O moste good and mercifull God who neyther minister iustice nor right vnto their people A prayer for a good Magistrate vnlesse they be ruled and guided with thy blessed spirite Wherefore we earnestly requyre thee to helpe mortall mens causes which be farre out of order both by multiplying and mainteyning of good Princes and also by correcting the lewde and outragious so that poore mens suyts be not neglected that the oppressed may be set at libertie and that godlinesse in especiall maye flourishe and greatly go forward And as thou hast vouchedsafe through thy diuine power to bewtifie our Maiestrates Princes and King with thy heauenly name euen so we hartily require thée also of thy vnspeakeable goodnesse to cause their worke and ministerie to be such and so duly executed as the faythfull so long as they liue in this wretched worlde may honor thée purelye and lead a right vertuous and godly life so that togither with them they maye be brought vnto thée who art king of kings and Lord of Lordes where they may ioyntly be pertakers of eternall good thinges and moste excellent felicitie throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE hartily acknowledge and earnestly confesse O moste mightie God that thy chosen people who haue neglected their obedience towardes thée are very often inforced to be in subiection vnto wicked rulers and vnbeleuing Princes neither is there any cause why we should complaine of iniurie profered vnto vs in so doing For we haue so gréeuously and after such a froward maner sinned against thée as wée haue not only deserued these but also much more heynouser punishments Notwithstanding the assured hope we repose in thy blessed wordes and louing promises wée most heartily and with much feruencie beséeche thée to succor thy sacred Church in these most troublesome times And thou who hast vouchedsafe to bewtifie the superior powers and Magistrates with the name and title of Gods vouchsafe also to ouerlooke their counsels with thy iustice shewing thy selfe as an vpright iudge amongst them least they being left vnto their owne sensualitie and lewdnesse wherwith mans corrupt nature is of it selfe greatly ouercharged do not very wrongfully persecute thy holy Church and yéeld vnto vngodlinesse those thinges which be neither méete nor conuenient If thou O most déere father do according to our earnest prayers intermeddle thy selfe amongst them in ordring the common wealth we doubt not but thou wilt by thy direction and furtheraunce reuenge the poore and fatherlesse and set such at liberty from their most gréeuous and extréeme perils as be exceedingly afflicted and very sore opprest Our earnest request is that thou wouldest not deliuer thy blessed Church vnder their rule dominion which walke in darknesse who hauing no maner of vnderstanding nor perceyueraunce of their duetie go about so much as in them lyeth to ouerthrowe all right iustice and godlinesse Nowe when these men who are so highly promoted by thée as to be called Gods and the Sonnes of the moste highest doe neyther perceyue nor yet vnderstande the same they deserue to be cast away and die like most vile persons The Church O good God is thy chosen heritage wherefore mightily assist it and take thou thy selfe vpon thée hir case to mainteine and defende through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxiij Psalme â— praier that â—od would â—fende hys â—ord in disâ—te of the â—ngodly THe hatred armies deceipts and pernicious deuices of the fierce enimies of our saluation O almightie God do so dayly increase that we are inforced to crie vpon thée continually Whose whole driftes tende to none other purpose then to pull vs from thée and that there might not any person be found which should eyther trust in thée or purely call vpon thy blessed name as he ought to do For our owne fleshe our senses and vngodly men haue togither with the fierce rulers of darknesse conspired against thy sacred Churche and finally all earthly and worldlye affections and habilitie haue lift vp themselues to ouerthrow the same Wherefore our earnest request is that thou wouldest not keepe silence neyther holde thy peace nor yet be in quiet for like as thou hast of olde time ouerthrowne the Egyptians Madianites Cananites and Philistines for the safegard of the Israelites euen so at this day deliuer thou those which haue wholy committed themselues to thy faythfull protection and gouernement whose force puyssaunce and saluation is layde vp in thee onely Bridle thou so the boldnesse of our outragious enimies or rather of thine to the entent all men may perceyue that thou onely art the God whom reiecting all maner of supersticions they ought wholy to worship and purely call vpon through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxiiij Psalme A prayer for â—he increasement of â—ayth LOke what earnest and feruent desire so euer the olde fathers had O most mightie God to come vnto the place wherein thou haddest appointed a Tabernacle to thy selfe for that tyme euen the like are we kindled withall in beholding the repayring of thy sacred Church and to sée therin a very great companie of Godly men lawfully assembled togither for the aduauncement of thy glorie hearing thy holy doctrine and duly receyuing of thy blessed sacraments accordingly Wherefore we humbly besech thée which art our God and King that we may one day or other reioyce to be there for what felicitie soeuer maye bee attayned vnto in this frayle life we doubt not but it will light vpon the sacred companie of the godly Giue eare therefore O excellent father vnto our earnest prayers and graunt that we make none other accompt of thy blessed house then thy will and pleasure is wée should do for a more blessed thing it were for vs to haue one dayes méeting and abode therein then if we abide neuer so great a time of continuaunce in the congregation of the vngodlye or in suche a one as is not lawfully assembled with the aduauntage and ouerplus of all the pleasures of thys transitorie world Seeing that therefore thou art our most splendent light strong defence cause our assemblies on the earth so to redound to thy vnspeakeable glory that our assured hope by comming in the ende vnto thée into the euerlasting tabernacles of the heauens may be augmented and very muche increased through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxv. Psalme SHewe thy selfe gentle and gracious O almightie God towards thy beloued Churche A prayer fâ— the whole congregatâ— of Christ for thy excéedinge great gloryes sake and mercie moste magnificent that we may be miraculously delyuered from the horrible fardell and cruell bondage of our deadlye sinnes who haue hitherto béene bond slaues to the fleshe and wretched prisoners of the diuill and yet hast thou vouchedsafe to release forgiue vs the whole number of our deadly iniquities and couered all our heynous
Iesu it behoueth vs to leade a life amongest our selues not like straungers but as brethren and sisters ought to do neither haue the godly a greater desire or more pleasure in anye thing then to be in perfect vnitie peaceable agreement in the house of God Wherefore it is no small griefe vnto vs that this brotherly affinitie is euery where rent and broken asunder which we ought warely to chéerishe and haue in great estimation But we acknowledge oure selues to haue giuen an apparaunt cause of this gréeuous vexation and sorowfull calamitie for how can it be then that we who are not knit vnto thee with our whole heart and be nothing in such wise obedient to thy sacred commaundements as thou requirest should be well ioyned togither or be in loue with our neighbours We humbly beseech thée therefore O good God to pardon whatsoeuer we haue heretofore lewdly committed agaynst thee béeing aduersaries to thy diuine lawe and sacred commaundementes and to couple vs one to another with an excéeding stedfast charitie into the sacred bodie of thy holye Church so that our louing consent faythfull agreement may spread it selfe abroade most largely as a swéete smell of mutuall loue and through the pleasaunt dew of thy heauenly blessing become euery day more fruitfull then other in good and godly workes leading of thy singuler good will not onely a quiet and peaceable life frée from the present euils in this wretched worlde but finally obteyne such a one as is blessed and euerlasting through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme SEing thou hast of thy louing kindnesse O most good and mercifull God chosen all faythfull people to be thy déere children graunt that we who are brethren by a blessed generation may be fastned togither in mutuall loue long peace and perpetuall charitie so that during this lfie wée maye take perfect pleasure of such kinde of tranquilitie and also become an excéeding delectable odor towardes the perpetuall saluation of all others which be as yet straungers to thée Thy blessed Church may bee O heauenly father through this especiall example greatly wondered at of all men For certainly we know by experience that thou hast vsed to poure out a moste ample blessing vpon so many as lead an agréeable and friendly lyfe in thy healthfull doctrine and pure religion and therefore doe wée nowe requyre this earnestlye at thy mercifull handes béefore all ritches and other earthly commodities through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxxiiij Psalme A prayer for fayth in our dayly peticions IT ought to be a most pleasant and ioyfull thing vnto vs O almighty God to celebrate thy high prayses perpetually and shewe forth thy marueylous workes without ceassing for the performance whereof godlinesse would require that we shoulde not onely doe the same on the day tyme but also in the night season But yet notwithstanding our most heinous sinnes and continual backslidings compell vs rather to brust out into sorowfull teares piteous sobbinges and déepe sighes wherethrough we may say alwayes before thée we verily haue sinned O good God excéeding gréeuously whose offences are more in number then the sande of the sea and Starres of the skie but nowe wée lift vp our handes vnto our holy sanctuary which is Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued Sonne so that whatsoeuer we cannot obteyne through our owne worthinesse and desertes we indeuour to atchieue the same by his onely meanes and gracious fauour We heartily require this at thy mercifull handes O most excellent father that thou wouldest at one tyme or other out of Sion that is to say out of the hid treasure of thy clemencie be fauourable vnto the people which flie to thee for succor by deliuering them from present mishaps whereby thou who diddest make heauen and earth hast vouchedsafe to call vs vnto the knowledge of thy blessed name so that we maye lawfully render abundant thankes and shewe forth thy worthy prayses with a moste free and ioyfull heart through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme SEing thou hast bewtified all those with a notable promise O most mightie god which are knitte togither in the honouring of thy blessed name so that thou wilt not onely be present with them but also bestowest excellent benefites vpon these men whosoeuer they are that excell in sincere fayth and pure godlinesse and haue an exceeding desire to be in the blessed congregations insomuch as there is nothing which they more couet or desire then to appeare diuers tymes before thée in the sacred assemblies But bicause we see our selues greatly defiled with most heynous faultes ouerlading vs in such wise as we dare not celebrate and prayse thée as Christians ought to do our earnest request is therfore that thou wouldst of thy vnspeakable mercie infinite goodnesse and excellent clemencie deliuer vs from the Champions of Antichrist and his ministers who indeuour themselues so much as they can possible that thy faythfull seruaunts might no more assemble and meete togither for to honor thée sincerely and as they are willed to do Reserue those to thy selfe we humblye beseech thée who haue so great a desire to lift vp their handes vnto thée and to direct their prayers vnto thy mercies seate with a most holye intent shewe these men much pleasure from heauen cherishe them greatly and be their strong defence being a thing nothing impossible to thy wonderfull and inuincible power forsomuch as the whole worlde and all thinges conteyned therin were not only made by thy puissant might but also indure and bée preserued through thy omnipotencie by Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy vnspeakeable goodnesse is such O most merciful God as it ought alwaies to be greatly praised and highly magnified Wee will therefore lift vp pure handes in all places touching the publishing of thy glorious name render perpetuall thanks according to our bounden dutie for thy louing kindnesse extended towards vs. But seing that this ought to be done in the most sacred and holy assemblies our earnest desire is for to haue thée present there wyth vs to bestow thy plentifull blessing vpon thy beloued Israell through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxxv. Psalme WHosoeuer they be that are moued by the holy ghost to assemble togither O almightie God for to celebrate thy glorious name A prayer against a 〈◊〉 and false confidence haue a wonderfull heape of benefites set out before them which thou hast most plentifully bestowed vpon vs. For looke what thinges thou hast by thy wonderfull wisdome created in heauen and earth all the same doest thou continuallye dispose according to the pleasure of thy good will causing the clowdes raine windes and other workes of nature to be in such wise obedient to thée as they serue excéeding commodiously for the vtilitie of mankinde But seeing that the
the helpe of thy holye spirite which procéedeth from thée through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxliiij Psalme WE vnfeynedly confesse O moste good and mercifull God that all warlike force and pollicie procéedeth from thée onely â— prayer aâ—aynst wicâ—ed doctrine ydolatrous â—orshipping who bestowest the same at thy will and pleasure vpon such as thou wilt forsomuch as therefore we ascribe all power victorie to thy blessed name wée take thee onelye to bée our strong Castell inuincible Tower vnremoueable rocke and mightie shield For although we right well perceyue that man of his owne nature is a thing of naught in respect of that he should be acknowledged of thée and we to haue sinned so heynously as we are altogither vnworthye that thou shouldst make any accompt at all of vs but hauing neuerthelesse assured confidence in thy vnspeakable mercie we are bolde to direct our hartie praiers vnto thy diuine Maiesty in this our most difficult troublesome time requiring thee to shew forth thy mightie power from heauen for our deliuerance by scattering and dispersing of our cruell enimies Stretch out thy puyssaunt hande we humbly beseeche thée and rid vs from the layings awayte of vngodly persons It is thou which hast sent helpe vnto kinges and princes that put their whole confidence in thée by the deliuering not of Dauid only but also through the often setting at libertie of verie many of the auncient fathers from noysome mishappes and extréeme perils Forsomuch as therefore thou hast alwayes indued thy faythfull seruaunts with innumerable and most excellent benefites as well temporall as spirituall things that is to wit a plentifull issue flocks of shéepe riches and honour insomuch as all people might easily iudge the nation blessed which tooke thée for their God Reiect not now thy sacred Church for séeing that thou knowst the great afflictions wonderfull perils and marueylous distresse shée is in make spéede to helpe hir neyther permit the enimies of thy glorious name to lay the same waste and graunt that she being at length deliuered from these euils may sing new songs vnto thée and extol thy excellent name with perpetual praises through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THere is none other force O most good and mercifull God besides thine wherein thy faythfull people may haue their rock theyr fortresse shield and place of refuge in a readinesse But shoulde thy godlinesse make any accompt of vs who be vile dwarfish men For both we and all our doings shall fade away like a shadowe and meere vaine thing vnlesse thou of thy excellent mercy be present and deliuerest vs from the daungers that are without measure layde euery where for vs who then can otherwise escape the subtile crafts and wilie imaginations wherewith the enimies of mankind doth dayly assaile vs Our earnest desire is therefore to haue thée lay to thy helping hand whereby we may diuers times celebrate thy worthye prayses with newe songes and ditties Neyther doe we onely require this that those thinges may thriue with vs which apperteine to this life and a worldly prosperitie for although these coÌ„monlye bee of great waight yet doe we accompt it a greater blessednesse if thou verily wilt so shew thy selfe to be our god as in dede thou art through Iesus christ thy son who liueth and reigneth with thee euermore worlde without ende Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxlv. Psalme THy worthynesse is so noble and excellent O almightie God A prayer for the glorifyinâ— of gods workes in vs with the prâ—seruation of the Church and comfort of the faithfâ— as our searching bee it neuer so exactlye done can in no wise comprehende the same Yet we certainly vnderstand this by fayth that thou art excéeding mercifull and so aboundest therewith as it is verye long before thy heauie wrath be kindled For such is thy vnspeakable goodnesse that nothing can be founde eyther among the creatures which thou hast made or in the gouernment of the worlde but that thy singuler clemencie appeereth in the same Forsomuch as therfore we know assuredly that the sacred Churche which is thy glorious kingdome shal indure for euer we earnestly require thée to vpholde the same continually when as it is like to fall to rayse it vp when it seemeth most pressed downe by féeding all thy people in time conuenient with thy blessed worde and satisfying all suche with thy liberall grace as repose theyr whole trust in thée neyther suffer these mens prayers to be in vaine which with a pure and vnfeyned heart call vpon thy most holy name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxlvj. Psalme A prayer for â—he acknowâ—edging of our â—utie in prayâ—ng God and â—rusting in â—im of our â—eaknesse â—f Gods proâ—ection ouer â—ll sortes of â—eople THou right well deseruest O most good and mercifull God that wée should continually extoll thy worthie prayses from the bottome of our heart and with a right pure minde neither can we practise any thing in this lyfe more noble or of greater profite In thée only ought we to repose our whole trust and not in men bée they neuer so famous and puissant for their bodie is easily dissolued their soule is soone breathed out and their ymaginations are of none effect But thou who hast created the whole worlde doest confirme thy faythfull promises with euerlasting truth in reuenging the oppressed satisfying the hungrie deliuering the fettered out of prison giuing sight to the blinde recomforting the heauie hearted fauouring the righteous defending the straungers fatherlesse children and widdowes and also in disappoynting the lewde wyles slie craftes and subtile disceyts of vngodly persons Seing that all these thinges bée thy wonderous works and are séene of vs continually they do marueylously establish our wauering fayth And therefore being styrred vp by them we do earnestly beseech thee both to gouerne and also preserue the Church which is thy blessed kingdome among the waues of this wretched worlde throughe Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxlvij Psalme WE are bounde to render excéeding great praise O most mightie god to thy glorious Maiestie A praier thâ— the worde 〈◊〉 God may bâ— of great forâ— in vs. who doe euidently perceyue that thou healest those which are broken in heart exaltest them that be méeke bringest the vngodly euen vnto hell There is no force able to incounter with thy puissaunce which rulest the starres and callest them forth by name for the accomplishing of thy blessed will as though they were thy sheepe or seruaunts Thou therfore that bringest forth clowdes raine and hay which doest féede cattell and yong Rauens and preseruest such as feare thée without the helpe eyther of footmen or horsemen looke vpon thy blessed Church we humbly beséeche thée fortifie it agaynst hir enimies and indue hir children wyth continuall peace Suffer it not to pine away
able to redresse our good cause We doe not denie but that our deserts are marueylous wicked insomuch as we should verye iustly be altogither destroyed with these present calamyties who haue nothing faythfully performed that which in name and outwarde shewe hath béene of vs professed But it is thy nature O good God forsomuche as thou art mercy and very goodnesse it selfe not to cast off those which flie vnto thée for succour Sende downe thy ayding hande from heaueÌ„ we humble besech thee wherby thou mayst deliuer thy faythfull people from the reproches of vngodly and wicked persons The Antichristians rore against thy blessed Church like Lyons and theyr hote burning furie agaynst thy holy worde increaseth dayly more and more Shewe forth thy selfe therefore O excellent father and cause thy glorie wherewith thou art renowmed aboue all other to be manifestly knowen Rende the nettes fill vppe the ditches and make the deceiptes of none effect which they practise agaynst the sacred Gospell whereby our minde may daylye more and more be strengthned heartily to confesse couragiously to extoll and aboue all thinges to exalt thy wonderfull prayses vncessauntlye through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lviij Psalme â—â—ayer aâ—st our â—rall deâ—ngs froÌ„ 〈◊〉 crafty â—ges aâ—e of the â—dly THe princes of this wretched world O moste mightie God doe gréeuously assault thy blessed Church bicause sounde and vpright iudgement is not giuen vppon diuine and heauenly things by such as continually imagine mischiefe in their mindes and onelye practise violence against thy elect and chosen seruaunts But howe should they doe otherwise that euen from their mothers wombe are borne wicked into this worlde and haue a most noysome venime like vnto poyson of Serâ—ents naturally graffed in them which câ—uld neuer by any exhortations or friendly â—arnings at gods hand be taken out of theâ— for they put those thinges after none oâ—her sort from them then doe the deafe Adders that shunne the charmes of the Charmers Our heynous sinnes therefore haue verye well deserued that the outragious enimies of thy fayth doctrine should afflict vs which nowe we both hartily confesse and also for thy infinite mercies sake earnestly require thée to pardon and forgiue Furthermore we feruently desire this at thy mercifull handes that thou wouldest breake in péeces and gnashe the Lions téeth to the intent they may shed away as water and be like broken shaftes neyther let those men hurt thy faythfull seruauntes any more but cause them to wither awaye as a Snaile in hir shell and be weake as the vntimely fruite of a woman And finally let their outrage fade away euen so easily as a flame made of thornes is quenched But chéere thou vp O good God thy faithfull seruaunts who séeing the great reuengementes which thou thy selfe takest vppon the sworne aduersaries of thy blessed religion may right well perceyue that thou hast a reward laid vp in store for thy faythfull beléeuers and let their well doing be established when as they shall assuredly know and perfectly vnderstand that thou executest streight iudgement vpon the earth through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme ANtichrist with all his adherentes doe imagin none other thing in their mind agaynst thy sacred Church O most good and merciful God then mischiefe and most wicked deuices but whereas they make a goodly shewe to the intent they woulde be accompted godly and religious yet in very deede they imagine nothing but lyes going astray from thée euen from their birth hauing alwayes hitherto marueylous great delight in erronious thinges Nowe at length are they desirous to spewe out and cast forth their venome which they like the Adder haue kept in a readinesse neyther could they so be charmed with the sayings of the holy Scriptures as to ceasse from their owne lewde desires Surely O heauenly father we are not they that deserue not to be destroyed by them for oure euill déedes and lewde behauiour for somuch as through thy excellent mercy we haue wel knowen the waye of truth and life albeit we haue coÌ„tinually started aside therefro giuen our selues to vaine ymaginations wicked desires But deale thou with vs according to the glorie honor of thy name and vouchsafe to yéelde vnto vs not that which we haue deserued but that which by thy promises behight vs. Ouerthrowe grinde to powder and vtterly make voyde the subtile deuices outragious force and deuilishe power of the enimies of thy glorious name and sincere doctrine so that the godly may perfectly reioyce when as they sée thée take their cause in hande and shall perceyue that their is some fruite of righteousnesse while thou dealest by vpright iudgement through Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe behauiours of the wicked O most mighty God are so corrupt and naughtie that verye little wholsomnesse or none at all can seeme to be in their decrées they practise deceyts they offer wrong and now from their childhood haue both fallen from thée also liue in subiection to their owne caÌ„kred maliciousnes in fiercenes in hardnesse of heart in furious moode in outrage of minde in vnbrideled crueltie they may be likned vnto stinging Serpents roring Lyons such kinde of rauenous beastes therefore we earnestly require thée not to suffer vs for to fall as our heynous sinnes haue iustly deserued into such an extréeme madnesse that forsaking thee who art the Well Fountaine of all good things we may put our trust coÌ„fidence in them neither permitting vs to followe their lewde decrées fond fantasies which were so perillous a thing as the other Cause vs we humbly require thée to dissent wholy from them in the meane time let their power in doing any hurt be vtterly abated so that as men altogither vnarmed althoughe their desire to do mischiefe be not aswaged yet both habilitie and knowledge to fulfill their wicked desire and extréeme egernesse be quite taken from them Confound thou in the turning of a hande their lewde deuices cause the Congregation of the faithfull greatly to triumph when as they may right well perceyue that thou both renderest the fruit of righteousnesse to the righteous and also takest punishement of the vngodly according to their wretched and lewde desertes through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lix Psalme OVr earnest request is O moste mightie God that thou onelye wouldest be our spéedie deliuerer A prayer agaynst the Pharisies and false prâ—phets when as the extreeme enimies of thy sacred doctrine and pure religion doe gréeuously oppresse vs nowe it apperteyneth vnto thee for to defend vs froÌ„ naughty persons who gape much for our destruction and haue augmented theyr force and power with great and huge conspiracies to wipe out thy holye ones from off the earth They do persecute vs nothing at all for our heynous faultes and
atteyned vnto without thy good spirite vouchsafe thou therefore thy owne selfe that we may very perfectly vnderstande thy sacred law and iudge thereof aright through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Ain Pe. THy blessed wordes O almightie God are in all places so worthie of admiration that they can not but bée regarded of the godly therefore we earnestly require thée that thou who art mercifull and plentious in goodnesse wouldest looke vpon vs altogither well appeased and so frame our thoughts and déedes that we giue no roome at all to vngodlinesse then the which nothing is more vaine for seeing we be men and therefore hedged in with a fleshly burthen suffer not the waight thereof to ouerwhelme vs but rather breath the spirite of repentance into our nostrelles whereby we may shed forth most flowing riuers of teares for the faultes we haue euery where committed For bicause thou art our excéeding right vp Iudge who neyther clokest our sinnes nor yet permittest them to go vnpunished and seing that thy iudgements and lawes are stuft with so great vprightnesse as nothing is conteyned in them that any creature can by iust reason reproue or finde fault with for siluer and golde tryed in the fire matcheth not the purenesse of them Therefore we earnestly desire thee that thou wouldest not onely cause vs to acknowledge them but also obey the same so much as our féeble weake nature is able to doe through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Pe Zade OVr minde O most good and mercifull God is verye much darckned euen of natiue infection with a thicke mistinesse so that it is not able to vnderstand thy holye commaundements perfectly and we are of nature excéedingly bent vnto affections which as they be displeasant to thée so they marueylously like vs and we cannot abide the scorninges of the vngodly wherewith they vaunt themselues ouer vs when wée do wholye applie our mindes to serue thy excellent Maiestie We earnestly require thee therefore that thou wouldst lighten our darkned mindes asswage our lewde affections and strengthen vs in such wise that what reproch so euer shall hang ouer our heades for thy glorious Gospels sake we may ouercome it with a stout courage And cause vs to resist those which ieast at vs with a stedfast hope and assured confidence we haue to thy louing promises so that the naughtinesse of lewde lustes may be broken in péeces with the puyssant force of thy blessed truth Let not any worldly power moste deere father be an impediment to vs but that we may stedfastly defend thy holy precepts in the presence of all men be they neuer so glorious and wonderfull in their doings which I beseech thee to make so pleasant and delectable vnto vs as we may compt nothing in this life to be preferred before thē neither any matter to be an hinderaunce but the we may performe the same with an excéeding cheereful mind through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Cuph Res. WE require thee O most mighty god euen from the bottome of our heart and with an vnfayned fayth that we may he diligent obseruers of thy sacred law and holy commaundementes for we are wonderfully prouoked to defile thy blessed precepts through the impulsion of fleshly motions fiercenesse of our natiue corruption and vices graffed in vs but seing that we haue bound our selues with such a number of most gréeuous and detestable sinnes it is no maruaile if thou who vsest iustice and seueritie towards thy elect seruauntes doest suffer vs to be thus tormēted and put in feare of Antichrist and his rascals But now our earnest request is that thou wouldest for thy great goodnesse and infinit mercies sake pardō whatsoeuer we haue gréeuouslye committed against thee and looke vppon the state of the Church being in a maner rent and torne with a marueylous louing eye right fauourable countenaunce deliuering hir according to thy accustomed maner from imminent perils when as she could not be preserued but by thy onely guidaunce and gouernment It is méete O good God that saluation shoulde be farre from the vngodly who do vtterly dispise thy sacred worde holy lawe and blessed commaundements but it happeneth otherwise to them that trust in thée for they haue louing promises of their saluation of all the which truth is the most excellent and notablest To the intent therefore it may remaine without spot and vnuiolated defend vs with thy owne handes when as we bée in great distresse and much perill for the profession of thy glorious name through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen Cuph Res. FOrsomuch as through fleshlye affection O moste good and mercifull God wée are perswaded to receyue any thing rather then thy diuine law therfore haue we dayly recourse vnto thee in our feruent praiers ▪ that thou wouldest guide vs with thy holy spirite for the obseruing therof And to the intent our lamentable cryes may not be in vaine soften thou our harts and bow thou our mindes in such wise that they may care for nothing so much as to obey thée in all things whatsoeuer they doe We meditate vpon this one only matter at midnight and in the dawning of the day that whereas there wanteth no store of thinges to drawe vs an other way we may therefore be fortified with thy mighty protection agaynst the same And as thy blessed precepts be certaine and sure so cause vs to sticke fast vnto them for whosoeuer of a frowardnesse swarue therefro do stray farre from saluation by meanes wherof if this shall happen vnto vs through our infirmitie lay to thy helping hande without any delaye by raysing vp vs that are fallen and although our case be very naught yet helpe vs wyth the warrant of thy blessed worde For séeing it is not vnbeknowne to thée O excellent father how many go about to destroy vs therefore make thou speedie hast to bée our readie helper and deliuerer by confirming those most stedfastly which inuocate and cal vpon thée with most stedfast beliefe in thy faythfull promises through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Schin Tau THe Deuill verily Antichrist and puyssaunt Princes of this wretched worlde do persecute thy blessed Church O moste mightie God without any offence giuen who séeme in suche wise to vaunt themselues and waxe furious agaynst godlinesse as the faythfull bée not without iust cause greatly afrayde whome nothing but thy worde is able to make mirry and restore to gladnesse againe therefore stirre vs vp in such sort with thy blessed spirite that wée may be alwayes wonderfull desirous therof For we certainly know that peace will insue augment continue in them which loue thy sacred law so that nothing verily shall be able at any time to doe them hurt but if we be as nowe voyde of perfect peace and quietnesse of minde the occasion without doubt must rise hereof bicause we haue neglected thy holy worde and slenderly folowed thy diuine lawe Pardon vs therefore pardon we humbly beséech thée what wicked and lewde
may at length bée so knowen and manifested as we may alwayes shew foorth thy worthy prayses and passing wonderous workes through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxij. Psalme A prayer for Gods fauour in distresse THou couldest indure and suffer that our Lorde Iesus Christ thy Sonne O most mightie God should so be tormēted on the crosse for the sinnes of men that he did appeare to be vtterly forsaken of thée and left voide of all helpe Thou which wert woont to ayde and succour thy Saintes at what tyme they called vpon thee séemedst to contemne our Sauiours praiers as though he had béene a worme and no man the verye abiect of all mankinde and the outcast of the people and at length sufferedst him to die a very shamefull death by the hands of the furious raging Iewes who came and fell vpon him as they had béene mad dogs fierce bulles and roaring Lions Whom notwithstanding thou diddest rayse afterwarde from death in suche glorious wise that for the same cause his faythfull members doe alwayes laude and celebrate thy excellent name therefore we heartily pray and humbly beseche thée for that thy most abundant mercye wherewith thou wert moued in such wise to permit so many euils to happen vnto thy onely beloued son for our sakes not to suffer the cause of thy most afflictted Church to come into ruine and decay We acknowledge our sinnes to be passing horrible for the which not onely a temperall but also an immortall death is due yet looke thou not vpon vs O mightie God in respect of that we are our selues but because we be members of thy déere and onely begotten sonne effectually preseruing and mightily defending our cause in the Gospell being also thy case and which the aduersaries of the gospell iudge that thou hast left destitute and vtterly forsaken through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme FOrsomuch as thy sonne our lord Iesus Christ O most mightie God suffered in such wise for our redemption sake as he might séeme to be cast out of thy sight and vtterly forsaken of thée who being ouerwhelmed on the Crosse with the waues and sourges of a most bitter death at the last dyed and being made a most innocent sacrifice suffered the paynes and torments which we had iustly deserued Then being raysed from death after thrée dayes appeared to his disciples and manifestly shewed forth and published thy excellent name and glorie none otherwise then he accustomablye vsed a little before to doe while he liued among them Séeing that therefore we both acknowledge and also confesse our selues to haue béene abusers of such an vnspeakable mercie and infinite clemencie we humbly flée vnto thée hartily praying that whom thou hast graunted and ordeyned to be ingraffed and to spring a newe in so excellent a Mediator who is the authour and onely preseruer of our saluation thou wouldest graunt the same to be pricked forwarde and stirred vp somuch as in vs lyeth to séeke for all true godlynesse so that not onely the whole number of vs which be now liuing but all mortall men also that shall liue hereafter may be drawne to worship and serue thée alone holily and after a most chaste maner through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another prayer out of the same psalme THy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ O most good and mightie God suffered maruelous bitter punishmentes and extreeme painefull torments for the saluatiō of mankinde For when he had layde the sinnes of the worlde vpon himselfe it behoued him to be vexed so fiercely and outragiously as he might suffer the full punishment for them all Finallye being nayled vnto the Crosse he spent his moste swéete life for vs vnto whom he hath by that meanes purchased pardon forgiuenesse of sinnes thy louing friendship and eternall life if we shall faythfully beleue his sacred doctrine and blessed gospell But alas as we be very weake in fayth so are we lightly forgetful of such great and manifolde benefites yea we rather liue as men vnworthye of the redemption that was of so mightie a price vnto our moste innocent lord For which cause we bewail this calamitie in thy presence O heauenly father humbly praying and earnestly beseeching thée not to suffer vs to be vtterly destitute of the fruite of our Lord Iesus Christ his Crosse and death who liueth and reigneth with thée euermore worlde without ende Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxiij. Psalme A praier that God woulde both feede defende vs. AL such as haue thée O most mightie God for their shepherd do leade their life excéeding happily as those who haue alwayes foode abundantly ynough of thy heauenly doctrine and most fruitfull and plenteous watering of the holy Ghost whereby they may be renued and comforted so often as they shall be oppressed with the mishaps of this wretched world or wearied with the afflictions of the persecution thereof Although therefore we acknowledge and confesse our selues vnworthie of thy gouernaunce and shepherdlike care ouer vs who haue verie often dispised thée and thy sacred word and by reason of oure most greauous and innumerable transgressions deserue to bée thrust out of thy blessed shéepefoldes notwithstanding we hauing confidence in thy great mercie and goodnesse which is vnto thée proper and naturall humbly beseeche thy goodnesse that thou wouldest vouchsafe to gather vs home as lost sheepe vnto thy selfe and suffer vs not to wander and stray without thée through the wide desertes and outgrounds of this deceyuable world Thou seest vs nowe to be at deathes doore therefore be so present with vs as we may put away and cast off all feare who nowe stande in néede of thée to strengthen and comfort vs with the staffe and shéepehooke of thy authoritie Thou canst refreshe vs if it please thée with a most exquisite and well furnished banquet of thy sacred doctrine and blessed sacraments and make vs to drinke plentifully of the cup of thy holy spirite and grace the enimies and aduersaryes of thy glorious name beholding the same O let that thy mercy and clemencie alwayes so imbrace vs we humbly beséech thée which thou hast accustomed to bestow vpon thy faythfull seruauntes as in the sacred Church which is thy mansiō house we maye continue stedfastly in fayth and thy most glorious Gospell throughe the merits and loue of our Lord Iesus Christ who liueth and reigneth with thée world◠without ende Amen Another prayer out of the same Psalme THou vsest O most mighty God to preserue those thy children whom thou hast louingly adopted with no lesse care and diligence then if they were shéepe the same alwayes ledde of thée being their most louing shepheard toward their owne health and perfect commoditie who so long as they haue thée for their maister and gouernor they shall be destitute neyther of the meate nor drinke of thy moste wholsome doctrine Wherby it is manifest that if we pine
that great calamitie whereby thy honour is much defiled neyther purely and chastly set forth as it ought to be through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxvj. Psalme A praier tha◠we reuolt no◠from Christ IF wée had led our lyfe innocently O most mightie God we should not be so striken with feare and terror in these daies as who should know for a certaintie that they cannot wauer nor fall in decaye which surely haue sticked and cleaued to thée yea rather wée should wholy submitte our selues wyth a willing minde to be searched and tried out of thee But forsomuche as we had little and verye small confidence in thy diuine Maiestie we trusted in vaine persons and fleshly helpe neyther haue we forsaken the companie and felowship of verye hurtfull and wicked doers but haue both with our filthy handes and lewde conditions defiled thy most holy Gospell therefore are we at this present in great perill least our lyfe and soule perish after the maner of the mischieuous and bloud thirstie Wherfore we heartily pray thée to bée as nowe mercifull vnto vs and forsomuche as we call vpon thy blessed name that thou wouldest vouchsafe to pardon and remitte whatsoeuer we haue hitherto so wickedlye committed against thee and let the vprightnesse of our cause obteyne that thing at thy handes which we doe not deserue for in this case not onely our saluation is impeached but also thy sincere doctrine and pure religion Suffer not thy sacred church therfore to be in subiection and as an vnderling to the fraudes and decepts of Antichrist Deliuer it from the destruction which the Deuill and his members doe prepare and worke for hir that we may hereafter leade an holy and innocent life and highly extoll thy noble actes and wonderfull workes in the sacred and blessed congregations throughe Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another prayer out of the same Psalme WE are verye desirous O almightie God to lead an innocent and blamelesse life before thée and not to turne from the right waye when thou shalt trie vs with sundrie and manifolde temptations we haue not as yet atteyned thereto bycause we haue reposed small fayth and little hope to speake of in thée Wherefore our humble request is that thou wouldest haue mercye vpon vs and pardon whatsoeuer we haue committed and done amisse for if thou be fauourable and gentle vnto vs we will neuer be vnmindefull of thy louing mercie euerlasting truth Graunt O most benigne father that amongst innocents we may liue innocently and vtterly detest with an extréeme kinde of hatred all maner of decepts and cursed lying that we maye addict our selues wyth all our heartes to laude magnifie and celebrate thy glorious name neither suffer vs to knitte vppe and finishe our last dayes with malefactours and wicked persons but rather let a blessed enteraunce to the house of eternall felicitie whether we haue dayly a feruent desire to come be set open and made as a frée passage vnto vs through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxvij. Psalme A prayer for comfort in fayth agaynst our enimies FOrsomuch as O heauenly Father we make our accompt of thee onely to be the whole stay and principall defence of our saluation light strength and stedfastnesse it shoulde behoue vs to continue and abide wish a good courage and assured constancie in the studie of godlinesse whatsoeuer the worlde may séeme to attempt agaynst vs what aduersitie soeuer may by the instigation of the deuill hang ouer vs and finally what calamitie so euer men do moue and stirre vp agaynst vs all that we ought boldly to dispise thou being our strong defence and hiding vs in thy blessed Tabernacle But bicause our fayth is verye weake and our confidence in thée doth oftentymes both wauer and stagger hereof it commeth that we are so muche fearefull and timerous Therefore strengthen thou vs O highe and mightie God with thy excellent grace and bounteous spirit that we may liue orderly godly and after an honest sort in the holy congregation which is thy blessed Church in déede Hide not thou thy louing countenaunce still awaye from vs we humbly beséeche thée for that is our sole and onely desire Graunt that we may constantly perseuer and be made strong to abide the comming of thy ready helpe with stedfast and vnappalled courage through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the xxviij Psalme IF thou O most mightie God shouldst dissemble A prayer for comfort in necessitie against doubl◠tonged persons and haue little regard to helpe and comfort vs in these oure gréeuous afflictions which happen vnto vs not onely true godlinesse shoulde come to ruyne and decaye but we also might incontinent bée easily compared to those which are put downe and laide at the pittes doore readie to bee burned giue eare therefore vnto our humble prayers and peticions whome thou séest to haue assured confidence in none other then in thy onely sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour For as touching our selues we haue behaued vs so euill and liued so lewdly and vngodly that when we consider and looke vpon our selues we sée nothing due vnto vs but death and endlesse damnation Therfore of thy singuler mercie and goodnesse destroy vs not according to our deserts amongest the vngodly deceptfull and wicked persons but rewarde all thy aduersaries and namely the enimies of thy blessed Church according to their iust desertes so that whatsoeuer the vnfaithful do either inuent imagin against vs may fall vpon their owne head But whensoeuer they begin little to regard thy holy words and wonderous workes bring to nought their crooked and cruell deuises wherby thou thy selfe mayst be exalted and lifted vp with highe prayses bicause thou hast heard the voyces and piteous complaints of thy most humble and lowly seruauntes Be thou O good God our assured strength and shield of defence preserue thy faythfull people in these great daungers and suche as thou hast chosen to bée thy gracious heyres augment and heape vpon them thy sauing health and most noble benefites giue those men sufficient foode so long as they here liue and finally bring them vnto eternall ioy and blessed felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE heartily require thée O heauenly father to be fauourable and mercifull vnto vs that seeing we poure out our humble prayers and earnest petitions vnto thée thou wouldest according to thy excellent goodnesse paciently heare vs. If thou O Lord shouldst accept vs according to the rate and goodnesse of oure desertes we should euery where and in all places suffer an infinite number of greauous miseries and sorowfull calamities And bycause the outragious aduersaries and cruell enimies both of our saluation and also of thy famous honor go about nothing else then to pull thy faythfull seruaunts awaye from true Godlynesse and that stedfast desire they haue to leade a
vertuous life bée thou therefore our assured strength and strong shield of defence agaynst them If we be thy blessed people and chosen heritage as thou hast promised as we faithfully beleue then preserue féede and be fauourable vnto vs and bring vs forth to the chiefe and highest blesse which we haue alwayes an especiall eye and principall regard vnto through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxix. Psalme A praier that we may be obedient to the word of god SO many of vs O heauenly father as are promoted throughe thy vnspeakeable mercy that we both be and also are named the children of God haue no light occasion or small regarde to celebrate thy diuine maiestie by the effect of those things which in the worke of nature we see to procéede frō thée which are so passing excellent and maruelous that they shewe forth themselues to those that behold them as most certaine and manifest tokens of thy vnspeakable glorie and dignitie Thou bringest forth so mightily when thy good pleasure is showers clowdes lightnings earthquakes and ouerflowings of waters that euen the hilles and trées although they be very high and all other liuing things doe both greatly and horribly quake We only O good God are blinde deafe and dull to conceyue these thy moste wonderous workes Wherefore for the loue thou bearest vnto vs hauing compassion vpon so great foolishnesse and vnskilfulnesse which procéedeth of nothing else then of sinne graunt that we being at length exempted from them maye both acknowledge thy excellencie in thy notable workes and sing also perpetuall prayses to thée for thy manifolde benefites extended towarde vs through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxx. Psalme WE ought O most mercifull god to celebrate and extoll thée with wonderfull and vnspeakeable prayses A praier tha◠all our afflictions maye well depart from vs by Gods especiall grace bicause thou art so prone and readie to preserue those that with an vnfeyned heart call diligently vpon thy blessed name We doe plainely acknowledge and openly confesse our sinnes to be innumerable and most heynous for the which right worthy are we to be adiudged of eternal destruction and perpetual death But our earnest request is the thou wouldst shewe the like fauourable mercy towards vs as thou wert accustomed to doe vnto thy elect and chosen seruauntes although thou art woont to chastice them with a short kinde of wrath and such a one as indureth but the turning of a hande which forthwith thou alterest into an excéeding great good will and such a one as lasteth continually Preserue vs therefore from the present euils and iminent perils which hang ouer our heades that we beyng saued and deliuered out of all daunger may confesse thée and be both sure and experienced witnesses touching the truth of thy faythfull promises and also euery where and in all places shewe forth and publishe that thou onely and none other ought to be trusted in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THy blessed Churche O almightie GOD prayeth thee to relieue hir beeyng sore tossed and oppressed with these stormye tempestes neyther suffer thou the fierce enimyes of thy glorious name to reioyce and triumphe at hir destruction Thou art accustomed O good God both to heare and also to helpe without delay such as earnestly call vpon thée and it is in thy mightie hand power to bring backe againe from the graue and to quicken those which were nowe in a maner fallen into the pitte Wherefore to the intent thou mayest stirre vp an earnest desire feruent affection in our mindes to thy worthy prayse shewe thy selfe to haue bene angry with vs yet let it be but for a moment neyther shall that inestimable loue of thine towardes vs whereby wée liue and shall liue in thée be any thing the more in that respect deminished Bring spéedily to passe we humbly beseeche thée that our sorrowfull teares déepe sighes and piteous grones may shortly be chaunged into godly mirth and ioyful gladnesse Marke thou in no wise our desertes but what beséemeth thée best We truely are worthie of deadly hatred and extréeme punishmentes by reason of our manifolde sinnes who so long as all thinges happened luckely and as we woulde haue it vainely imagined that we could beare out all things of our owne strength power But nowe when thou hast a little turned thy louing countenaunce from vs and present calamities haue appeared we are so astonished and stricken with feare that we can scarcely abide or stande vpright Howbeit haue thou an especiall regard O good God what thy mercifull promises require namely that thou wilte not suffer those to perishe and come to ruine which crie heartily vnto thée For our aduersaries would doe nothing lesse then set forth thy worthie prayses At length therefore make an ende of our sorowfull mourning that the spirite of gladnesse beyng restored to vs againe we maye both nowe and in an other world also render euerlasting prayse and thanks vnto thée through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xxxj. Psalme SEing that thou O most mighty God art our assured rocke and strong defence A prayer in distresse and triall of faith it is nowe néedefull for thy names sake that thou shouldest saue and deliuer those which repose their whole trust in thée so that we may be nothing ashamed of the fayth that we haue firmely affixed in thée Thou séest howe they of whome thy sacred doctrine and holy Gospell is had in contempt haue priuily layde snares and nettes to trap vs. We therfore which sée that we can be preserued by none other meane do now commit our selues to be defended by thy onely handes and mightie power For we haue no affiaunce in curious and wicked artes but repose our selues O good God vpon thy goodnesse only and require thée to haue an especiall care and regarde to the afflictions we nowe are in neyther suffer thou vs to be shut vp into the handes of wicked persons We knowe for a certaintie that our sinnes wherewith we are so sore burthened shall make exceedingly agaynst vs in thy iust iudgement that of right we can not escape But beséeche thée of thy infinite goodnesse to haue mercy vpon vs neyther suffer thy blessed Church to be a by word and ieasting stock both to the neighbors and enimies thereof Shew forth thy chearefull countenaunce vpon hir let the wicked be put to vtter shame we humbly pray thee who mayest stop the mouthes of lyars when they most arrogantly imagine very horrible accusations agaynst hir And although as to the iudgement of the flesh we thinke our selues to be thrust downe hedlong and cast vtterly from the sight of thine eyes yet notwithstanding we stil hope in spirite that thou wilt giue attentiue eare vnto our hartie prayers Graunt therefore that the vertuous men which earnestly loue thée may
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
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
forgiue the heynous offences and excéeding wicked deedes wherewith we haue greatly offended thée so that thou doest not condemne vs for euer but cause vs to reape this singuler commoditie of these present mischiefes that considering and well waying the force and efficacie of thy heauie wrath and our brittle and most short lyfe we may with a greater earnestnesse stande more in feare of thee Vse thy olde accustomed maner O excellent father in shewing thy selfe as now well pleased with thy afflicted and persecuted children then shall we perfectly reioice and be right glad when thy working appéereth and is made manifest vnto vs. Let thy holy Ghost we humbly beséech thée direct vs in such wise as thy famous honour thy excellent glorie and thy cléere brightnesse may shine both in vs and in all our doings through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme IF we doe greatly reioyce in our owne behalfe O most mightie God that the plentiousnesse of thy louing fauour was so exceeding abundant towards vs that such as thou right well louest those didst thou elect before the foundation of the worlde was layde and didst predestinate to be partakers of thy eternall ioyes or euer the mouÌ„taines were made or any part of the world brought in ripe shape our ioy doubtlesse shall be doubled if we thorowly way and consider how that of our owne selues both by infirmity of nature also through the wickednesse of our heynous sinnes we are otherwise nothing For we run hedloÌ„g into perdition slide as water vanish away like a dreame and in the twinckling of an eye we wither like grasse Which discommodities at what tyme we call to remembraunce let them we humbly require thée styrre vp in vs an occasion of learning and wisedome so that we may vnderstand and right well perceyue howe vnworthie wee are in respect of our selues to inioy thy louing fauour and contrariwise how great thy benigne clemencie is towardes vs by the which we hartily beséech thée to turne thy fauourable countenaunce vpon vs in shewing that we are thy workemanship as we be in déede Let thy excellent brightnesse lighten our blind mindes in such sort that oure deedes neuer swarue from the marke of thy excéeding great glorie thorowe Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xcj. Psalme A prayer in temptation and perils for deliuerance preseruation WHosoeuer dependeth wholye vpon God so that he accompteth him to be his sure defence most strong holde he néedeth not to feare any calamitie no layings awayte nor finally to dread any distresse For God no lesse defendeth his seruauntes then the hennes do their chickens at what time they hide them vnder their winges or that the Souldiours defende and couer themselues in battaile with their shielde and target For can pestilence plague calamitie or wasting terrefie those which beleue faythfully in God Nothing truely shall make them afrayde For although Sathan and all the vngodly worke most greeuous and pernicious thinges agaynst him yet hath God committed his welfare to an innumerable company of Aungels through whose conduct and protection he is not onely defended but caried also on their handes and shoulders that he dashe not agaynst hurtfull things There is no power in the most cruell beastes but is troden vpon and beaten downe vnder his féete If we therefore stand nowe in much feare of the wicked it is a plaine token that we haue small confidence and little trust in thée by reason of which dull and weake fayth we are become so plyable to an innumerable sort of sinnes as by our backslydinges from thee we prouoke thy gréeuous wrath continually agaynst vs. Wherefore our hartie request is that according to thy accustomed goodnesse thou wouldest in such wise pardon whatsoeuer we haue verye lewdly coÌ„mitted against thée and make vs hereafter most earnest louers of thy diuine Maiestie that we may in right perfect fayth haue thy glorious name and dignitie in wonderfull admiration and cause our prayer not to be vnfruitfull before thée wherevnto we humbly beséech thy infinit goodnesse that thou wouldest make aunswere according to our demaund And finally be present to the feruent peticions and troublesome matters of thy blessed Church thorowe Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme SVch as repose their whole trust and confidence in thée onely O almightie God haue put themselues vnder the shadowe of thy assuraunce and fortresse of thy moste strong defence where they may be in safety from all the assaultes of the enimies and preserued from euery pernicious thing that may annoy them When as wicked men being vndoubtedly members of the deuill and his Catchpolles shall practise any euil thing agaynst them they shall at no tyme be left destitute of Gods assured helpe and faythfull promise for he wil quickly defend them as a mighty strong shield And when most gréeuous temptations which happen dayly doe rage on euery side whereby an infinite number of mortal men fall downe hedlong into euerlasting damnation what soeuer they are which haue assured themselues in their heartes and prayed vnto the Lord thou art my God and thou art the thing I onelye trust in euill shall in no wise happen vnto these kinde of men but they shall remaine stedfast and without feare when others fal and come to naught He will not onely deliuer them from troublesome mishaps by the handes of blessed Aungels but also there shall be no beastes so venemous outragious that may hurt them any thing at all And therefore wée humbly require thée O excellent father to vouchsafe that we may not be secluded froÌ„ partaking of so great good things but that we maye in such wise loue thee and so repose our whole trust in thy diuine Maiesty as wée maye seeke none other refuge and piller to stande by but thée onely through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xcij. Psalme WE are then slacke in celebrating thy glorious name O almighty God when as we forget thy woÌ„derfull workes which A prayer agaynst the perswasion such as we haue iustification to prâ—ceede of gooâ— workes so soone as we diligently consider and thinke more attentiuely of they shall by and by cheere vs excéedingly and consequently inforce a great strength and efficacie in vs touching the setting foorth of thy worthie prayses But such truely are very foolishe and dull fighted who eyther do not waye them or else are nothing moued therewith theyr eyes therefore are sore blinded bicause they see the matters of the vngodly to haue good successe and go long vnpunished But these maner of men ought to consider that for this purpose thou wouldest doe thus with the wicked bicause they might be the more sorowfull to sée their flourishing estate sodainly altered yea and that in a tyme vnlooked for who after they haue walked in the shadowe of felicitie maye runne into méere and assured
calamitie and such verily as is euerlasting and hath no end when as the iust men like the Ceder and Palme trée inioy the sincere and euerlasting good things in the blessed habitation of the heauens We humbly beséech thée O excellent father to cherishe and comfort this hope in vs to the intent we maye right well perceyue that thou art both good and iust and also doest publishe vnto all creatures that there is no vnrighteousnesse in thy noble iudgement through Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xciij. Psalme WHen as wée right well consider O moste mightie God that the world was made of thee to abide exceeding firme and vnmouable A prayer 〈◊〉 the establiâ—â—meÌ„t of chriâ—â— kingdome who doest gouerne the same with so great constancie and in such perfect order as wée verily know thy excellencie might and noble power thereby Wherefore wée take heart to vs and perswade our selues most assuredly that thy louing promises shall be of no lesse assuraunce to sticke vnto then the nature of things teacheth vs that thy glorious kingdome is both strong and vnmoueable Although therefore the cruell enimies of our saluation doe vaunt themselues agaynst vs fret excéedingly continually dashe vs togither with the sourges of their yrefulnesse and gréeuous temptations and rise vp against vs like huge waters and tempestuous seas yet our assured hope is that thou wilt defende vs wyth thy inuincible power and excéeding great might Vouchsafe therefore that both this fayth maye alwayes bee printed in oure mindes and also that thy good and notable promises which thou hast made vnto thy blessed Churche maye not onely come to passe but also being bestowed vpon it may long tyme be preserued in the same so that thy moste famous goodnesse and vnspeakeable mercie maye be published more and more throughout the vniuersal world by Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xciiij. Psalme â— prayer aâ—aynst our eâ—â—mies deâ—eyptfull teaâ—hers cruel â—â—raunts THe presumption and statelinesse of sinners O most mightye God is wonderfull for it doth not onely teare in péeces the féeble and grinde to powder the weaklinges but also bringeth them in the end to such madnesse as they iudge their wickednesse and greeuous offences which they haue most lewdly committed to be hid and vnknowne vnto thée Vouchsafe therefore that this kinde of foolishnesse maye bâ—e farre from oure thoughts and graunt that we may be most assuredly perswaded that thou hauing made the eare fourmed the eye and giuen vnto men the power and habilitie of vnderstanding art ignoraunt of nothing which is done by vs in earth but rule and order vs so in the meane season as we may not only escape and flie from the euerlasting and perpetuall destructions which are prepared for the vngodlye but also inioy the moste high quietnesse perpetuall felicitie which thou hast vouchedsafe to bestow vpon thy faythfull seruaunts If thou verily be not present hauing the helpe alwayes prepared and in a readinesse wherewith thou mayest mightily defend vs we shall easily fall into those mischiefes which hang ouer our heades Be thou we humbly beséech thée our Castle fortresse strong shielde of defence least we séeme to haue vainely reposed our whole trust and confidence in thée onely through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xcv. Psalme FOrsomuch as O moste mightie God thou art our saluation and strength A prayer foâ— true fayth it is meete wée shoulde prayse thy glorious name to the vttermost of our powers and to the intent we may the more orderly doe the same we first and formost come vnto thée with hartie coÌ„fession of our heinous sinnes Wheras thou hast of thy infinite goodnesse and not for oure merites sake chosen vs to be thy blessed people shéepe of thy pasture as hauing no néede of our seruice at all forsomuche as thou art the great king aboue all Gods in whose hand be not onely the earth and exceeding high Mountaynes but also the heauens and all creatures we haue gréeuously offended thée diuers and sundrie wayes hardning our sinfull hearts at thy fatherly admonicions who haue very readily fainted in temptation our mind hath fowlye erred and we haue alwayes by reason of our lewde sinnes and moste wicked desertes become bourdenous and merueylous troublesome vnto thee For which cause thou hast at this tyme raysed vp so prowd and cruel enimies against vs by whom we are brought into great perill and daunger neuerthelesse acknowledging howe vnrighteouslye we haue dealt wée knowe for a certaintie that besides thy infinite goodnesse and mercy there remayneth none other defence for vs. Wherfore with these our feruent prayers and earnest supplications we prease into thy sight or euer we perishe requiring thée not to grinde vs vnto powder in thy most gréeuous wrath take away the heynous sinnes we humbly beséech thée wherewith we and our fathers haue greatly tempted thée and prouoked thy heauie displeasure agaynst vs. Call to remembraunce that thou art oure mightie God valiaunt king and louing shepherd Therfore mightily preserue valiantly kéepe and noblye defende vs from those that hate thée no lesse then they do vs suffer them not according to the lust of their crueltie vtterly to destroy the worke of thy blessed handes which thou hast begunne passing well in vs through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THy excellent Maiestie and inuincible power O most good and mercifull god is of such force as euery where it excelleth and beareth dominion moste amplye and without desert but séeing that all thinges as well high as lowe were made by thée there is nothing to be found eyther hidden in the depth of the earth or set vppe in the height of the mountaynes whereof thou wert not the author and first founder for which cause we iustly desire to shewe forth thy worthy prayse To the furtheraunce hereof also maketh this that thou art our onely stay and we as thy blessed flocke and sheepe of thy pasture appertain and belong vnto thée onely Therefore doe we greatly worship humbly reuerence duely honor right earnestly cal vpon thy most fauorable Godbeade requiring this especiallye that thou suffer not our heart which of nature is disposed vnto euill to be hardned at thy friendly admonitions Make the same soft we hartily pray thée with the inspiration of thy good grace and holye spirite neyther suffer vs to striue and struggle against thy blessed commaundementes like vnto the stifnecked Iewes who woulde so often tymes put thée to the tryall of thy mightye power but séeing it was not their hap to inioy the promised land graunt for thy infinite mercies sake that we may at length be permitted to enter into the hauen of eternall felicitie after our long and daylye trauaile through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xcvj. Psalme WE are admonished for diuers and sundrie causes O most mightye
God greatly to magnifie thee A prayer of thankes giuing for Christs benefites bestowed vppon vs. and highlye to sanctifie thy holy name But able we are not thus to doe vnlesse the heynous sinnes wherewith we are miserably oppressed be first put away and driuen farre from vs. We haue receyued at thy mercifull handes through the preaching of thy blessed Gospell the most noble and excellent gift of saluation but we haue hitherto led our life so coldly therin and wrought so contrary to our vocation in neglecting and dispising thy sacred commaundements that néedfull it was in the ende for the calamities which we now suffer to incounter with oute lewdnesse and that thou shouldest extende thy furious wrath vpon vs by these moste gréeuous perilles being moued and prouoked thereto through oure wicked desertes and naughtie behauiour Notwithstanding O good God haue no regard at all to our merites but rather sée to this that thy famous glorie may be greatly published amongest the heathen and thy wonderfull worckes made manifest vnto all people Both thy aduersaries and ours also repose their whole affiaunce in worldly strength and cursed Idolatrie who would inforce vs to yéeld such honor vnto Antichrist as they do wheras we contrarywise acknowledge thée to be a great and terrible Lorde aboue all Goddes Wherefore we earnestly call vpon thy excellent Maiestie and in these daungerous daies flie vnto thy mercy seat requyring pardon for our heynous sinnes and that thou wouldest shewe howe vaine our enimies goodes be Iudge O good god the aduersaryes of thy true worshippe and enimies of thy sacred Gospell so that thou as right méete it is mayst reigne beare dominion ouer the heathen Stretche out thy inuincible power thy puyssaunt glory and thy renowmed magnificence O good God for our speedy deliueraunce who being deliuered from so many and great inconueniences maye render vnto thée due oblations of heartie prayses Cause thy glorious name to be well spoken off in euery place and let all men honor and reuerence thy diuine Maiestie with moste pure and perfect deuotion through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy benefites O almightie God are not only bestowed vpon vs coÌ„tinually but also after a new and vnaccustomed maner do spring vp freshe from time to tyme wherefore vnlesse we will be marueylous vngratefull they deserue that we should euermore magnifie the same with newe prayses and pleasaunt songes Such is thy magnificencie and vnspeakeable power whose bewtie and Maiesty is so great that thou doest surmount beyonde all measure what Godhed or Deitie soeuer meÌ„ could at any time deuice to themselues GrauÌ„t therfore that whensoeuer we go about duely to honor reuerently to worship thée we may chéerfully offer vp our selues al that euer we haue to thy incoÌ„prehensible glorye so that we may preache thy glorious kingdome to all nations not onely with wordes but in verteous lyfe and holy conuersation to the intent euery man maye right well knowe and perceyue that like as thou hast created vs and the whole vniuersall worlde so also shall we and all thinges be repayred againe throughe Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xcvij. Psalme A praier that we may appeare in the â—ay of iudgement with a â—ure chearâ—ull heart THou thy selfe O moste mightye God which art the author of full ioy and perfect gladnesse art also indued with exceeding seueritie and dreadfull power which thy properties thou bestowest vpon man according to thy infinite iustice and righteousnesse Wherefore our earnest request is that thou wouldst not burne vs vp with the fire of thy wrathfull indignation who otherwise by reason of our heynous sinnes are worthie of most greeuous punishments but according to thy great mercie and through the merits of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde and sauiour remit and pardon whatsoeuer we haue lewdly committed agaynst thée but contrariwise turne the wrath of thy heauie displeasure vpon thy fierce aduersaryes Let those men be set on fire make them to tremble let them melt away like wax at the sight of thy bright countenance But let vs being restored and reformed in a new kind of life by thy blessed spirit feele in our selues and set out thy noble iustice such wise vnto them as all people maye right wel perceyue the same For although we haue greatly and verye muche strayed from thy holy will reuealed vnto vs in the sacred scriptures we are notwithstanding heartily sorye for our lewde deserts and be verye desirous to make thy glorious renowme excéeding famous Let not therfore this our assured hope and feruent desire be made frustrate put them to confusion who beleue nothing at all in thée but haue an infinite number of Idols wherein they put their whole trust wherevnto they shewe much worship merueylous great honour and wonderfull obedience And finally graunt this thing also that suche as thou hast regenerated and quickned with thy blessed spirit may vtterly detest sinne and whatsoeuer fighteth or is repugnant to thy holy will Afterward take the soules of thy faythfull seruauntes out of wicked mens handes and when we be throughly delyuered from them cause vs not onely to reioyce with great gladnesse but make thy healthfull light of saluation to shine vpon all that are thine whereby they may bee conuerted vnto thée and celebrate thy worthie memoriall with perpetuall prayses throughe the selfe same Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme SEing it is thou O almightie God that rulest farre and néere and mightily gouernest all things there is nothing in the whole worlde but ought to be excéeding glad thereof for like as thy glorious kingdome which is the chiefest thing to be desired is most gorgeously decked with iustice and equitie euen so is there such strength and puyssaunce graffed in the same as no crafty deuices and subtile practises can preuaile agaynst it but that whatsoeuer thou hast with a most rightful counsaile and singuler iustice decreed vpon shall be brought to good ende We earnestly require thée therefore that as the earth heauen and vniuersall worlde are most euident witnesses of thy vnspeakeable wisedome and singuler iustice so the truth and sincere worshipping of thée may appéere in thy blessed Church where all men maye heartily reioyce togither bicause supersticious and corrupt Religions are altogither banyshed Let them be ioyfull in this behalfe which purely and with feruent zeale do vnfeynedly loue and honor God whome finally we humblye beséeche to augment the light of our mindes and that we maye with an exceeding pleasant chéerefulnesse reioyce in the sacred Congregation of hys blessed Sainctes for the vnspeakeable benefites he hath bestowed vpon vs through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme FOrsomuch as all thy iudgementes O most good and mercifull God doe shine forth with perfect equitie and right vp iustice we ought therefore to be excéeding glad
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
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
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
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
God are tormented with these sorrowfull most troublesome times our heartes and eyes are erected to thee onelye as vnder whose dominion we doubt not but the chiefe force of all thinges consisteth whereby we are greatly inflamed lamentably to requyre thy readie helpe For by what most excellent power thou hast formed the heauen and earth it is nowe very needefull for thée to helpe thy blessed Church with the same when it is in a maner swalowed vp with the most noysome Iawes of hir cruell enimies Suffer not wée humbly beseech thée the féete of our fayth to stagger or folter for of it selfe such is the infirmitye wherewith we are clothed rounde about it is weake and wauering ynough We truly fell first from thée and swarued wretchedly from the law and decrées of thy blessed wil but vouchsafe we humbly beséech thée not to deale with vs according to our worthinesse but after thy vnspeakable goodnesse and most excellent mercie preseruing the Church being well hedged in and compassed about with thy puyssaunt defence for if thou shouldest forsake hir who art otherwise the keeper of Israell shée can in no wise indure But if it be bereft and spoiled of thy mightie protection then through whose care and industrie maye shée bée preserued Graunt that we maye gather our wittes to vs and call them backe vnto thée to the intent thou mayest not onely be our defender but also the preseruer of all that euer we haue through Iesus christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme FOrsomuch as we are alwayes subiect to aduersities O most mightie god during this wretched life therfore do we loke euery where about vs with our eyes froÌ„ whence found and perfect helpe might be ministred vnto vs and thou before all things méetest with our fayth For seeing we right well know that all creatures were made by thée euen from the beginning and that thou nourishest with thy perpetuall goodnesse both celestiall powers and also terrestriall we humbly beséeche thée that whereas otherwise thy high and excellent prouidence is not vsed to be interrupted thou wouldst shewe thy selfe to be a most vigilant shepheard towards vs. Let thy louing fauour we heartily pray thee be euery where our sure defence that we burne not with to feruent an heate of filthye lustes or through coldnesse of infidelitie graft in our sinfull heartes both the loue we ought to beare towards our neighbours and also the godly deuotion which of right is due to thée be not vtterly extinguished O that we might by dayly prayer and intercession obteyne to be kept pure by thée from all infection of vices so that our lyfe maye be such as eyther by our going or comming we may be both clensed from our wicked faultes and also plentiously garnished with most excellent vertues through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxij Psalme A praier that â—he christian Church may throughe â—ayth chaâ—itie be reâ—ayred THe Godly do continually stirre vp one another to make holy assemblies O almightie God with woÌ„derfull exhortations wherein thy blessed name is lifted vp with high praises the faythfull instructed in thy sacred words and thy holye Sacraments duly receyued Nowe forsomuch as wee see presently before our eyes that this is in a maner hindered by Antichrist to our excéeding great sorow for like a naughtie packe and cast away as he is he practiseth nothing else but that the holy Hierusalem which is newlye begunne to be edified and repayred should fall to decaye againe and be vtterly ouerthrowne to the intent the pure worshipping and holye inuocating of thy blessed name might haue no more place there We earnestly and with a feruent minde and vehement affection humbly beséeche thée O most excellent father who well considerest how great a broyle and trouble he maketh that thou wouldst cause those things for to haue good successe which appertaine vnto the quietnesse of Ierusalem being thy holy and santified Churche our vnséemely deserts somewhat layde apart For séeing we do exceeding filthtly transgresse and moste lewdly defile thy sacred lawes we ought of right to assure our selues of no good thing But when as we haue an especiall regard to the honor of thy glorious name then taking a courage again we do boldly require thée that thou wouldest be present with theÌ„ which are assembled togither in the name of Iesus Christ and do call vpon thée therby to the entent we may one day repose our selues in the true Hierusalem being quite deliuered from the furious and violent inuasion of Antichrist And cause that those Citizens which doe credite the sacred doctrine of thy holy Church may by thy excellent benefites become friendes and faythful brethren one to an other through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme ALthough the holy Scriptures doe teach vs euery where that the heaueÌ„ O most good and mercifull God is thy dwelling place yet the same doe in such wise set out thy infinit goodnesse as the Church is both called and also is in déede thy sanctified house wherein thou most frequentest at what time therefore we shall come togither in the holy congregations our earnest request is that we may be there with chéerfull and very desirous mindes For thou truly hast of an excéeding liberalitie adorned thy holy Church with most flourishing and excellent giftes neyther is there any thing pretermitted that apperteyneth to hir garnishing which maye eyther belong to the spirituall decking and bewtifiyng thereof or to the plenteous inriching of it in abundaunce of all heauenly good things Which seeing they haue procéeded most fully from thée this only remayneth that thou wouldest so condiscend vnto our feruent prayers as the members therof may be annixed togither with a perpetuall concorde cause their meetinges to bée in such sort as they may render due honor vnto thée let the sacred scriptures be there purely and sincerely interpreted and let thy glorious Kingdome from day to day be more and more inlarged making all these things to be stablished with thy ioyous peace and the tranquilitie of thy holy spirite For so long as we pray for the quietnesse and felicitie hereof let vs procure substanciall and perfect good things both to our neighbours and also vnto thy blessed house through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxiij Psalme THere remayneth no greater helpe for thy faythful seruaunts O most mightie God then that which coÌ„meth from heauen A prayer foâ— the mercie of God for the puissant force of Antichrist and his deuilish practises haue so greatly preuayled as true godlynesse and the right honoring of thée are in a maner extinguished and vtterlye ouerthrowne Therefore lift we vp our eyes to heauen vnto thée to the intent thy helping hand may reuiue vs againe and that wée may escape out of so manyfold great daungers For as the eyes of seruauntes and maydes looke vnto their Maisters and
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
when as they shall perceyue the marueylous wisdome of thy deepe counsels and excellent deuices For though thou excellest all others in heigth yet doest thou not dispise such thinges as be humble and lowly but séemest to behold the prowde a farre of bicause thou alowest in no wise their doings We humbly require thée therefore to refreshe and quicken vs in the middest of our sorowfull tribulations and represse the violence and hatred of the outragious enimies of godlinesse so that whilest thou shalt nourishe and defende vs being the worke of thy puyssaunt handes thy infinite mercie maye be made right famous wyth eternall glorie through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxxix Psalme A prayer for the knowledge of Gods diuine prouidence THy knowledge and wisdome O most mightie God is of such force as thou perfectly knowest all mens wordes déedes and thoughts who also vnderstandest the ymaginations of our mindes before we vtter them For no man is able to conceyue and euidently discerne the great wisdome thou shewest in making and fourming of our bodies if wée were comparable to the swift course of the Sunne or did excell the quickenesse of the Morning or might clime vp to heauen or go downe to hell there is no place but thou wouldst méete with vs who hast seene and moste euidently perceyued euen from the first creation the vnshapen masse of our bodies with all the members thereof when as yet there was none of them Forsomuch therefore as thou séemest to bée on all sides so wonderfull our earnest request is that thou wouldest for thy famous honors sake be at length highlye reuerenced and dulye worshipped in thy blessed Church Let the wicked and such as haue thy glorious name in great contempt depart thence but trie thy faythfull seruaunts we humbly beseech thée and search them thorowly out to the intent they may know themselues that if perhaps they swarue from the true right way as it often so happeneth by humaine infirmitie bring thou them againe of thy great goodnesse into the streight path of perpetuall felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxl. Psalme SEing that wée can looke for none other thing to procéede from wicked and vngodlye men O moste good and mercifull God then abhominable naughtinesse A prayer agaynst the venemous tongues of the vngodly for where there is a lewd heart a man can neuer sée an vprightnesse to be obserued neither in wordes nor déedes Therefore do we most earnestly call vpon thée so much as we ran possible to rid and deliuer vs from the violence and malicious enterprises of lewd persons But many are the coardes trappes and snares which the Deuill and his cursed members doe prepare agaynst the Church Bée thou thy selfe therefore hir mightie strength and puyssant preseruation by fortifying the same in such sort with thy stedfast defence at what time the battayles of temptations are fought as the lewde subtilties wherewith it is furiously assayled and vnluckely opprest maye fall and light vpon the Authors thereof Which thing if thou wilt thus doe thou shalt reteyne thy olde wont by vndershoring with thy diuine and celestiall helpe such as be vtterly destitute of mans ayde whereby the godly may continually set forth thy glorious name and inioy eternall felicitie by the fauour of thy bright and shining countenaunce through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxlj. Psalme A prayer agaynst hipocrisie WEe dayly craue for thy gracious helpe O almightie God and earnestly require this at thy mercifull hands that our feruent prayers maye be accepted with thee as a moste laudable sacrifice for séeing we perceyue it can not bée done vnlesse we refraine oure minds wholy from vice we desire thée therfore inespecially to remooue all our sinnes from vs wherewith we haue excéeding filthily defiled both our owne selues and thy glorious name also who do not kéepe this secret that we haue liued heretofore vnworthily and after a most wretched maner but acknowledge and make the same manifest before thee with a common and verye willing confession Our earnest desire is then that thou wouldst pardon thy poore suppliants by seuering our heartes in such sort hereafter from the contagion of filthie wickednesse as wée maye in no wise attaine thereto either by thought worde or deede vouchingsafe to fortifie godly mens minds with such a maner of puyssant force and renowmed godlynesse that they suffer not themselues to be deceyued with the subtile allurementes and craftie promises of the wicked but rather beate chastice and correct thou vs thy selfe O good God then permit vs to bee shaken or made tender with the subtile inticementes delectable pleasures and poysoned flatteries of mischieuous persons We be discouraged and slain as thou right well knowest and finall destruction hangeth ouer the Church notwithstanding we lift vp our eyes excéeding stedfastly towards thée and heartily require that thou wouldst deliuer vs from the subtile wiles and craftie layings awayte of execrable men But forsomuch as they are past all hope of recouerie better it is for them to be caught in their owne nettes and lewde engynes to the intent thy sacred Church may escape the mischieuous hands of those wicked and vngodly men through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme MAke hast to be present with vs O most mightie God according to thy accustomed goodnesse when we heartily inuocate and call vpon thée least we be inticed by any meanes from thy sacred worde and pure religion Let the vnfayned prayers which we poure forth ascende into thy sight like a pleasant perfume and a most acceptable sacrifice although our sinnes do not deserue the fame For we earnestly confesse euen from the heart roote that we haue verye often inclined to most hurtfull thinges and not obeyed thée hitherto in worde and wyth mouth but haue offended thée in that behalfe also and bene more readie and hastie then néedeth to committe deadly wickednesse which is the onelye cause why thou doest nowe thus gréeuouslye rebuke and chastice vs. But graunt this O good God for thy excéeding great goodnesse and infinit mercies sake that we may assuredly know these thy fauorable chasticements to be the mâ—ere benefites of thy most fatherly good affection towardes vs so that when as they procéede from thy diuine prouidence wee maye both accompt and also estéeme them more profitable then if we inioyed marueilous aboundantly the loue of the world and pleasure of vngodly persons for our assured affiance is such in thee as we knowe most certainly that it is thy accustomed vse to helpe them so that they craue the same at thy fauourable handes whose bones are both broken a sunder and also dispersed in such wise as though they should go downe out of hand into hell Forsake not therefore the Church according to thy woonted maner in these perillous dayes at what time she is