Psalm 38: Against Our Enemies and the Dread of Conscience
PSALM 38: AGAINST OUR ENEMIES
AND THE DREAD OF CONSCIENCE
(Prayer 1) Rebuke and chasten us (O most good and merciful God) like thy dear children, by removing and taking away thy grievous wrath and dreadful indignation from these present adversities. Surely we feel thy heavy hand and perceive the great perils we are in, who know that it cannot be remedied and amended by man's help: which thing doth not befall and happen unto us without our just deserts. For doubtless our heinous sins and grievous iniquities have wrapped us in on all sides, wherewith we are sore burdened and miserably oppressed far above our power. Hereupon it cometh to pass that we go always mourning, and are in a manner at deaths door, through great heaviness and anguish of heart. We see our neighbors and friends stand a far of, and our adversaries pitch guileful snares, who work all the means they can possible devise utterly to overthrow us. Thou therefore (O good God) for thy loving mercies sake, first and foremost reconcile us unto thee, by lovingly forgiving and favorably pardoning whatsoever we have most filthily committed against thy divine Majesty, then make haste and speed to be our ready help. We abide looking for thee our only refuge, who hast been accustomed readily to succor those that unfeignedly call upon thee, and give ear unto their lamentable petitions. Thou art not ignorant how the Antichristians triumph and rise up against us, whilst we are so shaken and tossed: for they which hate us very unjustly, increase and wax daily stronger and stronger. Wherefore we humbly require thee (O excellent Father) not to forsake us in so great and grievous afflictions, seeing that thou thyself art our only salvation, make haste (we heartily beseech thee) to help and succor thy blessed Church, and mightily rescue it, being in extreme peril, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Although (O most good and merciful God) we find the fardel and burden of wickedness which we have committed against thee to be so great, as we are not now any longer able to sustain and bear them, therefore upon affiance of thy unspeakable goodness, we come and call upon thee with a sorrowful