Psalm 76: That Our Courage Faileth Us Not in Affliction
thanks unto thee for this cause chiefly, in that thou hast vouchsafed to choose unto thyself a Church out of this great number of us, wherein (seeing it is convenient that thou shouldest reign and show thy almighty power) we earnestly require thee, utterly to subvert all manner of ungodliness, and contrariwise maintain innocence and right pure religion. What earthly and fleshly thing of the world remaineth in us, let it forthwith be drowned, and cause thou all things
(which by thy heavenly spirit thou hast bestowed upon us in our regeneration) to be thoroughly grounded in us: make thy righteous and elect servants like unto most strong pillars, but let such as inhabit the earth, which strive against thy holy name, and blessed doctrine, stagger and fall. Have a regard to this, we humbly beseech thee (O excellent father) that the fools may forsake at one time or other their folly, and let the wicked at length cease to abuse their power, which they seem to bend against godliness and thy sacred Gospel: do away their furious words, arrogant taunts, and rebellious blasphemies. Neither have thou (O good
God) any respect in this case what our sins have deserved (which are very heavy and right grievous to be borne) neither are we ignorant of them, nor yet do we mistrust, but thou (for thy infinite mercies sake) wilt utterly blot those out, least we be enforced through the same, to drink dry the cup of thy most bitter wrath.
Let so many as give themselves to naughtiness, drink of the same, yea make them to suck out all the dregs thereof, so that thy blessed church may have thy just judgments in perpetual remembrance, and extol them with continual praises, when as she shall see the horns of the ungodly broken, and such mightily preserved and highly set up as have altogether addicted themselves to righteousness and a perfect godly life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 76: THAT OUR COURAGE
FAILETH US NOT IN AFFLICTION
(Prayer 1) It hath pleased thy unspeakable goodness without any of our deserts (O most mighty God) that thy blessed word should be well known amongst us, and thy sons holy Gospel preached in the midst of us, which thing,
as we do know to be a singular and right excellent benefit, so do we diligently consider, that (through our own default) the same doth greatly burden us. For we have doubtless used shameful unthankfulness towards thy divine Majesty, in that we have framed our life nothing at all according to the knowledge of thy blessed word and sacred doctrine. Notwithstanding forsomuch as we be sorrowful for our great wickedness, and are willing to amend our heinous faults, we humbly require thee to help them that are fallen, stretch out thy aiding hand to such as call upon thy most holy name, and pardon us whom it heartily repenteth to have anything at all offended thee. And forsomuch as (according to thy loving promises) we be thy Tabernacle and dwelling place, against which the ungodly have set themselves in battle, to the intent they may utterly subvert it and pull up the same by the roots: break thou their Darts and Bows in pieces, and strike down their shields, swords, and armor. This canst thou do without any trouble, because thy force is more excellent and of greater power then all the tyranny of the world. Let it therefore waste all to spoil them: let both their horsemen and footemen be cast in a dead sleep at thy mighty rebuke. And when as such have slept their sleep which lean so proudly to their own strength, let them find in their hands that which may either do them good or delight them. We know for a certainty that thou art very terrible, and how no man is able to stand before thee when thy heavy wrath shall be kindled: wherefor we humbly require thee to arise and save thy meek people. For at what time thou shalt subdue this force and fury of our adversaries, it will redound to thy worthy praise: forsomuch as therefore thou canst mightily bridle the spirit and cruelty of Princes, neither suffer us to come under the yoke thereof, but rather assist us in such wise, that we, achieving and getting the victory, may pay the hearty vows which we owe unto thee, with a right joyful mind and most ready will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Forsomuch as (O most mighty God) thou hast chosen thee an house and mansion place in thy sacred Church, therefore art thou well known in her, and thy glorious name is there most notably set forth, because thou hast full many a time and very often driven the shafts, bow, sword, and shield therefrom, with all warlike engines, and subtle devices invented by soldiers, which the fierce