Psalm 121: In Necessity for God's Divine Preservation
hand, our pilgrimage shall be continued in woeful miseries and sinful wickedness without end. For there is no hope of peace to be looked for where thy sacred truth is had in deadly contempt: yea rather it seemeth daily to be the further of from thy blessed Church, the more love and earnest desire she hath thereto. Seeing therefore that it behooveth us to wage continual war against spiritual wickedness, refuse not thou (O excellent father) readily to help such as unfeignedly call upon thee for the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 121: IN NECESSITY FOR
GOD'S DIVINE PRESERVATION
(Prayer 1) We look for thy assistant help (O most mighty God) with an exceeding heaviness of mind in these our most troublesome mishaps, elevating our eyes to thee only, through whose mighty power, like as we know that heaven and earth was created, so also our assured hope is that thou canst deliver us from these present mischiefs. Verily we acknowledge our sins to be such as they have deserved to be punished with these sore afflictions and grievous chastisements.
For we have not yielded due honor and reverence unto thee when as thou didst call us to the profession of thy sacred gospel, but seeking our own profit only, have miserably neglected thy renowned honor and famous glory. Wey not therefore (O good God) this our ingratitude and wickedness committed: but (for thy infinite mercies sake) keep our feet from falling, by settling them so in thy holy law and sacred commandments, as they swerve not at all therefrom. Moreover seem not to slumber or sleep touching the defense and preservation of thy blessed
Church being so sore afflicted. If it hath been thy accustomable manner to defend thy faithful servants from the heat of the Sun in the day time, and from the cold of the Moon in the night, despise not us that suffer so many and great torments through the fury and outrageous madness of Antichrist: preserve not only our souls and life from his subtle devices, but especially maintain thou thy pure religion, which he doth most of all fight against. For our earnest request is that thou wouldest so direct the beginnings and endings of our doings, in the true
paths of thy blessed commandments, as they may perpetually abide in the perfect rule thereof, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) So long as we (O almighty God) are tormented with these sorrowful and most troublesome times, our hearts and eyes are erected to thee only, as under whose dominion we doubt not but the chief force of all things consisteth, whereby we are greatly inflamed lamentably to require thy ready help.
For by what most excellent power thou hast formed the heaven and earth, it is now very needful for thee to help thy blessed Church with the same, when it is in a manner swallowed up with the most noisome Iawes of her cruel enemies.
Suffer not (we humbly beseech thee) the feet of our faith to stagger or falter: for of itself (such is the infirmity wherewith we are clothed round about) it is weak and wavering enough. We truly fell first from thee, and swerved wretchedly from the law and decrees of thy blessed will: but vouchsafe, we humbly beseech thee, not to deal with us according to our worthiness, but after thy unspeakable goodness and most excellent mercy, preserving the Church, being well hedged in and compassed about with thy puissant defense, for if thou shouldest forsake her
(who art otherwise the keeper of Israel) she can in no wise endure. But if it be bereft and spoiled of thy mighty protection, then through whose care and industry may she be preserved? Grant that we may gather our wits to us and call them back unto thee, to the intent thou mayest not only be our defender, but also the preserver of all that ever we have, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) Forsomuch as we are always subject to adversities (O most mighty god) during this wretched life, therefore do we loke everywhere about us with our eyes, from whence found and perfect help might be ministered unto us: and thou before all things meetest with our faith. For seeing we right well know that all creatures were made by thee even from the beginning, and that thou nourishest with thy perpetual goodness, both celestial powers, and also terrestrial: we humbly beseech thee, that whereas otherwise thy high and excellent providence is not used to be interrupted, thou wouldst show thyself to be a most vigilant shepherd towards us. Let thy loving favor (we heartily pray thee) be everywhere our sure defense, that we burn not with to fervent an heat of filthy lusts,