Psalm 133: For Christian Charity
PSALM 133: FOR CHRISTIAN CHARITY
(Prayer 1) When as those which take upon them the defense of thy glorious name (O most mighty God) do live wonderful friendly amongst themselves, and practice all the means they can devise to honor and reverence thee, then doth thy blessed church increase daily more and more in famousness and puissant power.
And in likewise on the other side it is greatly torn and weakened if they which ought to have dwelt together like brethren, break out into dissensions, or else be plucked asunder through any debate. Our earnest request is therefore to have such peace granted us by thy excellent goodness, as we may be joined together like members in thy one body which is the holy Church. But, seeing that our innumerable sins do marvelously hinder so great a felicity, how then can it fall out that such as be at discord with thee, may be in unity amongst themselves?
We earnestly desire this at thy merciful hands, that the heinous offenses wherewith we have sundry times and that grievously provoked thy wrathful indignation being quite forgiven, thou wouldst receive us again into thy blessed favor, causing us faithfully to embrace mercy and loving kindness in such wise, as we may be annexed unto thee without separation: for hereof our tranquility shall have her original and derivation, hereof shall there be made an excellent and most fertile Church of good deeds, hereof shall the hid and secret treasures of thy holy spirit open themselves unto us, and burst out into very sweet and pleasant fruits, and finally a most redolent smell of justice and virtue shall breath forth from thence throughout the whole world. Grant therefore (O excellent father) to thy humble suitors, that they may have peace with thee, amongst themselves, and also with all men so much as in them lieth, whereby, they being gathered together in thy blessed name, according to thy loving promises, may have thee present with them, feel thy most plentiful blessing, and finally obtain eternal joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Forsomuch as thou hast of thy singular favor and exceeding great goodness (O merciful God) adopted us to be thy dear children through faith we have conceived in Christ Jesus, it behooveth us to lead a life amongst ourselves
not like strangers, but as brethren and sisters ought to do: neither have the godly a greater desire or more pleasure in anything, than to be in perfect unity and peaceable agreement in the house of God. Wherefore it is no small grief unto us that this brotherly affinity is everywhere rent and broken asunder, which we ought warily to cherish and have in great estimation. But we acknowledge ourselves to have given an apparent cause of this grievous vexation and sorrowful calamity: for how can it be then that we who are not knit unto thee with our whole heart, and be nothing in such wise obedient to thy sacred commandments as thou requirest, should be well joined together, or be in love with our neighbors? We humbly beseech thee therefore (O good God) to pardon whatsoever we have heretofore lewdly committed against thee, being adversaries to thy divine law and sacred commandments, and to couple us one to another, with an exceeding steadfast charity, into the sacred body of thy holy Church, so that our loving consent and faithful agreement may spread it self abroad most largely as a sweet smell of mutual love, and through the pleasant dew of thy heavenly blessing, become every day more fruitful than other in good and godly works, leading (of thy singular good will) not only a quiet and peaceable life, free from the present evils in this wretched world, but finally obtain such a one as is blessed and everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) Seeing thou hast of thy loving kindness (O most good and merciful God) chosen all faithful people to be thy dear children, grant that we who are brethren by a blessed generation, may be fastened together in mutual love, long peace, and perpetual charity, so that (during this life) we may take perfect pleasure of such kind of tranquility, and also become an exceeding delectable odor towards the perpetual salvation of all others which be as yet strangers to thee. Thy blessed Church may be (O heavenly father) through this especial example, greatly wondered at of all men. For certainly we know by experience that thou hast used to pour out a most ample blessing upon so many as lead an agreeable and friendly life in thy healthful doctrine and pure religion: and therefore do we now require this earnestly at thy merciful hands before all riches and other earthly commodities, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.