Psalm 83: That God Would Defend His Word in Despite of the Ungodly
PSALM 83: THAT GOD WOULD DEFEND HIS
WORD IN DESPITE OF THE UNGODLY
The hatred, armies, deceits, and pernicious devices of the fierce enemies of our salvation (O almighty God) do so daily increase, that we are enforced to cry upon thee continually. Whose whole drifts tend to none other purpose then to pull us from thee, and that there might not any person be found, which should either trust in thee, or purely call upon thy blessed name as he ought to do. For our own flesh, our senses, and ungodly men have together with the fierce rulers of darkness, conspired against thy sacred Church, and finally all earthly and worldly affections and ability have lift up themselves to overthrow the same.
Wherefore our earnest request is that thou wouldest not keep silence, neither hold thy peace, nor yet be in quiet: for like as thou hast of old time overthrown the Egyptians, Midianites, Canaanites, and Philistines, for the safeguard of the Israelites: even so at this day deliver thou those which have wholly committed themselves to thy faithful protection and government, whose force, puissance, and salvation, is laid up in thee only. Bridle thou so the boldness of our outrageous enemies (or rather of thine) to the intent all men may perceive that thou only art the God, whom (rejecting all manner of superstitions) they ought wholly to worship and purely call upon, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 84: FOR THE INCREASEMENT OF FAITH
Look what earnest and fervent desire so ever the old fathers had (O most mighty God) to come unto the place wherein thou haddest appointed a Tabernacle to thyself for that time, even the like are we kindled withal in beholding the repairing of thy sacred Church, and to see therein a very great company of Godly men lawfully assembled together for the advancement of thy glory, hearing thy holy doctrine, and duly receiving of thy blessed sacraments accordingly. Wherefore we humbly beseech thee, (which art our God and King) that we may one day or other rejoice to be there: for what felicity soever may be attained unto in this frail life, we doubt not but it will light upon the sacred company of the godly.