Psalm 140: Against the Venemous Tongues of the Ungodly
PSALM 140: AGAINST THE VENEMOUS
TONGUES OF THE UNGODLY
Seeing that we can look for none other thing to proceed from wicked and ungodly men (O most good and merciful God) then abominable naughtiness: for where there is a lewd heart, a man can never see an uprightness to be observed neither in words nor deeds. Therefore do we most earnestly call upon thee, so much as we ran possible, to rid and deliver us from the violence and malicious enterprises of lewd persons. But many are the cords, traps, and snares, which the Devil and his cursed members do prepare against the Church. Be thou thyself therefore her mighty strength and puissant preservation, by fortifying the same in such sort with thy steadfast defense, at what time the battles of temptations are fought, as the lewd subtleties, wherewith it is furiously assailed, and unluckily oppressed, may fall and light upon the Authors thereof. Which thing, if thou wilt thus do, thou shalt retain thy old wont by undershoring with thy divine and celestial help, such as be utterly destitute of man's aid: whereby the godly may continually set forth thy glorious name, and enjoy eternal felicity by the favor of thy bright and shining countenance, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 141: AGAINST HYPOCRISY
(Prayer 1) We daily crave for thy gracious help (O almighty God) and earnestly require this at thy merciful hands, that our fervent prayers may be accepted with thee as a most laudable sacrifice: for, seeing we perceive it cannot be done, unless we refrain our minds wholly from vice, we desire thee therefore inespecially to remove all our sins from us, wherewith we have exceeding filthily defiled both our own selves and thy glorious name also: who do not keep this secret, that we have lived heretofore unworthily and after a most wretched manner, but acknowledge and make the same manifest before thee, with a common and very willing confession. Our earnest desire is then that thou wouldst pardon thy poor suppliants, by severing our hearts in such sort hereafter from the contagion of filthy wickedness, as we may in no wise attain thereto, either by thought, word,
or deed: vouchingsafe to fortify godly men's minds with such a manner of puissant force and renowned godliness, that they suffer not themselves to be deceived with the subtle allurements and crafty promises of the wicked, but rather beat, chastise, and correct thou us thyself (O good God) then permit us to be shaken or made tender with the subtle enticements, delectable pleasures, and poisoned flatteries of mischievous persons. We be discouraged and slain (as thou right well knowest) and final destruction hangeth over the Church: notwithstanding we lift up our eyes exceeding steadfastly towards thee, and heartily require that thou wouldst deliver us from the subtle wiles and crafty layings await of execrable men.
But, forsomuch as they are past all hope of recovery, better it is for them to be caught in their own nets and lewd engines, to the intent thy sacred Church may escape the mischievous hands of those wicked and ungodly men, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Make haste to be present with us (O most mighty God) according to thy accustomed goodness, when we heartily invocate and call upon thee, least we be enticed by any means from thy sacred word and pure religion. Let the unfeigned prayers (which we pour forth) ascend into thy sight like a pleasant perfume, and a most acceptable sacrifice, although our sins do not deserve the fame.
For we earnestly confess, even from the heart root, that we have very often inclined to most hurtful things, and not obeyed thee hitherto in word and with mouth, but have offended thee in that behalf also, and been more ready and hasty then needeth, to committee deadly wickedness, which is the only cause why thou dost now thus grievously rebuke and chastise us. But grant this (O good God) for thy exceeding great goodness and infinite mercies sake, that we may assuredly know these thy favorable chastisements to be the mere benefits of thy most fatherly good affection towards us, so that (when as they proceed from thy divine providence) we may both accompt and also esteem them more profitable, then if we enjoyed marvelous abundantly the love of the world and pleasure of ungodly persons: for our assured affiance is such in thee, as we know most certainly that it is thy accustomed use to help them (so that they crave the same at thy favorable hands) whose bones are both broken a sunder and also dispersed