thou art forgetfull and takest thy grace and fauour vtterly away fro them Graunt that suche maner of thoughtes and suspicions be not graft and fixed in our minds for surely we deserue to be vtterly left and quite forsaken of thée by reason of our most heynous offences but suffer not O good God for thy most glorious names sake the stoute arrogant enimies of Godlinesse eyther to preuaile any thing at all or haue occasion to triumphe ouer thy faythfull seruauntes like victorious conquerors illuminate and lighten the eyes of our minde we humblie beséech thée with thy holy spirit that wée séeing and right well allowing those thinges which be most iust may neyther honor nor worship thée amisse nor yet become slouthfull towardes the amendment of our sinfull life for so shall all occasion of reioysing and vaunting be quite taken from our aduersaries and we haue great cause to render eternall thankes vnto thy diuine Maiestie as thou hast right well deserued through Iesus christ our lord AmeÌ„ ¶ A prayer out of the .xiiij. Psalme A praier that we may perceuer in the nuÌ„ber of true christians TAke away from thy déere children O most mightie God those notorious wicked Counsels and foolishe imaginations whereby we may surmise in our mindes that thou art no God at all and although thou knowest well ynoughe that we haue oftentymes erred gone astray from the true path of righteousnesse for which cause sake we haue very well deserued euen like bread and most delicious meate of them to be deuoured and vtterly consumed as are the most mischieuous and furious enimies of godlines We humblie besech thée that as thou hast promised to ayde and assist the generation of these men and all such as put their trust in thée so thou wouldest not forsake vs being thus extréeme miserable greauously afflicted Let thy help appeere and shew forth it selfe out of the heauenlye Sion that when thou hast deliuered vs from the bondage and corruption of sinne death and the Deuill thy beloued Church maye not onely be cheered and refreshed but also be excéeding ioyous through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xv. Psalme SEing that O most mighty god none can inhabite and dwell in perpetuall felicitie and thy heauenly kingdom but such as haue béene voyde of fault and vndefiled fro the filthie corruption of wickednesse who haue in suche wise yéelded and dedicated their heart tongue and outward workes to the honor of thy blessed name that they do omit or let slip by negligence or malice none of thy sacred coÌ„maundements Hereby we nowe perceyue and right well vnderstand that if we should be dealt withal as our owne deserts are and according to the worthinesse of our workes how farre of we be from thence so as we may in a maner dispayre and be altogither doubtfull of our saluation but trusting in thy excellent goodnesse we boldely demaunde this at thy mercifull handes that the merits of our déedes beyng layde apart thy faythfull promises maye according to our assured hope still remaine most firme and stable and vouchsafe to graunt vnto vs receyued againe into thy louing fauour that being henceforth adourned with the ornamentes of perfite righteousnesse sincere truth and pure loue wee maye neuer bée drawen away from the habitation of thy blessed felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xvj. Psalme FOrsomuch as we are so poore O most déere father of heauen and thou so exceding rich in al things A praier thaâ— we may not perishe by fayth but attayne vnto glory therby â–ª and thy workes most noble and plentiful surely nothing is giuen vnto vs nor any thing at all in our power whereby we may eyther merite or increase thy most blessed estate and felicitie but yet seing that our whole trust and affiaunce dependeth on thée onely we humbly present our selues and fall downe before thy deuine Maiestie beséeching thée to preserue vs from those euils which inuiron compasse vs about on euery side And our heynous sinnes wherewith thou well perceyuest vnto be ouerladen being pardoned graunt that as thou art become our rightful inheritaunce so we may wholâ— set our ioy and delight in thée agaâ—â— and accompt it a most pleasant camely thing to set forth and commend thée onely and none else instruct thou vs counsaile thou vs be thou alwaies before our eies least we swarue at any tyme from the right way so that wee may with great ioy during this mortall life remaine and abide in thée and after the most and glorious resurrection be partakers of those euerlasting perfect pleasures which we beleue do consist onely in thy most mightie will and power through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xvij. Psalme â— praier that â—ur enimies may not get â—he victorie â—uer vs. THy blessed Churche prayeth thée O most mightie God and lifteth vp hir voice daily vnto thy throne beséeching thée to weigh and consider at one time or other hir most righteteous cause wherefore giue eare and haue regarde vnto the prayers which the faythfull sort poure out before thée with an vnfayned heart who knowe verie well that we are laden and burthened with other innumerable sinnes so as we are faine at all tymes humbly to craue pardon of thée for the same but as for those which oure aduersaries doe lay to our charge wée are nothing giltie in them wherefore if thou thy selfe who art a most righteous iudge be examined in this case we knowe nothing can be found that by thy holy worde may be condemned But our whole doing is onely for this ende and purpose that the renuing and setting vp againe of religion and true godlinesse may be aduaunced to the intent thy blessed commaundementes might be duly obserued and thy sacred law with more sinceritie obeyed And whereas this care and studie hath brought vpon vs most extreeme perils yea almost vtter destruction vnlesse thou remoue and turne the same away quite from vs we humbly beséech thée to hold vp and strengthen our goynges in thy pathes with a puyssaunt steadinesse which are otherwise of themselues very slipperie that we may neither stand in doubt nor be discouraged in these kinde of distresses Thou mayest hereby make thy excellent goodnesse O mercifull God to be much marueled and wondered at if thou wilt defende those that trust in thee at a tyme vnlooked for yea thou shalt not onely reuenge vs thy louing seruants by that meanes but thy selfe also forsomuch as they haue chiefly risen vp and beÌ„t themselues against thee Hide vs therefore vnder the shadowe of thy winges and the more prosperous successe that they seeme to haue in their doyngs so that now they hang vpon our neckes like hungry Lions the more a great deale preuent thou their furye and spéedily deliuer and rescue the life of thy faithfull seruauntes out of theyr handes and vnto the same graunt that by acknowledging
ought therefore to haue reioysed in the alone and highly to extoll thy blessed name onely but alas for sorowe we haue beene most vngratefull for all these excellent benefites in flesh and mans power hath bene our onely affiance for we through our most wicked life and vngodly behauiour haue brought thy blessed doctrine which we professe to great infamie and reproche Thou therefore doest cast vs down presently and heapest shame vpon vs we are now in a maner become a praye vnto Antechrist and a mocking stocke vnto our neighbours Thy sacred Gospell O good God is at this present a bye worde vnto the Infidels a scorne vnto the people and a Mayegame vnto euerye rascall we acknowledge that all these thinges haue happened vnto vs by reason of our mischieuous sinnes and that right worthelye But O excellent Father reconcile vs againe vnto thée according to thy mercifull goodnesse and vouchsafe to pardon whatsoeuer we haue very lewdlye and foolishlye committed agaynst thy diuine Maiestie and graunt also that we be not any thing at all forgetfull of thée neither be found false harted or vnfaythful in thy holy couenant Let not our minde at any tyme start and shrinke aside from thy blessed footesteppes although we should be worne to the vttermost and compassed about on euerie side with the shadowe of death Let vs neuer so ouershoote our selues no though we be appoynted as shéepe to the slaughter as to be forgetfull of thy glorious name and to haue recourse vnto detestable worshipings Awake we humbly beséech thée O good God neither slumber nor sléepe thou any more Let not thy face be hidden from our gréeuous afflictions arise and mightily preserue them that are throwne downe and brought verye low whome we doubt not but thou of thy vnspeakeable mercy hast chosen vnto thy selfe through Iesus Christ our lord Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme WOnderfull things are set forth vnto vs in the sacred scriptures O most good and mercifull God of thy excellent mercy and victorious actes which thou hast shewed in old time as touching the strong defence the mightie preseruation and excellent increasing of thy faithfull seruants by hearing whereof we are assuredly perswaded to repose oure whole trust in thée onely and not in our owne strength ryches and power But nowe being sore opprest with the most gréeuous burthen of our heynous sinnes when as we féele the deserued reuengement of thy heauy wrath and fearing more dreadfull paynes and sharpe punishments as men whose consciences do iustly accuse them earnestly require thée who art alwayes verye mercifull to pardon and forgiue whatsoeuer we haue lewdly commitced agaynst thy diuine Maiestie furthermore if thou shalt purpose and determine with thy selfe to vex vs with bitter calamities and wofull miseryes graunt that the same be not the cause we defile the godly awe and reuerence which is due of our partes vnto thée neyther suffer thou vs to haue recourse vnto any other counsels then thine Stirre vp thy selfe therefore and make haste to helpe vs for thou séemest to haue turned away thy fauor from vs while thou prolongest the tyme to be our strong helper And therfore to the intent thy accustomed tender mercy and fauourable goodnesse maye bée manifested and well knowne vouchsafe mightily to deliuer vs from these daungerous perils that inuiron and compasse vs about on euery side through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xlv. Psalme A prayer for saluation purchased vnto vs by Christ WE haue Christ Iesus O moste good and mercifull God an onelye and most ample King to all sortes of good men whose force as it is verie notable so is the throne of hys glorious Empire established for euer His excellent power is inuincible it is garnished with most notable righteousnesse he standeth in highe fauour with thée and is in his vnspeakeable wisedome right glorious The Church is vnto him as a most royall Quéene espoused to the intent she may bring him foorth a most plentifull and holy seede We therefore which ought with all our indeuour to haue honored so mightie a King haue through our naughtinesse and lewde behauiour defiled his excellent name and holy kingdome which we now heartily acknowledge and earnestly confesse before the O most excellent father humbly requiring thy diuine maiestie to pardon and forgiue vs the same that we being receyued into thy louing fauour may féele a fresh the benifits of our good king and although we neyther merite nor deserue the same yet graunt that he may arise in this time of our great distresse be girded about with his two edged sworde and deliuer his déere espoused Church from the violent iniuries and opprobrious slaunders of Antichrist Let him now drawe out the excéeding sharpe darts of his mightie worde and blessed spirit and execute the rodde of seuere iudgement and righteousnesse wherewith he hath béene alwayes accustomed to gouerne his kingdome and at this present verie manifestly to declare that he greatly loueth truth and hateth iniquitie as a most wicked thing through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme THy onely begotten sonne our Lord Iesus Christ O most good and mercifull God is worthie to be commended by all meanes possible that can be deuised who hath aboue all things vttered and set forth him selfe elegantlye and after a beautifull maner in the forme of excellent vertues and shape of pure holinesse vsing a most gentle maner of perswasion both in his teaching and exhortation and bringeth all things vnder his diuine power and omnipotent gouernment through the puissant sworde of his blessed worde and efficacie of his incomparable force who hath from time to time shewed himselfe a verie great louer of righteousnesse a most extreeme enimie of iniquitie But whereas we sinfull wretches as a chast spouse in wedlocke were handfasted to such so puissant a one as he is haue defiled our selues through sundrie and manifolde spottes of corrupt vices Therefore our earnest request is that thou wouldest clense vs with heartie rapentaunce and thy blessed spirit whereby the wicked and lewde desires that bée graffed in vs being once forgotten wée may altogither aspire vnto the loue of this most delectable bridgrome that through our labor layde togither in stéede of our fathers who are now alreadie gathered vnto him manie mo faithfull children maye be begotten vnto him a new wyth whome we may alwayes set out and celebrate his famous honour and moste noble prayses thorowe the selfe same Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the .xlvj. Psalme WHosoeuer doe certainely beléeue thée O most good and mercifull God to be their onely hope and assured strength A prayer for victorie in temptation thou hast béene alwayes very prone readie to helpe them in their great afflictions Wherefore the faithfull are vtterly voyde of all maner of feare although the whole earth be mooued the hilles shake the waues and sourges
prayer out of the same Psalme WEe acknowledge O moste mightie God with howe great a pernicious infection of sinnes wée haue defiled oure mindes which thing séeing that it is most troublesome and excéedingly gréeueth vs neyther can we through our own strength and good workes wash out the spottes alreadie conceyued but this is our onely refuge that we may come vnto thée béeing the well spring of mercye so that thou hauing compassion vpon vs mayest doe away our greeuous offences washe away our deadly iniquities blot out our heinous sinnes and purifie againe our vices wherwith we are wonderfully infected euen froÌ„ our conception and birth For if thou wilt most franklye pardon the misdeedes and wickednesse wherwith we are sore burthened then verily shalt thou appéere to be exceeding true faythfull and most constant in thy faythfull promises Vouchsafe to sprinckle vs with the bloud of thy only begotten sonne by whiche one souereigne thing both the soule and bodie maye bée renued with a marueylous comfortable ioy We earnestly desire a new heart to be created in our bowels and to be indued also with thy most noble spirite to the entent we may not compelled but with right good will offer vnto thee a sacrifice of a troubled and contrite heart which thou neuer vsest to contemne that finally beyng so clensed by thy gracious fauour and louing mercie we maye alwayes offer vnto thée an acceptable sacrifice of thankesgiuing throughe Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Lij Psalme SVch as haue through their owne maliciousnesse preuayled A prayer agaynst all pernicious seducement and by their pernicious factes attayned vnto some aucthoritie are woont to boast arrogantly thereof and haue alwaies had a great delight in cursed words accompting it for the singularest pleasure in the worlde to do hurt to lye to speake very deceyptfully But yet like miserable wretches as they be they doe not in the meane while diligently consider howe sodainly in a time vnlooked for their prosperous estate and such transitorie goodes will be turned vp side downe and they also to haue no porcion at all of eternall saluation in such sort as they shall not haue any place in the land of the liuing But we O almighty and most mercifull God who chiefly trust in thy vnspeakable mercy infinite goodnesse beséech thée that the heynous sinnes being done awaye whereinto we haue through humain inbecility ofteÌ„times falleÌ„ may be of a right lowly mind neither puffed vp with arrogancye through any of thy excellent gifts but by the fall ouerthrow of prowde persons may rightly perceyue that they tooke not God for their inuincible strength and sure defence but riches and worldlye prosperitie Graunt vs wée humbly beséech thée for thy infinite mercie and goodnesse sake stedfastly to repose our whole confidence in thée only and that we may like the leauie and florishing Oliue trée liue fruitfullye in thy sacred Church and magnifie thée as meete it is so to bée bycause thou art moste richely liberall to suche as be thy faythfull and louing seruauntes through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Liij Psalme A prayer for deliueraunce â—ut of trouble through faith WO be vnto the brainsicke lewdnesse of the vngodly which hath burst forth into suche madnesse that they perswade themselues howe there is no God whereby they leade a most filthy life and are defiled thorowout with detestable conditions and most abhominable factes but as they be beneficiall to none so do they séeke their owne things with doing of wrong to other folke But God whome they little set by knoweth these their lewde practises right well who although he filleth the heauens with his Maiestie yet espyeth he out mens wicked and lewde facts amongst whome alas for sorrow he séeth not one truly that setteth hys minde vpon goodnesse faythfulnesse and vprightnesse all haue strayed aside from the right way al oppresse the weaker sort neyther do they vprightly honor God nor truly call vpon his blessed name But the tyme will come when as these that be so carelesse shall be quickned vp with most vehement feare And such as nowe seeme to welter fortunately in their owne wickednesse shall at the last be depriued of all their goodes and feele God to shewe himselfe angrie with them Wherefore oure earnest request is O heauenly father that thou wouldest be fauourable and mercifull to such as flie vnto thée for succour and losen vs from the Chaynes of our gréeuous sinnes wherewith we are fast bound so that we maye be comforted with a right perfect ioy and liue with thee in perpetuall felicitie and most happie blessednesse thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ A prayer out of the Liiij Psalme A prayer for helpe in necessitie against the crueltie of the vngodly AT what time thy faythfull seruants O most good and mercifull God bée tost with doubtfull casualties and their mindes very vnstable through most gréeuous thoughts then laying a side all mans helpe which thou tellest them is altogither vaine and in no wise to be trusted vnto do come vnto thée as their most strong defence calling vpon thy inuincible Godhead and that from the bottome of their heart to deliuer them froÌ„ the outragious vnmerciful and cruel harted who rise vp to assault thy déere saints whome thou hast chosen vnto thy selfe to inherite thy glorious kingdome and so much the more maliciously doe they deale with them and practise all kinde of outrage bicause they neuer sette thée before their eyes whome they ought to haue in great honour and high reuerence Séeing therefore by reason of the heynous sinnes by vs committed we perceyue that deserued tormentes and gréeuous punishments doe hang ouer our heades we require thée to shewe thy lawfull fauour vnto them which make humble intercession who are hartily sorie in that they haue so gréeuously offended thée and for thy infinite mercies sake stand in their defence when their raging and most cruell enimies do assault them for although our merites require it not yet neuerthelesse doth thy assured faithfulnesse stedfast truth and constant promises assure vs the same But hauing atchieued our desires we shall with songes of prayses continually call vpon thée and wil shewe forth our thankefull minde in the ioyfull Congregation of faithfull and godly men through Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same Psalme WE doe continually call vpon thy glorious name O most mightie God to the intent we may find thy present helpe in these extréeme miseries of thy greeuous afflicted Church it is nowe néedefull for thée through thy force inuincible power to rescue vs out of the hands of the vngodlye and take vs vnto thy selfe and although our corrupt maners and wicked life which we haue hitherto led do nothing at all deserue the same yet notwithstanding we knowe thy fauourable mercie to be such that thou wilt not dispise those that flie vnto thée
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
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
mightie God the force of Sathan and all malicious powers who séeke to stop from vs the kingdome of thy déere sonne séeme to augment and increase dayly more more and go about to bring vs in vtter dispaire as though there were no succour nor helpe any more hereafter to be loked for of vs at thy hands albeit wee perceyue that sinne aboundeth much increaseth greatly in vs notwithstanding all this we lift our head hands vnto thée who art our stroÌ„g shield glory desire thee according to thy accustomed mercy to pardoÌ„ and forgiue those things that we haue done amisse and also to giue a fauorable attentyfe eare vnto the prayers supplications which we poure out before thy diuine maiestie that being raised vp from heynous and deadly works and hauing a good affiaunce in thy louing mercy we néede not to feare whole Millions of thine enimies whome now by fayth we knowe thou hast smitten vpon the chéeke bone and dismaied vtterly Graunt O deare Father that we may féele the plentiful abundaunce of thy blessing to be poured vpon vs and be most assuredly perswaded that our saluation dependeth onely vpon thee Through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the fourth Psalme â— prayer for true fayth WE being streightly holdeÌ„ in with great perilles and distresses crie vnto thée O almighty God that thou ayding vs wyth thy puyssaunt helpe wee may at length haue most large pleasant passage out of the afflictions of this world We acknowledge our selues to bée vnworthie of thy assistaunce bycause we haue verie often gréeuously declyned from thée but our humble petition and earnest request is that thou wouldest vouchsafe not to regarde euerie particuler and seuerall worke of oures but the worthinesse of the cause And forsomuch as O God thou thy selfe art accustomed to shew and approue in euerie point the righteousnesse of thy blessed word defend vpholde nowe mightily thy high renowmed honor and Gospell and vs also who according to thy will and pleasure are corrected and chastised This is it that we bewaile and lament presently before thée that the mightie puissaunt of this world being vnited togither go about by all the meanes they can to defate the glory of thy sacred gospel and pure religion yea and vtterly to subuerf it by meanes of their foolishe deuises and vayne hopes which of themselues they haue imagined I would it were thy pleasure O high and mightie God openly to shewe and make manifest the bewtie of thy true Church vnto them which thou hast picked out and chosen for thy selfe and which also thou hearest so often as it praieth calleth faithfully vpon thée So they should peraduenture vnderstand so should they be rather moued haue a verie great regard they offeÌ„d it not They would perhaps weigh with themselues yea euen in their bed they would consider what a regarde they ought to haue vnto â—t and so peraduenture they would be in quiet and perswaded to offer wysh it the Sacrifices of true righteousnesse where as now being altogither blinde they wishe nothing more then to satisfie their madnesse outrage against the same and estéeme it an high felicitie to subuert and vtterly ouerthrow the true church But so many of vs O good God as honor worship thy diuine maiesty in spirite truth haue verie often prayed to thee for these our cruel enimies yea when any good and prosperous things happened vnto theÌ„ we did hartily reioyce Graunt therefore for thy infinite mercies sake that we may at the last lyue peaceably and in quiet by them vouchsafe also I saye that reposing oure selues onely in thée and assuredly stayed on thy faithfull couenaunt and promise wée maye dwell with thée in safetie without feare through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen An other prayer out of the same psalme O Mightie God from whom coÌ„meth all oure righteousnesse who of thy goodnesse art wont to giue eare to those the crye earnestly vnto thée and bring them out of straightnes aduersity into a swéete state of fréedome libertie we humbly beséeche thée not to despise thy faithfull seruaunts the cry and cal vnto thée for help nor suffer our glory which is true and perfect godlinesse to be brought into contempt of anye although he be a great potentate and mightie ruler of this world We haue in déede sinned against thee yea that verie gréeuouslye but neuerthelesse of thy infinite mercie clemency prouide that vanity and lying ouercome vs not nor yet preuaile any thing at all against vs but as thou hast elected chosen vnto thy selfe those whom thou wilt haue saued so graunt that the grace and fauor of thy louing countenance may in such wise shine vpoÌ„ vs as we may be glad and reioyce euen at the prosperitie and welfare of our enimies vouchsafe O good Father that we being grounded on an excellent and perfite fayth maye take very great pleasure in thée only and trusting also in thy mightie protection maye dwell safely in thée and with thée through Iesus Christ oure Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the fift Psalme A prayer against false Prophets and enimies of the truth WE flie daylie vnto thée in oure prayers O almightie God and doe earely in the morning direct and laye forth our petitions before thy diuine maiestye as those who be not ignoraunt that thou hatest iniquitie and doest marueylously detest sinne wherof although we may not denie but that wee are guiltie for we feele our selues to be laden therewyth aboue measure yet doe we flie and approch vnto thée for succor trusting most assuredly in thy excéeding plentifull goodnesse and clemencie We beséeche thée to pardon and forgiue vs whatsoeuer we haue sinned and committed agaynst thee and leade vs hereafter in thy righteousnesse and innocencie least the aduersaries of our saluation in whom verily there is no part whole and sounde but all full of viciousnesse preuayle against vs let their counsels and deuises be of none effect and cause their force and layings awaite to be vtterly consumed and brought to naught so that we thy déere and faythfull children may perfitely reioyce whilest thou doest defend nourishe and compasse vs about with thy fauourable kindnesse us with a shield Through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer out of the sixt Psalme SO it is A prayer in distresse that we deserue wythout fayle O most mightie God by reason of the euilles and infinite sinnes we haue committed to be gréeuously and sharpely chastised at thy handes Yet we beseeche thée trusting in thy excellent and excéeding great mercie not to chastise vs in thy furious wrath and whot indignation who tremble O good Father and are almost deade whilst wée consider on the one side our owne sinnes and on the other side thy iustice therefore we beséeche thée that thou wylt not as we haue iustly deserued thrust vs downe into the pit bicause we can there neyther
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
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