Psalm 37: Constancy in Faith Against Such as will Hurt Us
moved with the fear or reverence of thy divine power. For he is so delighted in his own detestable acts, that in the end it becometh both known and hateful unto all men. For whatsoever he speaketh is very wicked, neither can he be persuaded to permit himself to be instructed to do well, but imagineth much mischief in the night and so encourageth himself in his heinous sins, that he escheweth no kind of evil which cometh in his mind. For thy infinite mercy sake therefore (O good God) and for thy singular faithfulness, justice, and most upright judgment, which reacheth even unto the glorious heavens and high clouds, which passeth the most large Mountains, and excelleth the bottomless depth, giving life and health not only to men, but to every living thing also. We humbly beseech thee
(that our grievous sins being done away) thou wouldst not suffer our souls to be defiled and stained with filthy wickedness. Yea rather grant, that we (reposing ourselves under the shadow of thy wings) may through thy most rich spirit and his eternal dainties, enjoy the Princely Palace of heaven, and quaffing very abundantly of the well spring of life which is with thee, may (by the excellent benefit of thy glorious light) behold the brightness of perpetual felicity: so that they which be deadly enemies of our salvation, may be of no force or ability to pull us therefrom, but rather (unless they cease from that they have begun) let them so fall that they have no power at all to rise up again, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PSALM 37: CONSTANCY IN FAITH
AGAINST SUCH AS WILL HURT US
(Prayer 1) Forsomuch as thy blessed Church (O almighty God) hath many weaklings which might perhaps be grievously offended in seeing most wicked and naughty persons to have such prosperous success: confirm thou them therefore with thy holy spirit, to the intent they may right well understand this felicity
(which now the enemies of the Gospel enjoy) is not stable and durable, but rather that it shall be dried up very quickly like a withered weed, and most vile grass.
Vouchsafe so to replenish us with thy heavenly grace, that we may have our
affiance only in thee, and always conceive a singular delight in charity and well doing, whereby we may thoroughly persuade ourselves, that all pleasure and felicity ought to be fetched from thee, as out of the only undrainable well spring.
Grant also, that we may with a right contented and patient mind, suffer thee to work thy divine will in all our affairs (so far as it shall seem good in thy sight) and boldly abide and wait thy blessed leisure when it shall happen that thou seemest to prolong the time for our, help and deliverance in such wise as we be not furiously offended at matters which be presently done, but perfectly understand and right well perceive that our most heinous sins have deserved far grievous plagues: for we have in such sort (O good God) sinned against thee, that all the punishment which lighteth upon us, is far less than our wicked and lewd merits deserve.
Yet notwithstanding, vouchsafe thou (who art most favorable) to direct our goings, and so assist those which trust in thee, that all men may perceive us not to be utterly thrown down, although we have gone far astray, because we are very gently and marvelous softly holden up with thy strong hand: and let all people unfeignedly confess that thou dost in no wise forsake and abandon thy faithful servants, whereby very many may be bold and hardy to commit themselves to thy mighty protection, so that thou mayst be their ready helper, and deliver them
(through thy present aid) from the hands of their ungodly and cursed enemies, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Let not the prosperous success of the wicked (O most good and merciful God) move us to withdraw our minds from following thy most pure and sincere Religion, forsomuch as thou declarest unto us that their prosperity is so short and vanish so quickly away as the greenness of grass and flowers in Meadows. Unburden thou quickly (we humbly beseech thee) our consciences from the heavy fardel of our sins, from the which (unless we be eased by thy gracious favor) we shall very readily fall into utter destruction. But seeing that thou art our sole and only confidence, upon whom we wholly depend, and have committed ourselves altogether unto thy custody, we doubt not but thou wilt condescend and give ear unto our earnest requests: which is, that we may repose all our whole pleasure and felicity in thee alone, wholly despising and setting utterly
at naught all the prosperity of this wretched world. For like as such as lean thereunto are destroyed in a moment, even so those that be exceeding quiet, very meek, and of a right up mind, shall after a marvelous gentle and peaceable manner enjoy a perpetual heritage. We need not to fear howsoever the ungodly rage, whatsoever he doth menace and practice against thy blessed Saints, for his naughty and lewd enterprises shall fall upon his own head. But pardon thou (O good God) and try both our intents and doings, whereby an everlasting heritage may remain and abide for us, who celebrate thy glorious name from day today, with most high praises, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) Seeing that thou (O most mighty God) hast taken upon thee to be a guide and companion for the godly, to the intent they should not stray from the true path of righteousness and a prop to shore them up if peradventure they should fall by mishap: and moreover, inasmuch as these thy promises have been hitherto so firm and stable, that there was never found any godly person so destitute of thy favorable good will, but had all things necessary for the preservation of his life. Therefore assuredly hoping and faithfully trusting in thy merciful promises, we humbly beseech thee not to punish us, as the sins we have committed against thee do merit and deserve, but pardon them (for thy excellent mercies sake) to such as fly unto thee for ready help: and vouchsafe to bestow (upon those that trust only in thy goodness) thy blessed will and sacred laws to be printed and engraven within their hearts, to the intent they may continually meditate and talk of the same, neither let them be variable and inconstant touching the execution thereof. Suffer not the glittering and famous fortune of the ungodly (who bear irreconcilable hatred and deadly food to thy faithful servants) to remove us anything at all from the right way, but so inflame and lighten our souls with thy holy spirit, that we may quickly perceive them to be utterly wiped out, and fallen into most extreme and endless torments: but indue thou us with firm strength and perfect health (according to the confidence we have reposed in thy faithful promises) and grant that we may be delivered from imminent calamities and the spiteful enemies of our salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.