Psalm 89: To Put God In Remembrance of His Promise
forsomuch as the whole hope of our salvation consisteth only in thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) Forsomuch as (O almighty God) during this wretched life, we are hedged in with naughtiness on every side, who have such plenty of calamities, and be so glutted with miseries, that being yet alive we walk in the midst of death: therefore with vehement and continual prayer we cry unto thee without ceasing, whom we accompt as our only Savior. Behold (we humbly beseech thee) how we by reason of our heinous sins, are so sore pined away, as we be now in a manner swallowed up of final destruction: thy grievous wrath and heavy indignation being kindled for their sakes, doth make us much afraid, and miserably vexeth us.
Neither can our faithful friends, loving neighbors, or well willers, help us anything at all, touching our deliverance from so grievous inconveniences. Wherefore make hast (O excellent father) to help us, and for thy infinite mercies sake, pardon whatsoever we have most lewdly committed against thee: which, if thou dost not so long as we here live, that (which our desire is thou wouldst remove from us) can take no place after thy last judgment and sentence of condemnation. Show forth again the light of thy favorable countenance upon us, which (by reason of our most wicked and lewd deserts) thou seemedst worthily to have turned so long time from us, whereas otherwise we shall not be able to endure any longer, our conscience accusing us, and the sharp hands of thy justice overwhelming us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 89: TO PUT GOD IN REMEMBRANCE
OF HIS PROMISE
(Prayer 1) Thy inestimable mercy (O almighty God) is most manifestly known, both because all Saints do celebrate the same, and also for that it doth continually utter and show forth itself throughout all generations, by means whereof thou art brought to make a covenant with thy elect people, the Christ's kingdom and his seed (which is the Church) should always endure, neither ought any mortal man to fear or stand in doubt, that thou art not able to perform
whatsoever thou hast steadfastly and with a solemn oath promised. The evident proofs of thy almighty power appeared by punishing the Egyptians: and seeing that the heavens, the earth, the whole circuit of the world, the winds, the seas, and whatsoever thou hast made, pertain to thy mighty government, we doubt not but thou canst right well preserve thy beloved people whom thou hast adopted unto thee, and which walk in the light of thy blessed countenance. And hereupon we have great need, that thou shouldest do thus much for us in especially: namely to vouchsafe to forgive us the sins, wherewith we confess ourselves to have most grievously offended thee, forsomuch as they truly be the only things why we are sore afflicted, and it is the weight of them that press us most down.
Give pardon therefore unto such as humbly call to thee for ready help, and be our strong defense against the fierce adversaries of thy blessed name: stretch out thy mighty arm, make thy hand strong for our preservation, and in these dangers arm thy puissant right hand for our deliverance, least the outrageous violence of the ungodly prevail against us: and suffer not the children of iniquity to trouble us according to their hatred and malicious evil will. Shake thou those and turn thou them so aside, that they be not able to execute the mischievous devises which they intend to do against our holy Gospel. We call upon thee, being our only Savior, loving God, and merciful father: perform therefore and keep thy sacred covenant which thou hast favorably made with thy faithful ones. We have utterly forsaken thy divine law, we have not walked in thy holy commandments, we have unhallowed thy sacred things, neither have we been obedient to thy blessed will: wherefore refuse we not to be beaten with the rods of thy heavy displeasure, or to be kept under, with the scourges of thy most grievous chastisement, but this only is our humble request, that thou wouldest not bereave us of thy unspeakable mercy, favorable loving kindness, and unspotted truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) We heartily acknowledge (O almighty God) that it is the use and guise of the Godly to set forth thy unspeakable mercy and favorable goodness, when as their affairs have so good success as they would gladly wish: but if we undoubtedly shall retain and keep that custom in unfortunate mishaps and
grievous calamities, as to set out thy favorable mercy and loving kindness continually throughout all generations, then shall we be most assuredly able to bear witness of the effectual working of thy grace in us. Suffer therefore (we humbly beseech thee) the promises and covenants which thou madest with David thy most faithful servant, never to slip out of our memories, namely, that thou wouldst of his seed give Jesus Christ a most puissant and everlasting king for all faithful believers, under whose government the universal Church should both be defended from the enemies force, and also greatly flourish, being right well garnished with all kind of good things. More than once we have tried the assuredness of these faithful promises. For thou hast oftentimes delivered thy blessed people from most grievous and horrible dangers, for none other cause than this only: and therefore are we now encouraged to be importunate upon thee, that thou wouldest (according to thy old wont and accustomed manner) provide remedy for the necessity of thy loving people, when they stand in most need thereof, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) Thou hast not only promised unto us (O most mighty God) abundance of grace in Christ Jesus our Lord, whereby we may be acceptable unto thee, and become thy trusty friends, dear children, and peculiar heirs, but also thou hast taken upon thee to bestow so great clemency upon us, that if we fall into any kind of vice through our weakness, thou wilt chastise our iniquities with a fatherly rod and merciful scourge, and not turn away thy loving countenance and well inclined mind from thy blessed Church at any time. Be mindful therefore (O heavenly father) of this thy sacred covenant which thou didst once determine to be more firm and of steadfaster continuance then the high heaven, the bright Sun, and the splendent Moon: but forsomuch as thy wrathful indignation is not a little kindled by reason of our most grievous sins, and that thou seemest to thrust down the case of thy faithful servants, and not a little to favor the adversaries of true godliness and enemies of thy glorious name, show forth now at length (we humbly beseech thee) thy great mercies of old, neither suffer us which are the dear members of Christ (although of our parts marvelous unworthy) not