Psalm 12: Against Human, False, Erroneous Doctrine
beloved servants try by receiving of salvation that thou art a defender of equity and upright dealing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 12: AGAINST HUMAN, FALSE,
ERRONEOUS DOCTRINE
(Prayer 1) In so great a want and scarcity of good and godly men, thou only (O most merciful and mighty God) remainest to be our strong defense: Wherefore we draw near and approach unto thee with these our daily prayers beseeching thy divine Majesty to help at length our most troublesome and afflicted estate: For unless thou mightily defendest thy loving Church, how can it be in safety amongst such kind of enemies, who do not keep any manner of fidelity, and go always about to deceive plain simple persons with vain lies and false flattering words, never faithfully thinking that in their heart which they utter by word of mouth: Deliver us not over (O most merciful father) to be handled of them as our sins and wickedness deserve: but in this case have an especial regard to the glory of thy puissant name, the mighty increasing of thy Gospel, and the far passing faithfulness of thy loving promises: this do not (for our sakes) but for the causes here showed and mentioned: bear not with these men that seek to augment and enlarge their own power only, which being strangers to Godliness, have no knowledge at all of thee: Look upon the great affliction and groanings of thy blessed Church: arise up now and help us, according to thy merciful promises:
For thy words are white and more pure than the most excellent and finest silver.
Finally seeing every sort of wicked and ungodly persons did covet with all the wit and industry they can, to be most mighty, defend thou thy Church (for thy infinite mercies sake) from those men's extreme injuries and cruel oppressions, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Forsomuch as (O heavenly father) during the time we live in this transitory world amongst frail mortal creatures, of godly true dealing and faithful persons, there is marvelous great want, whereas, contrariwise, men may see a wonderful company of ungodly persons, deceitful men, flatterers, and such as be