Godly Prayers out of Davids Psalms, Prayers based on Psalms · Psalm 57 – Psalm 66
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
SEing that thy bleſſed Church (O moſte mightie God) is ſo vexed with the cruell enimies of thy glorious name and bleſſed doctrine, we repoſe our whole confidence in thee onelyonly, and flie for ſuccor vnderunder the ſhadowe of thy wings: we acknowledge and confeſſe that it is our partes to direct oure ſupplications parpetually vntounto thée, when thou only and none elſe art able to redreſſe our good cauſe. We doe not denie but that our deſerts are marueylous wicked, inſomuch as we ſhould verye iuſtly be altogither deſtroyed with theſe preſent calamyties: who hauehave nothing faythfully performed that which in name and outwarde ſhewe hath béene of vsus profeſſed. But it is thy nature, O good God, (forſomuche as thou art mercy and very goodneſſe it ſelfe) not to caſt off thoſe which flie vntounto thée for ſuccour. Sende downe thy ayding hande from heauē (we humble beſech thee) wherby thou mayſt deliuer thy faythfull people from the reproches of vngodly and wicked perſons. The Antichriſtians rore againſt thy bleſſed Church like Lyons, and theyr hote burning furie agaynſt thy holy worde increaſeth dayly more and more. Shewe forth thy ſelfe therefore (O excellent father) and cauſe thy glorie wherewith thou art renowmed aboue all other, to be manifeſtly knowen. Rende the nettes, fill vppe the ditches, and make the deceiptes of none effect, which they practiſe agaynſt the ſacred Goſpell, whereby our minde may daylye more and more be ſtrengthned heartily to confeſſe, couragiouſly to extoll, and aboue all thinges to exalt thy wonderfull prayſes vnceſſauntlye, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lviij. Pſalme.
…ayer a…ſt our …rall de…ngs frō … & crafty …ges a…e of the …dly.THe princes of this wretched world (O moſte mightie God) doe gréeuouſly aſſault thy bleſſed Church, bicauſe ſounde and vpright iudgement is not giuen vppon diuine and heauenly things, by ſuch as continually imagine miſchiefe in their mindes, and onelye practiſe violence againſt thy elect and choſen ſeruaunts. But howe ſhould they doe otherwiſe, that euen from their mothers wombe are borne wicked into this worlde, and hauehave a moſt noyſome venime (like vntounto poyſon of Ser…ents) naturally graffed in them, which c…uld neuer by any exhortations or friendly …arnings at gods hand be taken out of the…: for they put thoſe thinges after none o…her ſort from them, then doe the deafe Adders that ſhunne the charmes of the Charmers. Our heynous ſinnes therefore hauehave verye well deſerued that the outragious enimies of thy fayth & doctrine ſhould afflict vsus, which nowe we both hartily confeſſe, and alſo (for thy infinite mercies ſake) earneſtly require thée to pardon and forgiue. Furthermore we feruently deſire this at thy mercifull handes, that thou wouldeſt breake in péeces and gnaſhe the Lions téeth, to the intent they may ſhed away as water, and be like broken ſhaftes, neyther let thoſe men hurt thy faythfull ſeruauntes any more, but cauſe them to wither awaye as a Snaile in hir ſhell, and be weake as the vntimely fruite of a woman. And finally, let their outrage fade away euen ſo eaſily as a flame made of thornes is quenched. But chéere thou vp (O good God) thy faithfull ſeruaunts, who (ſéeing the great reuengementes which thou thy ſelfe takeſt vppon the ſworne aduerſaries of thy bleſſed religion) may right well perceyue that thou haſt a reward laid vp in ſtore for thy faythfull beléeuers, and let their well doing be eſtabliſhed, when as they ſhall aſſuredly know and perfectly vnderſtand that thou executeſt ſtreight iudgement vponupon the earth, through Ieſus chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
ANtichriſt with all his adherentes doe imagin none other thing in their mind agaynſt thy ſacred Church (O moſt good and merciful God) then miſchiefe and moſt wicked deuices: but whereas they make a goodly ſhewe to the intent they woulde be accompted godly and religious, yet in very deede they imagine nothing but lyes, going aſtray from thée, euen from their birth, hauing alwayes hitherto marueylous great delight in erronious thinges. Nowe at length are they deſirous to ſpewe out and caſt forth their venome which they (like the Adder) hauehave kept in a readineſſe, neyther could they ſo be charmed with the ſayings of the holy Scriptures, as to ceaſſe from their owne lewde deſires. Surely (O heauenly father) we are not they that deſerue not to be deſtroyed by them for oure euill déedes and lewde behauiour, for ſomuch as (through thy excellent mercy) we hauehave wel knowen the waye of truth and life, albeit we hauehave cōtinually ſtarted aſide therefro, & giuen our ſelues to vaine ymaginations & wicked deſires. But deale thou with vsus according to the glorie & honor of thy name, and vouchſafe to yéelde vntounto vsus not that which we hauehave deſerued, but that which by thy promiſes behight vsus. Ouerthrowe, grinde to powder, and vtterly make voyde the ſubtile deuices, outragious force, and deuiliſhe power of the enimies of thy glorious name and ſincere doctrine, ſo that the godly may perfectly reioyce when as they ſée thée take their cauſe in hande, and ſhall perceyue that their is ſome fruite of righteouſneſſe, while thou dealeſt by vpright iudgement, through Ieſus Chriſt our lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
THe behauiours of the wicked (O moſt mighty God) are ſo corrupt and naughtie, that verye little wholſomneſſe or none at all can ſeeme to be in their decrées: they practiſe deceyts, they offer wrong, and now from their childhood hauehave both fallen from thée, & alſo liue in ſubiection to their owne cākred maliciouſnes: in fiercenes, in hardneſſe of heart, in furious moode, in outrage of minde & in vnbrideled crueltie, they may be likned vntounto ſtinging Serpents, roring Lyons, & ſuch kinde of rauenous beaſtes: therefore (we earneſtly require thée) not to ſuffer vsus for to fall as our heynous ſinnes hauehave iuſtly deſerued, into ſuch an extréeme madneſſe, that (forſaking thee who art the Well & Fountaine of all good things) we may put our truſt & cōfidence in them, neither permitting vsus to followe their lewde decrées & fond fantaſies, which were ſo perillous a thing as the other. Cauſe vsus (we humbly require thée) to diſſent wholy from them, & in the meane time let their power in doing any hurt be vtterly abated, ſo that as men altogither vnarmed, althoughe their deſire to do miſchiefe be not aſwaged, yet both habilitie and knowledge to fulfill their wicked deſire and extréeme egerneſſe be quite taken from them. Confound thou in the turning of a hande their lewde deuices, & cauſe the Congregation of the faithfull greatly to triumph, when as they may right well perceyue that thou both rendereſt the fruit of righteouſneſſe to the righteous, and alſo takeſt puniſhement of the vngodly, according to their wretched and lewde deſertes, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lix. Pſalme.
OVr earneſt requeſt is (O moſte mightie God) that thou onelye wouldeſt be our ſpéedie deliuerer,A prayer agaynſt the Phariſies and falſe pr… phets. when as the extreeme enimies of thy ſacred doctrine and pure religion doe gréeuouſly oppreſſe vsus: nowe it apperteyneth vntounto thee for to defend vsus frō naughty perſons, who gape much for our deſtruction, and hauehave augmented theyr force and power with great and huge conſpiracies, to wipe out thy holye ones from off the earth. They do perſecute vsus nothing at all for our heynous faultes and miſchieuous déedes, whereof we acknowledge and confeſſe that we hauehave committed many, but they runne vponupon vsus for hatred they onelye beare to ſincere godlineſſe and perfect religion, to the intent they would both craftily & with extréeme violence furniſhe themſelues to our deſtruction. But thou (O good God) who haſt dominion ouer all creatures, firſt pardon whatſoeuer we hauehave wickedlye committed againſt thée: then ſtirre vp thy ſelfe, and at length diſcuſſe the cauſe of the godly. Our moſt cruel enimies go to and fro, they grenne like Doggs and runne aboute in all Countries, for, when they ſpeake anye thing of oure matters, ſwordes and weapons onelyonly are in theyr lippes, but thou (O good God) ſhalt laugh theſe men to ſcorne and hauehave them in great diriſion: we attend and looke for helpe altogither at thy mercifull handes, who art our mightie Tower and moſte ſtrong defence. Let thy ſacred Church be ſuch a partaker of thy wonderfull and vnſpeakeable goodneſſe, as ſhe may ſée hir deſire vponupon the enimies of all righteouſneſſe. Slay not theſe men after an accuſtomable maner, but deſtroy them vtterlye in ſuch a ſort as thy bleſſed people may not lightly forgette the ſame: cauſe thou them to become runagates & beggers for euer, by reaſon of their abhominable vices, blaſphemous lyes, and curſed periuries, wherewith they are be wrapped and abound greatly: conſume thou ſuch maner of men at length, bring them to naught I ſay, as they may become a laughing ſtocke and by word vntounto eueryevery man, to the intent all people may aſſuredly know and right well perceyue that thou ſheweſt thy ſelfe a very God vntounto thy bleſſed Church, wherein thou oughteſt to bée highly magnified as a firme defence, and moſt ſtrong ayde for all ſuch as will vnfeinedly inuocate and call vponupon thy glorious name, throughe Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
WE being hedged in (O moſt mightie God) through humaine infirmitie, and bound in conſcience with the chaynes of moſt heauie ſinnes, do continually with right great lamentation, call vponupon thy vnſpeakable merciemercy, wherewith thou mayeſt willingly and gently bowe downe thy fauourable eare to our humble peticions: the force of our outragious enimies doth wonderfully aſſault, marueylouſly inuade, and greatly oppreſſe vsus, but ſeing yt the ſtrēgth of our nature vtterly falleth in this behalf, and ſheweth it ſelfe altogither vnuaylable, ariſe thou (O God) and ouerthrowe by thy mightie puyſſaunce, whatſoeuer ſhall bée repugnant to our ſaluation, and finally deride and mock ſuch a one as hath a greater pleaſure to reſiſt thy bleſſed will, then to ſubmit himſelfe therevnto as méete it is he ſhould ſo doe. We hauehave repoſed the whole ſtrength of our welfare in thée onelyonly, hauing no miſtruſt but that thou art oure chiefe goodneſſe and moſt mercifull God: although therefore the fierce enimies of thy glorious name compaſſe vsus about, and after a ſort beſiege vsus with the darke and obſcure blindneſſe which they ſhead, we (truſting in thy excellent goodneſſe) hope that the malicious wickedneſſe they hauehave imagined, ſhall not fall on vsus, but light vponupon their owne neckes: wherfore let thy ineſtimable goodneſſe (according to our aſſured hope) be in ſtéed of a ſtrong fortreſſe, puyſſaunt refuge, and mightie Bulwarke vntounto vsus, who are wonderfull deſirous to celebrate and ſet forth thy excéeding great honor and vnſpeakable mercy, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lx. Pſalme.
THou haſt vſed oftentimes (O moſt good and mercifull God) to chaſtice thy déere children with a fatherly correction,A prayer for Gods helpe in neceſſitie. ſo that they béeing at length brought low through vnfortunate miſhappes, and broken with miſeryes, may right well perceyue and vnderſtand that they hauehave ſinned greatly, who aſpiring with all their indeuour to come vntounto thée, may much couet to be deliuered from theſe abhominable vices wherewith they were before excedingly ouerwhelmed: there doeſt thou yeelde thy ſelfe againe, being altogither appeaſed and at attonement with them. Wherefore we humbly require thée (O heauenly father) that thou wouldſt in like maner keepe ſtill with vsus this thy auncient couenaunt, and vouchſafe to take thy poore humble ſuters which fly vntounto thee for ſuccour, from their gréeuous ſorowes and lamentable miſeries that our heinous ſinnes doe dayly purchaſe vntounto vsus: which we miſtruſt not but will come to paſſe, forſomuch as we be nothing doubtfull but ſuch things as thou haſt promiſed ſhall not fade out of our remembraunce. For thys cauſe chiefly is our minde much reuiued, hereby we be well cheered, and finally by this wée are certainly perſwaded that wée (which ſéemed in tymes paſt, and that lately to be reiected of thée) are nowe in verye déede and that wholy receyued into thy louing fauour. Procéede and go forwarde therefore to ſuccour vsus, ſo that we béeyng furthered by thy mighty defence, may boldly and manfully go thorow with the matter, to the glorie of thy bleſſed name, by Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
THou ſéemeſt verye often (O moſt good and merciful God) to put back thy faithfull ſeruauntes from thee, and being in a maner ſore angrie with theſe men, doeſt ſcatter them abroade into diuers partes of the worlde: but thou comforting thy bleſſed people againe with thy excéeding great clemencie, boweſt downe thy fauour and louing kindneſſe afreſhe towardes them: by meanes whereof our hope is renued in vsus, that (ſeing it hath ſéemed good vntounto thee to moue the lande in this our age, and to diſmay the inhabiters thereof with a newe and extraordinarie feare) thou wilt alſo heale hir gréeuous wounds. And although it be thy good will now and then to vex thy faythfull people with hard and moſt bitter miſhappes, in like wiſe as if thou ſhouldeſt giuegive them a poyſoned cup to drinke of: yet notwithſtanding, thou rayſeſt vp the banner of ſaluation vnlooked for, vntounto ſuch as dayly feare and perfectly honor thee, to the intent that thy louing promiſes being aſſuredly performed, they may lead their life verye proſperouſly vnderunder the ſame: nowe therefore turne thou alway thy eyes from the ſinnes we hauehave moſt greeuouſly committed: for we denie not but that we hauehave done very wickedly and peruerſely, but for ſo much as (of thy infinite mercy fake) thou wilt pardon and quite forgiue ſuch as vnfeynedly call vponupon thee, finally ayde thou thy beloued Church according to thy accuſtomed vſe, and mightily preſerue hir with thy puyſſant right hande. But go thou O good God (which ſeemeſt to hauehave forſaken thy bleſſed people for a time) nowe forth with vsus, and rayſe vp thy ſelfe to be our readie helper, for we craue not thy fauourable ayde without iuſt cauſe, who hauehave learned euen by experience it ſelfe, that mans power and ſtrength is but a vaine thing to ſtay by. Be thou therefore a preſent ſuccour vntounto thoſe which repoſe their whole truſt and confidence in thée: graunt that they may deale manfully & doe mightie actes, ſo that they may by thy meanes get the victorie ouer their moſt cruell and outragious enimies, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxj. Pſalme.
A prayer for conſtant …ith in chriſt …eſus.OVr earneſt and feruent deſire is, O moſt good and mercifull God, that as thou art in déede a ſinguler good father and wonderfull mercifull vntounto vsus, ſo thou wouldſt heare the lamentable cries which we poure out before thée, by reaſon of the excéeding heauineſſe wee are oppreſſed withall, and for the gréeuous temptations we indure, ſuffer not thy beloued ſeruaunts, miſerably to periſhe, in whome the deuill goeth about to quenche and burie thy benigne grace and eſpeciall good giftes. Permit vsus therefore to hauehave a fort and ſtrong Tower with thée, wherevnto bicauſe we are not able to clime vp of our owne power, breath thou thy louing fauour downe vponupon vsus in ſuch wiſe, as we may bée lifted vp vntounto the Tabernacle of thy glorious ſight, and vnderunder the couering of thy gliſtering winges, ſo that by thys meanes we ſhall bée deliuered from the threſholde and iawes of death. We truely hauehave tranſgreſſed thy holy lawe, & through our moſte heynous ſinnes hauehave defiled the ſacred bodie of thy bleſſed Church. How be it whileſt wee acknowledge this, and lamentably require thy fauourable merciemercy, ſurely we féele verye great eaſe & comfort, neyther are we now afrayed of any bytter miſhaps, forſomuch as our whole confidēce dependeth vponupon thy ineſtimable goodneſſe, but rather our heart is inflamed with an ardent louelove both in celebrating thy glorious name, and alſo in rendring moſte abundant thankes for thoſe thinges, which by our profeſſion we owe and thinke to be due vntounto thée, throughe Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxij. Pſalme.
… prayer for true fayth …nd contempt …f mutable …hinges.SEing that we are perſwaded (O moſt good and mercifull God) that thou art our ſtrong defence, inuincible tower, ſure ayde, & mightie ſafegarde, we kéepe a quiet and verye peaceable minde euen in the middeſt of our extréeme miſeries and gréeuous calamities. For we doubt not but that the deuill and his wicked members ſhal hauehave no ſucceſſe at all in thoſe thinges they enterpriſe to do agaynſt our welfare: and whoſoeuer they be which thruſt forwarde themſelues contrary to thy bleſſed will, are in no wiſe able to ſtand and abide, but are at the ende diſappoynted of that they looke for. Wherefore we humblye require thee, that our offences being done away, which (by reaſon of our infirmitie) we denie not, but are an infinite number, thou wouldeſt ſtill perſeuer to be our Buckler and ſure defence as thou haſt hitherto beene accuſtomed. Forſomuch as through thy eſpeciall helpe, wée ſhake of all worldly mens feare, as whom we know to be altogither vaine, yea and ſo fooliſhe, that if they were weyed in a ballance, they ſhould be found altogither lighter then vanitie it ſelfe. And as we dreade them nothing at al, ſo likewiſe our earneſt requeſt is, that we may hauehave no affiaunce in euill gotten goodes and flouriſhing ryches, but alwayes well and diligently to ſet before our eyes, that thou art iuſt, mercifull, & of a wonderfull inuincible power, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxiij. Pſalme.
WEe doe in this wretched life (O moſt good and mighty God) with great feruencie, ſighe, deſire,A prayer i… diſtreſſe for the comfor… of the goſpe… and earneſtly thirſt for thee onelye, when as all thinges are become troubleſome, horrible, and cruell vntounto vsus. We are greatly deſirous cléerely to beholde thy ſinguler vertue & excellent honor, for nothing can happē more bleſſed, nothing more ioyful, & nothing more pleaſāt to mortal creatures, then the perfect knowledge thereof. We may through thy readie helpe (O heauēly father) exalt thy glorious name continually, when as we render due thanks for the excellent benefites thou haſt beſtowed vponupon vsus, alwayes requiring of thée in our earneſt peticions and moſt ardent prayers, thoſe things which may be both to thy glorie and our owne ſaluation. Theſe verily are the meere delites of the godly, there is the minde fed with perfect and true gladneſſe, when as euen at midnight in the bed it is not forgetfull of thy goodneſſe and clemencie. But our heynous offences are a very great hinderance to this ſinguler benifite, whereinto both our infirmitie and ignoraunce driueth vsus, which, we humbly beſéech thée (for thy infinite mercies ſake) to wipe away: be our ready helper as thou haſt begunne, hide vsus vnderunder thy fauourable winges, and cauſe our mindes to be linked alwayes vntounto thee. But as for ſuch as reſiſt thy glorye obſtinately and with ſtubburneſſe, let them runne hedlong into the déepe gulfe of perdicion, and make vsus euermore reioyce and be glad in thy comfort and conſolation, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxiiij. Pſalme.
IF we were not altogither drowſie minded and vtterly dulled (O heauenly father) we are dayly ſtirred vp to inuocate and call vponupon thée with our feruent prayer. For why,A prayer agaynſt the wicked enimies of the Godly. Sathan and his wicked retinue make great haſte both day and night to deſtroy vsus, and the filthineſſe of the fleſh ſtriueth continually to driue vsus hedlong into the diſobedience of thy bleſſed commaundements. Séeyng that therefore our minde is on ſides aſſayled, and the ſtrength we hauehave become féeble and deminiſhed, through a falſe tongue, deceiptfull wordes, moſt pearcing ſtinges, and deadly darts, we flie vntounto thée onelyonly, being the true hauen of ſafegarde, and require, that ſith thou perceiueſt vsus to be ſore and painefully troubled ſundrie wayes for the ſinnes and gréeuous offences we hauehave committed) thou wouldeſt for thy tender mercies ſake pardon and forgiue what ſpotte or giltineſſe ſoeuer we are infected with, ruling and gouerning vsus in ſuche ſort, as wée maye laye all the burthens wherwith we are gréeuouſly oppreſſed, on thée onelyonly. So ſhall we hauehave iuſt cauſe to be excéeding ioyous, neyther ſhall it repent vsus any thing at all, but contrariwiſe wée will greatly glorie for that we hauehave betaken our ſelues wholy to thy protection and gouernment, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxv. Pſalme.
… prayer for …ſtenaunce …nd all kinde …f Gods be…efites.SO great and manifold are thy benefites (O moſt good & mercifull God) towards mākind, as al people in eueryevery place ought greatly to land, wonderfully to prayſe, & highly to extol thy bleſſed name: for what thing can be more pleaſant to men, then yt thou doeſt eaſily heare them at what tyme they call vponupon thée for ſuch things as they ſtande in néede of. In what other good thing ought we more to reioyce of then this, for that thou yeeldeſt thy ſelfe appeaſed and fauourable to our iniquities. Or why be we not right happie and bleſſed whome thou didſt vouchſafe to annix vntounto thy ſelfe in thy ſacred cōgregatiō, in féeding our hungry ſtomacks with ſpirituall good things, & heauenly dainties? Thou dealeſt fauorably euen with all other creatures for thy elects ſake: thou ſtabliſheſt the Moūtaines, ſtilleſt the raging of the ſea, appeaſeſt ye 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 onelyonly commeth fertilitie, and the fieldes wonderfull garniſhed with all kinde of fruits, whereby both men and beaſtes hauehave abundantly whereon to feede. Graunt thou therefore thus much alſo vntounto vsus (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 vpō vsus, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxvj. Pſalme.
A prayer in neceſſitie to the glorie of God, for ſet…ing vsus at libertie.SVch is thy mightye power and inuincible force (O moſte good and mercifull God) that thou at length vſeſt to ſubdue vnderunder 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, hauehave 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 vntounto the children of Iſraell, and didſt turne aſide the riuer of Iordane agaynſt his ſtreame, and haſt expulſed ye 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 vntounto thée, the vowes of praiſe, and ſonges of commendation. Moue vsus 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 vpō vsus, who being prouoked by our thankfulneſſe, may hereafter giuegive a more louing and fauourable attentiue eare to our lowly prayers, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.