Psalm 60: For God's Help in Necessity
PSALM 60: FOR GOD'S HELP IN NECESSITY
(Prayer 1) Thou hast used oftentimes (O most good and merciful God) to chastise thy dear children with a fatherly correction, so that they being at length brought low through unfortunate mishaps, and broken with miseries, may right well perceive and understand that they have sinned greatly, who aspiring with all their endeavor to come unto thee, may much covet to be delivered from these abominable vices wherewith they were before exceedingly overwhelmed: there dost thou yield thyself again, being altogether appeased and at atonement with them. Wherefore we humbly require thee (O heavenly father) that thou wouldst in like manner keep still with us this thy ancient covenant, and vouchsafe to take thy poor humble suitors which fly unto thee for succor, from their grievous sorrows and lamentable miseries that our heinous sins do daily purchase unto us: which we mistrust not but will come to pass, forsomuch as we be nothing doubtful but such things as thou hast promised shall not fade out of our remembrance.
For this cause chiefly is our mind much revived, hereby we be well cheered, and finally by this we are certainly persuaded that we (which seemed in times past, and that lately to be rejected of thee) are now in very deed and that wholly received into thy loving favor. Proceed and go forward therefore to succor us, so that we being furthered by thy mighty defense, may boldly and manfully go through with the matter, to the glory of thy blessed name, by Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Thou seemest very often (O most good and merciful God) to put back thy faithful servants from thee, and being in a manner sore angry with these men, dost scatter them abroad into diverse parts of the world: but thou comforting thy blessed people again with thy exceeding great clemency, bowest down thy favor and loving kindness afresh towards them: by means whereof our hope is renewed in us, that (seeing it hath seemed good unto thee to move the land in this our age, and to dismay the inhabiters thereof with a new and extraordinary fear) thou wilt also heal her grievous wounds. And although it be thy good will now and then to vex thy faithful people with hard and most bitter mishaps,