Godly Prayers out of Davids Psalms, Prayers based on Psalms · Psalm 37 – Psalm 43
¶ A prayer out of the .xxxvij. Pſalme.
FOrſomuch as thy bleſſed Church (O almightie God) hath manye weaklinges which might perhaps bée gréeuouſly offended in ſeeing moſt wicked and naughtie perſons to hauehave ſuch proſperous ſucceſſe:A prayer for conſtancie in fayth againſt ſuch as will hurt vsus. confirme thou them therefore with thy holy ſpirite, to the intent they may right well vnderſtand this felicitie (which now the enimies of the Goſpell inioy) is not ſtable and durable, but rather that it ſhall be dryed vp verye quickly like a withered wéede, and moſte vile graſſe. Vouchſafe ſo to repleniſhe vsus with thy heauenly grace, that we may hauehave our affiaunce onelyonly in thée, and alwayes conceiue a ſinguler delight in charitie and well doyng, whereby we maye thorowlye perſwade our ſelues, that all pleaſure and felicitie ought to bee fetched from thée, as out of the onelyonly vndraynable well ſpring. Graunt alſo, that we maye with a right contented and pacient minde, ſuffer thée to worke thy diuine will in all our affayres (ſo farre as it ſhall ſéeme good in thy ſight) and boldly abide and wayte thy bleſſed leyſure when it ſhall happen that thou ſéemeſt to prolong the tyme for our, helpe and deliueraunce in ſuche wyſe as we be not furiouſly offended at matters which bée preſently done, but perfectly vnderſtand and right well perceyue that our moſt heynous ſinnes hauehave deſerued farre gréeuouſer plagues: for we hauehave in ſuch ſort (O good God) ſinned agaynſt thée, that all the puniſhment which lighteth vpō vsus, is farre leſſe then our wicked & lewde merits deſerue. Yet notwithſtanding, vouchſafe thou (who art moſt fauourable) to direct our goyngs, and ſo aſſiſt thoſe which truſt in thee, that all men may perceyue vsus not to be vtterly throwne downe, although we hauehave gone farre aſtray, bicauſe we are very gently and maruelous ſoftly holden vp with thy ſtrong hande: and let all people vnfeynedly confeſſe that thou doeſt in no wiſe forſake and abandon thy faythfull ſeruauntes, whereby very many may bée bolde and hardie to commit themſelues to thy mightie protection, ſo that thou mayſt be their readie helper, and deliuer them (through thy preſent ayde) from the hands of their vngodly and curſed enimies, by Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
LEt not the proſperous ſucceſſe of the wicked (O moſte good and mercifull God) moue vsus to withdrawe our mindes from folowing thy moſt pure and ſincere Religion, forſomuch as thou declareſt vntounto vsus that their proſperitie is ſo ſhort and vaniſhe ſo quickly away as the gréeneneſſe of graſſe and flowers in Medowes. Vnburthen thou quickly (we humbly beſéeche thée) our conſciences from the heauie ferdell of our ſinnes, from the which (vnleſſe we be eaſed by thy gracious fauour) wée ſhall verie readily fall into vtter deſtruction. But ſéeing that thou art our ſole and onelyonly confidence, vponupon whome we wholy depend, and hauehave committed our ſelues altogither vntounto thy cuſtodie, we doubt not but thou wilt condiſcend and giuegive eare vntounto our earneſt requeſtes: which is, that we may repoſe all our whole pleaſure and felicitie in thée alone, wholy diſpiſing and ſetting vtterly at naught all the proſperity of this wretched worlde. For like as ſuch as leane therevnto are deſtroyed in a moment, euen ſo thoſe that be exceeding quiet, very méeke, and of a right vp minde, ſhall after a marueylous gentle and peaceable maner inioy a perpetuall heritage. Wée néede not to feare howſoeuer the vngodly rage, whatſoeuer he doth manace & practice agaynſt thy bleſſed Sainctes, for his naughtie and lewde enterpriſes ſhall fall vponupon his owne head. But pardon thou (O good God) and trye both our intentes and doings, whereby an euerlaſting herytage may remaine and abide for vsus, who celebrate thy glorious name from day to day, with moſt highe prayſes, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
SEing that thou (O moſt mightie God) haſt taken vponupon thée to be a guide and companion for the godly, to the intent they ſhoulde not ſtray from the true path of righteouſneſſe and a proppe to ſhore them vp if peraduenture they ſhould fall by miſhap: and moreouer, inaſmuch as theſe thy promiſes hauehave beene hitherto ſo firme and ſtable, that there was neuer found any godly perſon ſo deſtitute of thy fauourable good wil, but had all things neceſſary for the preſeruation of his life. Therefore aſſuredly hoping and faythfully truſting in thy mercifull promiſes, we humbly beſéech thee not to puniſhe vsus, as the ſinnes we hauehave committed agaynſt thée do merite and deſerue, but pardon them (for thy excellent mercies ſake) to ſuche as flie vntounto thée for readie helpe: and vouchſafe to beſtow (vpō thoſe that truſt onelyonly in thy goodneſſe) thy bleſſed wil and ſacred lawes to be printed and ingrauen within their heartes, to the intent they maye continually meditate and talke of the ſame, neyther let them be variable and inconſtant touching the execution thereof. Suffer not the glittering and famous fortune of the vngodly (who beare vnreconcileable hatred and deadly foode to thy faythfull ſeruauntes) to remoue vsus any thing at all from the right way, but ſo inflame and lighten our ſoules with thy holy ſpirite, that we may quickly perceyue them to be vtterly wiped out, and fallen into moſt extreeme and endleſſe torments: but indue thou vsus with firme ſtrength and perfect health (according to the confidence we hauehave repoſed in thy faythfull promiſes) and graunt that we may be deliuered from imminent calamities and the ſpitefull enimies of our ſaluation, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶A prayer out of the .xxxviij. Pſalme.
A prayer againſt our e…imies and …he dread of …onſcience.REbuke and chaſten vsus (O moſt good and mercifull God) like thy déere children, by remouing and taking away thy gréeuous wrath and dreadfull indignation from theſe preſent aduerſities. Surely we féele thy heauy hand and perceyue the great perils we are in, who know that it can not be remedyed and amended by mans helpe: which thing doth not befall and happen vntounto vsus without our iuſt deſectes. For doubtleſſe our heynous ſinnes and gréeuous iniquities hauehave wrapped vsus in on al ſides, wherwith we are ſore bourthened and miſerably oppreſt farre aboue our power. Herevpon it cōmeth to paſſe that we go alwayes mourning, and are in a maner at deathes doore, through great heauineſſe and anguiſhe of heart. We ſée our neighbors and friendes ſtand a farre of, and our aduerſaryes pitch guileful ſnares, who worke all the meanes they can poſſible deuiſe vtterly to ouerthrowe vsus. Thou therefore (O good God) for thy louing mercies ſake, firſt and formoſt reconcile vsus vntounto thée, by louinglye forgiuing and fauorably pardoning whatſoeuer we hauehave moſt filthily committed againſt thy diuine Maieſtie, then make haſt and ſpeede to be our readie helpe. We abide looking forthee our onelyonly refuge, who haſt béene accuſtomed readily to ſuccour thoſe that vnfeynedly call vponupon thee, and giuegive eare vntounto their lamentable peticions. Thou art not ignoraunt howe the Antichriſtians triumph and riſe vp agaynſt vsus, whileſt we are ſo ſhaken and toſſed: for they which hate vsus verye vniuſtly, increaſe and waxe dayly ſtronger and ſtronger. Wherefore we humbly require thée (O excellent Father) not to forſake vsus in ſo great and gréeuous afflictions, ſéeyng that thou thy ſelfe art our onelye ſaluation, make haſte (we hartily beſéech thée) to helpe and ſuccour thy bleſſed Church, and mightily reſcue it, being in extréeme perill, thorough Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
ALthough (O moſt good and mercifull God) we finde the fardell and burthen of wickedneſſe which we hauehave committed agaynſt thee to be ſo great, as we are not now any lenger able to ſuſteyne and beare them, therefore vponupon affyaunce of thy vnſpeakeable goodneſſe, we come and call vponupon thée with a ſorowfull heart, not to correct vsus for them with yre and wrathfull indignation: let thy admonition be fatherly as thou haſt béene accuſtomed of olde to ſhewe and extende the ſame towardes thy faithfull ſeruaunts. Behold how (through conſcience of our heynous ſinnes) our hartes be altogether amazed, all thinges are marueylouſly putrified and verye corrupt in vsus: we ſhall liue excéeding ſorowfully in affliction, and in a maner quite deſtitute of light, vnleſſe thou putteſt to thy aſſiſtant helping hande. Neyther doe we truſt any thing at all in our friends & neighbors: for our gréeuous ſinnes purchaſe vsus all thinges frowardly and after an enuious maner. Therefore (O good God) at what time we poure out our wretched iniquities into thy boſome, and are ſo much carefull to procure pardon for them, let vsus not be vtterly deſtitute of the louing fauor and riche merciemercy that is naturally graffed in thée, but as thou art alwayes tractable and eaſie to be intreated, ſo vouchſafe to make haſte for to miniſter ſpéedie and ſtedfaſt helpe in our ſorowfull diſtreſſes, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xxxix. Pſalme.
… prayer a…inſt vani…, and the …ters of …ns lyfe …d ſafetie.SEing that (O moſt mighty God) we are vexed with preſent calamities in this moſt troubleſome time, and oppreſt with ſo great a ſtorme of afflictions: we flie vntounto thee for ſuccour, humblye requiring that thou wouldeſt ſo bridle our mouth and tongue with thy holy ſpirite as nothing may paſſe from vsus either deteſtable to thy diuine Maieſtie, or vnſéemely for our profeſſion. But ſéeing we cannot rightfullye complaine that theſe perplexities and anguiſhes doe ſurmount our heynous ſinnes, or that we be vnworthily puniſhed, graunt we maye appeaſe and ſtay the curſed cryes of ſuch as wrongfully complaine of thée: but rather let our bowels be ſtirred vp with a perfect griefe for the heinous ſinnes we hauehave committed, let them waxe whotte with a moſt inward ſorrow, and cauſe our hartes to be kindled and ſet on fire with a continuall earneſt repentaunce. Graunt that we may right well vnderſtand (O moſt gentle father) eueryevery moment and houre the ſtate of our vnripe life, forſomuch as it is but méere vanitie howſoeuer we lead it, and we are farre wide to thinke that our carefull turmoyle, or heaping togither of vncerteine riches, are able to profite or auaile vsus anye thing at all. Therefore it behoueth vsus (O mightie Lorde) to hauehave a ſpeciall regarde vntounto thée onelyonly, whom if thou wilt eſpecially reléeue from our gréeuous ſinnes and heynous iniquities, our aſſured hope is that we ſhall be no more a ſcorne and reproche to the vngodly. For thou haſt béene accuſtomed to remoue thy plagues from ſuch as be purged and clenſed of their wicked crymes, and ſinfull déedes, leaſt they ſhould be vtterly conſumed at the ſhaking of thy moſt mightie and inuincible hande: which, if it ſhould perſeuer and go on in continuall vexing men (according to their iuſt deſerts) it would no leſſe conſume thē, & grind them to powder then Mothes fret out clothes. GiueGive eare therefore (O good God) vntounto our humble prayers, and ſéeing thou knoweſt we cannot hauehave an aſſured and perfect reſt vponupon earth, graunt that we maye finallye liue with thy excellent Maieſty by a conſtant fayth, and walke before thée in muche ſafetie, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
WHile we féele any tokens of thy rygor and ſeueritie (O moſt mightye God) although we are perſwaded in ſpirit not to ſpeake euill of thy goodneſſe or iuſtice: yet (through the greatneſſe of our extreeme ſorrow & teſtimonie of our ſinnes) we are almoſt ſo farre gone, & brought to ſuch a poynt that our life is very yrkeſome vntounto vsus: wherefore, ſeing yt we confeſſe our heynous ſinnes vntounto thée, and hauehave ſundry wayes wickedly offended thy diuine Maieſtie, bée mercifull & fauorable vntounto vsus for thy louing kindneſſe & mercies ſake. Thou ſeeſt howe ſhort and vaine a thing our life is, beyng lyke vntounto ſhadowes, wherein is nothing firme, ſound, or worth ye truſting to: we fade away in a moment, and what tyme ſoeuer thou giueſt vsus here to liue, we paſſe ouer all the ſame (through our owne default) with moſt heady, troubleſome, and pernicious affections. We require thée therefore that thou wouldeſt yet at length hauehave mercy vponupon vsus: let our earneſt peticions and ſorowfull mourning (which thy bleſſed ſpirite hath from our hearts wrong out in vsus) enter into thy mercifull eares, and moreouer vouche thou ſafe to refreſhe our diſtreſſed mindes, with thy louing fauour from time to tyme, ſo long as wee wander lyke pilgrymes in this wretched worlde, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xl. Pſalme.
THoſe which are ſuſteyned and ſtayed vp with ſuche a hope (O moſt mightie God) that they looke for thy ready helpe in their preſent tribulations, whē they moſt charge them,A praier th… our ſinnes may be pardoned thorow the merites of Chriſt. and hauehave an eſpeciall regard vntounto thée, being in no diſpayre thereof at all, thou at length (according to thy accuſtomed goodneſſe and vnſpeakable merciemercy) graunteſt their humble requeſtes, thou heareſt theyr lowde cryes out of the deepe waters, and ſticking faſt in myre and durt lifteſt them out thereof with thy moſt puyſſaunt helpe. Whereby it happeneth, that they beyng mightily deliuered, hauehave thy eneſtimable prayſes cōtinually in their mouthes, which they celebrate with new ditties, both openly and priuately, to the intent they would ſtirre vp and prouoke all men to the perfect beliefe, aſſured hope, and due feare of thée. GiueGive vsus therefore at this preſent ſuch grace, as we maye both repoſe our whole truſt in thée onelyonly, and alſo not to paſſe for the prowde perſons or lyers that hauehave riſen vp togither againſt thy ſacred church, perceyuing right well that thou art the authour of all wonderfull matters, who haſt in the high treaſures of thy diuine prouidence, ſuch deuiſes and purpoſes which no man can rehearſe or ſhewe forth in order, nor yet once to vtter, in as muche as they excell in number and greatneſſe all force of wordes, and efficacie of ſpeache. Therfore where as we hauehave hitherto greeuouſly offended thée, by reaſon of our heynous ſinnes, neyther can make ſufficient ſatiſfaction by any ſacrifice of our owne, graunt vsus an obedient fayth to be at all tymes procliue and readie to followe thy bleſſed will, which thou haſt vouchedſafe to manifeſt and reuele vntounto vsus in the booke of thy ſacred lawe: graunt that we maye readily and with a frée will execute the ſame, being ſurely printed in the moſt inwarde partes of our ſinfull bodie. And like as thou doeſt neuer withhold thy ſelfe from ſpéedie merciemercy and vnſpeakable goodneſſe towardes vsus: ſo againe let thy zealous louing ſeruauntes manifeſtly ſhew forth thy ſtedfaſt faythfulneſſe, vpright iuſtice, and ſincere truth, both in their words and conuerſation. Thou ſéeſt howe we are borne downe and loden with gréeuous ſinnes, howe we are ouerwhelmed with miſerable aduerſities, and howe both heart and witte fayleth vsus: wherefore hauehave thou an eſpeciall regard to our ſaluation, and make ſpéedy haſt to helpe vsus. Or rather confound and putte the fierce enimies of thy bleſſed name to vtter confuſion, but let vsus which vnfeynedly ſéeke thée, be at length greatly refreſhed, and cauſe vsus to finde by proofe, that it is not in vaine, that thou art reported to be the moſt aſſured ſaluation it ſelfe, and helper of poore ſiely wretches and greeuous afflicted perſons, through Ieſus chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame Pſalme.
THey which ſuffer the prolonging of thy fauorable helpe (O moſt mighty God) with right & pacient mindes, do at length well perceyue and aſſuredly féele that thou heareſt their feruent prayers: and when in good earneſt they finde themſelues to bée deliuered, do not onelyonly celebrate thy glorious name with due prayſes, but giuegive a ſufficient example to other godly men for to do the like. Nowe therefore (which we may onelyonly doe) forſomuch as thou delighteſt not in outwarde ſacrifices, we indeuor and ſtriue to obteyne thus much by oure hartie prayers, that we may become verye louing and deſirous to follow thy holy wil dayly more and more, ſetting forth thy bleſſed truth and vnſpeakeable mercye towardes vsus with often, or rather continuall praiſes. But in the meane ſeaſon, what ſoeuer we hauehave done diſhoneſtly or after a wicked maner agaynſt thee, according to thy louing mercye and excellent goodneſſe forgiue it vsus, neyther ſuffer thoſe gréeuous puniſhments and wofull calamities to ouerwhelme vsus, which our ſinnes hauehave iuſtly deſerued. And let ſuch as ſéeke thy diſhonour and our confuſion, be put to vtter ſhame and rebuke: but cauſe thoſe that be excéeding zealous and very carefull of thy bleſſed name, to be repleniſhed with true ioy and perfect gladneſſe. But ſéeing thou right well knoweſt that we are greatlye diſpiſed, & marueylous deſtitute of worldly and fleſhly helpe, make thou haſt mightily to ſaue vsus, who art our puyſſaunt defence, and very ſtrong fortreſſe, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xlj. Pſalme.
IT is a token of no ſmall grace (O moſt mightie God) well to iudge both of ſuch as be féeble minded,A prayer agaynſt the enimies of Gods holy worde, and for ye worke of charitye. and alſo of all the Godly whome thou doeſt ſometime chaſtice and ſcourge diuers maner of wayes, although thou vſeſt correction with a fatherly affection, yet wilt thou readily deliuer them, ſpeedily quicken them, and in the ende abundantly bleſſe them with thy excellent preſence: which hope we alſo leaning vntounto, and truſting vponupon, (who are nowe moſt gréeuouſly afflicted) doe here togither earneſtly require thée to hauehave mercy vponupon vsus, by releuing and deliuering vsus from the greeuous ſinnes wherewith we hauehave moſt heinouſly offended thée. Thou knoweſt vndoubtedly that the cruell enimies of thy holy Goſpell, wiſhe vsus muche euill: thou vnderſtandeſt what they ymagine and determine amongeſt themſelues of our deſtruction. They verily practiſe and goe about nothing more then to ouerthrow thy bleſſed Church, and with them alſo do ſuch take part as we though to hauehave béene allyed with vsus, both by religion, and alſo for many other reſpectes and good turnes. Extend thou therefore (O good God) thy merciemercy and compaſſion towardes vsus, whereby thou haſt béene accuſtomed not onelyonly to rayſe vp ſuche as are fallen and lie vnderunder foote, but alſo vtterly to confound and bring their aduerſaries to vtter ruine. GiueGive not the fierce enimies of true religion and perfect godlineſſe, ſcope to reioyce at thy faithfull ſeruants deſtruction. But if thou wilt mightily deliuer vsus out of theſe preſent calamities, and with great force confirme the ſame by thy holy ſpirite, thy bleſſed name ſhall be openly commended and highlye prayſed of all godly men, which thing wee earneſtly require may continually come to paſſe and that without ceaſſing, throughe Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
THere remaine wonderfull great rewardes (O moſt good and mercifull God) for ſuch as hauehave much compaſſion vponupon the afflicted: but thoſe that ſhewe mercy vntounto the moſt miſerable, and ſuch men as be in great diſtreſſe, doe immitate and follow the example of thy excéeding great goodneſſe. For thou art woont to comfort thy faythfull ſeruaunt which lieth ſore ſicke in his bed, ſo that thou thy ſelfe ſéemeſt to make the ſame, to the intent that he which is diſeaſed might lye the ſofter, neyther is there anye point of dutifulneſſe which wee accompt moſt ſinguler, wherewith thou doeſt not verye fauourably pleaſure and ſerue the turne of thy bleſſed people, whenſoeuer thou ſhalt thinke time conuenient to helpe them. Wherefore ſeeing we may well perceyue that (for our gréeuous ſinnes) we be fallen into moſt daungerous and ſore diſtreſſes, we humbly flie vntounto thy goodneſſe onelyonly, hoping that thou wilt vouchſafe to remit whatſoeuer we hauehave offended or diſpleaſed thee in, neyther ſuffer the wicked enimies of our ſaluation, to triumph and reioyce at our deſtruction, forſomuch as it ſhalbe manifeſted in this one poynt, that thou doeſt make a verye great accompt of vsus, when as thou art our ſtrong defender in ſuch a noyſome and troubleſome tyme. Succour vsus (we humbly beſéech thee) and ſhew how thou doeſt mightily vpholde vsus, whereby we maye (according to our bounden dutie. Publiſhe and ſet forth the worthie prayſes of thy moſt glorious name, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .lxij. Pſalme.
A prayer in diſtreſſe for the comfort of the goſpell.THere is none (O moſt mightye God) that well & rightly conſidereth thy ineſtimable goodneſſe, but with a feruēt mind doth (like vntounto a hart that is very thirſtie) breathe and feruently bray vntounto thée both day and night: for howe can it be that any man hauing a true fayth, ſhould not make earneſt haſte to come vntounto the liuing God? but wée hauehave bene hitherto greatly ſlacke in that harty deſire, neyther hauehave we vnfeynedly ſought God (as we ought to doe) in the ſacred and holy Congregations. Therefore, (through much heauineſſe and ſorrow) piteous teares hauehave béene oure meate and drinke in theſe marueylous troubleſome times, whyles the moſt cruell enimies of thy bleſſed Church doe dayly mocke and ieaſt at vsus, ſaying where is their God. But as thou (O good God) art mercifull and moſt gentle, ſo lay downe and turne away (we humbly beſéech thée) thy heauie diſpleaſure which thou haſt rightly conceiued agaynſt vsus, and remembring thy faythfull promiſes, graunt vntounto vsus (although we in no wiſe deſerue it) that our aſſured hope and conſtant fayth may be moſt firme and ſtrong, ſo as our ſoule be not caſt downe lower then it ought to bee. For although flouds, tempeſtes, and bottomleſſe pittes of temptations ſéeme to be poured out vponupon thy bleſſed Church, yet ſo aſſwage and moderate them with the goodneſſe of thy ſinguler mercye and excellent grace, that our minde and conſcience be not depriued of their perfect ioy. Graunt, that we being ſtirred vp with thy holy ſpirite, maye alwayes incourage our ſelues to hope and truſt in thy moſt ſtedfaſt helpe bicauſe we ſhall yet ſtill celebrate and prayſe thy glorious name, for reſtoring vsus health and perfect quietnes, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
WEe deſire with our whole heart (O moſt good and mercifull God) to be knit & annexed vntounto thée, dayly hungring and thirſting for the ſame, bicauſe we can not without great ſorrow and griefe, heare the gyrds and ſcornings both of our owne minde and of our cruell aduerſaries (when thou ſéemeſt to hauehave forſaken vsus) wherewith they mocke at godlineſſe and fayth conceyued, namelye by caſting vsus in the téeth with the wofull cares, piteous miſeries, and lamentable calamities that wee (being ſore oppreſt) ſéeme in a maner to be caſt downe with, and that ſo much the more bicauſe our owne ſinnes become eueryevery day greater and greater. We humbly beſéech thee (O good God) for thy excellent mercies ſake, to pardon and forgiue vsus the ſame, whereby we maye be made able to confirme & ſtrengthen our ſelues, being aſſuredly printed in our mindes by thee onelyonly: and ſéeing that our euill affections and greeuous terrors of puniſhments are very troubleſome vntounto vsus, graunt that we (being mightily ſtrengthned with thy louing promiſe) maye comfort our owne afflicted ſoules, perſwading thē, that as they truſt onelyonly in thee, ſo ſhall they be in good hope chéerefully to celebrate thy moſte glorious name, bicauſe thou art both become their perfect ſaluation, and alſo their true God, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
¶ A prayer out of the .xliij. Pſalme.
TAke at length vponupon thée (O moſt good and mightie God) throughe thy owne aucthoritie and inuincible power,A prayer in neceſſitie. the iudgement of our cauſe, which although it indeuoureth to maintaine and vpholde the true worſhipping of thée & thy pure religion, for which thinges ſake, the ſame is very good, and yet neuertheleſſe is it forſaken and diſallowed of all men. Wherefore we hauehave excéeding great néede that thou doeſt deliuer vsus from deceypfull and wicked men. Thou onelyonly remaineſt ye chiefe cōfort, aſſured ſtrength, and ſtrong defence of thy bleſſed Church: Notwithſtanding we hauehave liued vnworthy of thy holye name, profeſſion, and doctrine, but ſuch is thy vnſpeakable mercye, that it hydeth ſuch mens iniquities as vnfeynedly repent and turne vntounto thée, it forgiueth heynous ſinnes, and will not lay to the charge of the faythfull whatſoeuer they hauehave moſt wickedly committed. Therefore we heartily require thée to hauehave pitie vponupon vsus, and make vsus in ſuch wiſe partakers of thy ſplendent light and glorious truth, that we may both here worſhip thée purely in the holy congregations, and at the laſt bée conducted to the moſt bleſſed habitations of eternall life. Our ſoule truely is nowe heauy and vtterly diſmaied: we are oftentimes vexed with timerous imaginations, and the bowelles within vsus doe tremble and quake for feare. Yet we humbly beſech thée (O excellent father) to confirme ſuch an aſſured hope in vsus, that we may hereafter ſet forth thy worthie prayſes, and be excéeding chearefull for the obteyning of our ſaluation, when as thou ſhalt declare thy ſelfe to be our moſt famous God, as in very déede thou art, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lorde. Amen.
An other prayer out of the ſame pſalme.
WEe commit our cauſe to thy ſtrong defence and puyſſaunt gouernment (O moſt mightie God) being in marueylous great daunger, and in ſo great perils of this ſinfull life. For although we hauehave no ſtrength and power in our ſelues, ſo long as we continue in this moſt miſerable life, wherevnto may we leane, ſeing we be wretchedly ouerlayde with originall ſinne, and an infinite number of wickedneſſes adioyned thereto: yet we humblye beſéech thée, let the cléere light of thy moſt louing countenaunce ſhine vponupon vsus, that the darkeneſſe of our minde may be made bright thereby. For if it happen vntounto vsus through thy vnſpeakably merciemercy, to be repleniſhed with thy excéeding gladneſſe and incredible ioy, we will then bid our minde (which otherwiſe would be abaſhed) to be of good cheare. This one thing we hartily require of thee, to vouchſafe for to graunt vsus, that we maye repoſe our whole truſt and affiaunce in thée alone, bicauſe thou onelyonly art become our ſaluation and verye true God, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.