Psalm 147: That the Word of God May Be a Great Force in Us
PSALM 147: THAT THE WORD OF GOD
MAY BE A GREAT FORCE IN US
We are bound to render exceeding great praise (O most mighty god) to thy glorious Majesty, who do evidently perceive that thou healest those which are broken in heart, exaltest them that be meek, and bringest the ungodly even unto hell. There is no force able to encounter with thy puissance: which rulest the stars, and callest them forth by name for the accomplishing of thy blessed will, as though they were thy sheep or servants. Thou therefore that bringest forth clouds, rain, and hay, which dost feed cattle and young Ravens, and preservest such as fear thee, without the help either of footmen or horsemen: look upon thy blessed Church, we humbly beseech thee, fortify it against her enemies, and indue her children with continual peace. Suffer it not to pine away for lack of the food of thy blessed word: and even as by thy word thou sendest forth snow, ice, and hore frost, dissolving the same incontinent with a puff of wind when it seemeth good in thy sight, even so with thy gracious favor, cause thou those adversities which thou procurest for a time to exercise her withal, to vanish speedily away. And thou (who hast not dealt in such wise with other nations as to reveal the mysteries of thy sacred scriptures unto them, grant that we may use them to our souls health, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 148: THAT GOD MAY BE COMMENDED
IN ALL HIS CREATURES
(Prayer 1) Seeing that the monuments of thy excellent goodness and invincible power in all things which thou hast created (O almighty God) be far and near so famous and notable: the setting out of thy worthy praises in them, seemeth wonderful and in a manner singular, if so be that any man doth deeply well consider the heavenly minds, the Sun, Moon, Stars, and workmanship of the Skies, none other thing shall be found there, then a mere commendation of thy loving favor and unspeakable wisdom. All which things, seeing that the clouds, rain, thunder, winds, hills, plants, living creatures, with the whole
universal work both of nature, and of civil ordinance, whereby common wealths be governed amongst men, do manifest the same unto us: it is a thing to be wondered at, how we should be so cold in this behalf, that being so pricked forward and stirred up with all things, should keep silence and become almost as dumb persons in publishing of thy worthy praises, yea (and which ought to seem more hard and grievous) instead of praising and glorifying thy excellent name which we owe unto thy divine Majesty for so great benefits as thou hast bestowed upon us, we have requited thee with slanders, reproaches, and blasphemies: which things (although we do not pronounce in express words) yet notwithstanding, forsomuch as we have so sore defiled ourselves with the most filthy spots of sin, dishonored thy holy doctrine, and by our lewd examples have called others back from the praising of thy blessed name, we dare not be so bold as to speak of thy commendation, and therefore worthily are our calamities made every day more grievous then other. But our earnest request is (O good God) that thou wouldst swerve nothing at all in this most sorrowful time from thy accustomed goodness and loving mercy: who know thee very well to be of sufficient force for to vanquish all manner of things that be repugnant to thy blessed will, which puissance of thine is in no wise shaken of, albeit thou hast thought good to hide it for a time, to the intent we should understand how sore we have sinned. Vouchsafe now therefore that thy blessed Church may (according to thy faithful promises) both enjoy and also retain all good things which make to the glorifying of thy blessed name, even as it deserveth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Thy immeasurable goodness, infinite power, and excellent wisdom (O most mighty God) hath after a wonderful sort set forth itself in all things which thou hast created for our sakes. Wherefore it is not without just cause said that every creature doth publish thy glorious renown, for they have not come to light of their own proper nature: but to the intent they should be, they were called out by thee, and afterward when they were made, thou didst not stablish them any otherwise then by thy sacred commandment, who do observe the laws which thou hast appointed, neither pass they the certain and decreed bounds that be limited them. All which things so long as we do daily behold with