Psalm 77: A Prayer of Consolation in Distress, by Considering the Wonderful Works of God
adversaries of thy sacred doctrine and enemies of true religion did prepare against the same, being set up thereto by thee. There thou hast (I say) for this cause been continually famous and had in very great admiration above all robbers and tyrants of this wretched world. Wherefore our right humble request is, that our sins be not the occasion thou withdrawest thyself from so laudable and renowned a custom of thy excellence. But if thy sacred Church be a little while afflicted and grievously troubled, as we have well deserved, make thou, for the glory of thy name, her puissant adversaries, (yea rather thine) of such feebleness, as those be which are a sleep, so that, if they will abuse their strength, let them greatly fail thereof, and cause both their footmen and horsemen (through thy rebuking of them) to be of no force at all. We right well know (O good God) that thou only oughtest to be feared, insomuch as no man is able to endure thy wrathful displeasure. Arise therefore to judge thy sacred Churches cause, insomuch as her mild Citizens may by thy puissant help be mightily preserved, and that whatsoever the most disdainful enemies have enterprised by threats to do against the same, it may redound to thy own praise and renowned glory. Grant (O good
God) that we may with an exceeding cheerfulness and joyfulness of heart, render such thanksgivings as we have vowed unto thee for so great a benefit, when as we shall perceive all the kings of the earth to stand in great fear of thy excellent Majesty, and that thou hast abated the courages of the mighty princes of this wretched world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 77: A PRAYER OF CONSOLATION IN DISTRESS,
BY CONSIDERING THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD
(Prayer 1) We cry unto thee in heart and voice (O most mighty God) with such an assured confidence, that seeing thou be our puissant God, we are heard of thee in these our sorrowful tribulations, who (through our earnest repentance and hearty invocation of thy blessed name) make diligent search for thee, whilst we are on every side oppressed with much anguish and sore afflictions, neither is there any other firm and substantial consolation remaining unto us. For so long
as our mind is grievously troubled, and heart exceedingly disquieted, what other thing remaineth, but that we (being moved with extreme heaviness and doleful sorrow) do make our moan and heavy complaint unto thee. Above all other things our heinous sins do sting us, whereby we both right well know that thou art offended, and also feel by experience a troublesome and wounded conscience in ourselves. Wherefore our minds are miserably afflicted, and being overwhelmed with fear and sorrow, all our strength doth utterly fade away. Our eyes attend diligently upon thee, whose mind and heart being broken and cast down, we lamentably require thy favorable mercy. Ah God most dear father, shall our manifold sins be the cause why thou wilt always hide thyself from us? Wilt thou cease to show thyself both merciful and gentle unto us? For thou truly art of nature patient and long suffering: wherefore let us not be destitute of thy mercy and loving kindness which are immeasurable. Be not thou (O good God, who art the father of mercy) forgetful to show thy favorable compassion towards us.
We verily have provoked thy heavy displeasure, by reason of our naughty behavior: notwithstanding thou canst with thy most high right hand easily alter the same and pardon our grievous offenses, which we have no mistrust of, so long as thy excellent works depart not out of our remembrance. Thou wert wont to show wonders in delivering thy faithful people: therefore at this time also stretch out thy mighty power against the ungodly, who have assailed thy blessed flock with deceitful policies and warlike cruelty, and deal with them according to thy old accustomed manner. It is not unbeknown to us how wonderfully thou did deliver the Israelites from the Egyptians. The waters of the great deep, the clouds, the thunders, the lightnings, and all creatures have at thy forceable word set forth their safeguard and welfare: insomuch as thou didst lead out thy chosen people like sheep by the hands of Moses and Aaron, even whither soever it pleased thee.
Be thou (O excellent father) in such wise assistant unto us with thy armies, that (being delivered from our most cruel enemies) we may through an unfeigned faith and pure conversation of life, be drawn unto thee, who art our assured hope and chief thing we delight in, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) We have a perpetual regard to thy excellent goodness (O almighty God) in these most troublesome times, who make thee weary through our daily prayers and very fervent petitions, flying to thy divine Majesty as unto our only
Savior, whilst thy blessed Church is in so great peril. Neither is our sorrow and mournings smally increased, so long as we call to remembrance the things that were done in old time, wherein a man might with an assured mind and very quiet conscience, peaceably and without offense have addicted himself to set forth with high praises, both thy glorious name, and also thy excellent doctrine. But forsomuch as we have very much abused the gift of so great security and most sound quietness, we do now earnestly beseech thee (O excellent father) to forgive whatsoever we have committed against thy excellent Majesty: but seeing it cannot come to pass that thou shouldest be forgetful to show mercy towards thy faithful servants, cast us not utterly away. And forsomuch as it behooveth thy loving promises to take place at length, withdraw not thy favorable mercy altogether from us. We do now right well call to remembrance thy wondrous works of old, which thou wroughtest in delivering the children of Israel out of Egypt: for so soon as the waters in the sea beheld thy omnipotent power, they were sore afraid, and moved after a marvelous sort. Thou didst fight against the ungodly with dark clouds, thunderings, lightnings, winds and an horrible tempest. In like manner therefore thou then delivered thy people of Israel, even so now preserve thy blessed Church from the outrageous cruelty of Satan and envious enterprises of his wretched adherents, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) The greater the afflictions be (O most good and merciful God) that we endure, so much the more are we accustomed to pray more fervently unto thee: for seeing that we now right well perceive and do daily more and more feel that thy sacred church is miserably tormented and vexed sundry ways, we come and make intreatance to thy gentleness, beseeching thee to aid her in such wise as thou wert wont to do in her first age. Doubtless thy most perfect nature, and also thy exceeding constancy, wherewith thou art endued, cannot abide that thou (who hast been always favorable towards those which thou didst most tenderly love) shouldest now gather, thy goodness together in a bundle, to the intent