Psalm 123: For the Mercy of God
furious and violent invasion of Antichrist. And cause that those Citizens which do credit the sacred doctrine of thy holy Church may by thy excellent benefits become friends and faithful brethren one to another, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Although the holy Scriptures do teach us everywhere that the heaven (O most good and merciful God) is thy dwelling place, yet the same do in such wise set out thy infinite goodness, as the Church is both called, and also is indeed thy sanctified house wherein thou most frequentest: at what time therefore we shall come together in the holy congregations, our earnest request is that we may be there with cheerful and very desirous minds. For thou truly hast (of an exceeding liberality) adorned thy holy Church with most flourishing and excellent gifts, neither is there anything pretermitted that appertaineth to her garnishing, which may either belong to the spiritual decking and beautifying thereof, or to the plenteous enriching of it in abundance of all heavenly good things. Which seeing they have proceeded most fully from thee, this only remaineth, that thou wouldest so condescend unto our fervent prayers, as the members thereof may be annexed together with a perpetual concord: cause their meetings to be in such sort as they may render due honor unto thee, let the sacred scriptures be there purely and sincerely interpreted, and let thy glorious Kingdom from day today be more and more enlarged, making all these things to be stablished with thy joyous peace and the tranquility of thy holy spirit. For so long as we pray for the quietness and felicity hereof, let us procure substantial and perfect good things both to our neighbors, and also unto thy blessed house, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 123: FOR THE MERCY OF GOD
(Prayer 1) There remaineth no greater help for thy faithful servants (O most mighty God) then that which cometh from heaven: for the puissant force of Antichrist and his devilish practices have so greatly prevailed, as true godliness, and the right honoring of thee are in a manner extinguished and utterly overthrown.
Therefore lift we up our eyes to heaven unto thee, to the intent thy helping hand may revive us again, and that we may escape out of so manyfold great dangers.
For as the eyes of servants and maids look unto their Masters and Mistresses: even so do our eyes wait upon thee, being the only refuge of our salvation: that like as they do wholly depend and hang upon their Masters and Mistresses, so do we cry daily to thee until thou have mercy upon us. Be not thus exceeding wrathful and angry at our wickedness, wherewith we are little better than overwhelmed, that thou dost less regard the glory of thy name, then the revenging of them. Pardon we humbly beseech thee, thy poor suppliants, that they may be nothing destitute of thy infinite mercy and singular goodness. Have pity upon us (O good
God) in these miserable days, be favorable unto us, who know right well with what troubles and reproaches thy holy Church is everywhere sore touched. Let not the arrogancy and despitefulness of the wicked pass any further, being now so puffed up without measure through the prosperous success of the matters they take in hand, as man's power is nothing able to assuage the same. Make thou therefore (who art invincible and omnipotent) an end of their outrageous madness, and keep them within their bounds, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Although thou hast appointed thy seat and dwelling place (O most good and merciful God) to be in the passing high heavens, yet notwithstanding thou never ceasest to stir us up with thy holy spirit, whereby thou instructest the hearts of the faithful, who at what time we be tried with heaviness of mind, irksome tribulations, and dangerous perils, endeavor ourselves both by our earnest prayers and continual petitions to crave help at thy hands only. Now therefore, like as servants are attendant only at the hands of their Masters, and handmaids wait diligently upon their Mistress hand, even so the eyes of our faith look only upon thee (O heavenly father) and shall always hereafter have a due regard to thy divine Majesty until thou hast mercy upon us. Be favorable unto us we humbly beseech thee, according to thy accustomable mercy and loving kindness, neither suffer the force of our fierce adversaries to have thy faithful servants in contempt and make us a jesting stock. We doubt not but thou knowest right well that the mighty and high minded of this wretched world do with much
arrogancy both hate and despise thy holy and sanctified Church. Wherefore our earnest request is, that thou wouldest speedily lay to thy ready helping hand, not permitting her neither to be polluted with superstitious and devilish errors, nor yet oppressed by Satan or force of the ungodly, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Prayer 3) Look down from heaven upon us (O most excellent father) who do elevate and lift up our eyes to thee only, earnestly requiring that thou wouldest defend us by thy ready help from the great perils wherewith we be at this present sore vexed. For seeing thou hast created us, and we be duly and rightfully thine: Lord (of thy infinite goodness) despise not thou thy servants who look for help at thy hands only in this their needful time. We acknowledge verily, we confess I say, that we have (by reason of our heinous sins and great offenses committed against thee) deserved these things which are now fallen upon us. But our fervent desire is, that thou having compassion upon thy loving servants, wouldst pardon (for thy great goodness and infinite mercies sake) what things soever they offend thee in them. Weigh not (O good God) our unworthiness, but consider the rebukes and slanders wherewith thou art touched in us. For whilst the wicked enemies do stir up blasphemies against thy faithful people, they do wrong, not unto us, but to thy glorious name, when as they rage by force of arms and great violence, they chiefly shoot at the overthrowing of thy true honor, sincere religion, and most blessed word: these are the things which they mean to take utterly away, if they might have success. For so long as they perceive themselves to abound in much strength, and do whatsoever it pleaseth them, they become marvelous high minded, and thy Church being troubled by them, is put to an exceeding great foil, which hath none to fly unto for help, but thee only who art their Lord. Drive thou away these injuries and mischievous evils which they bring upon us, we humbly beseech thee: for nothing is required in this behalf, but that thou wouldest defend the honor and glory of thy true doctrine and sacred gospel, least the wicked make a laughter hereat. Grant (O good God) that those men may one day feel the force of thy blessed verity, so as they shall will