Psalm 18: Deliverance Out of Great Distress
be condemned and adjudged to perpetual destruction: but forsomuch as we are naturally evil, how can this thing come to pass, unless thou do stay and govern our steps with thy excellent grace and holy spirit, and so uphold and underset us, as thy unspeakable mercy may wonderfully utter and show forth itself by our salvation? Defend and keep us therefore from all men which resist the force of thy glorious Gospel, and strive against thy holy will so much as in them lieth.
Thou seest what diligent watch our enemies lay for us, and how like devouring Lions they covet to pray upon us: they are as swords (O good God) prepared to be the hands and instruments of thy indignation: defend and keep us nevertheless under the shadow and most sure defense of thy wings, that during this wretched life, we may be comforted with thy favorable countenance, and in the blessed resurrection, have with an exceeding great pleasure, the fruition of thy glorious presence, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 18: DELIVERANCE OUT OF GREAT DISTRESS
(Prayer 1) We acknowledge and confess thee (O most mighty God) to be our only health, buckler, defense, strength, and sure refuge, and therefore do we both earnestly love thee, and greatly covet to publish and set forth thy worthy praise everlastingly: but our extreme enemies do now thus grievously oppress us, because our sins deserve the same, so that we (being sore discomforted) are almost in the strait pangs and anguishes of death: wherefore it seemeth that no other help and succor remaineth for us, but to make our cry unto thee, and to direct our prayers towards thy mercies seat, unto whom, seeing that the Mountains, the earth, the heavens, lightnings, winds, clouds, rains, hail, and tempests are obedient without any delay or gainsaying, it shall be a thing most easy for thee to rid and deliver us from the force of our outrageous enemies, although they be never so mighty, which we earnestly require (O good God) that thou wouldest vouchsafe to grant unto the fervent prayers of thy sacred Church, having no regard at all to our lewd deserts, but chiefly to thy exceeding great clemency and uprightness of the cause itself, so that thou mayst deal holily with the holy: and
contrariwise upon the wicked send trouble and adversity: preserve thy afflicted people according to thy accustomed manner, and in so great darkness lighten them with the bright lamp of faith and perfect wisdom, to the intent they may acknowledge none other buckler or defense but thee only. Grant us (O most dear father) so to walk without fall or stumbling, as the feet of our faith may not stacker in such great perils: arm and strengthen thy beloved servants to battle, and confound them (O most mighty God) who go about to gainsay and resist thee, to the intent thy blessed name may be spoken of and magnified amongst all
Nations, because thou hast given great and glorious prosperity unto thy renowned Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Seeing that we are very weak by nature, and compassed about on every side with most thick clouds of darkness, we come unto thee (O most mighty God) and require at thy hands that the splendent light of thy holy spirit may be kindled in our hearts, for so shall we understand thy undefiled word, and most uncorrupt speech of thy sacred scriptures, wherein it is most clearly and evidently promised that thou wilt be an excellent strong defense for all such as have their only affiance in thee. The sins truly which we have committed, deserve not that we should obtain so much favor and help at thy hand: but our earnest desire is that these things may happen unto us even for the glory of thy most renowned and excellent name. Forsomuch as therefore none other God is to be sought out or found, who may be compared with thee either in power, or goodness, garnish thou us with holiness, and gird us about with such strength, as we may once be led out and utterly delivered from imminent dangers, and obtain full triumph and conquest over the enemies both of thy glory and our salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) We cannot choose, (O most mighty and merciful God) but earnestly love thee, seeing that (by the faith which thou hast given us) we well perceive thee to be our only refuge, stay, and deliverer: for our sins have oftentimes purchased unto us most deadly griefs, and mighty and valiant enemies, who have
(like vehement streams of water) environed and compassed us about with tribulations, snares, yea and death itself: but thou (O good God) who as thou (being
the sovereign Lord of all things) art known to have thy throne in heaven, even so for thy infinite mercies sake, have respect unto us, and when thou hast remitted and pardoned our offenses, vouchsafe that we may be delivered from thy wrath, and extreme punishments which thou art wont to lay upon the ungodly. And grant that whilst we invocate and call upon thee, our loud cries and earnest prayers be not poured out in vain, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 4) Thou knowest (O merciful and most mighty God) how many and how great adversaries we have both within and without, who as they cannot away with thy name and glory, so do they also most lewdly and wickedly repine at our salvation: wherefore we do not without just cause, humbly sue unto thee, that as thou hast often delivered us out of the dangerous perils of damnation and perpetual destruction, so now also (notwithstanding the most grievous and heinous offenses which we have committed against thee, and for the which we repent us at this time of them from the bottom of our heart) it would please thee to fortify and strength us in such wise with thy assistance, as we may vanquish and overcome what thing soever hath set itself against thy glorious kingdom, whereby we may at length show forth and magnify thee only in the chiefest assemblies of men for our alone defender and excellent savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 5) Seeing that we are (O heavenly father) during this miserable life, wrapped in and compassed about with an infinite number of perils, we direct our humble prayers and hearty petitions unto thee, to the intent thou wouldest stretch forth thy mighty arm to be our defense, and not suffer the great and very strong enemies of our salvation to prevail against us. When we are most busily vexed and afflicted of them (O good God) make it manifest that thou art our mighty protector and ready defender. There is no righteousness or purity in our works which we may vaunt and boast off in thy presence: we frankly acknowledge and confess that we have greatly strayed from thy holy precepts.
Nevertheless yet pardon (according to thy accustomed wont and mercy) the grievous sins committed by us, and vouchsafe of thy gracious favor, to grant that we may hereafter live as becometh thy chosen, blessed, and innocent people, so