The booke of common prayer, and administration of the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church of England.

Quàm bonus Israel. Psal. 73.

TRuely God is loung vnto Israel: cuen vnto such as are of a cleane heart. * 1.1

Neuertheles, my feete were almost gone: my treadings had welning slipt.

And why? I was grieued at the wicked: I doe also fee the ungodly in such prosperitie.

For they are in no perill of death: but are lustie and strong.

They come in no misfortune like other folke: neither are they plagued like other men.

And this is the cause that they be so holden with pride: and ouerwhelmed with crurltie.

Their eies swel with fatnes: & they do euen what they lust.

They corrupt other, and speake of wicked blasphemy: their talking is against against the most highest.

For they stretch foorth their mouth vnto the heauen: and their tongue goeth through the world.

Therefore fall the people vnto them: and thereout sucke they no small aduantage.

Tush (say they) how should God perceiue it: is there know∣ledge in the most highest?

Loe, these are the vngodly, these prosper in the world, and these haue riches in possession: & I said, Then haue I clean∣fed my heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.

All the day long haue I bene punished: and chastened eue∣ry morning.

Yea, and I had almost sayde euen as they: but loe, then should I haue condemned the generation of thy children.

Then thought I to vnderstand this: but it was too hard for me.

Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnder∣stood I the end of these men.

Namely how thou doest set them in slipperie places: and castest them downe, and destroyest them.

Oh how suddenly doe they consume: perish, and come to a fearefull end?

Yea, euen like as a dreame when one awaketh: so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the citie.

Thus my heart was grieued: and it went euen through my reines.

So foolish was I and ignorant: euen as it were a beast before thee.

Neuerthelesse, I am alway by thee: for thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shall guide me with thy counsaile: and after that re∣ceiue me with glory.

Whom haue I in heauen but thee: and there is none vpon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for euer.

For loe, they that forsake thee shall perish: thou hast de∣stroyed all them that commit fornication against thee.

But it is good for mee to holde me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord God: and to speake of all thy workes (in the gates of the daughter of Sion.)

Notes

• * 1.1

  Euening prayer.