Psalm 105: That We Be Not Ignorant of the Works of Our Redemption
and contrariwise in steed of them, let the inspiration of thy most sweet spirit succeed like springs of living water, and let not perpetual food be wanting to our weakness, where with to feed it. But let there be a fortress in the confidence of thy glorious name, for us to retire unto: and like as in thy blessed creatures is great abundance of light, whether it be in the stars, or in the sundry variety of beasts, herbs, and stones, so we humbly beseech thee, to garnish and beautify thy holy
Church with the brightness of all virtues, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) All creatures which thou hast created (O most good and merciful God) are witnesses, by their greatness and most exquisite ornaments, with what a wonderful wisdom and invincible power thou flourishest: there is nothing but it dependeth wholly upon thee, for what things soever have life, are fed by the food which thou givest them, and from such as thou hidest the sight of thy loving countenance, they are not able any longer to endure but die incontinent whensoever they be deprived of thy spirit. Forsomuch as therefore (O excellent father) thou art so good and mighty in working, even towards those things chiefly which thou hast ordained to be far inferior to man, we humbly beseech thee to extend thy favorable clemency no less towards thy blessed Church. She verily is thy own work, wherefore rejoice and delight therein, and (of thy exceeding high providence) cause thy majesty to show forth itself in her most evidently, whereby we may always both jointly amongst ourselves have most pleasant words concerning thy blessed will, and also magnify thee with perpetual praises, forsomuch as thou hast taken all uncleanness quite from her, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PSALM 105: THAT WE BE NOT IGNORANT
OF THE WORKS OF OUR REDEMPTION
(Prayer 1) Thy marvelous and unspeakable works (O heavenly father) do much counsel us, and thy commandments earnestly teach us, to search for thy loving countenance with a most pure worship and faithful invocation in thy holy congregations, by calling this to mind and remembrance, that thou art our merciful God, who hast made us the true Israel by Christ, and sons of thy most
famous servant Abraham, through faith. Take away therefore from us (we humbly beseech thee) our heinous sins and all uncleanness of life, to the intent we may according to our bounden duty, seek thee and come before thy divine presence. We acknowledge ourselves to have hitherto most grievously offended thee both in mind and voice, and unless thou makest haste to help us, our sins will cast us down into the deep. For (even according to our just deserts) the outrageous enemies of thy blessed name, are raised up and have mightily prevailed against us, who daily strengthen themselves against thy son our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. We know right well that (by reason of the life which we have hitherto lived repugnant to thy glorious name and our profession) all these most grievous evils have happened to thy sacred Church. But our earnest request is that thou wouldest be mindful of thy faithful covenant, wherein thou promisest that we should be the meeting line of thy blessed heritage: for thy covenant is not transitory, but perdurable. Thou hast used at other times to chastise kings that they should not hurt thy elect people, who dost preserve and defend thy blessed servants inhabiting here upon the earth, so often as it is thy holy will and pleasure. The Heaven, Elements, and all creatures have served thee as soldiers in Egypt for the deliverance of thy faithful people. As thou therefore wert not then forgetful of thy sacred covenant, so show thyself mindful thereof at this present: for wicked men, the devil, and Antichrist, practice by all the means they can possible imagine and devise to swallow us up. Wherefore renew thou thy wonderful works in us, O mighty God, who (being altogether void of help) require thee to hide us under thy merciful wings, and spread them so over us, as thou mayest not only be our defender, but cause us to lead a quiet and peaceable life towards thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 2) Seeing that the godly (O almighty God) cannot have an excellenter and more noble desire, then unfeignedly to remember thy marvelous and exceeding great acts, by celebrating the same both in word and most exquisite commendations, being now followers of the faith of Abraham, and children not degenerate from the ancient holy fathers, members of Christ, and instructed by the traditions of his blessed Apostles, do call to remembrance how inviolably thou
hast kept the sacred covenant which thou madest with thy holy Church from the beginning. Thy sure protection and most strong defense hath been always marvelous ready to help thy elect servants at what time they reposed their whole trust in thy unspeakable mercy, and when thou tookest upon thee to be their strong helper and mighty deliverer, no man could in any wise hurt them. Moreover when thou didst strike the whole world by any calamity, with thy severe justice, or didst trouble it with scarcity of food and lack of vitals, all that (so much as it was) turned at length to thy singular welfare and famous glory of the people of Israel. We being greatly admonished by these things, are of very good comfort, who come humbly unto thy divine Majesty, and heartily pray thee that thou wouldest be no less mindful of thy holy covenant towards thy blessed church at this day then thou wert in old time. For thou seest how many discommodities do on every side assail her and besiege it about: we humbly beseech thee (O excellent father) who alone canst do this, to command all those things either to fade away, or else grant them power to pourge us of our lewd conditions, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 3) Our earnest request is (O most good and merciful God) that thou wouldst augment the fellowship of thy dear children (as well in number as also in faith) and all other ornaments of thy excellent grace. And like as thou hast given Aaron to be a most faithful pastor of thy children of Israel when they grew to be a very great people, so now also prepare godly, learned, and wise Ministers for thy sacred Church, by whose good behavior the Egypt of our men may fade away, and let the doctrine wherewith we be instructed by them, be kindled daily more and more in us, so that everyone of us may be enriched most abundantly both with spiritual goods, and spiritual fruits. Suffer us not (O excellent father) to be at any time destitute of the bright light of thy sacred word, and guiding of the holy ghost, whereas otherwise we shall both miserably stray in the Wilderness of this miserable life, and also perish exceeding unfortunately, that when as innumerable perils of temptations hang over thy faithful servants, let them not want the strength of thy good grace and loving favor, whereby they may be able (so long as life endureth) to set out thy glorious kingdom unto many, and finally
obtain at thy loving hands the dwelling place of perpetual felicity, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer 4) Seeing that the holy scriptures make not mention, without just cause, of the children of Israel's ingratitude and rebellion against God (for they were always troublesome to him by reason of their complaints) we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly father, so to rule and govern us with thy unspeakable mercy and fatherly loving kindness, that we be not found like unto them. They did lately and very readily forget thy wonderful works, whereby thou deliveredst them from bondage: then they trusted in strange God's: they were defiled with fleshly pleasures; and finally did both despise the amiable land which thou promised them, and also polluted themselves with most grievous and shameful offenses. For the which notable and grievous sins, thou hast oftentimes chastised them with a fatherly discipline, but yet (such was thy unspeakable goodness) thou wert never forgetful of thy covenant made with their forefathers. Even so, we humbly beseech thee (O good God) to chasten and correct thy blessed
Church (when it doth now and then slide very sore) with thy accustomed mercifulness, and favorable loving kindness, saving the right of the everlasting covenant, which thou hast renewed with us through the death of thy only beloved
Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee evermore world without end. Amen.
(Prayer 5) Thy unspeakable goodness is such (O most mighty God) towards the congregation of thy faithful servants, that look whatsoever thou hast done hitherto for setting thy faithful people at liberty, the same also might she now both hope for, and also assure herself of, if she had abidden in the covenant that she made with thee. For even as the persecutors of the Israelites were sore vexed and at length oppressed through thy mighty power: so in likewise (when it shall seem good unto thee) let all such as be enemies to thy sacred Church and verity, be consumed with the force of thy invincible spirit. We now therefore require this especially at thy merciful hands, that thou wouldst (so long as we be strangers from thee in this wretched life, and are compassed about on every side with an infinite number of perils) lighten the night of our darkness with the bright fire