Godly Prayers out of Davids Psalms, Prayers based on Psalms · Psalm 90 – Psalm 97
¶ A prayer out of the .xc. Pſalme.
… praier both … attain vn… the know…dge of god, …nd the va…tie of this …e alſo.FOrſomuch as thou (O almighty God) wouldeſt we ſhoulde hauehave 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 vsus from all ſides vntounto 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 hauehave lewdly committed, be the onelyonly cauſe why thou art iuſtly ſore diſpleaſed with vsus, for if thou didſt purpoſe aſſuredly to be reuenged of them, thy moſt arden diſpleaſure woulde vtterly conſume and bring vsus to naught. Our earneſt requeſt is therefore (O mightie God) that thou wouldeſt forgiue the heynous offences and excéeding wicked deedes wherewith we hauehave greatly offended thée, ſo that thou doeſt not condemne vsus for euer, but cauſe vsus to reape this ſinguler commoditie of theſe preſent miſchiefes, that (conſidering and well waying the force and efficacie of thy heauie wrath, and our brittle and moſt ſhort lyfe) we may with a greater earneſtneſſe ſtande more in feare of thee. Vſe thy olde accuſtomed maner (O excellent father) in ſhewing thy ſelfe as now well pleaſed with thy afflicted and perſecuted children: then ſhall we perfectly reioice and be right glad when thy working appéereth and is made manifeſt vntounto vsus. Let thy holy Ghoſt (we humbly beſéech thée) direct vsus in ſuch wiſe, as thy famous honour, thy excellent glorie, and thy cléere brightneſſe, may ſhine both in vsus and in all our doings, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
IF we doe greatly reioyce in our owne behalfe (O moſt mightie God) that the plentiouſneſſe of thy louing fauour was ſo exceeding abundant towards vsus, that ſuch as thou right well loueſt, thoſe didſt thou elect before the foundation of the worlde was layde, and didſt predeſtinate to be partakers of thy eternall ioyes or euer ye moū taines were made, or any part of the world brought in ripe ſhape: our ioy doubtleſſe ſhall be doubled, if we thorowly way and conſider how yt of our owne ſelues (both by infirmity of nature, & alſo through the wickedneſſe of our heynous ſinnes) we are otherwiſe nothing. For we run hedlōg into perdition, ſlide as water, vaniſh away like a dreame, and in the twinckling of an eye we wither like graſſe. Which diſcommodities, at what tyme we call to remembraunce, let them (we humbly require thée) ſtyrre vp in vsus an occaſion of learning and wiſedome, ſo that we may vnderſtand and right well perceyue howe vnworthie wee are (in reſpect of our ſelues) to inioy thy louing fauour, and contrariwiſe, how great thy benigne clemencie is towardes vsus, by the which (we hartily beſéech thée) to turne thy fauourable countenaunce vponupon vsus, in ſhewing that we are thy workemanſhip, as we be in déede. Let thy excellent brightneſſe lighten our blind mindes in ſuch ſort, that oure deedes neuer ſwarue from the marke of thy excéeding great glorie, thorowe Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xcj. Pſalme.
A prayer in temptation and perils, for deliuerance & preſeruation.WHoſoeuer dependeth wholye vponupon God, ſo that he accompteth him to be his ſure defence & moſt ſtrong holde, he néedeth not to feare any calamitie, no layings awayte, nor finally to dread any diſtreſſe. For God no leſſe defendeth his ſeruauntes, then the hennes do their chickens at what time they hide them vnderunder their winges, or that the Souldiours defende and couer themſelues in battaile with their ſhielde and target. For can peſtilence, plague, calamitie, or waſting, terrefie thoſe which beleue faythfully in God? Nothing truely ſhall make them afrayde? For although Sathan and all the vngodly worke moſt greeuous and pernicious thinges agaynſt him, yet hath God committed his welfare to an innumerable company of Aungels, through whoſe conduct and protection he is not onelyonly defended, but caried alſo on their handes and ſhoulders, that he daſhe not agaynſt hurtfull things. There is no power in the moſt cruell beaſtes, but is troden vponupon and beaten downe vnderunder his féete. If we therefore ſtand nowe in much feare of the wicked, it is a plaine token that we hauehave ſmall confidence and little truſt in thée, by reaſon of which dull and weake fayth, we are become ſo plyable to an innumerable ſort of ſinnes, as by our backſlydinges from thee, we prouoke thy gréeuous wrath continually agaynſt vsus. Wherefore our hartie requeſt is, that (according to thy accuſtomed goodneſſe) thou wouldeſt in ſuch wiſe pardon whatſoeuer we hauehave verye lewdly cō mitted againſt thée, and make vsus hereafter moſt earneſt louers of thy diuine Maieſtie, that we may in right perfect fayth, hauehave thy glorious name and dignitie in wonderfull admiration, and cauſe our prayer not to be vnfruitfull before thée, wherevnto we humbly beſéech thy infinit goodneſſe, that thou wouldeſt make aunſwere according to our demaund. And finally be preſent to the feruent peticions and troubleſome matters of thy bleſſed Church, thorowe Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
SVch as repoſe their whole truſt and confidence in thée onelyonly (O almightie God) hauehave put themſelues vnderunder the ſhadowe of thy aſſuraunce and fortreſſe of thy moſte ſtrong defence, where they may be in ſafety from all the aſſaultes of the enimies, and preſerued from eueryevery pernicious thing that may annoy them. When as wicked men (being vndoubtedly members of the deuill and his Catchpolles) ſhall practiſe any euil thing agaynſt them, they ſhall at no tyme be left deſtitute of Gods aſſured helpe and faythfull promiſe, for he wil quickly defend them as a mighty ſtrong ſhield. And when moſt gréeuous temptations, which happen dayly, doe rage on eueryevery ſide, whereby an infinite number of mortal men fall downe hedlong into euerlaſting damnation: what ſoeuer they are which hauehave aſſured themſelues in their heartes and prayed vntounto the Lord: thou art my God, and thou art the thing I onelye truſt in: euill ſhall in no wiſe happen vntounto theſe kinde of men, but they ſhall remaine ſtedfaſt and without feare when others fal and come to naught. He will not onelyonly deliuer them from troubleſome miſhaps by the handes of bleſſed Aungels, but alſo there ſhall be no beaſtes ſo venemous & outragious that may hurt them any thing at all. And therefore wée humbly require thée (O excellent father) to vouchſafe that we may not be ſecluded frō partaking of ſo great good things, but that we maye in ſuch wiſe louelove thee, and ſo repoſe our whole truſt in thy diuine Maieſty, as wée maye ſeeke none other refuge and piller to ſtande by, but thée onelyonly, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xcij. Pſalme.
WE are then ſlacke in celebrating thy glorious name (O almighty God) when as we forget thy wō derfull workes, which,A prayer agaynſt the perſwaſion ſuch as we hauehave iuſtification to pr… ceede of goo… workes. ſo ſoone as we diligently conſider, and thinke more attentiuely of, they ſhall by and by cheere vsus excéedingly, and conſequently inforce a great ſtrength and efficacie in vsus touching the ſetting foorth of thy worthie prayſes. But ſuch truely are very fooliſhe and dull duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page fighted, who eyther do not waye them, or elſe are nothing moued therewith: theyr eyes therefore are ſore blinded, bicauſe they ſee the matters of the vngodly to hauehave good ſucceſſe and go long vnpuniſhed. But theſe maner of men ought to conſider that for this purpoſe thou wouldeſt doe thus with the wicked, bicauſe they might be the more ſorowfull to ſée their flouriſhing eſtate ſodainly altered, yea, and that in a tyme vnlooked for, who (after they hauehave walked in the ſhadowe of felicitie) maye runne into méere and aſſured calamitie, and ſuch verily as is euerlaſting, and hath no end, when as the iuſt men (like the Ceder and Palme trée) inioy the ſincere and euerlaſting good things in the bleſſed habitation of the heauens. We humbly beſéech thée (O excellent father) to cheriſhe and comfort this hope in vsus, to the intent we maye right well perceyue, that thou art both good and iuſt, and alſo doeſt publiſhe vntounto all creatures that there is no vnrighteouſneſſe in thy noble iudgement, through Ieſus Chriſt oure Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xciij. Pſalme.
WHen as wée right well conſider (O moſte mightie God) that the world was made of thee to abide exceeding firme and vnmouable,A prayer … the eſtabli… mēt of chri… kingdome. who doeſt gouerne the ſame with ſo great conſtancie and in ſuch perfect order, as wée verily know thy excellencie, might, and noble power thereby. Wherefore wée take heart to vsus, and perſwade our ſelues moſt aſſuredly, that thy louing promiſes ſhall be of no leſſe aſſuraunce to ſticke vntounto, then the nature of things teacheth vsus, that thy glorious kingdome is both ſtrong and vnmoueable. Although therefore the cruell enimies of our ſaluation doe vaunt themſelues agaynſt vsus, fret excéedingly, & continually daſhe vsus togither with the ſourges of their yrefulneſſe and gréeuous temptations, and riſe vp againſt vsus like huge waters, and tempeſtuous ſeas, yet our aſſured hope is that thou wilt defende vsus wyth thy inuincible power and excéeding great might. Vouchſafe therefore, that both this fayth maye alwayes bee printed in oure mindes, and alſo that thy good and notable promiſes which thou haſt made vntounto thy bleſſed Churche, maye not onelyonly come to paſſe, but alſo (being beſtowed vponupon it) may long tyme be preſerued in the ſame, ſo that thy moſte famous goodneſſe and vnſpeakeable merciemercy maye be publiſhed more and more throughout the vniuerſal world, by Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xciiij. Pſalme.
… prayer a…aynſt our e…mies, de…eyptfull tea…hers, & cruel …raunts.THe preſumption and ſtatelineſſe of ſinners (O moſt mightye God) is wonderfull, for it doth not onelyonly teare in péeces the féeble, and grinde to powder the weaklinges, but alſo bringeth them in the end to ſuch madneſſe, as they iudge their wickedneſſe and greeuous offences which they hauehave moſt lewdly committed, to be hid and vnknowne vntounto thée. Vouchſafe therefore that this kinde of fooliſhneſſe maye b…e farre from oure thoughts, and graunt that we may be moſt aſſuredly perſwaded, yt thou hauing made the eare, fourmed the eye, and giuen vntounto men the power and habilitie of vnderſtanding, art ignoraunt of nothing which is done by vsus in earth: but rule and order vsus ſo in the meane ſeaſon, as we may not only eſcape and flie from the euerlaſting and perpetuall deſtructions which are prepared for the vngodlye, but alſo inioy the moſte high quietneſſe & perpetuall felicitie which thou haſt vouchedſafe to beſtow vponupon thy faythfull ſeruaunts. If thou verily be not preſent, hauing the helpe alwayes prepared and in a readineſſe, wherewith thou mayeſt mightily defend vsus, we ſhall eaſily fall into thoſe miſchiefes which hang ouer our heades. Be thou (we humbly beſéech thée) our Caſtle, fortreſſe, & ſtrong ſhielde of defence, leaſt we ſéeme to hauehave vainely repoſed our whole truſt and confidence in thée onelyonly, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xcv. Pſalme.
FOrſomuch as (O moſte mightie God) thou art our ſaluation and ſtrength,A prayer fo… true fayth. it is meete wée ſhoulde prayſe thy glorious name to the vttermoſt of our powers: and to the intent we may the more orderly doe the ſame, we firſt and formoſt come vntounto thée with hartie cōfeſſion of our heinous ſinnes. Wheras thou haſt (of thy infinite goodneſſe, and not for oure merites ſake) choſen vsus to be thy bleſſed people & ſhéepe of thy paſture, as hauing no néede of our ſeruice at all, forſomuche as thou art the great king aboue all Gods, in whoſe hand be not onelyonly the earth and exceeding high Mountaynes, but alſo the heauens and all creatures: we hauehave gréeuouſly offended thée diuers and ſundrie wayes, hardning our ſinfull hearts at thy fatherly admonicions, who hauehave very readily fainted in temptation, our mind hath fowlye erred, and we hauehave alwayes (by reaſon of our lewde ſinnes and moſte wicked deſertes) become bourdenous and merueylous troubleſome vntounto thee. For which cauſe thou haſt at this tyme rayſed vp ſo prowd and cruel enimies againſt vsus, by whom we are brought into great perill and daunger: neuertheleſſe acknowledging howe vnrighteouſlye we hauehave dealt, wée knowe for a certaintie that beſides thy infinite goodneſſe and mercy, there remayneth none other defence for vsus. Wherfore with theſe our feruent prayers and earneſt ſupplications we preaſe into thy ſight or euer we periſhe, requiring thée not to grinde vsus vntounto powder in thy moſt gréeuous wrath: take away the heynous ſinnes (we humbly beſéech thée) wherewith we and our fathers hauehave greatly tempted thée, and prouoked thy heauie diſpleaſure agaynſt vsus. Call to remembraunce that thou art oure mightie God, valiaunt king, and louing ſhepherd. Therfore mightily preſerue, valiantly kéepe, and noblye defende vsus from thoſe that hate thée no leſſe then they do vsus: ſuffer them not (according to ye luſt of their crueltie) vtterly to deſtroy the worke of thy bleſſed handes which thou haſt begunne paſſing well in vsus, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
THy excellent Maieſtie and inuincible power (O moſt good and mercifull god) is of ſuch force, as eueryevery where it excelleth and beareth dominion moſte amplye and without deſert, but ſéeing that all thinges as well high as lowe were made by thée, there is nothing to be found eyther hidden in the depth of the earth, or ſet vppe in the height of the mountaynes, whereof thou wert not the author and firſt founder: for which cauſe we iuſtly deſire to ſhewe forth thy worthy prayſe. To the furtheraunce hereof alſo maketh this, that thou art our onelyonly ſtay, and we as thy bleſſed flocke and ſheepe of thy paſture appertain and belong vntounto thée onelyonly. Therefore doe we greatly worſhip, humbly reuerence, duely honor, & right earneſtly cal vponupon thy moſt fauorable Godbeade, requiring this eſpeciallye, that thou ſuffer not our heart (which of nature is diſpoſed vntounto euill) to be hardned at thy friendly admonitions. Make the ſame ſoft (we hartily pray thée) with the inſpiration of thy good grace and holye ſpirite, neyther ſuffer vsus to ſtriue and ſtruggle againſt thy bleſſed commaundementes, like vntounto the ſtifnecked Iewes, who woulde ſo often tymes put thée to the tryall of thy mightye power: but ſéeing it was not their hap to inioy the promiſed land, graunt (for thy infinite mercies ſake) that we may at length be permitted to enter into the hauen of eternall felicitie after our long and daylye trauaile, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xcvj. Pſalme.
WE are admoniſhed for diuers and ſundrie cauſes (O moſt mightye God) greatly to magnifie thee,A prayer of thankes giuing for Chriſts benefites beſtowed vppon vsus. and highlye to ſanctifie thy holy name. But able we are not thus to doe, vnleſſe the heynous ſinnes wherewith we are miſerably oppreſſed, be firſt put away and driuen farre from vsus. We hauehave receyued at thy mercifull handes (through the preaching of thy bleſſed Goſpell) the moſt noble and excellent gift of ſaluation, but we hauehave hitherto led our life ſo coldly therin, and wrought ſo contrary to our vocation, in neglecting and diſpiſing thy ſacred commaundements, that néedfull it was in the ende for the calamities which we now ſuffer, to incounter with oute lewdneſſe, and that thou ſhouldeſt extende thy furious wrath vponupon vsus, by theſe moſte gréeuous perilles, being moued and prouoked thereto through oure wicked deſertes and naughtie behauiour. Notwithſtanding (O good God) hauehave no regard at all to our merites, but rather ſée to this, that thy famous glorie may be greatly publiſhed amongeſt the heathen, and thy wonderfull worckes made manifeſt vntounto all people. Both thy aduerſaries and ours alſo repoſe their whole affiaunce in worldly ſtrength and curſed Idolatrie, who would inforce vsus to yéeld ſuch honor vntounto Antichriſt as they do: wheras we contrarywiſe acknowledge thée to be a great and terrible Lorde aboue all Goddes. Wherefore we earneſtly call vponupon thy excellent Maieſtie, and in theſe daungerous daies flie vntounto thy mercy ſeat, requyring pardon for our heynous ſinnes, and that thou wouldeſt ſhewe howe vaine our enimies goodes be. Iudge (O good god) the aduerſaryes of thy true worſhippe, and enimies of thy ſacred Goſpell, ſo that thou (as right méete it is) mayſt reigne & beare dominion ouer the heathen. Stretche out thy inuincible power, thy puyſſaunt glory, and thy renowmed magnificence (O good God) for our ſpeedy deliueraunce, who being deliuered from ſo many and great inconueniences, maye render vntounto thée due oblations of heartie prayſes. Cauſe thy glorious name to be well ſpoken off in eueryevery place, and let all men honor and reuerence thy diuine Maieſtie with moſte pure and perfect deuotion, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
THy benefites (O almightie God) are not only beſtowed vponupon vsus cōtinually, but alſo after a new and vnaccuſtomed maner do ſpring vp freſhe from time to tyme: wherefore (vnleſſe we will be marueylous vngratefull) they deſerue that we ſhould, euermore magnifie the ſame with newe prayſes and pleaſaunt ſonges. Such is thy magnificencie and vnſpeakeable power, whoſe bewtie and Maieſty is ſo great, that thou doeſt ſurmount beyonde all meaſure, what Godhed or Deitie ſoeuer mē could at any time deuice to themſelues. Graūt therfore that whenſoeuer we go about duely to honor & reuerently to worſhip thée, we may chéerfully offer vp our ſelues & al that euer we hauehave to thy incōprehenſible glorye, ſo yt we may preache thy glorious kingdome to all nations, not onelyonly with wordes, but in verteous lyfe and holy conuerſation, to the intent eueryevery man maye right well knowe and perceyue that like as thou haſt created vsus and the whole vniuerſall worlde, ſo alſo ſhall we and all thinges be repayred againe, throughe Ieſus Chriſt oure Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xcvij. Pſalme.
A praier that we may appeare in the …ay of iudgement, with a …ure & chear…ull heart.THou thy ſelfe (O moſte mightye God) which art the author of full ioy and perfect gladneſſe, art alſo indued with exceeding ſeueritie and dreadfull power, which thy properties thou beſtoweſt vponupon man, according to thy infinite iuſtice and righteouſneſſe. Wherefore our earneſt requeſt is, yt thou wouldſt not burne vsus vp with the fire of thy wrathfull indignation, who otherwiſe (by reaſon of our heynous ſinnes) are worthie of moſt greeuous puniſhments, but (according to thy great merciemercy, and through the merits of thy onelyonly Sonne Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde and ſauiour) remit and pardon whatſoeuer we hauehave lewdly committed agaynſt thée: but contrariwiſe, turne the wrath of thy heauie diſpleaſure vponupon thy fierce aduerſaryes. Let thoſe men be ſet on fire, make them to tremble, let them melt away like wax at the ſight of thy bright countenance. But let vsus (being reſtored and reformed in a new kind of life by thy bleſſed ſpirit) feele in our ſelues, and ſet out thy noble iuſtice ſuch wiſe vntounto them, as all people maye right wel perceyue the ſame. For although we hauehave greatly and verye muche ſtrayed from thy holy will reuealed vntounto vsus in the ſacred ſcriptures, we are notwithſtanding heartily ſorye for our lewde deſerts, and be verye deſirous to make thy glorious renowme excéeding famous. Let not therfore this our aſſured hope and feruent deſire be made fruſtrate: put them to confuſion who beleue nothing at all in thée, but hauehave an infinite number of Idols, wherein they put their whole truſt, wherevnto they ſhewe much worſhip, merueylous great honour, and wonderfull obedience. And finally graunt this thing alſo, that ſuche as thou haſt regenerated and quickned with thy bleſſed ſpirit, may vtterly deteſt ſinne, and whatſoeuer fighteth or is repugnant to thy holy will. Afterward take the ſoules of thy faythfull ſeruauntes out of wicked mens handes, and when we be throughly delyuered from them, cauſe vsus not onelyonly to reioyce with great gladneſſe, but make thy healthfull light of ſaluation to ſhine vponupon all that are thine, whereby they may bee conuerted vntounto thée, and celebrate thy worthie memoriall with perpetuall prayſes, throughe the ſelfe ſame Ieſus Chriſt oure Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
SEing it is thou (O almightie God) that ruleſt farre and néere, and mightily gouerneſt all things, there is nothing in the whole worlde but ought to be excéeding glad thereof: for like as thy glorious kingdome (which is the chiefeſt thing to be deſired) is moſt gorgeouſly decked with iuſtice and equitie, euen ſo is there ſuch ſtrength and puyſſaunce graffed in the ſame, as no crafty deuices, and ſubtile practiſes can preuaile agaynſt it, but that (whatſoeuer thou haſt with a moſt rightful counſaile and ſinguler iuſtice decreed vponupon) ſhall be brought to good ende. We earneſtly require thée therefore that as the earth, heauen, and vniuerſall worlde are moſt euident witneſſes of thy vnſpeakeable wiſedome and ſinguler iuſtice, ſo the truth and ſincere worſhipping of thée may appéere in thy bleſſed Church, where all men maye heartily reioyce togither, bicauſe ſuperſticious and corrupt Religions are altogither banyſhed. Let them be ioyfull in this behalfe which purely and with feruent zeale do vnfeynedly louelove and honor God: whome finally (we humblye beſéeche) to augment the light of our mindes, and that we maye with an exceeding pleaſant chéerefulneſſe, reioyce in the ſacred Congregation of hys bleſſed Sainctes, for the vnſpeakeable benefites he hath beſtowed vponupon vsus, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
FOrſomuch as all thy iudgementes (O moſt good and mercifull God) doe ſhine forth with perfect equitie and right vp iuſtice, we ought therefore to be excéeding glad and very ioyfull. For although thy faithful ſeruants be puniſhed for a while ſo lōg as they are in this wretched life, yet the time will one day come, when thou by fire and with the cléere lightſome preſence of thy diuine Maieſtie ſhalt iudge the world, rewarding eueryevery man vprightly according to his deſerts. Then ſhall the very heauens ſhewe foorth thy righteouſneſſe, and al men compelled whether they will or no, to ſay that thou art moſt iuſt: and then alſo ſhall thy bleſſed Church be filled with true and perfect ioy. Seing that therefore the matter ſtandeth thus ſo long as we are here ſtraū gers from thée, cauſe light to riſe in vsus, and a ſpirituall reioycing with excéeding pureneſſe of heart, whereby we may ſincerely and after a due maner ioy in thée onelyonly, ſo that one of vsus maye alwayes put an other in remembraunce not to bée forgetfull to publiſh thy vnſpeakable holineſſe, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.