Godly Prayers out of Davids Psalms, Prayers based on Psalms · Psalm 44 – Psalm 50
¶ A prayer out of the .xliiij. Pſalme.
prayer in …ſecution, …el againſt …porall eni…es as ſpi…all.THou haſt of thy ſinguler goodneſſe (O moſt mightie God) choſen thée a Church out of many nations, planted with thy puyſſaunt hand, and not by mans force, which beyng (thorowe thy ſinguler fauour and bleſſed ſpirite) clenſed and pourged from hir heinous ſinnes, hath hitherto eſcaped the miſchieuous aſſaultes of the cruell deuill, through thy mightie ayde and ſtrong defence: thou haſt alwayes preſerued it from hir outragious aduerſaryes, and put them to vtter ſhame & endleſſe rebuke which bore deadly hate thereto. We ought therefore to hauehave reioyſed in the alone, and highly to extoll thy bleſſed name onelyonly: but alas for ſorowe, we hauehave beene moſt vngratefull for all theſe excellent benefites, in fleſh and mans power hath bene our onelyonly affiance, for we (through our moſt wicked life and vngodly behauiour) hauehave brought thy bleſſed doctrine which we profeſſe, to great infamie and reproche. Thou therefore doeſt caſt vsus down preſently, and heapeſt ſhame vponupon vsus: we are now in a maner become a praye vntounto Antechriſt, and a mocking ſtocke vntounto our neighbours. Thy ſacred Goſpell (O good God) is at this preſent a bye worde vntounto the Infidels, a ſcorne vntounto the people, and a Mayegame vntounto euerye raſcall: we acknowledge that all theſe thinges hauehave happened vntounto vsus by reaſon of our miſchieuous ſinnes, and that right worthelye. But (O excellent Father) reconcile vsus againe vntounto thée (according to thy mercifull goodneſſe) and vouchſafe to pardon whatſoeuer we hauehave 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 vsus 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 hauehave recourſe vntounto 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 vntounto thy ſelfe, through Ieſus Chriſt our lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
WOnderfull things are ſet forth vntounto vsus 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 onelyonly, 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 hauehave lewdly commitced agaynſt thy diuine Maieſtie: furthermore, if thou ſhalt purpoſe and determine with thy ſelfe to vex vsus 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 vntounto thée: neyther ſuffer thou vsus to hauehave recourſe vntounto any other counſels then thine. Stirre vp thy ſelfe therefore, and make haſte to helpe vsus: for thou ſéemeſt to hauehave turned away thy fauor from vsus, 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 vsus from theſe daungerous perils that inuiron and compaſſe vsus about on eueryevery ſide, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xlv. Pſalme.
A prayer for ſaluation purchaſed vntounto vsus by Chriſt.WE hauehave 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 vntounto 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 hauehave honored ſo mightie a King, hauehave (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 vsus 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 onelyonly 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 vnderunder 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, hauehave defiled our ſelues through ſundrie and manifolde ſpottes of corrupt vices. Therefore our earneſt requeſt is, that thou wouldeſt clenſe vsus with heartie rapentaunce and thy bleſſed ſpirit, whereby the wicked and lewde deſires that bée graffed in vsus, being once forgotten, wée may altogither aſpire vntounto the louelove of this moſt delectable bridgrome, & that through our labor layde togither in ſtéede of our fathers, who are now alreadie gathered vntounto him, manie mo faithfull children maye be begotten vntounto 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 onelyonly 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 of the ſea doe ſo outragiouſly beate vppon the ſhore, that all things may ſéeme incontinent to be deſtroyed and quite ouerflown with waters: and on the other ſide they are indued with a great and notable aſſuraunce, when as thou refreſheſt them in their grieuous diſtreſſes, with the moſt pleaſaunt riuers of thy heauenly conſolations, namelye in ſetting out the rare and wonderfull meanes of thy aſſiſtant helpe through thy fruitfull ſpirit. VponUpon which thy excellent goodneſſe, we alſo hauing aſſured confidence, notwithſtanding the innumerable ſinnes which we confeſſe to be the chiefe cauſe why we hauehave offended thee moſt gréeuouſly, require that thou wouldſt ſhake and make feeble the Nations and Kingdomes which thou ſeeſt doe reſiſt thy ſacred Churche with great violence, and moſt craftie deuices: ſhew forth that voyce of thine wherewith the earth and euerye creature therin are woont to be ſhaken and vtterly brought to naught. Be thou (O our God) as a moſt ſtrong and vnuincible Tower vntounto vsus: cauſe thou warres here to ceaſſe, and make thou ſpeares, horſe, charets, and all kinde of weapons blunt, that they may finally leaue of their lewde enterpriſes, who mightily fight agaynſt vsus, and ſhewe thou thy ſelfe great and excellent aboue all things, while thou doeſt manifeſt thy ſelfe to be better for our deliueraunce then all the armies and puyſſance of the whole worlde, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
AFter what ſort ſoeuer a very ſodaine or horrible miſhappe (O moſt mightie God) ſhall ſore vex vsus, our hope ſhall not faile vsus, neyther will we be any thing diſmaied or troubled, ſéeing we are now fully reſolued that thou art our onelyonly helper and deliuerer: although the whole worlde be moued, the ſtormes of humaine fleſh do ſwell, and that all the Deuils of hell with their whole furniture ſhoulde ſéeme to ſhake all thinges of ours, yet do we repoſe and ſettle our ſelues in thy vnſpeakeable goodneſſe, and inuincible power. Oure ſinnes truely deſerue all maner of trouble and enmitie: but forgiue thou vsus them, (according to thy accuſtomed goodneſſe) and pitiyng our preſent calamities, graunt that ſuch as vnfeynedly call vponupon thee, may enioy health, peace, and quietneſſe of minde: for thou canſt very eaſily diſappoynt and breake the ſwordes, bow, warlike ingines, and all the craftie deceyptes and imaginations of the Deuill, not onelyonly through thy moſt mightie and inuincible worde, but alſo euen with a becke, and at thy onelyonly will and pleaſure: our earneſt requeſt is (O good God) to applie our ſelues here vntounto that wee maye attentiuely beholde thoſe marueylous actes which thou doeſt for thy faithfull ſeruauntes, whereby all Nations maye right well knowe and perceyue that thou takeſt our part, and determineſt to bée a continuall helper, of thy bleſſed people, throughe Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xlvij. Pſalme.
A prayer for the good ſuc…eſſe and in…reaſment of …he Goſpell.THou haſt vouchedfafe (O moſte mightie God) to gather and collect a Churche vntounto thy ſelfe on earth, which thou haſt not conueyed into ſtonie houſes, or Temples of Marble, but into the liuely hearts of men, whome thou deckeſt and garniſheſt with thy moſt wonderfull giftes, and doeſt polliſhe the ſame paſſing well with the holy Ghoſt: and therefore ſéeing they be indued with ſo great a rewarde, it behoueth all faythful people to make an excéeding pleaſant mirth and ioyfull gladneſſe. But the moſt deadly and heynous ſinnes which we hauehave committed, doe greatly darken theſe thankes giuings and mery ſongs, who are worthily verye ſore oppreſſed with the afflictions of them: and ſeing we heartily acknowledge and earneſtly confeſſe that we hauehave hitherto gone aſtray, and ſuffer none otherwiſe then we hauehave moſt iuſtly deſerued: thou that art very merciemercy it ſelfe, forgiue thy faythfull people, and thou alſo who art moſt highe, and ruleſt farre and néere, deſtroy vsus not according to our merits. Graunt (O excellent father) that our naughtie and lewd behauiours hinder not the propagation of thy glorious kingdom: ariſe and go forwards by cauſing ſtraūge people to be in ſubiection to the fayth, and make thoſe Nations (which hauehave béene hitherto Infidels) obedient to thy ſacred worde: and thou who haſt choſen thée a Church as a moſt notable and famous heritage, magnifie thy ſelfe continually by al meanes and with moſt exquiſite prayſes therein, in ſuch wiſe as all men maye accompt, preach, and exalt thée for their king: but as for thy faythfull ſeruants who now ſéeme to be aboue all others moſt caſt awayes, lighten them in ſuch wiſe with thy bleſſed ſpirit, and rule them ſo by thy holy worde, as all men may perceyue that they be guyded and gouerned by thy mightye power. And vouchſafe that the ſouereigne eſtates and what power ſoeuer is in the world, may at length be annexed and knit vntounto thée, that thou be none otherwiſe their God then thou wert in olde time the God of faythfull Abraham. Graunt that the kings and princes who ought of duetie to helpe and defende their ſubiectes, may perfectly acknowledge thée, whereby thy famous honour and renowmed glorie maye moſt brightly ſhine therein to the ſinguler benefite of thy ſacred Church, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
IT behoueth all faithfull people (O moſt good and gracious God) to extoll and aduaunce the kingdome of Chriſt with an excéeding ioy, wonderfull gladneſſe, and moſt hartie endeuour: for ſo thy vnſpeakeable goodneſſe is both mightily declared, and we alſo are come to the full attainement of our ſaluation. Surely it is verye requiſite that all people & Nations ſhould be in ſubiection to his gouernment, and the worlde ſhall go beſt on our ſide, who be his peculier heritage, and eſpecial flock. We heartily require thée therefore (O our moſt puyſſaunt king) who art exalted into the high heauens, and vntounto the right hand of thy father to vouchſafe for to acquire vsus of the heynous faultes we hauehave gréeuouſly committed, and whatſoeuer ſorrowfull calamities and ſtraunge miſhaps be like to fall vponupon vsus, put them of from our ſhoulders through thy ineſtimable merciemercy and mightie power, whereby thou thy ſelfe alone mayeſt beare rule and reigne in our mindes. And graunt that all kinges, all princes and great ſtates that hauehave aucthoritie vponupon earth, may vnſeperably cleaue vntounto thée being the rightfull and moſt true God, throughe Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xlviij. Pſalme.
THy excellent Maieſtie and excéeding honour (O moſte good and mercifull God) aboundeth greatly in the Church,A prayer f… the chriſtia… Church a… congregati… ſeeing that thou doeſt mightilye rule hir with thy ſacred worde and holye ſpirite, neyther art thou marueylouſly prayſed there onelyonly: but what comlineſſe or perfect ioy ſoeuer is in the whole worlde, it iſſueth and procéedeth doubtleſſe from thée. And forſomuch as thou art farre better knowne there then any where elſe, it commeth hereof, that thou art in the ſame place a ſure defence and moſte ſtrong fortreſſe to thy faythfull ſeruauntes. Let the kinges therefore aſſemble togither, and the princes conſpire (as they thinke good) vtterly to ſubuert and ouerthrow hir, yet ſhall they be inforced to leaue of their fonde deuices, as who at the féeling of thy mighty power preſent (being ſtriken with excéeding feare) muſt néedes ceaſſe from their wicked attempts: for ſuch as thou ſtrykeſt a feare into, they are ouertaken wyth ſorrowe as women laboring of childe. Wherefore (O good God) ſuffer not our heynous ſinnes to excéede & ſurmount thy vnſpeakable goodneſſe: we truely hauehave offended thée verye gréeuouſly (neyther doe we denie the ſame) but togither with oure heynous ſinnes wée acknowledge alſo thy excéeding great mercy, which we ſéeke for with ſorowfull teares, that we may at length be reconciled vntounto thée, not for our owne deſerts, but through the ineſtimable goodneſſe, louing fauour, and bening grace of thy deere ſonne: and graunt that the fierce enimies of thy bleſſed Church may in likewiſe come to vtter ruine, as ſhippes are oftentymes torne amiddeſt the ſea through the very great and excéeding hideous noyſe of the wind which is ſodenlye ſtirred vp: ſo that like as wée hauehave heard with our eares thy moſt large promiſes ſet forth and preached out of the holy Scriptures, ſo we may alſo with our eyes ſée them mightily come to paſſe and be performed. We hauehave alreadie conceyued an aſſured hope and ſtedfaſt confidence by thoſe thinges which are ſet out vntounto vsus in thy moſt bleſſed worde, now graunt (wée humbly beſéech thée) that the thing maye take ſo good ſucceſſe, as through the publiſhing of thy glorious name and goodneſſe, incontinent after the performaunce of thy excellent benefites, we may with great ſolemnitie render due thankes for the ſame. And to the intent it maye be eueryevery where knowne, that whatſoeuer procéedeth from thée, is nothing elſe but vpright iuſtice: be thou our God, euen our God I ſay, both ſo long as we here liue, and alſo euerlaſtingly, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
ALl creatures (O moſt good and mercifull God) doe plainelye and euidentlye acknowledge thy great goodneſſe: but thy ſacred Church is the eſpecial worke wherin thou art ſingularlye preached and magnified. From thence all the whole worlde receyueth gladneſſe, for ſo much as the ſounde doctrine is there, wherby both thou thy ſelfe art manifeſtly knowne, & we alſo called to heauen, for what moſt pleaſaunt, ioyful, and bleſſed thing ſo euer can be had vppon earth, it floriſheth there. And therefore no maruell is it, though the aduerſaries force rageth againſt hir with cruell threatning, outragious madneſſe, and furious violence: if thou be at hande without delay, thou doeſt maintain, fauor, and defend it in ſuch wiſe, that the mighty rulers of the worlde, and princes of darkeneſſe are inforced will they nill they to be ſore troubled to runne hedlong away, & to be marueylouſly diſquieted with excéeding great feare. Their impotent threatnings are vtterly diſapoynted through thy mighty power: but there thy faithfull ſeruants are vnburthened of their heauie cares and ſadde gréefes, which benifites of thine we now and then féele not, bicauſe we fall excéeding miſerably and meruelous painfullye into ſundrie and manifolde faults, being driuen therto partly by infirmitie, and partly through ignoraunce. By this ſo great honor of thy glorious houſe, we humbly beſéech thée therefore to blot out whatſoeuer we hauehave committed againſt thée, to the intent that thou thy ſelfe mayſt rule and gouerne vsus in the ſame Church, to the glory of thy moſt excellent name, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xlix. Pſalme.
WE heartily require thée (O moſt mightie God) that fayth may be annixed to ye doctrine of thy holy Ghoſt,A praier that we abuſe not temporall goodes. when as being greeuouſlye afflicted through the naughtie behauiour of our outragious enimies, we maye duely way this with our ſelues, that they ſtay moſt vponupon their tranſitorie riches and welth wherein they much abounde: for they verilye perceyue not that men can by no riches in this world redeme themſelues from death and eternall damnation. Bridle thou (O excellent father) our affections, in ſuch wiſe that no fraile things take any place at all in vsus. Let the common infirmity and miſerie which is wholy ſowne in ſuch as we be, admoniſh vsus, or elſe verie death yt ſpreadeth it ſelfe ouer all people, how wiſe or fooliſh ſoeuer men be, they can in no ſort ſo mocke death, as alwayes to kéepe and inioy the goods they hauehave gotten in this wreched world. We alſo doe plainly confeſſe, that we hauehave oftentimes fallen on this behalfe, who, truſting in worldlye ſtrength, were perſwaded of wonderfull victories, pompes, & triumphes, as though our names ſhoulde hauehave beene exalted aboue all meaſure. Neyther did we well conſider that a good fortune, and proſperous ſucceſſe of the fleſhe, endureth but a time, and ſo many as hauehave aſſured confidence in them, ſhall periſhe at length lyke beaſtes, and are put into hell, and inpriſoned vnderunder an euerlaſting night. Forgiue vsus (O good God) this heynous crime, that putting awaye and caſting aſide all vayne hope of worldly welth, thou thy ſelfe mayſt take vsus vp into thy tuition, and rayſe vsus from eternal death and the paines of Hell. Graunt that we ſtande in no feare at all of them, who hauehave greatly increaſed themſelues and their houſes with riches and honor, all which things are but commodious onelyonly for this preſent life, that they might be the better able to follow the ſenſuall appetite of their fleſhly luſtes. Finally, wée humbly require thée (O good God) to deliuer thy bleſſed church from theſe outragious enimies which hauehave not this perceyueraunce, as to vnderſtande that the honor and authoritie they hauehave, is giuen them of God, whoe dye not onelyonly like ſenſeleſſe beaſtes, but (being depriued of their worldly goods) ſhall after this wretched life, ſuffer eternall puniſhment, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
THe renowmed oracles of the ſacred doctrine which thou haſt vouched ſafe to ſet out in the holye ſcriptures, ought men (O mightie God) well to conſider with moſt attentiue mindes: yea, there is no man ſo ignoraunt, or any of ſo high degree, but it behoueth him verie diligentlye, to ponder and waye the excellent things that thou ſpeakeſt. And this thou chiefly admoniſheſt vsus off, that we hauehave not that confidence in the pleaſures of this world, (being verie vayne and frayle) which wée ought to repoſe in thee only. What thing ſoeuer is wonderfull, puiſſaunt, excéeding ſtrong, meruailous excellent, or verye honourable amongſt men, are of no force to redéeme and deliuer vsus from death: but ſuch is their propertie and condicion, that they are quicly chaunged, & periſh in the twinckling of an eie: neyther may the man which hath his whole affiaunce in theſe, abide anye while in honor. For ſo ſoone as they wither and periſh, ſo ſone alſo doth their counterfeit renowne fade away. Wherefore we earneſtly require thée (O good father) to forgiue vsus, bycauſe we hauehave 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 ye 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 vsus 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 vsus, 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 hauehave hartily promiſed, and with feruent zeale vowed vntounto 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 vsus to inuocate and call vponupon 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) hauehave hitherto moſt wretchedly and vnhappily ſinned, who hauehave 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 vntounto vsus, and we hauehave euerye where (through our moſte wicked luſtes) neglected thy ſacred commaundementes. Now therfore (for thy ſinguler merciemercy and infinite goodneſſe ſake) pardon and forgiue vsus theſe our miſdéedes, and mightily deliuer vsus 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 vsus be haryed thus violently of them, as thoughe there were none that coulde or would deliuer vsus, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.