Psalm 124: Against Violence and Deceit
they nill they, acknowledge thee to be a God of might, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 124: AGAINST VIOLENCE AND DECEIT
(Prayer 1) Unless thou dost assist us (O most mighty God) with thy puissant power and ready helping hand, the Antichristians are so bent to rise up against thy faithful people, as they seem to committee nothing more then to swallow us all up even quick: whose madnesse is in such wise kindled, that (if thou puttest not to thy helping hand) they are like to consume and devour us, which truly we cannot deny but hath been of our part justly deserved, if we well weigh and consider our own sins. For what scourge and torments can we deem that thou ordainest unjustly for us, weighing so great ingratitude as we have showed towards thee? who have been such transgressors of thy holy commandments, as there is no penalty so great, but that we both are worthy thereof, and also seem so to be. For although thou wilt not be present to help thy sacred Church for our sakes, yet do it for the glory of thy name, least the most raging rivers do overwhelm and choke it up with their overflowing and violence of waters: turn away
(we heartily require thee) their mouths and teeth from thy holy ones, least they tear them in pieces like unto a pray: who verily hunt for nothing else by their subtleties and lewd practices, than to catch and snarl in the traps of their ungodliness those which have addicted themselves to thy blessed words, to the purging of the true worshipping of thee, and to a more sincere and pure manner of religion. Make hast therefore (O good God) to be our speedy helper, and deliver us from the Nets of such cruel hunters. But vouchsafe thou (we humbly beseech thee) who hast made heaven and earth, that we may impute our whole salvation unto thee only, and none other, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Unless, thou thy own self (O most good and merciful God) dost at this present suppress and keep under the fury and madness of the Antichristians, in such sort as they be not able to accomplish those things which they have now enterprised and devised amongst themselves, they will swallow up thy
sacred Church whole and quick: who do in such wise rise up, gnash their teeth, rage, and swell for anger, as thy faithful servants are now in a manner almost drowned of them, unless thou dost very speedily asswage and thrust back the storm of ungodliness, and huge waves of the devil. Turn away thy furious wrath from us (we heartily pray thee) O heavenly father, and punish not thee wickedness which we have committed against thee, according to our just deserts: who do not this only to the intent thou shouldest consider our worthiness, but that thou mightest not fail thy own name, thy pure doctrine, and thy faithful promises. Grant that we may once say, verily our God is to be magnified and praised, which will not suffer his blessed Church to be dispersed of wicked men's outrageous cruelty, but hath taken her from the snares and Jaws of ungracious persons, by his exceeding famous and most puissant arm. Cut their Nets asunder, let their naughty enterprises be frustrated, and make their force to fail them, who do now greatly terrify all such (O good God) as stand in fear of thee: let us look for help at thy merciful hands only who hast made heaven and earth. Wherefore our earnest petition and hearty request, is, that thou wouldest (of thy singular mercy and excellent clemency) yield thyself pliable to our fervent prayers, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) Such as belong to thy heritage, and are the true Israel, must needs confess with us (O most mighty God) that unless we had been preserved and holpen by thy singular favor and mighty power, we should have been swallowed up and utterly consumed to nothing more than once, by the fierce enemies of our salvation. For if we look for help elsewhere to succor us, we know assuredly that it is of no force at all. The violence and outrage of those men which do grievously assault us, is like most swift streams of water that do suddenly overflow the fields, whose outrageous cruelty may be fully compared to the fierceness of brute beasts, which men also use such crafty and covert snares to trap us in, as the fowlers and hunters are nothing comparable unto them herein, but seem very simple, and far their inferiors. Wherefore (according to our bounden duty) we render condign thanks unto thee, forsomuch as thou hast hitherto delivered thy simple and feeble flock from so great perilous dangers, and request this at thy merciful