Psalm 78: For Grace and Uprightness of Heart
thou wouldest withdraw the same from them. Wherefore our earnest and hearty desire is that thou wouldest utter thy ancient invincible power towards us at this instant, in raising, cherishing, and restoring thy holy Church, no less then thou shewedst the same in times past touching the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians bondage and servitude: to the intent that how much the more care thou hast thereof, so much the more a great deal it may appear that thou hast mightily delivered the same from the devil, sin, and most cruel death, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 78: FOR GRACE AND UPRIGHTNESS OF HEART
(Prayer 1) Forsomuch as the divine Scriptures have most perfectly published thy exceeding glorious works (O most mighty God) by setting thy children at liberty in Egypt, assuredly knowing that whatsoever things are set forth in the holy Bible, they all make very much to our comfort and consolation: we now most heartily require thee, that thou wouldest in these exceeding dangerous times continually renew our memory with thy Holy Spirit, who, being moved herewith, may repose our whole confidence in thee only. Thou broughtest thy children of Israel out of Egypt, in working of dreadful things against Pharaoh.
The sea gave place, a cloud covered them, a light of fire guided them on their journey, the rock gave water, the heaven sent them both manna and flesh: and in Mount Sinai thou showedst thyself at what time it pleased thee to give them a law by Moses. Thou therefore who hast done so great and manifold things for the Israelites, forsake us not in such wise that the sheep of thy flock may be scattered abroad by the Devil and Antichrist. We verily have sinned against thee, and that grievously and very often: howbeit they also were oftentimes rebellious and murmured against thy divine Majesty in the wilderness, when as they had less credit to thy sacred word than beseemed them. There thou didst sharply punish that people, neither yet sufferedst thy heritage to be destroyed, but knewest well that they were flesh and had a very wavering spirit: wherefore thou wert so touched with mercy that thou didst help them in adversity. We therefore
earnestly require thee (O good God) that thou wouldest do none otherwise to thy blessed Church at this present, in mightily defending and valiantly delivering her, than thou didst the Jews when thou hadst laid thy rod of correction somewhat upon them, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) We heartily acknowledge and earnestly confess (O most mighty God) that the ingratitude of mankind is exceeding great, which thing truly appeareth plainly by our lewd deeds: but seeing that it is an easy matter for every man to be blind in his own case, it is more manifestly set forth by our forefathers acts, which are most truly made mention of in the holy scriptures. We have heard that the children of Israel were delivered through thee, by a number of miracles, when as thou broughtest them out of Egypt, who being governed, defended, and nourished in the desert with such a diligent study and prudent care, as no greater could be devised and imagined, yet for all this the same people are reported to show themselves so much ungrateful and oblivious of thy excellent benefits, that they always murmured against thee their god, their maker, deliverer, and guide most just. Therefore we humbly beseech thee, O excellent father, that (seeing thou of thy free mercy hast elected us, and moreover beatified us with the highest ornaments of thy grace) thou wouldest never suffer or cause the same to depart out of our memory, but rather stir us up every moment with thy blessed spirit to render such kind of thanks unto thee, whereby both thou mayst be most honored, and we greatly provoked forward to lead a godly and virtuous life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) Besides the prodigious wonders and marvelous signs (O most good and merciful God) whereby thou thoughtest good diverse and sundry times to maintain and defend the fathers in the old law, the self same hast thou commanded both to be set forth for the commodity of those that come after, and also to be registered for a perpetual remembrance, to the intent that so many as shall perceive the things by faith, may conceive as assured an hope of thy mercy, loving kindness, and faithfulness toward themselves, as they wonder exceeding greatly at thy unspeakable goodness extended upon their old fathers. For the seeing of those men's chastisements by the severity of thy just judgment, may also
be a very great warning unto them, that they shall be no more spared then the others, when through their lewd behavior, they cease not to provoke thy wrathful indignation against them: Our earnest request is therefore (O heavenly father) that we may reap much commodity hereby. For we verily are (through thy gracious favor) delivered from everlasting destruction, even as they were out of Egypt. But this is our most earnest request which we require as now at thy merciful hands, that we be not led by our filthy lusts and lewd desires to provoke thy heavy wrath unto our confusion, in such sort as they were by grudging at thy inestimable goodness in the wilderness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 4) We may right well perceive (O most good and merciful God) that the desires of our wicked lusts be much hurtful, either because we are provoked through them to pour out complaints against thee, who art most perfectly good, or else for that (in compassing the filthy desires of them) we purchase greatly unto ourselves the most severe punishments of thy unspeakable justice: for we are now admonished in due time by the holy ghost, of all such things as happened unto the Israelites in the wilderness. Wherefore we (being taught by other men's perils) are very careful, least we be wrapped in similar misfortunes through the like misbehavior. Our earnest desire is therefore that thou wouldest give ear unto our fervent prayers, wherein, we humbly beseech thee to give us grace that we may never be forgetful of thy excellency, neither let it come at any time into our harts, either by words or thought, to dally with thee, in whom is nothing but most perfect verity. For whensoever we fall through human infirmity, have thou mercy upon us, who knowest us to he both frail flesh, and also very weak spirited: and so (of thy infinite goodness) incline thyself now partly to raise us up, being already fallen, and partly also to confirm us, that we be not thrust down into everlasting destruction, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.