Godly Prayers out of Davids Psalms, Prayers based on Psalms · Psalm 98 – Psalm 104
¶ A prayer out of the .xcviij. Pſalme.
A prayer for the fauour of Chriſt through his glorious reſurrection.THou haſt ſhewed oftentimes that ſaluation belongeth vntounto thee only (O moſte mightie God) for the doing and accompliſhing whereof thou haſt no néede of any creatures aſſiſtaunce. Thou ſhewedſt marueylous wonders in our fathers dayes, and diddeſt often preſerue them with thy onelyonly right hande and bleſſed arme: for thou haſt in ſuch wiſe extended thy readie helpe towards them, yt thy excellent mercy & vnſpeakable goodnes became manifeſt to al nations. Seing that therfore thou haſt not hitherto bene forgetful of thy faithful promiſes, but rather haſt alwayes aſſiſted thy beloued ſeruants, whē ſoeuer they ſtoode in néede of a deliuerer: whervpō they thought thy glorious name was to be extolled & prayſed all maner of wayes, ſo much as in them lay, both with heart, voyce, trumpets, harpes, ſhawmes, and ſundrie ditties of ſonges: we therfore thy faythfull people doe in like ſort pray at this preſent, that thou hideſt not thy ſelfe from vsus in this time. Thou truely art not ignoraunt how many and howe great the perils are, which do gréeuouſly moleſt vsus. And ſo long as we do wey the caſe by our owne deſerts, they ſéeme to be more hard and gréeuous vntounto vsus then we be able in any wiſe to beare: for we hauehave ſinned in ſuch wiſe agaynſt thee, ſo impudētly tranſgreſſed thy ſacred lawes, and ſo often playd the rebelles agaynſt thy diuine Maieſtie, that if thou ſhouldeſt reward vsus according to our lewde lyfe and filthie condicions, we may be euen in vtter diſpayre of our ſaluation. But we do greatly & with much feruencie labour to obteyne this at thy fauourable handes, both that thou wouldſt deale. with vsus according to thy accuſtomed maner, by forgiuing the penitent, pardoning their heynous offences which vnceſſauntly call vponupon thy bleſſed name, and being mercifull vntounto ſuch as faythfully truſt in thée. And alſo that of thy ſinguler iuſtice and excellent clemencie, thou wouldſt mightily deliuer vsus, after a puyſſaunt maner maintaine vsus, and defend vsus with an inuincible force, from the moſt cruell enimies of thy bleſſed name, through Ieſus Chriſt oure Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
AL mankind in generall (O moſt mightie God) are bounde to prayſe and ſette forth thy bleſſed name excéedingly, for the notable benefits thou beſtoweſt vpō them, and moſt eſpecially, for that thou haſt deliuered vsus from euerlaſting death by the helpe of none other creature, but onelye through the ſole oblation of thy alone and moſt dearly beloued Sonne: inſomuch as we may rightly ſaye, that thou onelyonly defendeſt vsus with thy holy arme and puiſſant right hande. Thou haſt verye certainlye ſhewed howe mindfull, and what a good kéeper thou art of faythfulneſſe and goodneſſe, which the whole endes of the earth and all mortal creatures may aſſuredly ſee and right well perceyue by our redemption: but we be ſo dull, rude, and blockiſhe, that we hauehave in a maner loſt the whole perceyueraunce of ſo noble and great liberalitie, the fault whereof we muſt impute to our heynous wickedneſſe and miſchieuous déedes. Wherefore, with a mightye lamentation and verye ſorrowfull crie, wée doe earneſtly call vponupon thy ineſtimable merciemercy to forgiue whatſoeuer wée hauehave moſte gréeuouſly committed agaynſt thée, and to take from thy bleſſed Churche the occaſions of ſo great ſorrow. For whileſt we knowe godlineſſe and religion to hang in ſo great diſtreſſe, we can in no wiſe ſing vntounto thée with heart and voyce as we ought to do, or prouoke all creatures through oure great ioye, to vnſpeakeable gladneſſe. We do nowe earneſtly require thée to come and iudge the caſe of thy faithfull people. Rayſe vp and ſuſtaine with thy iudgement ſuch as mourne, and comfort the afflicted, that thy equitie and iuſtice (wherein thou doeſt much excell all others) may moſte manifeſtly ſhewe forth it ſelfe, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xcix. Pſalme.
A prayer for the iuſtification of fayth, agaynſt the righteouſnes of workes.IT is truly an excéeding great force of thy glorious kingdom that thou (moſte mightye God) vſeſt in the defence of the Godly, and ouerthrowing of the enuious and rebellious people, which our fathers hauehave oftentimes had tryall of. Whereby we doe moſt certainly beleue and earneſtly confeſſe, that ſo long as thou doeſt fauour thy faythfull ſeruaunts, the courages, minds, and ſtrengt… of thoſe that aſſault them, yea and the ver… earth alſo doth quaile: ſeeing therfore tha… thy puyſſaunce and ſtrength is ſo great i… the Church, let thy mightye power (we b… ſéech thee) diſquiet and trouble all nations which would quite ſubuert and vtterly ouerthrow thy glorious kingdome. And as thy puyſſaunt force and mightie ſtrength ſurmounteth all Gods and kings, euen ſo nowe ſhew thy ſelfe a terrible and feareful GOD for the preſeruation of thy bleſſed Church. It is verily not vnbeknowne vntounto vsus, that thou loueſt iugdement, and decideſt mens cauſes vprightly. We heartily require thée therefore to vouchſafe, that (when as our iniquities which we hauehave cō mitted prouoke thée to extend thy ſeueritie vponupon vsus) thou wouldſt turne thy eyes from theſe thinges, and bend them wholy vponupon Ieſus Chriſt our ſauiour, who is for vsus in the ſtead of Aaron, Moſes, Samuell, and a true Biſhop. Bée mindfull of the prayer, ſacrifice, bloud and teares which he ſhed for vsus vponupon the Alter of the Croſſe. Admit, we hauehave committed an infinite number of naughty factes, yet remember that we thorowe him doe call vponupon thy bleſſed name, pardon therefore, forgiue, and vtterly remit our heynous tranſgreſſions, and make no …ariance in deliuering vsus from theſe exceeding great and daungerous perils, ſo that we may leade our lyfe with an vncorrupt heart towards thee, and exalt thy glorious name, euen as it right wel deſerueth, with ſuch prayſes as maye pearce the heauens, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
ALthough the vngodly (O moſt mightie God) ſeeme to ruffle ſometime ſo greatly, as they turne all things vpſide downe, yet there is no cauſe why ye faythful ſhould be greatly afrayde, forſomuch as thou haſt taken the gouernement of all worldlye things into thy mightie protection, and guydeſt with thy excellent wiſdome the ſtate of the whole worlde: for whoſoeuer they be which are aſſuredlye perſwaded in this poynt, they leaue feare for ſuch as be otherwiſe minded, while they themſelues (being fully repleniſhed with pure ioy and perfect gladneſſe) doe extoll thée with vnceſſaunt prayſes to the vttermoſte of their powers, and ſhewe forth thy famous glorie by all meanes that can be deuiſed: vntounto whom we alſo annix our indeuours with an exceeding chéerefull courage, and alſo humbly require thée in our moſt feruent cryes and earneſt petitions, that as thou ſhewedſt thy ſelfe gentle and treatable vntounto Moſes, Aaron, Samuell, and the remnaunt of thy moſt faythfull prieſtes, when they did inuocate & call vponupon thy glorious name: giuegive eare in likewiſe to vsus at thys preſent, & defend thy ſacred Church (which now ſtandeth in great néede of thy mighty aſſiſtance, if euer it wanted the ſame) no leſſe with thy diuine preſence, good counſel, holye ſpirite and grace, then thou diddeſt help our fathers in times paſt with a piller of fire, with clowdes in the Sea, and in the moſt wide and large wilderneſſe, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .C Pſalme.
VErily thy excéeding great honour (O moſt mightie God) and notable benefites beſtowed vponupon vsus,A praier that we may in all places both glorifie God, and alſo confeſſe him. require this, yt we of dutie ſhould come before thy preſence with thankes giuing, and magnifying thy bleſſed name with a notable gladneſſe and vnſpeakable ioy. There be two thinges chiefly which ſeeme to hinder vsus from doing thereof: firſt we are burthened with an innumerable multitude of horrible vices, and ſo kept downe with ſinne, that wée dare ſcarcely lift vp our eyes vntounto thée: furthermore we are by the deſert of our owne lewde factes, inuironed in ſuch wiſe with anguiſhe and feare of Antichriſt, as we are in a maner ſwalowed vp therewith. For experience teacheth that he is ſo ſtirred vp agaynſt vsus by thy iuſtice, through our owne wicked behauiour, that (vnleſſe thy louing mercy be our readie helper) mannes power and ſtrength ſhall further vsus nothing in this behalfe. Firſt and formoſt therefore our earneſt requeſt is, that thou wouldeſt take vtterly away from thy faythful ſeruaunts, the burthen of wickedneſſe, and graunt that we may lead a pure and vndefiled life, in ſtéede of ſuch a one as is very lewde and marueylous corrupt. Secondly, that thou wouldſt deliuer thy bleſſed people from the Iawes of the moſt cruell enimies, whoſe indeuour is alwayes to bring not only the bodyes and goodes, but alſo the ſoules of thy faythfull ſeruaunts to eternall deſtruction. Thou that art our God, ſuffer not theſe things to be done we humbly beſéech thee: we are the worke of thy handes, for thou diddeſt make vsus and not we our ſelues. Seing therefore that we be thy choſen people, & ſhéepe of thy paſture, be preſent ſo to helpe vsus both in the outward and inward man, that we may in the end enter the Court of thy diuine preſence, by publiſhing thy vnſpeakable goodneſſe with high praiſes, godly Hymnes, & pleaſaunt ſongs, ſo that aſſuraunce thereof may be giuen by vsus, both to all Nations, and throughout all ages, by Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
WE being greatly aſſured by the outward teſtimonie of the ſacred ſcriptures, and inward inſpiration of thy bleſſed ſpirite (O moſt good and mercifull God) that thou wilt be fauourable and mercifull vntounto vsus and all ours, are both filled wyth perfect ioy, and receyue full pleaſure. But forſomuche as we right well perceyue by the excellent benefites of fayth, that thou art our founder, by whome we are created and choſen to be thy beloued flocke and peculier people, we can neuer be fully ſatiſfied … due thankes giuing, and remembraunce of thy ſo great goodneſſe. We come and approche vntounto thee therefore with vnceſſaunt prayſes and humble ſupplications, moſte earneſtly requiring thy diuine Maieſtie in oure feruent prayers, to manifeſt thy glorious name vntounto all Nations, and of thy louing kindneſſe to ſet thy ſacred Church againe in ſuch bleſſed felicitie, as all men may right well know and perfectly vnderſtand thy clemencie extended towards hir, both for the veritie of the doctrine, and alſo for liuing and conuerſation fully agréeable to the things that are faythfully and truely taught, by Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Cj. Pſalme.
… …rayer for …dly life.THou requireſt this eſpeciallye in ſuch mens liuings as profeſſe thy bleſſed name and holy Goſpell (O moſt good and mercifull God) that they ſhould lead their life excéeding iuſtly and with great vprightneſſe, and to performe the déedes of charitie towardes their neighbours: which thing ſéeing the holye Scriptures do eueryevery where beate into vsus, we vnfeynedly confeſſe that we hauehave in no wiſe performed it, and in this behalfe wée acknowledge before thy diuine Maieſtie, our gréeuous wickedneſſe & moſte wrongfull dealings, and the colde zeale we hauehave had towardes thy holy Church and bleſſed people: praying thee that thou wouldeſt pardon and remit whatſoeuer we hauehave hitherto trayterouſly and raſhlye committed agaynſt thy ſacred commaundements, and graunt that (being inforced therto through the wiſedome of thy holy ſpirite) we maye beginne an innocent and blameleſſe life: let all wicked deuices be excluded far from our hearts, and cauſe vsus to deteſt ſuch matters as be repugnant to iuſtice and equity, ſo that we may neyther thinke nor yet doe any thing which may be diſagreable to thy bleſſed lawe and good pleaſure. Moreouer (we humbly beſéech thee) not to forſake thy holy Church in this moſt troubleſom time: for thou both féeſt and right wel perceiueſt, howe the cruell, malicious, and vngodlye Antichriſtians hauehave inuaded hir: being ſo puft vp with pride, & inflamed with furie, ſcorning as well diuine lawes as humaine with like ſtatelineſſe and equall contempt, doing nothing with courteſie and faythfulneſſe, but practiſe to bring all thinges to nought by forged tales, politique deceypts, and very much outrage: wherfore our earneſt requeſt is (O good GOD) that thou wouldeſt make haſt to ſuccor thy faythfull people, and deſtroy with thy puyſſant force and mightie power, ſuche as are wicked, who be no leſſe aduerſaryes to thy bleſſed name, then of our peace and quietneſſe, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
IT behoueth the Church (O al…htye God) which is thy bleſſed houſe, to bée decked with all maner of ornaments apperteyning to holineſſe and vertue, whereof, forſomuch as we ſée it to bée as now miſerably deſtitute, we humbly beſéech thée, who art beneuolent, and wiſheth hir (as wée doubt not) all good and proſperous things, whom thou eſpecially fauoureſt according to the meaning of thy louing promiſes, graūt hir in ſuch wiſe to be reſtored, as all thinges may be ordered there by thy ſpirituall wiſdome, and auoyde thoſe offences therefro, vntounto which euerlaſting damnation is due by iuſtice. Let them depart thence which fall from thée by infidelitie, and are through obſtinate wilfulneſſe, trayterous rebelles to thy ſacred lawe: let backebiters, togither with ſuche as are proude, and thoſe which dare ſhameleſlye preſume any thing, bée vtterly rooted out. And cōtrariwiſe, let there be ſpace in eſpeciallye for ſuche as be verye zealous of the truth. Let not theſe be onelyonly conuerſant there before thée, but cauſe them to féed thy bleſſed people with a ſinguler fayth and inno…ſie, & miniſter all things diligently vntounto them, which be neceſſary toward ſaluation. Remoue far from thence, far from them (O excellent father) be all mans inuē tion and deceyptfull ydolatrie, ſo that finally all Godlineſſe maye be vtterly rooted vp from the Congregation of the faythfull, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Cij. Pſalme.
WE are of our owne ſelues altogither vnworthie (O moſt mightie God)A praye… the tryal fayth a… fliction … Church that thou ſhouldeſt gyue eare vntounto our prayers, ſeeing we hauehave eueryevery where tranſgreſſed thy ſacred lawe and bleſſed commaundements, and liued excéeding diſhoneſtly towards thy holy Goſpel, and our vocation. Howbeit, hide thou not away thy face (for thy infinit mercies ſake) from our humble petitions & earneſt ſupplications. For we are greeuouſly aſſayled and ſore oppreſt with moſt great perilles. And therefore bowe downe thy fauourable eare vntounto vsus, and graunt them with ſpéede their deſires which inuocate and call vponupon thée. Firſt we require to be deliuered from our heynous ſinnes and lewde corruptiōs, and let our weake and feeble heartes bée ſtrengthned in thy bleſſed way, and the withered powers of our minde (which are dried vp) watered with the holy Ghoſt, that we may liue vntounto thée, who (being altogither repaired and wholy renued) may cauſe thy glorious name and ſacred Goſpell to be well ſpoken of. This once done, extende thy inuincible power and might vponupon ſuch as rayſe vp innumerable ſlaunders and reproches vponupon the name of thy Sonne and his holy doctrine. HaueHave mercy out of hande (we humbly beſéech thée) of Sion, that is to ſay, thy bleſſed Church, for the time is now come that ſhe ſtandeth in great néede of thy readie helpe. Looke out, we heartily pray thée, from thy high dwelling place, behold our gréeuous calamities, and heare theyr pitifull cryes which are in great bondes, much beaten, and gréeuouſly tormented to death diuers maner of wayes for thy glorious names ſake, by preſeruing thy choſen ſheepe out of ſo great daungers, whom the Antichriſtians doe adiudge not onelye to death, but alſo to vtter deſtruction, that thy adobted children maye one time or other lead a peaceable and quiet life before thée, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
THe whole company of thy faithfull people (O moſt good and mercifull God) do lamentably require thy fauourable helpe, which is cruelly oppreſt through the tyrannie of ſinne, and the ſacred ſappe of godlineſſe almoſte dryed vp in the ſame, for hir mouth is in a maner ſo ſtopped vp that ſhe cannot ſing thy worthie prayſes, and there remayneth not well néere any member in hir bodie that may execute his office in helping one another. Thou therefore which alwayes floriſheſt freſher and freſher, riſe vp to be our ſpéedie helper, bicauſe we hauehave now thought it highe time for thée to aſſiſt thy bleſſed Church ſo gréeuouſly afflicted: which thing if thou wilt graunt vsus, wée doubt not but the feare of thy glorious name and ſincere godlineſſe ſhall bée ſpred very farre abroade. For if thou wilt deliuer thy faythfull people from ſo great and miſcheeuous daungers, thou ſhalt teach thereby that thy louing promiſe remayneth alwayes firme and vnappayred: in ſuch wiſe, that although the heauen & earth be troubled with wonderfull interchaunges, and be ſo ſhaken as they periſhe, yet doth the ſame continue alwayes one towardes thy elect ſeruaunts, whereby, we heartily beſéech thée, to be both preſerued, and alſo ſet in good eſtate againe, not according to our owne ſtrength and deſertes, but throughe his mercy and gentleneſſe effectually working the ſame, by Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .Ciij. Pſalme.
WE are bounde (O moſte mightye God) for thy ſinguler deſerts extended towards vsus,A prayer for a newe life. to prayſe thée continually, with minde, heart, & all our whole power, rendring condigne thanks vntounto thy diuine maieſty, vnleſſe we will like vngratefull perſons, forget all thoſe thinges which thou haſt hitherto beſtowed vpō vsus. Firſt thou haſt freely offred vsus forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, by Chriſt, and regeneration throughe his precious bloud: herevnto is added doctrine, ſacraments, bodily life, and whatſoeuer elſe apperteyneth to the preſeruation both of the outwarde and inwarde man. But wee heartily acknowledge that we hauehave notwithſtanding moſte filthily abuſed all theſe thy excellent benefites, for we hauehave done nothing faythfully that aunſwereth fully to our calling. We nowe therefore do humbly beſéech thée to pardon our gréeuous offences and lewd behauiour, amending our corrupt maners and the diſhoneſt life which we hauehave led hitherto. Deale not with vsus after our ſinnes, neyther reward vsus according to our iniquities. Wilt thou (ſeing that ſinguler louing kindneſſe and merciemercy preuayleth with thee) bée alwayes reuengeable? or correct and chaſtice vsus in thy furie? Remember that thou art our father, and therefore earneſtly do we deſire thee to ſhewe forth a fatherly affection towards ſuch as both honour and worſhip thée. It is not vnbeknowne to thy diuine Maieſtie that we are duſt, and (vnleſſe thou be preſent with vsus) the vayneſt things that euer were made: we are more lither then graſſe and flowers. Regard not therefore our lewde and wicked factes, but way rather the league made betwixt thée and vsus, and deliuer thy faythfull people from the hands of thy curſed and moſt miſchieuous enimies, ſo that we may magnifie thy wonderous workes, with the glorious Aungels, and all holy men for euermore, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
MAnnes weake and féeble nature can at no tyme (O almightye GOD) prayſe thée according to thy worthineſſe: for thou doeſt not onelye beſtowe vppon vsus the benefites whereby we both obteyne lyfe, and alſo doe from day to day continue and maintain the ſame, but thou haſt forgiuen thy faythfull people their moſt gréeuous and infinite ſinnes, by Chriſt, which ſurmounteth al other things that thou haſt participated amongſt vsus, for the which moſt excellent and notable gift, we yéelde thee heartie thankes, although not ſuch as we ought, yet ſuch as we can: and to the intent we may thereby become more chéerefull in requiring the ſame, our earneſt requeſt is (O excellent Father) that thou wouldeſt eſtabliſhe and perpetually maintaine the worde of pure and ſincere doctrine in the mouth of thy bleſſed Church, ſo that an alteration of hir olde Leuen being made, ſhe may (like the Eagle) from time to time renue hir youth. And like as thou diſſembling the ſinnes of the Iſraelites, didſt not onelyonly bring them to the dwelling place that thou hadſt promiſed by Moſes whom thou hadſt taught, but alſo through the perpetuall benefites of thy excellent merciemercy beſtowed vppon that people didſt ſhewe and manifeſt, that thy goodneſſe, towardes them, ſurmounted all their miſchieuous dedes, no leſſe ſpace then the heauens are diſtant from the earth: bée thou (which art our father and we thy déere children) moued with merciemercy towardes vsus, who are lyke to be ouerwhelmed wyth darkneſſe and lewde behauiours, vnleſſe thou preſently putteſt to thy aſſiſtant helping hand. Cauſe vsus to finde by proofe that thou haſt renued the couenaunt made betwixt thée and vsus, and (the ſame being reſtored) let vsus with all earneſſneſſe, indeuor our ſelues to ſet forth thy bleſſed lawe and commaundementes in holyneſſe of life, whereby not onelyonly the earthly Church may render condigne thankes vntounto thy vnſpeakable goodneſſe for our ſaluation, but alſo the Aungelles which accompliſhe thy holy will with a marueylous cheerefulneſſe may do the ſame, through Ieſus Chriſt our lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the. Ciiij. Pſalme.
A praier that we may vſe …he creatures of God in ſuch …ort as we …re willed.EVery creature doth abundauntlye ſhew forth vntounto vsus thy inuincible force, ſplendant bewtte, and famous glorie (O moſt mighty god) inaſmuch as we ſée that all things doe adorne thee with their whole power & might, obeying not onelyonly thy ſacred wordes, but euen thy very beckes alſo: it behoueth vsus in like ſort to be likewiſe affectioned, ſéeing that thou haſt created all things chiefly to our profite and ſinguler commoditie. For we certainly know and right well perceiue howe the earth doth continually yéeld fruit for our ſuſtentation, and how we be helped with the welles, flouds, beaſtes, raine, herbes, corne, wine, oyle, and all kinde of foode: but our nature is ſo blinde, corrupt, and defiled, that the more we are bounde to thée for thy excéeding great benefites, ſo much the ſtubburnlier ſwarue we from thy ſacred wordes and bleſſed will. Wherefore our earneſt requeſt is, that thou wouldeſt (for thy infinite mercies ſake) pardon whatſoeuer wée hauehave hitherto committed agaynſt thy diuine Maieſtie, and vouchſafe vsus to depend ſoly vponupon thée, will we or nill we, touching our bodily foode, ſo yt alſo our whole motions, ſtrength, counſels and workes be faſtned onelyonly vponupon thy excellent goodneſſe. Moreouer, we humbly beſéech thée, not to turne thy face awaye from vsus in theſe our dayes, whereas otherwiſe we ſhall be ſore troubled, giuegive vp the ghoſt, and be brought to nothing. Thou haſt (O good God) diuers meanes and ſundrie wayes to deſtroy thy miſchieuous enimies: who vſeſt the moſte violent windes, lightnings, and flames of fire, in ſteede of thy meſſengers, for if thou doeſt looke downe vponupon the earth, it trembleth by and by, and if thou toucheſt ye moū taynes, they ſmoke ſtraight wayes. Sley thou therefore the wicked Antichriſtians, in ſuch wiſe, as they may no more remaine: and let peace and tranquilitie be ſo giuen to thy bleſſed Church, that ſhe may ioyfully ſing, and pleaſantly ſhewe forth thy moſte worthie prayſes, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
IT is not vnbeknowne to thy faythfull people (O moſt mightie God) that thou haſt created all things from the beginning to the behoofe of thy elect ſeruaunts. Therefore like as we ſee the whole worlde which thou haſt made to be garniſhed with wonderfull and moſt bewtifull ornamentes: ſo (we humbly beſéeche thée) to lighten and polliſhe thy bleſſed Church in ſuche wiſe (which is the congregation of ſuch as ſhall be ſaued) that thy glorie maye no leſſe appéere in hir then in the whole worlde: let the pure light of thy ſacred wordes ſhine eſpecially therein, which maye cauſe the mightie power and inuincible force of thy Spirite to worke more effectually in oure heartes, and make the conſtancie in fayth of the beleuers, ſo great as they may be more ſtedfaſt then the maſſe of the earth, or foundations and pillers of the worlde. Driue from thence at the rebuke of thy puyſſance, daungerous temptations, the hurtfulneſſe of hell, and the prince of darkneſſe: and contrariwiſe in ſtéede of them, let the inſpiration of thy moſt ſwéete ſpirite ſuccéede like ſprings of liuing water, and let not perpetuall foode bée wanting to our weakneſſe, where with to féede it. But let there be a fortreſſe in the confidence of thy glorious name, for vsus to retire vntounto: and like as in thy bleſſed creatures is great abundance of light, whether it be in the ſtarres, or in the ſundrie variety of beaſts, herbes, & ſtones, ſo we humbly beſéech thée, to garniſhe and bewtifie thy holy Church with the brightneſſe of all vertues, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
AL creatures which thou haſt created (O moſt good and mercifull God) are witneſſes, by their greatneſſe and moſt exquiſite ornaments, with what a wonderfull wiſdome and inuincible power thou flouriſheſt: there is nothing but it dependeth wholy vppon thée, for what things ſoeuer hauehave life, are fed by the foode which thou giueſt them, and from ſuch as thou hideſt the ſight of thy louing countenaunce, they are not able any longer to indure but die incontinent whenſoeuer they be depriued of thy ſpirit. Forſomuch as therfore (O excellent father) thou art ſo good and mighty in working, euen towards thoſe things chiefly which thou haſt ordeyned to be farre inferiour to man, wée humbly beſéech thée to extend thy fauourable clemencie no leſſe towards thy bleſſed Church. Shee verily is thy owne worke, wherefore reioyce and delight therein, and (of thy excéeding highe prouidence) cauſe thy maieſty to ſhew forth it ſelfe in hir moſt euidently, whereby wée may alwayes both ioyntly amongeſt our ſelues hauehave moſt pleaſaunt wordes concerning thy bleſſed wil, and alſo magnifie thée with perpetuall prayſes, forſomuch as thou haſt taken all vncleaneſſe quite from hir, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.