Psalm 132: That the Gospel May Reign Among Us
child, which always longeth for his mother, by whom it is cherished and nursed.
Unless thou therefore be our ready helper, what other thing either can we or ought we to judge of our own power and strength, but the same shall be hurtful unto us. Wherefore, seeing that thy blessed Church hath none other refuge but thee only, being utterly void of all human help, therefore even after the manner of a child it looketh unto thee, whose earnest desire is that thou wouldest not utterly forsake her, but so assist the same with thy favorable goodness, as she may always wholly addict herself to call upon thy glorious name, and publish thy famous renown, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Forsomuch as (O most good and merciful God) it verily behooveth thee only to be high and excellent, our earnest request is that thou wouldest not permit pride to break into our heart, being of itself stubborn and rebellious enough, seeing that all human arrogancy and overweening of ourselves cannot be but very vain, as that which hath neither true nor just cause so to do.
We desire therefore a very meek heart and marvelous lowly eyes to eschew all such lewd devises and fond enterprises as may exceed the mean and bounds of our vocation. Vouchsafe (we humbly beseech thee) that our mind may none otherwise depend upon thee, then Infants hang upon their Nurses breasts. For we perceive right well that thy blessed Church shall never be compted in a prosperous estate unless she doth both utterly despair of herself, and also repose her whole hope and confidence in thee only, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 132: THAT THE GOSPEL MAY REIGN AMONG US
(Prayer 1) We know right well (O most good and merciful God) that thou art not forgetful of the covenant thou madest with us in Christ Jesus: but acknowledge ourselves to have swerved from thy most sacred covenants and blessed agreements. For, whereas it behooveth us to frame our life so as we might please thee, and that all our deeds ought to redowne unto the glory of thy blessed name, then the which we have done nothing less, who have marvelous coldly exercised true and perfect godliness, neither endeavored ourselves to re-edify thy
holy Church with a fervent desire as it became us to do. But be not thou revenged
(O good God) upon our naughty facts, neither let these things which we have heinously committed against thee, be an occasion that thou shouldst not give ear unto our hearty prayers. For this verily do we earnestly desire in all our humble petitions, that the place wherein the Ark of thy glorious covenant remaineth, that is to say, (thy elected church) may continue thy loving Spouse, enjoining at length a quiet and peaceable rest, to the intent thy blessed kingdom may more prosperously be enlarged, and the glory of thy famous name spread abroad far wider than it is at this day. Show we humbly beseech thee, that thou art (according to thy faithful promise) truly resident in thy holy Church, by induing thy faithful servants with true holiness and perfect salvation. Suffer not (as thou hast lovingly promised) the light of thy people to be extinguished and quite put out: but let the princely beauty and renowned glory of thy excellent Majesty shine perpetually in her, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Forsomuch as thou of thy infinite goodness (O most gracious and merciful God) hast determined to dwell perpetually in the congregation of the faithful (which is the Church that Christ hath redeemed with his precious blood) we humbly beseech thee never to forget this thy most loving promise. For our earnest request is to have thy resting place abide in us, and that thou wouldest have an holy and well furnished habitation in our hearts through faith. As therefore we mistrust not but thou wilt keep this thy sacred covenant firm and steadfast, so we heartily desire thee to vouchsafe that we on our part may not swerve therefore, but follow and accomplish to the uttermost those testimonies of thy holy will, which thou hast thought good to teach us in thy sacred scriptures, so that the ministers of thy Sacraments, the faithful people, and all the estates and degrees of thy elect servants, may shine in true godliness and most sincere virtues, to the honor of thy glorious name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.