Psalm 11: Against the Temptation of Faith
belief is, that they shall never fall, and assure themselves that their estate will be always prosperous, whereby they have no measure in perjuries, deceits, injuries, and dishonesty, they kill thy faithful servants, both openly and privily, they do assail, vex, and oppress thy blessed Church, thinking (O good god) that thou regardest not the same, nor hast any care at all thereof. But although we have now well deserved that thou shouldst turn away thy eyes from our calamities, and to consider nothing at all our troubles, in that we have grievously sinned, and been marvelous ungrateful for thy notable benefits (abusing our vocation, Gospel, and Sacraments, and despising the liberty offered unto us) to serve thee according to the express rule of thy sacred word: yet we acknowledge and confess ourselves to have committed all these things against thee, and other innumerable detestable facts, whereof we do now earnestly crave pardon, and most humbly beseech thee at length to arise, and (with thy mighty hand) to repress the wicked from the blasphemies, wherewith he hath both railed against thee and thy blessed doctrine: we commit ourselves wretched creatures and miserable captive unto thee, who of thy own accord usest to be an helper to the poor and distressed.
Break thou yet once at length the power of the ungodly, hear the prayers of the afflicted, and finally deliver the oppressed, so that they being set free from so great terrors, may give due thanks unto thee in thy sacred church, for thy great mercy and compassion, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 11: AGAINST THE TEMPTATION OF FAITH
(Prayer 1) In thee (O most good and mighty God) repose we our whole trust and confidence, therefore when our flesh, when human wisdom, when also the ungodly do object and lay to our charge that our cause is turned upside down, and quite overthrown, neither any help at all left for the maintenance of the true doctrine and the most holy and sacred Gospel, we are not for all this persuaded to despair of thy mercy and power who see in deed that the enemies of thy glorious name have bent the bow of their puissance, and made ready their arrows to pierce and shoot us through: Moreover we also weigh and consider that
our life hath been such as we deserve all manner of evil hap and misery that may be, who have not done after thy will as it became obedient children, no, but have always hitherto (which now sore grieveth us) rebelled against thy holy commandments. Yet now with all humility do we crave pardon for our sins, and are very bold to require this of thee, through the confidence we have in thy excellent goodness, and singular clemency, that thou (which hast thy exceeding princely palace and most holy seat in the heavens, from whence it is thy accustomed wont to look down, and fix thine eyes upon all things that are done on the earth) wilt at length diligently try out the equity of this cause, and look upon the ungodliness and cruelty of our enemies: But restrain thou and keep back (which hast very often used to cast fire, brimstone, and burning thunderbolts upon the ungodly) at the least wise the cruel persecutors of thy blessed Church, to the intent all men may know (that thou being most righteous) dost favor the right cause, and wilt be our strong defense, who have taken upon us an earnest zeal and love of thy most glorious name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) When we (O most good and mighty God) do put our whole trust and confidence in thee so much as in us lieth, the desires of our own flesh, the counsels of the ungodly, and the temptations of Satan do not sleep or cease, wherewith we are allured day and night to renounce and utterly forsake all Godliness, as though we should be wholly oppressed and vanquished with the strength of bow, of arrows, and other force of our wicked enemies, if we go on forward to lead such a life as becometh thy servants. But we (notwithstanding we be compassed about and overwhelmed with grievous sins, and iniquity) yet nevertheless upon the sure trust and confidence that we have in thy rich mercy, we humbly beseech thee first to forgive us our heinous offenses who do acknowledge and confess the same unto thy divine Majesty: And that then thou wouldest (out of thy celestial and heavenly palace) show forth thy loving countenance to be our most strong helper, that at what time thou hast tried and proved the case on both parts with an equal balance, then the enemies of godliness may be justly punished according to their own deserts, and on the contrary part thy