Psalm 98: For the Favour of Christ Through His Glorious Resurrection
come, when thou by fire and with the clear lightsome presence of thy divine Majesty shalt judge the world, rewarding every man uprightly according to his deserts. Then shall the very heavens show forth thy righteousness, and all men compelled whether they will or no, to say that thou art most just: and then also shall thy blessed Church be filled with true and perfect joy. Seeing that therefore the matter standeth thus so long as we are here strangers from thee, cause light to rise in us, and a spiritual rejoicing with exceeding pureness of heart, whereby we may sincerely and after a due manner joy in thee only, so that one of us may always put another in remembrance not to be forgetful to publish thy unspeakable holiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 98: FOR THE FAVOUR OF CHRIST
THROUGH HIS GLORIOUS RESURRECTION
(Prayer 1) Thou hast showed oftentimes that salvation belongeth unto thee only (O most mighty God) for the doing and accomplishing whereof thou hast no need of any creatures assistance. Thou shewedst marvelous wonders in our fathers days, and diddest often preserve them with thy only right hand and blessed arm: for thou hast in such wise extended thy ready help towards them, that thy excellent mercy and unspeakable goodness became manifest to all nations. Seeing that therefore thou hast not hitherto been forgetful of thy faithful promises, but rather hast always assisted thy beloved servants, when soever they stood in need of a deliverer: whereby they thought thy glorious name was to be extolled and praised all manner of ways, so much as in them lay, both with heart, voice, trumpets, harps, shawmes, and sundry ditties of songs: we therefore thy faithful people do in like sort pray at this present, that thou hidest not thyself from us in this time. Thou truly art not ignorant how many and how great the perils are, which do grievously molest us. And so long as we do wey the case by our own deserts, they seem to be more hard and grievous unto us then we be able in any wise to bear: for we have sinned in such wise against thee, so impudently transgressed thy sacred laws, and so often played the rebels against thy divine
Majesty, that if thou shouldest reward us according to our lewd life and filthy conditions, we may be even in utter despair of our salvation. But we do greatly and with much fervency labor to obtain this at thy favorable hands, both that thou wouldst deal with us according to thy accustomed manner, by forgiving the penitent, pardoning their heinous offenses which incessantly call upon thy blessed name, and being merciful unto such as faithfully trust in thee. And also that of thy singular justice and excellent clemency, thou wouldst mightily deliver us, after a puissant manner maintain us, and defend us with an invincible force, from the most cruel enemies of thy blessed name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Prayer 2) All mankind in general (O most mighty God) are bound to praise and set forth thy blessed name exceedingly, for the notable benefits thou bestowest upon them, and most especially, for that thou hast delivered us from everlasting death by the help of none other creature, but only through the sole oblation of thy alone and most dearly beloved Son: insomuch as we may rightly say, that thou only defendest us with thy holy arm and puissant right hand. Thou hast very certainly showed how mindful, and what a good keeper thou art of faithfulness and goodness, which the whole ends of the earth and all mortal creatures may assuredly see and right well perceive by our redemption: but we be so dull, rude, and blockish, that we have in a manner lost the whole perseverance of so noble and great liberality, the fault whereof we must impute to our heinous wickedness and mischievous deeds. Wherefore, with a mighty lamentation and very sorrowful cry, we do earnestly call upon thy inestimable mercy to forgive whatsoever we have most grievously committed against thee, and to take from thy blessed Church the occasions of so great sorrow. For whilst we know godliness and religion to hang in so great distress, we can in no wise sing unto thee with heart and voice as we ought to do, or provoke all creatures through our great joy, to unspeakable gladness. We do now earnestly require thee to come and judge the case of thy faithful people. Rayse up and sustain with thy judgment such as mourn, and comfort the afflicted, that thy equity and justice (wherein thou dost