comfort the afflicted that thy equitie and iustice wherein thou doest much excell all others may moste manifestly shewe forth it selfe through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xcix. Psalme A prayer for the iustification of fayth agaynst the righteousnes of workes IT is truly an excéeding great force of thy glorious kingdom that thou moste mightye God vsest in the defence of the Godly and ouerthrowing of the enuious and rebellious people which our fathers haue oftentimes had tryall of Whereby we doe most certainly beleue and earnestly confesse that so long as thou doest fauour thy faythfull seruaunts the courages minds and strengtâ— of those that assault them yea and the verâ— earth also doth quaile seeing therfore thaâ— thy puyssaunce and strength is so great iâ— the Church let thy mightye power we bâ—séech thee disquiet and trouble all nations which would quite subuert and vtterly ouerthrow thy glorious kingdome And as thy puyssaunt force and mightie strength surmounteth all Gods and kings euen so nowe shew thy selfe a terrible and feareful GOD for the preseruation of thy blessed Church It is verily not vnbeknowne vnto vs that thou louest iugdement and decidest mens causes vprightly We heartily require thée therefore to vouchsafe that when as our iniquities which we haue coÌ„mitted prouoke thée to extend thy seueritie vpon vs thou wouldst turne thy eyes from these thinges and bend them wholy vpon Iesus Christ our sauiour who is for vs in the stead of Aaron Moses Samuell and a true Bishop Bée mindfull of the prayer sacrifice bloud and teares which he shed for vs vpon the Alter of the Crosse Admit we haue committed an infinite number of naughty factes yet remember that we thorowe him doe call vpon thy blessed name pardon therefore forgiue and vtterly remit our heynous transgressions and make no â—ariance in deliuering vs from these exceeding great and daungerous perils so that we may leade our lyfe with an vncorrupt heart towards thee and exalt thy glorious name euen as it right wel deserueth with such prayses as maye pearce the heauens through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme ALthough the vngodly O most mightie God seeme to ruffle sometime so greatly as they turne all things vpside downe yet
deserts the outragious enimies of thy blessed name are raysed vp and haue mightily preuayled agaynst vs who dayly strengthen themselues agaynst thy sonne our Lord and fauiour Iesus Christ We know right wel that by reason of the life which we haue hitherto liued repugnant to thy glorious name and our profession all these most gréeuous euilles haue happened to thy sacred Church But our earnest request is that thou wouldest be mindefull of thy faythfull couenaunt wherein thou promisest that we should be the méeting line of thy blessed heritage for thy couenant is not transitorie but perdurable Thou hast vsed at other tymes to chastice kinges that they should not hurt thy elect people who doest preserue and defende thy blessed seruaunts inhabiting here vpon the earth so often as it is thy holye will and pleasure The Heauen Elements and all creatures haue serued thée as souldiours in Egypt for the deliueraunce of thy faythfull people As thou therefore wert not then forgetfull of thy sacred couenaunt so shewe thy selfe mindfull thereof at this present for wicked men the deuill and Antichrist practise by all the meanes they can possible imagine and deuise to swallow vs vp Wherefore renue thou thy wonderfull workes in vs O mightie God who being altogither voyde of helpe require thée to hide vs vnder thy mercifull winges and spread them so ouer vs as thou mayest not onely bée our defender but cause vs to leade a quiet and peaceable life towards thée through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme SEing that the godly O almightie God can not haue an excellenter and more noble desire then vnfeynedly to remember thy marueylous and excéeding great actes by celebrating the same both in worde and most exquisite commendations being now folowers of the fayth of Abraham and children not degenerate from the aūcient holy fathers members of Christ and instructed by the tradicions of his blessed Apostles do call to remembraunce how vnuiolably thou hast kept the sacred couenaunt which thou madest with thy holye Church from the beginning Thy sure protection most strong defence hath béene alwayes merueilous readie to helpe thy elect seruaunts at what time they reposed their whole trust in thy vnspeakable mercie and when thou tookest vpon thée to be their strong helper and mightie deliuerer no man could in any wise hurt them Moreouer when thou didst strike the whole world by any calamitie with thy seuere iustice or didst trouble it with scarcitie of foode and lacke of vittailes al that so much as it was turned at length to thy singuler welfare and famous glorie of the people of Israell We being greatly admonished by these thinges are of verye good comfort who come humbly vnto thy diuine Maiestie and hartily pray thée that thou wouldest be no lesse mindfull of thy holy couenant towards thy blessed church at this daye then thou wert in olde time For thou seest howe many discommodities do on euery side assaile hir and besiege it about we humbly beséech thée O excellent father who alone canst doe this to commaūd all those things either to fade away or else graunt them power to pourge vs of our lewde condicions through Iesus christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme OVr earnest request is O most good and mercifull God that thou wouldst augment the felowship of thy déere children as well in nūber as also in faith all other ornaments of thy excellent grace And like as thou hast giuē Aaron to be a most faythfull pastor of thy children of Israell when they grew to be a very great people so now also prepare godly learned and wise Ministers for thy sacred Church by whose good behauiour the Egypt of our men maye fade away and let the doctrine wherewith we be instructed by them be kindled dayly more and more in vs so that euery one of vs may be inriched most abundantly both with spirituall goods and spirituall fruites Suffer vs not O excellent father to be at any time destitute of the bright light of thy sacred word and guyding of the holy ghost wheras otherwise we shall both miserably stray in the Wildernesse of this miserable lyfe and also perishe excéeding vnfortunately that when as innumerable perils of temptations hang ouer thy faythfull seruaunts let them not want the strength of thy good grace and louing fauour wherby they may be able so long as life indureth to set out thy glorious kingdome vnto many and finallye obteyne at thy louing handes the dwelling place of perpetuall felicitie thorowe Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme SEing that the holy scriptures make not mencion without iust cause of the children of Israels vngratitude and rebellion agaynst God for they were alwayes troublesome to him by reason of their complaints we humbly beséeche thée O heauenly father so to rule gouerne vs with thy vnspeakable mercy and fatherly louing kindnesse that we be not found like vnto them They did lately and very readily forget thy wonderfull workes whereby thou deliueredst them from bondage then they trusted in straunge Gods they were defiled with fleshly pleasures and finally did both dispise the amiable lande which thou promisedst them also polluted themselues with most gréeuous and shamefull offences For the which notable and gréeuous sinnes thou hast oftentymes chastised them with a fatherly discipline but yet such was thy vnspeakable goodnesse thou wert neuer forgetful of thy couenant made with their forefathers Euen so we humbly beséeche thee O good God to chasten and correct thy blessed Churche when it doth now and then slide very sore with thy accustomed mercifulnesse and fauourable louing kindnesse sauing the right of the euerlasting couenaunt which thou hast renued with vs through the death of thy onely beloued Iesus Christ our Lord who lyueth reigneth with thee euermore worlde without ende Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy vnspeakeable goodnesse is such O most mightie God towards the congregation of thy faythfull seruaunts that looke whatsoeuer thou hast done hitherto for setting thy faythfull people at libertie the same also might she now both hope for and also assure hir selfe of if she had abidden in the couenant that she made with thee For euen as the persecutors of the Israelites were sore vexed at length opprest through thy mightie power so in likewise when it shall seeme good vnto thée let all such as be enimies to thy sacred Church and veritie be consumed with the force of thy inuincible spirite We now therefore require this especially at thy mercifull hands that thou wouldst so long as we be straungers from thée in this wretched lyfe and are compassed about on euery side with an infinit nūber of perils lighten the night of our darknesse with the bright fire of thy blessed spirite and vouchsafe to mittigate the heate of our manifold temptations with the most sweete clowde of thy benigne grace
abundance of water to drie and sandie places and in altering and turning the barren ground to a fruitfull soyle And contrariwise mens sinnes are the occasion thereof that by a wonderfull exchaunge thou makest pleasaunt and fertile places to be come barren and altogither fruitlesse in fine to the intent thou mayst be well knowne thou causest mortall creatures to féele thy inuincible force by casting downe excéeding mightie kings and princes and making them to be had in contempt and become a moste shamefull laughing stock and liftest vp the poore and basest in degree vnto highest kingdomes We earnestly require thée therefore not to suffer vs to thinke of those thinges negligently but rather graunt this thing onely that we being moued hereby may commit our selues altogither both to be preserued through thy vnspeakable goodnesse and also guyded by thy sacred lawe so that thou being our chiefe Capitaine and ruler we may swim out of worldly sourges whose mindes being hitherto vtterly voide of good déedes may now bring forth most abuÌ„dant fruit and that wheras we haue bene pinched with an excéeding scarcitie of goodnes we may by thy onely helpe attaine to the excellent riches of the kingdome of heauen through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme WHosoeuer they be O moste good and mercifull God that thou deliuerest from exceeding gréeuous daungers it behoueth them vncessantly to celebrate thy worthie praises and to render condigne thanks to thee for the same Such as are driuen to wander from place to place and walke through théeuishe wayes in solitarie and vnhaunted places being in daunger of wilde beasts and théeues euen these when they earnestly pray vnto thée do dayly feele thy louing mercie and readie helpe Thou art present also with them that are distressed with captiuitie bound with fetters of Iron and layde in moste darke dungions Neither art thou forgetfull of them whom deadly diseases haue almost consumed and made vtterly an end of forsomuch as thou hast once decréed that suche as lamentably require thy assistaunce from the bottome of their heart shall neuer be destitute of thy helping hand We therefore that haue of long time and that gréeuously wandred out of the path of godlinesse and holy life doe nowe come vnto thee for succor who being so wretchedly opprest with the tirannicall bondage of our heynous sinnes do call vppon thée and finally in all our prayers doe earnestly desire that thou wouldest heale the diseases of our wounded soules so that we may alwayes liue as thy faythfull seruaunts and thou thereby to receyue perpetuall praise through Iesus Christ our lord Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cviij Psalme A praier that the godly may â—aue grace to â—ithstand the assaultes of â—he wicked STrengthen and furnish our mindes and heartes in such wise with thy holy spirite O most mightie God that although diuers sundrie mishappes fall vpon them or that they be shaken with the feare and dread of the enimies of true godlinesse and sincere religion yet they may not ceasse to shewe forth thy worthie prayses Let our whole witte minde and perceyueraunce O excellent father he stirred vp in vs for the right vnderstanding of thy goodnesse and acknowledging of the moste stedfast faythfulnesse of thy benigne promises For these two things are so famous in thée as they do not onely by reason of their hugenesse surmount the highe Cloudes of the ayre but also farre excéede the height of the heauens Therefore are we bolde humbly to intreat and heartily beséech thée that our innumerable and most gréeuous sinnes being forgiuen thou wilt set vp thy honor againe and shewe thy famous glorie to the whole worlde by deliuering thy sacred Churche from the Iawbones of Antichrist Call to remembraunce that she is thy beloued heritage and chosen possession which although for our iniquities sake thou séemest sometime to relinquishe and cast of from thy fauourable protection yet art thou not able for thy goodnesse faythfulnesse sake to forget it in déede Wherefore our whole trust consisteth in thée onely as they that know most certainly that mans helpe is of none effect Be thou therefore present with vs and graunt that we maye behaue our selues both boldly and with great constancie in the behalfe of thy glorious name and of thy holy Gospell through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WHilest we call to our remembraunce and thinke vpon the riches O moste good and mercifull God of thy louing promises we are wonderfully stirred vp to celebrate thy name with singuler prayses which then augmenteth a more vehement desire when we finde by experience that thou doest very faythfully performe whatsoeuer thou hast promised to bestowe vpon vs. Thou verily hast giuen vs hitherto many thinges and that truly without our desertes yet there bée manye remayning which we earnestly require may very spéedily be accomplished Thou hast begunne to deliuer vs from the handes of our cruell enimies and let this luckie beginning procéede to a further successe we bée nowe so farre forth exempted from sinne that so long as we truely beleue in thée they shall not be imputed to vs vnto death But yet for all that are we hitherto still oppressed with them let vs therfore by thy high and mightie power shake of their yoke dayly more and more Forsomuch as thou art the first founder of thy sonnes Kingdome who is the true Dauid haue a regard therefore we humbly beséech thée to set forth make famous the light thereof amongest all Nations and that he may purely with great deuocion be honoured and called vppon by vs in especiall whereby thy sacred Church may doe thinges nobly for the aduauncement of thy glorie and not be plucked back by the enimies of vngodlinesse from the right path of perfect religion through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cix Psalme WE acknowledge and confesse that thou alone O most mighty god doest giue vs all thinges which we possesse A prayer of the godly for the enimies of the gospell vnder whose gouernment and religion wee accompt it a marueylous felicitie to leade our life neyther haue we anye other thing so déere and precious vnto vs as to continue in the prayse and commendation of thy glorious name Dissemble not at this time nor kéepe silence against the wicked persons guilefull enimies of thy holye Church who doe not onely rise vp agaynst thée with forged tales and blasphemies but also make war agaynst vs with a most furious hatred and outragious crueltie being vtterly forgetful of all humanitie and godlinesse But thou O good God right well knowest howe peaceably we haue béene hitherto towards them and haue heartily loued those men and earnestly prayed for them both publikly and priuately who nowe recompence vs with extréeme afflictions and gréeuous calamities for our good turnes extended towardes them Wherefore be thou stirred vp agaynst them O heauenly
feruent desire it hath towards thée To the intent therefore our stonie and frozen hearts might be more vehemently styrred vp thou hast chosen out for thy selfe one people which was Israel by whom thou mightest declare with howe great zeale and after what maner of prouidence and moste large benefites thou hast shewed thy selfe beneficiall vnto such as continually applyed themselues to the true worshipping of thee and vnto godlinesse But hast at length poured out al treasures of thy excellent goodnesse in Christ Iesu our Lord and thy most intierly beloued sonne to the ende thou wouldest deliuer vs from eternall and euerlasting death For which cause sake we being prouoked through the wonderfull miracles of so great and manifolde benefites do render hartie thanks vnto thee although verily not such as thou deseruest yet those that we are able and to the vttermoste of our power we doe commend thy sacred Church vnto thée by the selfesame Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxxvij Psalme WHosoeuer they bée O almightye God that make a true accompt of sincere godlinesse and pure religion A prayer â—gaynst suâ— as be eniâ—â—es deridâ— of the gospâ— are excéeding sorowfull if they sée the sacred Church scattered wholesome doctrine derided the prayses of thy diuine name had in contempt such things as apperteyne to a deuout worshipping of thee turned vnto heathnish gewgawes and voluptuous pleasures To the intent therfore these things may in no wise happen as nowe vnto vs which we sée not to be farre of we power forth dayly before thée with great submission these our dolefull complaints that thou wouldest first of thy excéeding great goodnesse and louing mercye blot out all our heynous offences being in a maner infinite and excéeding gréeuous committed not onely through weaknesse and ignoraunce but also done oftentymes both maliciously and of a set purpose Moreouer be fauourable vnto our gréeuous sinnes and turne away from vs in such sort the most fierce wiles and subtile layings awayte of Antichrist as thy sacred Churche bée not depriued of all blessed ioy and spirituall gladnesse suffer not the mouthes of good and wholsome instructors to be closed vp permit not thy due honour to be had in obliuion nor yet let the hymnes and songs wherewith thou art highly celebrated bée vsurped of such as will haue the same in derision We humbly beséech thée O excellent father that what wrath or indignation so euer is due vnto vs by reason of the heinous sinnes we haue wickedly committed thou wouldst for the glorie of thy famous name turne it from thy sanctified Church and poure out the same rather vppon them who with a enimy like rage and most malicious affection ymagine nothing else but quite to marre and vtterly laye waste thy blessed heritage through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy sacred Church would be greatly desirous O most mightie God to extoll thy famous name ioyfully with Psalmes and Hymnes but as yet hir oppression and bondage is so great in darknesse and blinde errors of newe fond supersticions that haue béene brought thereto as it is more agréeable for hir sorowfull estate rather to laye aside the instruments of gladnesse and giue hir selfe day night to weaping wayling mournings lamentable prayers and most feruent supplications wherewith she may craue thy furtherance and readie helpe to the intent it may in the straunge tentes of this wretched world rather be forgetfull of all delectable pleasures then vtterly voyde of true perfect worshipping of thee Our earnest request is therefore that thou wouldst very spéedily deliuer hir from the tirannie of the enimies of Godlinesse who haue in nothing so great a delight as to reioyce in the destruction thereof Turne thy selfe wée hartily require thée vnto them and restrain their mad outrage so that they may hereafter the lesse pollute and defile the Church thy louing spouse eyther with theyr deuilishe errors or lewde behauiours through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxxviij Psalme THy mercie O most mightie God is so notable famous â— praier that â— men of â—â—eat power â—d high auâ—oritie may â—brace the â—ord of god as it ought to be celebrated with séemely prayses euen in the assembly of princes highest powers for séeing that thou hast with all faithfulnesse aboundantly accomplished thy louing promises the reputation of thy glorious name is wonderfully augmented by giuing saluation euery where to such as lameÌ„tably requyre the same Forsomuch as therfore the monuments of thy great mercie be innumerable we earnestly intreat humbly beséech thée not to decline therfro in these our most wretched dayes nor yet permit thy selfe to bée alienated withdrawne from vs. Although we haue not framed our déedes according to thy sacred lawes and diuine will as was our bounden dutie but haue wretchedly sinned agaynst thée deadly offended and spitefully reuolted from thy excellent Maiestie which verily we heartily acknowledge and earnestly confesse and albeit we are vnworthy that thou shouldest be fauourable and mercifull vnto vs yet it greatly apperteyneth vnto thée for to pardon such as craue mercie at thy hands thorow an vnfayned fayth Wey not then in this so cruell a case what we are bound to doe but that which belongeth to thy vnspeakable goodnesse For if thou wilt be present at this time to helpe such as vnfeynedly cal vpon thée there is no man liuing but shall follow thée with a wonderfull admiration The common people the nobilitie yea and kinges also shall striue who maye prayse thée most for thou shalt very manifestly proue to their faces that thou hast a great respect to such things as be excéeding lowlye and of verye small reputation although thy tribunal seate be in heauen for notwithstanding thou seemest to dwel very ry farre of from vs yet thou makest all men vnderstande the wonderfull tokens of thy excellent iustice and vnspeakable goodnesse Establishe vs O good God with hope in in such wise as if we shoulde walke euen through the middest of trouble and great distresse thou wilt not permit our courage being vpholden with thy right hande any thing to fayle but remember the worke of thy handes what maner a people so euer we be of our selues through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THe people common sort of men ought not onely to extoll the honor of thy glorious name and noblenesse of thy famous words with right great praises O almightie God but also such as bee noble and renowmed are bound to do the like bicause thou pourest thy singuler benefits vpon all mortall creatures and neuer faylest of thy louing promises in faythfulnesse and truth but rather doest perpetually giue an attentiue eare to those which call vpon thée with a pure fayth and vncorrupt minde Let so many therefore as be famous and excell in dignitie and power amongest men prayse thée