Psalm 19: That We May be Partakers of God's Divine Word
that (on the other side) we may find thee elect, holy, and hurtless unto us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 19: THAT WE MAY BE PARTAKERS
OF GOD'S DIVINE WORD
(Prayer 1) Thy wonderful power, wisdom, and goodness (O most mighty God) which thy nature is exceeding plentifully endued withal, showeth itself in all places unto us, by those things which thou hast formed and created. The heaven truly with all her ornaments, with the alteration of times, with the brightness of the Stars, and of the most hot burning Sun, are nothing else but plain voices and a universal doctrine for all sorts of people, by the which the praises of thy Majesty are most amply blazed and set forth. Wherefore we confess how that we can make no excuse at all of our so slender confidence and feeble love towards thee: who ought truly to have been assuredly persuaded by the authority of these things, that we should inseparably cleave unto thee alone, being the chief and principal causer of so many good works bestowed upon us: but, alas (these admonishments not regarded) we have followed, the lusts and desires of our filthy flesh, with mad imaginations and feigned things of our own brain, and made very little account of thee, who art the Creator and maker of all things. And for that cause do well deserve the afflictions which we are assailed with, who have not only despised and had in contempt the works of nature, that should have allured and drawn us unto thee, but have coldly and altogether unprofitably heard thy word, that is to say, the holy Scripture, and Gospel of thy dear and wellbeloved son, provoking thy indignation towards us by that from whence we should to the comfort of our souls, have drawn out wisdom, light, joyfulness, and perfect righteousness: but although we now seem (for these weighty considerations) most unworthy of thy mercy, yet we instantly require thee to pardon and forgive us, and not to afflict thy Church according to her deserts. Grant (we humbly beseech thee) that we may hereafter to our great profit and comfort have these thy creatures in estimation: and let thy words be not only sweeter unto us