Godly Prayers out of Davids Psalms, Prayers based on Psalms · Psalm 76 – Psalm 82
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
FOrſomuch as (O moſte mightie God) thou haſt choſen thée an houſe and manſion place in thy ſacred Church, therefore art thou well knowen in hir, and thy glorious name is there moſt notably ſet forth, bicauſe thou haſt full many a time and very often driuen the ſhaftes, bowe, ſworde, and ſhielde therefro, with all warlike ingines, and ſubtil deuices inuented by ſouldiours, which the fierce aduerſaries of thy ſacred doctrine and enimies of true religion did prepare againſt the ſame, being ſet vp thereto by thee. There thou haſt (I ſay) for this cauſe béene continuallye famous and had in very great admiration aboue al robbers & tyraunts of this wretched world. Wherefore our right humble requeſt is, that oure ſinnes bée not the occaſion thou withdraweſt thy ſelfe from ſo laudable and renowmed a cuſtome of thy excellencye. But if thy ſacred Church be a little while afflicted and greeuouſly troubled, as wee hauehave well deſerued, make thou, for the glorie of thy name, hir puyſſaunt aduerſaries, (yea rather thine) of ſuch féebleneſſe, as thoſe be which are a ſlepe, ſo that, if they will abuſe their ſtrength, let them greatly faile thereof, and cauſe both their footmen and horſemen (throughe thy rebuking of them) to be of no force at all. We right wel know (O good God) that thou onelyonly oughteſt to be feared, inſomuch as no man is able to indure thy wrathfull diſpleaſure. Ariſe therefore to iudge thy ſacred Churches duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page cauſe, inſomuch as hir milde Citizens may by thy puyſſant helpe be mightily preſerued, & that whatſoeuer the moſt diſdainfull enimies hauehave interpriſed by threates to doe againſt the ſame, it maye redowne to thy owne prayſe and renowmed glorie. Graunt (O good God) that we maye with an excéeding cheerefulneſſe and ioyfulneſſe of heart, render ſuch thankes giuinges as we hauehave vowed vntounto thee for ſo great a benefite, when as we ſhall perceyue all the kinges of the earth to ſtande in great feare of thy excellent Maieſty, and that thou haſt abated the courages of the mightie princes of this wretched worlde, throughe Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxxvij. Pſalme.
… prayer of …onſolation … diſtreſſe, … cōſidering …e wonder…ll workes … God.WE crye vntounto thée in heart & voyce (O moſt mightie God) with ſuch an aſſured confidence, that ſeing thou be our puyſſaunt God, wée are heard of thée in théeſe our ſorowfull tribulations, who (through our earneſt repentance and hartie inuocation of thy bleſſed name) make diligent ſearche for thée, whileſt we are on eueryevery ſide oppreſſed with much anguiſhe and ſore afflictions, neither is there any other firme & ſubſtanciall conſolatiō remayning vntounto vsus. For ſo long as our minde is gréeuouſly troubled, and hart excéedingly diſquieted, what other thing remaineth, but that we (being moued with extréeme heauineſſe and dolefull ſorrowe) doe make our mone and heauie complaint vntounto thée. Aboue all other things our heynous ſinnes do ſting vsus, whereby we both right well knowe that thou art offended, and alſo féele by experience a troubleſome and wounded conſcience in oure ſelues. Wherefore our mindes are miſerably afflicted, and being ouerwhelmed with feare and ſorrowe, all our ſtrength doth vtterly fade away. Our eyes attend diligently vponupon thée, whoſe minde and heart being broken and caſt downe, wée lamentably require thy fauourable merciemercy. Ah God moſt déere father, ſhall our manifolde ſinnes bée the cauſe why thou wilt alwayes hyde thy ſelfe from vsus? Wilt thou ceaſſe to ſhewe thy ſelfe both merciful and gentle vntounto vsus? For thou truely art of nature patient and long ſuffering: wherefore let vsus not be deſtitute of thy merciemercy and louing kindneſſe which are vnmeaſurable. Be not thou (O good God, who art the father of merciemercy) forgetfull to ſhew thy fauourable compaſſion towardes vsus. We verily hauehave prouoked thy heauie diſpleaſure, by reaſon of oure naughty behauiour: notwithſtanding thou canſt with thy moſt high right hand eaſily alter the ſame and pardon our gréeuous offences, which we hauehave no miſtruſt of, ſo long as thy excellent workes depart not out of our remēbrance. Thou wert woont to ſhewe wonders in deliuering thy faythfull people: therefore at this time alſo ſtretch out thy mightie power againſt the vngodlye, who hauehave aſſayled thy bleſſed flocke with deceyptfull pollecies and warlike crueltie, and deale with them according to thy olde accuſtomed maner. It is not vnbeknowen to vsus how wonderfully thou diddeſt deliuer the Iſraelites from the Egyptians. The waters of the great depe, the clowdes, the thunders, the lightnings, and al creatures hauehave at thy forceable word ſet forth their ſafegarde and welfare: inſomuch as thou didſt lead out thy choſen people like ſhéepe by the hands of Moyſes and Aaron, euen whither ſoeuer it pleaſed thée. Be thou (O excellent father) in ſuch wiſe aſſiſtant vntounto vsus with thy armies, that (being deliuered from our moſte cruell enimies) we may through an vnfeyned fayth and pure conuerſation of life, be drawne vntounto thée, who art our aſſured hope and chiefe thing we delight in, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
WE hauehave a perpetual regard to thy excellēt goodneſſe (O almightie God) in theſe moſt troubleſome times, who make thée wearie through our dayly prayers and very feruent peticions, flying to thy diuine Maieſtie as vntounto our only Sauior, whileſt thy bleſſed Church is in ſo great peril. Neither is our ſorrow and mournings ſmally increaſed, ſo long as we call to remembraunce the things that were done in olde time, wherein a man might with an aſſured minde and very quiet conſcience, peaceablye and without offence hauehave addicted himſelfe to ſet forth with high prayſes, both thy glorious name, and alſo thy excellent doctrine. But forſomuch as we hauehave very muche abuſed the gift of ſo great ſecuritie and moſt ſound quietneſſe, we do now earneſtly beſéech thée (O excellent father) to forgiue whatſoeuer we hauehave committed agaynſt thy excellent Maieſtie: but ſeing it cannot come to paſſe that thou ſhouldeſt be forgetfull to ſhewe merciemercy towardes thy faythfull ſeruauntes, caſt vsus not vtterly away. And forſomuch as it behoueth thy louing promiſes to take place at length, withdraw not thy fauourable merciemercy altogither from vsus. We doe nowe right well cal to remembrance thy wonderous works of olde, which thou wroughteſt in deliuering the children of Iſraell out of Egypt: for ſo ſoone as the waters in the ſea behelde thy omnipotent power, they were ſore afrayed, and moued after a marueylous ſort. Thou didſt fight againſt the vngodly with darke clowdes, thunderinges, lightnings, windes and an horrible tempeſt. In lyke maner therefore thou then deliueredſt thy people of Iſrael, euen ſo now preſerue thy bleſſed Church from the outragious crueltie of Sathan and enuious enterpriſes of his wretched adherentes, throughe Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
THe greater the afflictions be (O moſte good and merciful God) that we indure, ſo muche the more are we accuſtomed to pray the feruētlier vntounto thée: for ſeing that we nowe right well perceyue and do dayly more & more feele that thy ſacred church is miſerably tormented and vexed ſundrye wayes, we come and make intreatance to thy gentleneſſe, beſéeching thée to ayde hir in ſuch wiſe as thou wert woont to doe in hir firſt age. Doubtleſſe thy moſt perfect nature, and alſo thy excéeding conſtancie, wherewith thou art indued, can not abide that thou (who haſt béene alwayes fauourable towards thoſe which thou didſt moſt tenderly louelove) ſhouldeſt nowe gather, thy goodneſſe togither in a bundel, to the intent thou wouldeſt withdrawe the ſame from them. Wherefore our earneſt and hartye deſire is that thou wouldeſt vtter thy auncient inuincible power towardes vsus at this inſtant, in rayſing, cheriſhing, and reſtoring thy holy Church, no leſſe then thou ſhewedſt the ſame in tymes paſt touching the deliueraunce of the Iſraelites from the Egyptians bondage and ſeruitude: to the intent that howe much the more care thou haſt therof, ſo much the more a great deale it may appéere that thou haſt mightily deliuered the ſame from the deuill, ſinne, and moſte cruell death, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxxviij. Pſalme.
A prayer for grace and …prightneſſe of heart.FOrſomuch as the diuine ſcriptures hauehave moſt perfectly publiſhed thy excéeding glorious workes (O moſt mightie God) by ſetting thy children at libertie in Egypt, aſſuredlye knowing that what thinges ſoeuer are ſet forth in the holy Bible, they all make very much to our comfort and conſolation: wée nowe moſt heartily require thée, that thou wouldeſt in theſe excéeding daungerous tymes, continuallye renue our memorie with thy holye ſpirite, who béeing moued herewith, may repoſe our whole cōfidence in thee onelyonly. Thou broughteſt thy children of Iſraell oute of Egypt, in working of dreadfull things agaynſt Pharao. The ſea gaue place, a clowde couered them, a light of fire guided them on their iourney, the rocke gaue water, the heauen ſent them both Manna and fleſhe: and in Mount Sinai thou ſhewedſt thy ſelfe at what tyme it pleaſed thée to giuegive them a law by Moyſes. Thou therefore who haſt done ſo great and manifold things for the Iſraelites, forſake vsus not in ſuch wiſe, as the ſhepe of thy flocke may be ſcattered abroade by the Deuill and Antichriſt. We verily hauehave ſinned agaynſt thee, and that gréeuouſly and very often: howbeit they alſo were oftentymes rebellious and murmured agaynſt thy diuine Maieſtie in the wilderneſſe, when as they had leſſe credite to thy ſacred worde then beſeemed them. There thou diddeſt ſharpely puniſhe that people, neyther yet ſufferedſt thy heritage to be deſtroyed, but kneweſt well that they were fleſhe, and had a verye wauering ſpirite: wherefore thou wert ſo touched with mercy that thou didſt helpe them in aduerſitie. We therfore earneſtly require thee (O good God) that thou wouldeſt doe none otherwiſe to thy bleſſed Church at this preſent, in mightie defending and valiant deliuering hir after any other ſort then thou didſt the Iewes when thou haddeſt layde thy rod of correction ſomewhat vponupon them, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
WEe heartily acknowledge and earneſtly confeſſe (O moſt mighty god) that the ingratitude of mankinde is excéeding great, which thing truely appeareth plainly by our lewd deedes: but ſéeing that it is an eaſie matter for eueryevery man to bee blind in his owne caſe, it is more manifeſtly ſet forth by our forefathers actes, which are moſt truely made mencion of in the holy ſcriptures. We hauehave heard that the childrē of Iſraell were deliuered through thée, by a number of miracles, when as thou broughteſt them out of Egypt, who being gouerned, defended, and nouriſhed in the deſert with ſuch a diligent ſtudie and prudent care, as no greater could be deuiſed and imagined, yet for all this the ſame people are reported to ſhewe themſelues ſo much vngratefull and obliuious of thy excellent benefites, that they alwayes murmured againſt thée their god, their maker, deliuerer, & guide moſt iuſt. Therefore we humbly beſeeche thée, O excellent father, that (ſeéing thou of thy frée merciemercy haſt elected vsus, and moreouer bewtified vsus with the higheſt ornamentes of thy grace) thou wouldeſt neuer ſuffer or cauſe the ſame to depart out of our memory, but rather ſtirre vsus vp eueryevery moment with thy bleſſed ſpirit to render ſuch kinde of thankes vntounto thée, wherby both thou mayſt be moſt honored, and we greatly prouoked forward to leade a godlye and vertuous life, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
BEſides the prodigious wonders and marueylous ſignes (O moſte good and mercifull God) whereby thou thoughteſt good diuers and ſundry times to maintaine and defend the fathers in the olde lawe, the ſelfe ſame haſt thou commaunded both to be ſet forth for the commoditie of thoſe that come after, and alſo to be regiſtred for a perpetuall remembraunce, to the intent that ſo many as ſhall perceyue the things by fayth, may conceyue as aſſured an hope of thy merciemercy, louing kindneſſe, and faythfulneſſe toward themſelues, as they wonder excéeding greatly at thy vnſpeakeable goodneſſe extended vponupon their olde fathers. For the ſéeing of thoſe mens chaſticements by the ſeueritie of thy iuſt iudgement, may alſo be a verye great warning vntounto them, that they ſhall be no more ſpared then the others, when through their lewde behauiour, they ceaſſe not to prouoke thy wrathfull indignation agaynſt them: Our earneſt requeſt is therefore (O heauenly father) that we may reape much commoditie hereby. For we verilye are (through thy gracious fauor) deliuered from euerlaſting deſtruction, euen as they were out of Egypt. But this is our moſt earneſt requeſt which we require as nowe at thy mercifull handes, that we be not ledde by our filthie luſtes and lewd deſires to prouoke thy heauie wrath vntounto our confuſion, in ſuch ſort as they were by grudging at thy vneſtimable goodneſſe in the wilderneſſe, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
WE may right well perceyue (O moſt good and mercifull God) that the deſires of our wicked luſtes be much hurtful, either bicauſe we are prouoked through thē to poure out complaints agaynſt thée, who art moſt perfectly good, or elſe for that (in compaſſing the filthie deſires of them) we purchaſe greatly vntounto our ſelues the moſt ſeuere puniſhmentes of thy vnſpeakable iuſtice: for we are now admoniſhed in due tyme by the holy ghoſt, of all ſuch thinges as happened vntounto the Iſraelits in the wilderneſſe. Wherefore we (being taught by other mens perilles) are very carefull, leaſt we be wrapped in ſemblable miſfortunes through the like miſbehauiour. Our earneſt deſire is therefore that thou wouldeſt giuegive eare vntounto our feruent prayers, wherein, we humbly beſéech thee to giuegive vsus grace that we may neuer be forgetfull of thy excellencie, neyther let it come at any time into our harts, either by words or thought, to dallye with thée, in whome is nothing but moſt perfect veritie. For whenſoeuer we fall through humaine infirmitie, hauehave thou merciemercy vponupon vsus, who knoweſt vsus to he both frayle fleſhe, and alſo very weake ſpirited: and ſo (of thy infinite goodneſſe) incline thy ſelfe nowe partly to rayſe vsus vp, being alreadie fallen, and partlye alſo to confirme vsus, that we be not thruſt downe into euerlaſting deſtruction, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxxix. Pſalme.
A prayer for obteyning of merciemercy and fauor agaynſt the perſecutors of the Church.THou haſt choſen vsus (O moſt mightie God) to be thy heritage, and doubtleſſe there is nothing permitted which might be a furtheraunce to the furniſhing, garniſhing, and making vsus right bleſſed: thou haſt giuen vsus the knowledge of thy ſacred ſcriptures, the preaching of thy bleſſed Goſpel, the adminiſtration of thy holy Sacraments, and others innumerable, which belong to the bewtefying of this thy heritage. But wée alas, (being vngratefull of all theſe moſte excellent and ſinguler giftes) hauehave accompliſhed nothing as was required of vsus. Therefore the wicked and barbarous Nations are not without iuſt deſert ſtirred vp togither (through thy wrathfull indignation) to inuade thy holy Churche, and to ſhed the bloud of thy faythfull people and bleſſed inheritance as if it were water, making of vsus a verye ſcorne and laughing ſtocke: and that (which is more lamentable and greatlier to be ſorowed) they perſecute in vsus not our deadly ſinnes, but thy owne ſelfe, thy holy Goſpell, thy diuine honor, and pure worſhipping of thée. Wherfore (O God moſt déere father) our earneſt requeſt is that thou wouldeſt not bée alwayes angrie with thy people and ſhéepe of thy paſture. Poure out therefore thys thy wrath (which is kindled againſt vsus for our ſinnes) vponupon the heathen that hauehave not knowne thée: and ſuffer not thy bleſſed Church to be deuoured of the vngodly. We hartily deſire thée (for thy infinite mercies ſake, and by the interceſſion of thy moſte déerely beloued ſonne our Lorde) to hauehave no more in remembrance our olde heynous ſinnes. And ſéeing that we put our whole truſt and confidence in thy goodneſſe onelyonly, aſſiſt and deliuer ſuch as crie and call vntounto thée, euen for the glorie of thy names ſake. Be mercifull vntounto our gréeuous ſinnes, otherwiſe ye vngodly will ſay that thou haſt reiected thy owne caſe. Let the ſorrowfull ſighing & lamentable teares of ye oppreſſed came before thée, and not be put out of thy ſight: pardō whatſoeuer we hauehave gréeuouſly cōmitted agaynſt thee, and vouchſafe to ſhew vponupon vsus the force of thy aſſiſtant help to the intent that we thy louing heritage, thy faythfull people, and ſhéepe of thy good paſture, maye giuegive thee thankes for euer, and ſhewe forth thy worthie prayſes from one generation to another, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
LEt the wonderfull examples of thy rygorous iuſtice (O moſte mightie God) wherewith thou haſt ſubuerted the Kingdome of Iſraell, and wrapped that people for their rebelliouſneſſe agaynſt thee, in ſlaughters, rapes, booties, burnings, captiuities, with all kinde of miſeries and infelicitie, be a wholeſome and comfortable admonition vntounto vsus, ſo that we may with a right chéerefull minde, lay hold vponupon true repentaunce, and be deliuered therby from moſt gréeuous torments, which (through our innumerable heynous ſinnes) we hauehave worthely deſerued. For verye méete it is that thou ſhouldſt hauehave an eſpeciall regard vntounto thy moſte bleſſed and glorious name: but if thou ſhalt poure out thy wrath vponupon vsus, the wicked will imagine yt thou hadſt no care to helpe ſuch as duely honor thée, and craue thy aſſiſtaunce with abundance of teares: for if any calamitie or aduerſitie light vponupon thy ſacred Church, it is incontinent their accuſtomed maner malipartly to ſcoffe agaynſt the ſame, ſaying, where is nowe their God become? What profite hauehave they by theyr religion? By meanes whereof this kinde of reproch redowndeth vntounto thée▪ vponupon thy ſacred doctrine, and vponupon thy holy Goſpell. Wherefore our humble and earneſt requeſt is, that (being right mindfull of the ſheepe of thy paſture) thou wouldeſt ſo defende and mainteyne vsus, as we may perpetually in all places, both publiſh and alſo ſet forth thy worthye prayſes, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxxx. Pſalme.
A prayer for the repairing of the afflicted Church.THou haſt alwayes hitherto béene accuſtomed (O moſt mightie god) to be preſent like a louing ſhéepeherd, with thy faythfull people, and to lead them forth vnderunder thy protection, as if they were ſheepe. We now therefore require thée to ſtirre vp thy mightye power in ſo great perilles, and ſhewe vsus the bright light of thy fauourable countenaunce. Rayſe vp thy ſelfe and be ready to helpe and deliuer vsus. We truely acknowledge and earneſtly confeſſe, that (in conſideration of our heynous iniquities, & moſt gréeuous ſinnes committed againſt thée) thy heauie wrath hath not without good deſert béene kindled agaynſt vsus, and thy iuſtice to be the principall cauſe why theſe excéeding great miſchiefes wherewith thy bleſſed Church is nowe oppreſt, hauehave inuaded the ſame. But ſéeing that at this preſent, we are right hartily ſorie for all the ſinnes which hauehave by vsus béene committed agaynſt thée, and that we may lamentably require thy louing fauour and merciemercy, how long wilt thou be angrie with vsus? Howe long wilt thou ſuffer the great ſtrife, gréeuous rebukes, and opprobrious ſlaunders wherewith the vngodly and moſte lewde perſons do touch thée in vsus? Turne vntounto vsus, O excellent father (in this moſt troubleſome time) the quiet and cheerefull coū tenaunce of thy ineſtimable goodneſſe, and be mindfull of thy notable benefits which thou haſt beſtowed vponupon thy ſacred church: and ſéeing that thou haſt hitherto nouriſhed it, bewtified it, and alwayes garniſhed the ſame with the moſt plentiful and large giftes of thy bleſſed ſpirite. Deliuer hir not now ouer (we humbly beſéeche thée) to be ſpoyled of the outragious, vngodly, & moſt cruell Antichriſtians: ſuffer not ſo pleaſant and choſen a vineyarde, which (with thy moſt high & excéeding mightie right hand, thou haſt planted & increaſed) to be ſhamefully and after a very wretched maner caſt downe, ſet on fire, and vtterlye rooted vp. Looke downe from heauen and hauehave an eſpeciall regard vntounto ſuche as earneſtly crie and call for thy ſpéedy aſſiſtaunce: let the vngodly periſh at the rebuke of thy louing countenaunce, who doe perpetually blaſphéeme cruell bondage of Antichriſt: but we vile wretches hauehave moſt filthily abuſed our fredome and benefite of quietneſſe. Thou haſt oftner then once (as thou didſt vntounto the Iſraelites) both by the ſacred Scriptures, and alſo through the miniſters of thy bleſſed worde, proteſt vntounto vsus on this wiſe: giuegive eare vntounto me (O my people) and acknowledge me truly to be thy God, not in words (I ſay) only, but in minde verily, and with a perfect and moſt pure worſhipping. But we (alas) hauehave turned our heart from thy holy wordes, whereby our heynous ſinnes are continually more and more increaſed, and the aduerſaries of thy holy Church alſo (whome thou without doubt wouldeſt hauehave ouerthrowne and caſt downe if wée had giuen credite vntounto thée) are nowe become a very terrour vntounto vsus: for we that might exceeding quietly and careleſly hauehave inioyed thy moſt ſwéete and pleaſant gifts, are nowe ouerthrowne day by day wyth greater and more greeuous afflictions. Yet we humblye beſéeche thée (for thy ſinguler mercyes ſake) not to forſake thy ſacred Church being vexed ſo miſerably and after ſuch a wretched ſort. Be preſent at length therevnto in ſuch wiſe, that ſhe may perpetually kéepe and retaine the true Religion and pure doctrine which thou haſt ſet forth and deliuered vntounto hir, through Ieſus chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Lxxxij. Pſalme.
THe gouernment of all kingdomes and earthly power appertayneth vntounto thée (O moſte good and mercifull God) who neyther miniſter iuſtice nor right vntounto their people,A prayer for a good Magiſtrate. vnleſſe they be ruled and guided with thy bleſſed ſpirite. Wherefore we earneſtly requyre thee to helpe mortall mens cauſes which be farre out of order, both by multiplying and mainteyning of good Princes: and alſo by correcting the lewde and outragious, ſo that poore mens ſuyts be not neglected, that the oppreſſed may be ſet at libertie, and that godlineſſe in eſpeciall maye flouriſhe and greatly go forward. And as thou haſt vouchedſafe through thy diuine power to bewtifie our Maieſtrates, Princes, and King, with thy heauenly name, euen ſo we hartily require thée alſo (of thy vnſpeakeable goodneſſe) to cauſe their worke and miniſterie to be ſuch, and ſo duly executed, as the faythfull (ſo long as they liue in this wretched worlde) may honor thée purelye and lead a right vertuous and godly life, ſo that togither with them they maye be brought vntounto thée (who art king of kings and Lord of Lordes) where they may ioyntly be pertakers of eternall good thinges, and moſte excellent felicitie, throughe Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.