sake thou stablishest the MouÌ„taines stillest the raging of the sea appeasest the madnesse of the people and doest refresh and lighten with great ioy the vttermost partes of the earth through the brightnesse of the heauenly fiers Thou sendest seasonable and timely showers whereby onely commeth fertilitie and the fieldes wonderfull garnished with all kinde of fruits whereby both men and beastes haue abundantly whereon to feede Graunt thou therefore thus much also vnto vs who art the auctour of so many good things that we may render moste condigne thankes and vse to oure health and comforte those thinges which thou so louingly bestowest vpoÌ„ vs through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxvj. Psalme A prayer in necessitie to the glorie of God for setâ—ing vs at libertie SVch is thy mightye power and inuincible force O moste good and mercifull God that thou at length vsest to subdue vnder thy obeysaunce the enimies of thy name and glory euen by thy puyssaunt strength how muche so euer they striue agaynst thée in their furious madnesse which thing the godly duly waying with themselues haue a very great and feruent desire to honour thy diuine Maiestie to exalt thée with prayses and faythfully to worship thy excellencie For as thou in tymes past causedst the sea to open hir selfe vnto the children of Israell and didst turne aside the riuer of Iordane agaynst his streame and hast expulsed the Iewes enimies from their auncient inheritaunce who séemed otherwise not to be subduable so we now earnestly require thée that thou wouldest doe the like for thy déerely beloued let them flourishe in heauenly giftes so that they faint not through exercise of temptations but being well tryed fined and thorowly pourged with vnfortunate mishaps they maye shine in the brightnesse of vertues who hauing comfortable things prepared for them of thée being their father creator after their gréeuous afflictions much troublesomnesse of minde let them in the ende render vnto thée the vowes of praise and songes of commendation Moue vs forwarde I humblie beséech thée to feare and honor him by hauing his benifites very diligently in our remembraunce which of his infinite goodnesse he hath bestowed vpoÌ„ vs who being prouoked by our thankfulnesse may hereafter giue a more louing and fauourable attentiue eare to our lowly prayers through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxvij. Psalme THe two thinges O most mightie God which mortall creatures doe very greatly wishe for are these A prayer for the augmentation of the Gospell namely that they may be acceptable to thy diuine Maiestie replenished with the light and brightnesse of thy louing couÌ„tenaunce which two we right well know do faile vs by reason of the sinnes we haue very gréeuously committed therefore our earnest request is that thou wouldst heale our deadly woundes with the playster of thy vnspeakeable mercie and whatsoeuer we haue offended thée in let thy louing fauor wholy remit and cause thy most gladsome light to driue away the darknesse that we haue procured vnto our selues which sute if we may obteyne yet shall we readily acknowledge although we be inuironed with the darknesse of this mortall life the deuises ordinaunces meanes wherby thou doest greatly gouerne prouidently mainteine puyssauntly defende and mightily preserue all things with incomparable goodnesse and faythfulnesse and prouidest wonderfully for thy blessed people which things being well seene and rightly considered we and all people shall shewe foorth thy worthie prayses and be also thorowly replenished with pleasaunt ioy forsomuch as thou rulest all Nations Prouinces and Kingdomes with rightful iudgement and most indifferent iustice For if al people did manifestly know the same in such sort as it is euery man would praise thée in the open face of the worlde Graunt vnto vs therefore O excellent father these two things neyther disdeyne to adde vnto them a plenteous fruitfulnesse of the earth for the more bouÌ„tifully thou dealest with thy déerely beloued children the more shalt thou be feared amplier honored through the whole vniuersal world by Iesus christ our lord AmeÌ„ ¶ A prayer out of the Lxviij Psalme A prayer for the vnity anâ— inlargement of the Christian Congregation WE haue both our health and also all other commodities of this life at thy mercifull handes O most good and mightie God being the fountaine and originall of all good things who doest both adorne and continually bestowe so great benefites vpon thy faithfull seruants that impossible it is to compt the nuÌ„ber of them But this chiefly ought not to be passed ouer with silence that thou thy selfe hast so happily with so good successe fought our battailes against sinne death the deuill and all euilles insomuch as the deadly enimies of our saluation felt thée to be our present helpe when as thou diddest puyssauntly ouercome mightilye subdue and greeuously punishe them Wherefore it is our right bounden duty to render perpetuall thankes wyth Psalmes louing prayses godly songes and all kinde of ditties and Musicke which thing that it may not be done maliciously and grudgingly but with a minde voyd and frée from fleshly cares and carnal desires we humbly beséeche thée to pardon whatsoeuer we haue transgressed either through the darknesse of ignoraunce or weaknesse of minde and procéede also euer hereafter to defende vs from the craftie snares and subtill layings awayte of the force of our enimies as thou hast heretofore stedfastlye from tyme to tyme assisted such as trust in thée whereby all men shall assuredly perceyue that thou so fauourest the faythfull beleuers as thou giuest vnto them aboundaunce of strength and power inuincible through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme SEing that thy power is such O moste good and mercifull God as no enimies although they be neuer so strong mightie are able to stand agaynst thée our earnest request is that thou wouldest for thy infinite mercies sake most puyssauntly arise to helpe vs. The children of Israell felt thy presence to be a continual safegard vnto them at what time they encountred to fight with their enimies althoughe kinges and armies throughlye furnished were raysed vp agaynst them forsomuch as therefore thou hast lifted vp thy inuincible power and puissant strength on high disdaine not wée humbly beseeche thée to turne thy louing countenaunce towardes vs who do continually wrestle with Sathan the fleshe and lustes thereof surely we acknowledge that thou art our sole and onely defence who flye therefore vnto thée bicause thou art the fountaine and roote of all good things requiring that wée being mightily deliuered from the mischieuous euilles which inuiron vs on euery side may set forth the worthy prayses of thy most glorious name euen as it hath right well deserued through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy force and puyssaunce O most good and mighty god is of so great a
to forgiue vs bycause we haue hither to so long and with such a feruent desire trusted in these transitorie riches that oure harts and mindes being withdrawne therfro thou wouldest most straightly annixe them to thee and thy sacred wordes to the intent we may delight in nothing more then to folowe thee and chéerefully indeuour to do whatsoeuer is thy holy will and pleasure least we become as brute beastes and perish like most dumme cattel through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the L. Psalme O Puyssant and most mighty God A prayer for remembranc◠in distresse of the last iudgement promises of god who of thy bountifull mercy hast vouchedsafe to gather thée a blessed Church out of all parts of the world and that first by the Apostles whom in Mount Sion thou induedst with thy sonnes most abundaunt spirite Neyther wouldest thou for any other cause gather thy very chosen and good people so wonderfully togither but that a true way how to worship thée wherein doubtlesse consisteth the whole perfection of faythfull beleuers might at length be vniuersally knowne amongst all nations and cause vs to learne that godlinesse doth not altogither consist in outward obseruations and most dumme ceremonies For like as these thinges doe please thée so long as they are witnesses and testimonies of fayth so if they be destitute thereof they are exceeding odious and very detestable in thy sight The thing that thou chiefly requirest of vs is this that thy holy name may be highly praysed and duly glorified not only in words and thoughts but with all the déedes of this our life Thy blessed will is that we shoulde vnfeynedly performe whatsoeuer we haue hartily promised and with feruent zeale vowed vnto thee so as we be assuredly perswaded that they are both agréeable to thy sacred word and a furtheraunce to perfect godlinesse Moreouer thou requirest vs to inuocate and call vpon thée when we are most touched with aduersitie and to render due thankes to thy diuine Maiestie as expedient it is so to doe at what time soeuer we be mightily deliuered therefro Thou doest exact require these things at our handes as the chiefest poynts of our religion But we O good God haue hitherto most wretchedly and vnhappily sinned who haue alwayes put no smal affiaunce in our owne rites and ceremonies and perused oftentymes the holy Scriptures when our hart was farre from them discipline hath bene displeasaunt vnto vs and we haue euerye where through our moste wicked lustes neglected thy sacred commaundementes Now therfore for thy singuler mercie and infinite goodnesse sake pardon and forgiue vs these our misdéedes and mightily deliuer vs from such as being wrapped in with rapine and vnchastnesse spake most vileynously of thy sanctified Churche and holy Gospell beleuing that thou spiest not the naughtinesse which they lewdly commit when as thou séemest not to reuenge it but very paciently to permit and suffer the same Cause them shortlye to vnderstand this right well neither let vs be haryed thus violently of them as thoughe there were none that coulde or would deliuer vs through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THou hast shewed vnto vs O most good and mightie God through that seuere sentence of thine by what thing mortall mens causes are to be decided before thy high iudgement seate and it liketh thée nothing at all to make inquisition for burnt offerings or outward sacrifices séeyng the Calues Goates wilde beastes and finally all liuing thinges that be in the worlde are in thy mightie hande and power neyther was it thy good pleasure at any tyme that these thinges should be offered vnto thee any otherwise but as manifest tokens of reuerent awe pure religion and inward godlinesse But thou hast chiefly required this of mankind that they should yeelde and render most hartie thankes for the benefites they haue receyued and to ascribe all the good thinges they inioy vnto thée onely but let them diligently annixe and ioine this therevnto that whatsoeuer they pretend or purpose to do it may according to theyr faythfull promise greatly redowne to the glorie of thy blessed name and call vpon thée onely in their great distresse and miserable calamities We do in this point as thou O good God right well knowest erre very gréeuously and therefore our harty desire is that for thy infinite goodnesse sake thou wouldest pardon and forgiue whatsoeuer we haue wickedly and after a lewde maner committed agaynst thée so as we handle not thy sacred worde to our condemnation least we be through thy vpright sentence pronounced wonderfull arrogant straunge children exceeding couetous giuen to fleshly lust and curssed speakers but rather that we may earnestly offer vnto thee an acceptable sacrifice of thankesgiuing and fashion our whole life according to the square rule of thy blessed commaundements through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lj. Psalme WEe lamentablye wyth heartye prayer call vpon thy louing mercie O moste good and gracious God that we maye be clensed A prayer for remission of sinnes washed and pourged from our heinous iniquities and excéeding detestable and mischieuous déedes who do acknowledge and confesse howe lewdly we haue hitherto behaued our selues but our gréeuous sinnes shall neuer be of such force as to make thée vniust or false of thy excellent promise we truely doe right well vnderstand that our deserts are not such as thou shouldest vouchsafe to make most large and notable promises vnto vs but stand nowe in great néede of thy vnspeakable faythfulnesse and constancie to helpe vs. Thou seest that we were brought forth into this worlde corrupted and defiled euen from our mothers wombe and were before conceyued in the same iniquities also purifie therefore our mindes and garnish them with such a passing whitenesse as séemeth acceptable vnto thee Create in vs a pure heart a right holy and seruiceable spirit that we be not cast of from thée as moste wicked persons but may recouer the true ioyes and perfect consolation If thou wilt deliuer vs from those deadly sinnes which accuse vs as gyltie of eternall death our lippes shall merily and with right great ioy shewe forth thy worthie prayse Graunt we heartily beséech thée that we may approche vnto thy diuine Maiestie with a troubled spirite and an humble and contrite heart as an offring wherein thou chiefly delightest then shall our present calamities be mollefied and then also shall we not celebrate thy prayses vnthankefully manifest thy louing kindnesse vnto Sion thy beloued Church for thou right well perceyuest the manifold perils it is subiect vnto and that she is gréeuously assaulted both without and within We hartily require thée to deliuer hir not onely from outward enimies but also reforme the same and set it in good state to the intent she may not séeme altogither vnworthie such an husband as thou art through Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other
the sharpe hands of thy iustice ouerwhelming vs through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lxxxix Psalme THy inestimable mercy O almightie god is most manifestly knoweÌ„ A prayer to put God in remeÌ„brance of his promise both bicause all Saintes do celebrate the same and also for that it doth continually vtter and shewe forth it selfe throughout all generations by meanes whereof thou art brought to make a couenant with thy elect people the Christes kingdome his séede which is the Church should alwayes indure neyther ought any mortall man to feare or stande in doubt that thou art not able to performe whatsoeuer thou hast stedfastlye and with a solemne othe promised The euident proofes of thy almightie power appeared by punishing the Egyptians and seeing that the heauens the earth the whole circuit of the worlde the windes the seas and whatsoeuer thou hast made perteyne to thy mightie gouernement we doubt not but thou canst right well preserue thy beloued people whom thou hast adopted vnto thée and which walke in the light of thy blessed countenaunce And herevpon wée haue great néede that thou shouldest doe thus much for vs in especially namely to vouchsafe to forgiue vs the sinnes wherwith we confesse our selues to haue most gréeuously offended thée forsomuch as they truely be the onely things why we are sore afflicted and it is the waight of them that presse vs most downe Giue pardon therefore vnto such as humbly cal to thée for readie helpe and be our strong defence against the fierce aduersaries of thy blessed name stretche out thy mightie arme make thy hand stroÌ„g for our preseruation and in these daungers arme thy puyssaunt right hande for our deliueraunce least the outragious violence of the vngodly preuaile against vs and suffer not the children of iniquitie to trouble vs according to their hatred and malicious euill will Shake thou those and turne thou them so aside that they be not able to execute the mischieuous deuises which they intend to doe agaynst our holy Gospell We call vpon thee being our only Sauiour louing God and mercifull father performe therefore and kéepe thy sacred couenant which thou hast fauourably made with thy faithfull ones We haue vtterly forsaken thy diuine law we haue not walked in thy holy commaundements we haue vnhallowed thy sacred thinges neyther haue we bene obedient to thy blessed will wherefore refuse we not to be beaten with the roddes of thy heauie displeasure or to be kept vnder with the scourges of thy most greeuous chasticement but this onelye is our humble request that thou wouldest not berefe vs of thy vnspeakeable mercie fauourable louing kindnesse and vnspotted truth through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WE hartily acknowledge O almightie God that it is the vse and guise of the Godly to set forth thy vnspeakeable mercie and fauourable goodnesse when as their affayres haue so good successe as they would gladly wish but if we vndoubtedly shall reteyne and kéepe that custome in vnfortunate mishappes and greeuous calamities as to set out thy fauourable mercie and louing kindnesse continually thorowout all generations then shall we bée most assuredly able to beare witnesse of the effectuall working of thy grace in vs. Suffer therefore we humbly beséech thée the promises and couenaunts which thou madest with Dauid thy moste faythfull seruaunt neuer to slip out of our memories namely that thou wouldst of his séede giue Iesus Christ a moste puyssant and euerlasting king for all faythfull beleuers vnder whose gouernment the vniuersall Church should both be defended from the enimies force and also greatly flourish being right well garnished with all kinde of good thinges More then once we haue tryed the assurednesse of these faythfull promises For thou hast oftentimes deliuered thy blessed people from moste gréeuous and horrible daungers for none other cause theÌ„ this onely and therefore are we nowe incouraged to be importunate vpon thée that thou wouldest according to thy olde woont and accustomed maner prouide remedy for the necessitie of thy louing people when they stande in most neede thereof through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme THou hast not onely promised vnto vs O most mightie God abundaunce of grace in Christ Iesus our Lorde whereby we maye be acceptable vnto thee and become thy trustie friends déere children and peculier heyres but also thou hast taken vpon thee to bestow so great clemencie vpon vs that if we fall into any kinde of vice through our weaknesse thou wilt chastice our iniquities with a fatherly rodde and mercifull scourge and not turne away thy louing countenaunce well inclined mind from thy blessed Church at any tyme. Bée mindfull therefore O heauenly father of this thy sacred couenaunt which thou didst once determine to bée more firme and of stedfaster continuaunce then the high heauen the bright Sunne and the splendent Moone but forsomuch as thy wrathful indignation is not a little kindled by reason of our most gréeuous sinnes and that thou séemest to thrust down the case of thy faithfull seruauntes and not a little to fauour the aduersaries of true godlynesse and enimies of thy glorious name shewe forth nowe at length we humbly beséech thée thy great mercies of olde neyther suffer vs which are the déere members of Christ although of our partes marueylous vnworthie not to be made a laughter and mocking stocke for the vnbeleuers to iest at through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xc. Psalme â— praier both 〈◊〉 attain vnâ—â— the knowâ—dge of god â—nd the vaâ—tie of this â—e also FOrsomuch as thou O almighty God wouldest we shoulde haue this knowledge of thy holy Tabernacle that it was not in déede of so great bignesse as it could conteine thy infinite power and vnmeasurable nature therefore do we nowe hartily confesse thys to be most manifest that thou art the only tabernacle habitation sure refuge to our weaknesse neyther art thou to be compted a fresh or new made dwelling place for the faythfull but such a one as is perpetuall and permanent seing thou choosest them before the making and constitution of the worlde And therefore the gréeuous calamities and painfull miseries which we indure driue vs from all sides vnto thée our mightie bulwark and most strong defence Surely we lead both a very miserable fugitiue life which floweth abroad like water fadeth away as a sleepe and withereth incontinent in such sort as doth a gréene herbe while we are continually consumed and putte in feare by thy greeuous wrath and heauy indignation We acknowledge that the heynous sinnes which we haue lewdly committed be the onely cause why thou art iustly sore displeased with vs for if thou didst purpose assuredly to be reuenged of them thy most arden displeasure woulde vtterly consume and bring vs to naught Our earnest request is therefore O mightie God that thou wouldest
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
better for thy holy Church then for any house of honour or most large Citie of this worlde knowe assuredly that the same can by no meanes continue without thy mighty preseruatioÌ„ and that especially in this tyme when as both so many of the deuils engines and also of Antichristes subtile pollecies do much inuade vs. For that thing therefore which could not be atchieued by the painfull labour carefull watchings and great industrie of men we do most earnestly require of thée O heauenly father by continuall praiers who hast bene accustomed to grauÌ„t vnto thine as it were in their sleepe the thing which séemed otherwise to bee exceeding difficult and almost impossible First and formost take away our greeuous iniquities which are the chiefest let and stay why thou releauest not the present wretchednesse and miserable calamitie we are in for it is they and none other thing that do disseuer and withdraw vs from hauing confidence in thy vnspeakable mercie Now at what tyme thou shalt haue pardoned them as our earnest desire is that thou wouldst be so good as to increase thy blessed Church with a plentifull issue for if shée shall ingender children vnto thée let them who are worthie of thée and thy blessed spirite be sent out lyke arrowes through thy inuincible arme agaynst the outragious enimies of godlynesse and doctrine of the sacred Gospell but cause the vncorrupted Congregations and assemblies to haue a companie of valiaunt and strong men who so long as they take vpon them to defende thy sincere truth both in worde and déede may neither be ashamed not yet once shrinke backe therefro through Iesus christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme AL our force and enterprices are of none effect O almightie God without thy especiall grace and fauour for if no priuate house can be maintayned or any City builded except thou layest to thy present helpe and gracious good will howe much lesse then may the blessed Church bée reedified enlarged and set at a stay vnlesse thou bée marueylous readie to assist the same with thy holye spirite and benigne grace men haue labored in vaine their rising vp early and holding long fastings shall be to none effect vainly and to no purpose shall they forespend theÌ„selues with toiles troubles Wherefore wée earnestly intreat thée O good God that thy diuine presence mightie power bée not farre from vs in any of our attempts and enterprises For what thing verily soeuer hath béene at any time gathered vp and repayred of the ruines of the Church it taketh no good successe without thee yet rather thou hast giueÌ„ the same to thy labourers as it were in their sléepe making it such a thing by thy secrete and wonderfull meanes as humane strength if it were duly considered is altogither insufficient to so puyssant a worke But séeing we haue béene nowe very vngratefull and most lewdly abused so great and manifold benefites thou hast not without iust cause begunne to vexe vs with excéeding gréeuous troubles from which mennes painefull trauayle and subtill pollecie are of no abilitie to deliuer vs. Make thou hast therefore for thy accustomed mercies sake when we thinke least hereof or iudge our selues to be in daunger of many perils to vntangle those which flie vnto thy diuine Maiestie that being set at libertie we may acknowledge thee to be the onely Authour of true and perfect saluation through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme BIcause so manie as enterprice any thing without thy especiall assistance and fauourable good will O most gracious and mercifull God do labour to no purpose and trouble themselues in vaine and that they which haue not thee for theyr readie helper cannot saue and defende themselues from their cruell enimies therefore séeing that both thy Church standeth alwayes in very great néede of building and the City of our congregation is destitute and voyde of defence we cal vpon thée onely to be our couragious helper who art readie to ayde the builders and canst strongly defend the valiaunt fighters But to the intent we may the readilier attain the same multiplie we earnestly require thée the issue of thy sacred church which may be sent out as arrowes to rayse it vppe euery where by thy blessed worde and be made so skilfull and well practised in handling thy sayinges that when those thinges bee done which apperteyne to theyr vocation they maye by no meanes be put to shame and rebuke of the most godlesse and vnfaithfull persons thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxviij Psalme â— praier that â—e may feare God leade blessed â—â—fe IF no good thing or any kinde of felicity can happen to any but to such as feare God and reuerence him and to those which through a perfect lyfe walke faythfully in the wayes of his blessed commaundements the matter is nowe manifested vnto vs why we are thus vexed with gréeuous calamities For whereas thou of thy infinite mercie O almightie God hast giuen vs a comfortable and wholesome doctrine we haue performed nothing lesse then honoured thee as is our bounden dutie who haue set more by our owne filthie desires then the feare of thée due reuerence of thy glorious name by casting aside the ordinaunces of thy blessed precepts Wherefore there is no cause why we should complaine that afflictions are wrongfully layde vpon vs at any time Pardon we hartily pray thée our gréeuous iniquities and mischieuous déedes and renue in vs for thy infinite mercies sake perfect feare true godlinesse and holy conuersation Finally shine downe out of Sion that is from thy excéeding high light and such as can not be attayned vnto vpon thy afflicted Church and deliuer the same from the number of perils which she is in daunger of But forsomuch as thou hast coupled hir vnto thée to be thy wife by faith graunt that she may haue an infinite companie of holy children let hir be as a vine spreading it selfe farre abroad which Antichrist maye not with all his industrie be of force to cut and hewe downe For wée require thys chiefly at thy mercifull handes O most excellent father that thou wouldest indue thy heauenly Hierusalem with good wholesome things and send peace and tranquilitie vpon thy true Israell through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy sacred word O most good and mercifull God doth teach vs that godlinesse onely maketh men right happie and blessed For the feare and dread wherwith godly men doe reuerence thée is an effectuall bridle to cause them for to proceede iustly in the way of thy righteousnesse But bicause this vertue is a singuler ornament of thy beloued church our earnest request is that there may be continuall labouring in the same by doctrine and example to nurter thy blessed children so that the workes be not in vaine or to none effect Let hir be dayly
made like vnto a moste fruitfull woman that may be compared to the ranke Oliues and exceeding fertile vines which vnspeakable happie giftes we mistrust not but thou wilt one day bestowe readily vppon vs if from the seate of thy Maiestie it shal please thee to behold the congregation of the faithfull with thy merciful eye bicause al things that apperteyne to true and perfect felicitie come from the will of thy inestimable goodnesse For seing we doubt not but this redowneth to the honor of thy glorious name that a continuall ofspring of thy déere children shoulde bée multiplied in the blessed Church and become notable in peace in prayses and in puritie of life we heartily require thée in our most feruent prayers to obteine the same through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxix Psalme THou knowest O moste good and mercifull God howe greatly the enimies of thy gloryous name haue fought continuallye agaynst thy sacred Church A prayer agaynst the counterfeit holinesse of such as wold be iustified by their workes and alwayes troubled the same from hir infancie yet notwithstanding thou hast done this of thy singuler fauor thou barest therevnto that hir aduersaryes coulde neuer preuaile agaynst hir who diddest it for this intent bicause thy faythfull promises should be accomplished They seemed diuers and sundry times to thrust the share of affliction verye deepe into hir backe who hauing a marueylous obstinate heart purposed to make exceeding long ridges vpon the same But thou O good God of thy perfect iustice hast alwaies cut a sunder the cordes of the vngodly in péeces Wherefore we nowe heartily beséech thée not to regard our wicked factes but the glorie of thy name For if thou shouldest deale with vs according to oure worthinesse we do not onely deserue such painefull miseries and sorowfull calamities but much more gréeuouser Yet for thy infinite mercies sake poure not out thy furious wrath on vs but vpon the vngodly let them be confounded and turned backeward and graunt that they maye quickly wither euen as the grasse before they bée any thing able to bring their lewde enterprises to an end whose deserts are not such as we ought to pray for their good successe séeing their practises bée excéeding naught But now cause the Church of thy faythfull people to inioye some blessing of peace and tranquilitie through Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe assaultes of thy faythfull people O moste good and mercifull God be not onely very many and diuers but they are also continually tempted and be inforced to fall into vtter destruction for the deuill and power of our fierce aduersaries desire nothing more then to turne thy Image vnto them from the purpose thou hast ordeyned it for And therefore we heartily crie and call vnto thée who hast an incomprehensible mercie ioyned with thy excéeding great Iustice that thou wouldest for the intire good will and louing fauour thou bearest vnto vs breake a sunder the slithe coardes of temptations and teare in péeces the subtile snares of such as lay deceyptfull trappes to snarle vs in so that the wicked enimies of our saluation maye according to their iust demerites be brought to vtter shame and confusion to the intent all men may right wel know that thy perfect righteousnesse will not suffer their deuilishe fraudes and cursed deceyptes to escape alwayes vnpunished whereby thy blessing which thou hast appoynted for the elect and chosen may not be impeached and let not the force of the deuils subtilties and craftie ymaginations disappoynt the saluation which we that hope in thy faythfull promises looke to atchieue and attaine vnto thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxx. Psalme THou art woont verye often O almightie God to punish thy faythfull seruaunts greeuously A prayer for grace in the time of nede to the intent they might therby returne vnto thée with earnest and perfect repentance which now experience teacheth vs to féele in thy sacred Church by reason of these most troublesome tymes for we that haue béene hitherto innumerable wayes very vngratful towards thée and euery where transgressed thy holy lawe and blessed commaundements are so oftentymes vexed with the fiercenesse of the cursed deuill and his bondslaues that we be inforced to crie vnto thée out of the bottomlesse pit and from the vnmeasurable déepenesse of our aduersities requiring thée not to marke our heynous sinnes so seuerely For if thou O good god wilt dulye consider and iustly punishe the iniquities that we haue committed according to their iust deserts which of vs shall be so blamelesse and holy as he may be able to stand before thy iustice But forsomuch as we right well know that thou art indued with excéeding great gentlenesse we doe both early and late looke and wayte for thy readie helpe Although therefore our iniquities are very many in number vouche thou safe for thy most abundaunt goodnesse and infinite mercies sake to redéeme vs from them all so that wée being deliuered from imminent perils and present calamities may as well beleue in thée onely as publish to the whole worlde that there is true and perfect redemption through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme SEing that we be perpetually tost O almightie God with the most déepe sea of temptations neyther are able of our selues to match them there is good reason why we do not without iust cause require thée spéedily to helpe and succour our wofull miseries But if thou who art both a rightfull iudge and perfect arbitrer of oure causes wouldst consider all things whatsoeuer we haue gréeuously offended thée in and earnestly marke the same who were able I pray thée to stand before thy tribunal seat Seing therefore thy mercie is notable and infinite our earnest desire is that we maye in such wise depend onely therevpon as the iniquities which we haue cōmitted might be redeemed thereby who are nourished dayly and hourely in this hope alone trusting that thou wilt neuer be forgetfull of the true Israell which is thy holy and blessed Church Graunt vs therefore we humblie beséech thée to obteyne at thy fauourable handes pardon and remission of sinnes as a sound and sincere fruite of this stedfast confidence through Iesus Christ our lord Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxxxj. Psalme A praier that we may haue humilitie and dispise arrogancie FOrsomuch as we are marueilous vngratefull towards thée O most mightie God for the exceeding great benefits bestowed vpon vs leading a life hitherto nothing agréeable to thy holinesse and our vocation there is no cause why our heart should bée puffed vp or walke in wonders Cause thy holy spirite to be aboundantly poured vpon vs insomuch as all pride and arrogancie beeing vtterly layd aside and quite done away we maye heartily acknowledge this which is most true howe that we are heynous sinners by which
in most miserie but deliuer hir from the trappes snares and nettes of the vngodlye and let the wicked fall into theyr owne wiles pittes which they haue made and digged and not thy faythfull people through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme WIthdrawe not thy readie helpe from vs we humbly beseech thee O moste good and mercifull God so long as wée lamentably require the same at thy mercifull handes for this is our dayly sacrifice wherwith we do greatly honor and highly reuerence thy glorious name neyther doth it lesse please thée to haue vs taught in thy blessed worde then if we should burne vppon Alters a most swéete odor and pleasant perfume of spices as the vse and custome was in old time our earnest desire is therfore that thou wouldest set a sure watche vppon our tongue and heart that we may not do any thing either in word or thought and much lesse in déedes contrarie to thy blessed lawe Remoue from vs all intercourse of the vngodly but cause vs to take in exceding good worth brotherly admonicions and friendly rebukes hauing no regard at all to highe prayses and pleasant flattering tales For séeing that there be a thousand snares and trappes which our auncient enimie hath layde to snarle vs in let thy gracious fauour at length deliuer vs from the whole number of them through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxlij Psalme WEe crie out dayly in thy sight O most good and mercifull GOD pouring out our feruent prayers and humble supplications A prayer for comfort in persecution that the sorow and heauinesse conceyued in our heart maye be vttered and this wée doe in thy gracious presence who onely knowest the way and meanes howe to deliuer thy faythfull seruaunts in their vttermost troubles Our spirit verily is continually vexed within vs so long as we consider the present state of thinges insomuch as whether we looke on the right hand or towardes the left we sée no man truely which will vnfeynedly take vpon him eyther to defende or acknowledge the cause of thy blessed Church Which euilles in deede happen vnto vs by reason of our heynous sinnes wherewyth thou art thus gréeuously offended agaynst vs as to stirre vp so fierce and slie enimyes against thy chosen people who lay snares almoste in all places and extende violence euery where vpon vs. Bée mercifull nowe therefore vnto vs O God oure deere father at what time we seeme to bée destitute of al succor neither is there any remayning aliue that hath a regard for the preseruation of our soules heare thou thy selfe oure wofull complaints and be a sure refuge for vs and our porcion amongs the liuing by deliuering vs from our malicious persecutors who séeme at this present to haue the vpper hand For if thou wilt mightily deliuer thy sacred Church from this sorowfull calamitie thy excellent name shall be spred abroad in euery place and all men will reioyce with vs vpon whome they shall perceyue that thou hast shewed this vnspeakeable fauour and louing kindnesse through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme SEing that we are perpetually inuironed O most mightie God with an infinite number of perils necessitie it selfe perswadeth vs neuer to desist from prayer but alwayes to poure them out exceeding feruently before thée For to whom may wee better declare our extréeme heauinesse and gréeuous miserie which doth dayly assaile vs then to thée who knowest all thinges right wel neither art ignorant of the crafts and subtilties of the force of our cruell aduersaries Thou onely canst succor and deliuer vs who may not trust in mans ayde either because they will not or else for that they be not able to helpe vs. And therefore do we earnestly crie vnto thée béeing our sanctuarie and lotte in the land of the liuing to the intent thou wouldst set vs frée from the deuill the auncient enimy of mankinde and his cursed garde whose mindes being thus recreated and refreshed shall vncessantly acknowledge thy blessed name and all such as be faithfull louers of vertue will togither with vs publishe and set out thy excellent benefites with condigne and deserued prayses through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Cxliij Psalme WEe doe earnestly desire thée O most good and mercifull God to accept our common petitâ—ons A prayer in temptation for the auoyding of desperation and that thou wouldest for thy excellent mercies sake heare the heartie prayers which we poure out before thée neyther denie wée that the heynous sinnes wherwith we dayly prouoke thy heauie wrath hath not deserued the same But if thou wilt enter into iudgement with vs and giue seuere and vpright sentence seing that no man liuing yea no creature at all be it neuer so pure and holy is able to abide the same we also shall without fayle be cast neyther haue any force to stand in thy presence before the tribunall seate Looke thou therefore vppon vs with thy louing fauour and woonted clemencie that as the enimie hath gréedily persecuted our soules so verily wée séeme being sore smitten and greatly forsaken to be in a maner at the poynt of death bicause our spirit is thus vexed within vs and hart made desolate Who are notwithstanding right mindfull of thy old and auncient mercie wherewith thou hast beene accustomed to succor and helpe thy elect people at what tyme they were miserably afflicted Therefore doe we not onely lift vp our sorowfull handes vnto thy diuine Maiestie but indeuour our selues so much as in vs lyeth for to haue thée deliuer thy blessed church from the handes of hir outragious enimies directing vs so with thy good spirite that we maye hereafter execute those things faythfully which are right and holy according to thy diuine will and pleasure being conueyed out of this present distresse by thy good guidaunce and quickned with thy readye helpe throughe Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THe infirmitie of our righteousnesse O most good and mercifull God is of such force as those which be instructed with thy blessed spirite know very well that it is not able to stande before thy iudgement seate when as therefore we do consider our lewd deserts our spirite fadeth awaye and our hart waxeth amazed But we haue recourse out of hand to thy infinite mercie who doe heartily acknowledge and earnestlye confesse that our righteousnesse proceedeth not of our selues but commeth from thee onely so that we being stayed vp and confirmed by this stedfast faith do lamentably require thy fauourable assistaunce in the daungerous perils of this wretched life For vnlesse thou puttest to thy redie helping hand wée doe vtterlye dispaire of our saluation Shew vs the way wherein we may walke without daunger and teach vs after what maner we may accomplish thy blessed will and rule all our thoughts and déedes by
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