Psalm 27: For Comfort in Faith Against Our Enemies
and utterly detest (with an extreme kind of hatred) all manner of deceits, and cursed lying, that we may addict ourselves with all our hearts, to laude, magnify, and celebrate thy glorious name: neither suffer us to knit up and finish our last days with malefactors and wicked persons, but rather let a blessed entrance to the house of eternal felicity, (whether we have daily a fervent desire to come) be set open and made as a free passage unto us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 27: FOR COMFORT IN FAITH
AGAINST OUR ENEMIES
Forsomuch as (O heavenly Father) we make our account of thee only, to be the whole stay and principal defense of our salvation, light, strength, and steadfastness, it should behoove us to continue: and abide (wish a good courage, and assured constancy) in the study of godliness, whatsoever the world may seem to attempt against us, what adversity soever may (by the instigation of the devil) hang over us, and finally, what calamity so ever men do move and stir up against us, all that we ought boldly to despise, thou being our strong defense, and hiding us in thy blessed Tabernacle. But because our faith is very weak, and our confidence in thee doth oftentimes both waver and stagger, hereof it cometh that we are so much fearful and timorous. Therefore strengthen thou us (O high and mighty God) with thy excellent grace, and bounteous spirit, that we may live orderly, godly, and after an honest sort in the holy congregation, which is thy blessed Church indeed. Hide not thou thy loving countenance still away from us
(we humbly beseech thee) for that is our sole and only desire. Grant that we may constantly persevere, and be made strong to abide the coming of thy ready help with steadfast and unappalled courage, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 28: FOR COMFORT IN NECESSITY AGAINST
DOUBLE TONGUED PERSONS
(Prayer 1) If thou (O most mighty God) shouldst dissemble, and have little regard to help and comfort us in these our grievous afflictions which happen
unto us, not only true godliness should come to ruin and decay, but we also might incontinent be easily compared to those which are put down, and laid at the pits door ready to be burned: give ear therefore unto our humble prayers and petitions, whom thou seest to have assured confidence in none other, than in thy only son Jesus Christ our Savior. For as touching ourselves, we have behaved us so evil, and lived so lewdly and ungodly, that when we consider and look upon ourselves, we see nothing due unto us but death and endless damnation. Therefore of thy singular mercy and goodness destroy us not (according to our deserts) amongst the ungodly, deceitful, and wicked persons, but reward all thy adversaries, and namely the enemies of thy blessed Church, according to their just deserts, so that whatsoever the unfaithful do either invent and imagine against us, may fall upon their own head. But whensoever they begin little to regard thy holy words and wondrous works, bring to naught their crooked and cruel devises, whereby thou thyself mayst be exalted and lifted up with high praises, because thou hast heard the voices and piteous complaints of thy most humble and lowly servants. Be thou (O good God) our assured strength and shield of defense, preserve thy faithful people in these great dangers, and such as thou hast chosen to be thy gracious heirs, augment and heap upon them thy saving health and most noble benefits: give those men sufficient food so long as they here live, and finally bring them unto eternal joy and blessed felicity, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) We heartily require thee (O heavenly father) to be favorable and merciful unto us, that seeing we pour out our humble prayers and earnest petitions unto thee, thou wouldest (according to thy excellent goodness) patiently hear us. If thou O Lord shouldst accept us according to the rate and goodness of our deserts, we should everywhere and in all places suffer an infinite number of grievous miseries and sorrowful calamities. And because the outrageous adversaries and cruel enemies both of our salvation, and also of thy famous honor, go about nothing else than to pull thy faithful servants away from true Godliness, and that steadfast desire they have to lead a virtuous life: be thou therefore our assured strength and strong shield of defense against them. If we be thy blessed