Psalm 16: That We May Not Perish by Faith, but Attain Unto Glory Thereby
into thy loving favor, that being henceforth adorned with the ornaments of perfect righteousness, sincere truth, and pure love, we may never be drawn away from the habitation of thy blessed felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 16: THAT WE MAY NOT PERISH BY FAITH,
BUT ATTAIN UNTO GLORY THEREBY
Forsomuch as we are so poor (O most dear father of heaven) and thou so exceeding rich in all things, and thy works most noble and plentiful, surely nothing is given unto us, nor anything at all in our power whereby we may either merit or increase thy most blessed estate and felicity: but yet seeing that our whole trust and affiance dependeth on thee only, we humbly present ourselves, and fall down before thy divine Majesty, beseeching thee to preserve us from those evils which environ and compass us about on every side. And our heinous sins wherewith thou well perceivest us to be overladen, being pardoned, grant that as thou art become our rightful inheritance, so we may wholly set our joy and delight in thee again, and accompt it a most pleasant comely thing to set forth and commend thee only and none else: instruct thou us, counsel thou us, and be thou always before our eyes, lest we swerve at any time from the right way, so that we may with great joy (during this mortal life) remain and abide in thee, and after the most and glorious resurrection be partakers of those everlasting and perfect pleasures, which we believe do consist only in thy most mighty will and power, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 17: THAT OUR ENEMIES MAY
NOT GET THE VICTORY OVER US
(Prayer 1) Thy blessed Church prayeth thee (O most mighty God) and lifteth up her voice daily unto thy throne, beseeching thee to weigh and consider at one time or other her most righteous cause: wherefore give ear and have regard unto the prayers which the faithful sort pour out before thee with an unfeigned heart: who know very well that we are laden and burdened with other
innumerable sins, so as we are fain at all times humbly to crave pardon of thee for the same: but as for those which our adversaries do lay to our charge, we are nothing guilty in them: wherefore if thou thyself (who art a most righteous judge) be examined in this case, we know nothing can be found that by thy holy word may be condemned. But our whole doing is only for this end and purpose, that the renewing and setting up again of religion and true godliness may be advanced, to the intent thy blessed commandments might be duly observed, and thy sacred law with more sincerity obeyed: And whereas this care and study hath brought upon us most extreme perils, yea almost utter destruction, unless thou remove and turn the same away quite from us: we humbly beseech thee to hold up and strengthen our goings in thy paths with a puissant steadiness, which are otherwise of themselves very slippery, that we may neither stand in doubt, nor be discouraged in these kind of distresses. Thou mayest hereby make thy excellent goodness (O merciful God) to be much marveled and wondered at, if thou wilt defend those that trust in thee at a time unlooked for, yea, thou shalt not only revenge us thy loving servants by that means, but thyself also, forsomuch as they have chiefly risen up and bet themselves against thee. Hide us therefore under the shadow of thy wings, and the more prosperous success that they seem to have in their doings, so that now they hang upon our necks like hungry Lions, the more a great deal prevent thou their fury, and speedily deliver and rescue the life of thy faithful servants out of their hands, and unto the same grant, that by acknowledging and confessing thee, they may both in this life, and in the life to come, be far more happy and blessed than their enemies, because they rejoice and vaunt themselves above measure in their present lucky estate, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) For this intent and purpose we now pray (O most mighty God) because we nothing at all mistrust but that thou wilt hearken and give ear to our humble petitions, which we pour out before thee, not of hypocrisy and double dealing, but sincerely and from the heart: for seeing that we desire to be tried rather by thy judgment than man's, grant that when we are sore tempted and proved by grievous adversities, nothing may be found in us whereby we should