Psalm 90: Both to Attain Unto the Knowledge of God, and the Vanity of This Life Also
to be made a laughter and mocking stock for the unbelievers to jest at, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 90: BOTH TO ATTAIN UNTO THE KNOWLEDGE
OF GOD, AND THE VANITY OF THIS LIFE ALSO
(Prayer 1) Forsomuch as thou (O almighty God) wouldest we should have this knowledge of thy holy Tabernacle, that it was not in deed of so great bigness as it could contain thy infinite power and immeasurable nature, therefore do we now heartily confess this to be most manifest, that thou art the only tabernacle, habitation, and sure refuge to our weakness: neither art thou to be compted a fresh or new made dwelling place for the faithful, but such a one as is perpetual and permanent, seeing thou choosest them before the making and constitution of the world. And therefore the grievous calamities and painful miseries which we endure, drive us from all sides unto thee our mighty bulwark and most strong defense. Surely we lead both a very miserable and fugitive life, which floweth abroad like water, fadeth away as a sleep, and withereth incontinent in such sort as doth a green herb, while we are continually consumed and put in fear by thy grievous wrath and heavy indignation. We acknowledge that the heinous sins which we have lewdly committed, be the only cause why thou art justly sore displeased with us, for if thou didst purpose assuredly to be revenged of them, thy most ardent displeasure would utterly consume and bring us to naught. Our earnest request is therefore (O mighty God) that thou wouldest forgive the heinous offenses and exceeding wicked deeds wherewith we have greatly offended thee, so that thou dost not condemn us forever, but cause us to reap this singular commodity of these present mischiefs, that (considering and well weighing the force and efficacy of thy heavy wrath, and our brittle and most short life) we may with a greater earnestness stand more in fear of thee. Use thy old accustomed manner
(O excellent father) in showing thyself as now well pleased with thy afflicted and persecuted children: then shall we perfectly rejoice and be right glad when thy working appeareth and is made manifest unto us. Let thy holy Ghost (we humbly