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1 O Lord my God, rebuke me not I beseech thee, in thy fierce indignation against my sinnes, either in this life, or at the day of Iudgement, neither chasten or correct mee in thy hot displea∣sure, by condemning mee to eter∣nall death.
2 Haue mercy and compassi∣on vpon me, according to thy ac∣customed goodnesse O Lord, for I am weake and fraile by nature, strengthen me therefore by thy Grace, O Lord, and heale me, by
curing the infirmities of my soule, for they are multiplied so greatly vpon me, that my bones, and all my inward parts are vexed, and disquieted, with the remem∣brance of them.
3 My sinfull Soule, conside∣ring my manifold offences, and trembling at the thought of thy iust anger against them, is also (like as is my flesh) sore troubled, and almost at the point of despe∣ration: but thou O Lord, that desirest not the death of a sinner, how long will it be, ere thou looke vpon me, and bring mee out of this misery.
4 Returne from the rigour of thy Iustice O Lord, to the sweet∣nesse of thy mercie, and deliuer my soule, from the bondage of sinne: O Lord saue mee, from the assaults of the Deuill, not for any merits of mine, but for thy mercies sake, in Christ Iesus my Sauiour.
5 For in death there is no re∣membrance
of thee, to praise and glorifie thy Name: and who, surely none there is, that shall giue thee thankes, or celebrate thy goodnesse, in the Graue of Hell, where nothing is to be heard, but weeping, gnashing of teeth, and blasphemies.
6 I am weary and faint, with my groaning and sighing, for my transgressions, euery night, when I should take my rest, I wash my bed, weeping for them, and I wa∣ter my couch, the place of my rest, with my teares of vnfeined repen∣tance.
7 Mine eye of reason and vn∣derstanding, is consumed and groweth weake, because of the griefe I take, fearing thy Iudge∣ments: yet it waxeth Old, and I continue in sinne, because of the vnited forces of all mine enemies, the World, the Flesh, and the Deuill.
8 Depart therefore farre from me all ye mine enemies, which
are, and haue beene the workers and causers of mine iniquitie, by your tentations, and euill exam∣ples: for henceforth, I will haue no more to doe with you; for my conscience assureth mee, that the Lord, of his infinite good∣nesse, hath heard, and pittied the voyce of my weeping: and there∣fore I should be vnthankefull to him, to returne to those sinnes, which he, in his mercy, hath for∣giuen.
9 The Lord, I cannot repeat it too often, hath gratiously heard my earnest supplication, for the pardon of my sinnes, and he The Lord, plentifull in pittie, hath not only now, but will also hereafter, receiue my prayer, whensoeuer I call faithfully vpon him.
10 Let all mine enemies there∣fore, who haue sought my de∣struction, be ashamed at my con∣uersion, and bee sore vexed and troubled at the consideration of Gods Iudgements. Let them no
longer delay, but repent and re∣turne to the Lord, and bee asha∣med, that they haue so long de∣ferred their conuersion, and sud∣denly, without any longer delay, make their peace with him, by vnfeined repentance.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
BLessed is he in this life, in as∣sured hope, and thrice bles∣sed, in full and perfect fruition, in the life to come, Whose transgres∣sion, by Gods mercy, is forgiuen, in respect of the offence: and whose sinne, by the imputation of Christs righteousnesse, is so coue∣red in this World, that it bee not laid open, at the day of Iudge∣ment, in respect of the punish∣ment.
2 Blessed and happy is the man, vnto whom, in regard either
of offence, or punishment, the Lord, accepting the merits of Christ, imputeth no sin, but giueth so ample a remission of them, that hee taketh no notice of any sinne in him: and in whose Spirit, as well as outward shew, is no guile, but penitently, without hy∣pocrisie, bewaileth his offences.
3 When I my selfe (I speake by experience) kept silence, dis∣sembling and couering my sinnes, wherewith my conscience was oppressed, my bones, and inward parts, waxed old and feeble through my roaring, which God regarded not, though I cried all the day long, and that, because I confessed not my sinnes aright vnto him.
4 For day and night, continu∣ally, thy hard hand of affliction was heauy vpon me, to punish my ob∣stinacy, and to reduce me to re∣pentance; and by reason thereof, my moisture and vigor, which I formerly had, is turned, like to
the drought of Summer, and is al∣most withered, and dried vp.
5 My sinne therefore, at the lest, being thus handled by thee, did I resolue to acknowledge vnto thee, in contrition of soule, and mine iniquitie, which I formerly concealed, I haue not any longer hid, but humbly confessed vnto thee.
6 I further said within my selfe, when thy grace began to worke in me, that I will no lon∣ger continue in my rebellion, but penitently confesse all my trans∣gressions, and iniquitie vnto the Lord, gracious and mercifull: and I had no sooner done it, but thou (of thy wonted compassion) for∣ganest the iniquitie, and punish∣ment of my sinne, committed a∣gainst thee.
7 For this remission of finne, as it was necessary for me to pray for it, so shall euery one, of what condition soeuer, that is godly, (for the iust also fall) pray vnto thee, O
Lord, in a time, when thou mayest be found, in a fit season. But in the greatest danger of Flouds, and swelling of the great waters of afflictions, God will so preserue the iust man, that they shall not haue power to come nigh vnto him, to oppresse or ouerwhelme him.
8 Thou O God, art my hiding place, and refuge, in all tribulati∣ons, thou (for in none other will I trust) shalt preserue mee by thy power, from trouble and aduer∣sitie. Thou shalt compasse me about with thy mercy, and I will sing vnto thee, Songs of praise, for my deliuerance.
9 I will instruct thee (saith God) O man, if thou wilt bee ruled by me, and teach thee in the way of righteousnesse, which thou shalt walke in, without erring. I will guide thee, in the right way, with mine eye of prouidence, that no euill shall happen vnto thee.
10 Be ye not therefore O foo∣lish
men, (since I am so carefull ouer you) without reason, as the vnruly Horse, and dull Mule, which haue no vnderstanding, to bridle their head-strong desires: Whose hard Mouth must bee held in with strong hand, and with bit and bridle, and you, with tri∣bulations and afflictions: if you be, then (as they must be held in, lest they come neere thee, and fall vpon their rider, or kicke at them, so) shall you be forced by aduer∣sitie, to know your selues, lest you oppose God your Creator.
11 Many sorrowes either in this world, or torments in the world to come, shall be to the ob∣stinate and vnrepentant wicked: but he that with his whole heart dependeth on, and trusteth in the Lord his God, the Mercy of God shall compasse and defend him on euery side, from all dangers.
12 Be glad then, Oye ser∣uants of the most High, in the sal∣uation of the Lord, and not in
your owne strength, and reioyce, in feruency of spirit, ye that are iust, and righteous: shout for ioy, in the comfort of a good consci∣ence, all ye that are vpright in heart. For that the Lord is grati∣ous to those that loue him, and hath delight in the prosperity of his Seruants.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
1 O Lord, I do not altogether decline from, and refuse thy corrections, only this I re∣quire of thee, that thou, rebuke me not in thy fierce wrath, by condemning me with the repro∣bate: neither chasten me, poore sinner, too seuerely, by the ex∣traordinary afflictions of this, as if it were in thy hot displeasure.
2 For it is not without cause, that I should thus deprecate thine
anger, for thine arrowes of griefe and anguish, sticke fast in me, and are sore vpon me, already, and thy hand of present affliction presseth and troubleth me sore.
3 There is no soundnesse nor health in my flesh, because of the vehemency of thine anger, against me: Neither is there any rest or quiet in my bones, and inward parts, when I consider, that thy displeasure ariseth to ward me, be∣cause of the gricuousnesse and wickednesse of my sinne.
4 For (hauing recollected my thoughts) I find, that mine iniqui∣ties (which hitherto I regarded not) are so many, that they are gone ouer my head, they are past my vnderstanding, for quantitie and qualitie, and as a heauy bur∣then, for the weight of them, they are become too heauie for me to beare any longer: they presse me downe so much, that I cannot looke vp to heauen or heauenly things.
5 My wounds, which sinne hath made in my conscience, stinke in the nostrils of God, and they are so abominable, that now, they corrupt, and putrifie in mine owne sight: and all this is come vpon me, because of my foolish∣nesse, that haue let them goe so long vnsearched, (vnrepented of) that they are almost past cure or remedy.
6 I am troubled notwithstan∣ding, that I haue so long put of my conuersion, I am bowed and pressed downe, with the waight of my transgressions, and am humbled in soule, for them great∣ly, and craue pardon for them. I goe mourning and grieuing all the day long, bewailing the former time of my life mispent.
7 For my loines are filled, and infected with a loathsome disease of carnall concupiscence: and there is no soundnesse nor goodnes at all, in my flesh, for that it rebel∣leth against the Spirit.
8 I am feeble in body, and sore broken in minde, in so much, that considering with my selfe, how grieuously I haue offended thee, I haue roared and cryed bit∣terly, by reason of the disquietnesse of my heart: O Lord therefore forgiue my offences.
9 Lord, who knowest all things, and dost search into the hearts of all men, all my desire to be reconciled to thee, and to lead a new life is before thee, thou knowest it, and my groaning and earnest Prayer mingled with sighes and teares, is not hid from thee, but (I hope) is ascended in∣to thy presence.
10 My heart, which hath lost the peace of conscience, panteth, with feare of thy Iudgements, my wonted strength faileth me, and I am growne weake: as for the light of mine inward eyes, where∣with I was wont to discerne good from euill, it is also dimme, and gone from mee, and I am become,
like to them, that walke in dark∣nesse.
11 My Louers, and those which I tooke for friends, because they see me goe about, to forsake my euill courses, stand aloofe of from my sore, & in stead of giuing me comfort, become mine aduer∣saries: and my kinsmen, who in my prosperitie fawned on mee, now stand a farre of, and leaue me comfortlesse.
12 They also of mine enemies, that seeke after the ouerthrow of my life, and eternall happinesse, lay snares and tentations for me: and they that seeke my hurt, in bereauing me of my good name, speake mischieuous and false things to my reproach, and imagine de∣ceit, how to diuert me from the right way, all the day long.
13 But, I, being resolued to persist in the way of repentance, and to trust wholly in the mercy of God, behaued my selfe to them as a deafe man, giuing no eare to
their allurements, and made as though I heard them not: and I was in my behauiour to them, as a dumbe man, that knew not how to speake, and that opened not his mouth.
14 Thus carefull was I, least mine enemies should entrap me, and I continued still, as a man, that heareth not, nor is moued with their tentations: and in whose mouth, (notwithstanding their euill deedes to me) are no reproofes.
15 For in thee O Lord, (let them doe what they can,) doe I hope, and put my confidence, that thou wilt keepe thy promise, and heare me, when I call vpon thee, O Lord my God and Sauiour.
16 For I said in my prayer to thee, heare mee O Lord, least if thou forsake me, they should re∣ioyce and triumph ouer mee, for when, and as soone as my foote of faith slippeth neuer so little by in∣firmitie, they presently imagine,
that thou hast forsaken mee, and magnifie themselues as though they had obtained a great victo∣ry against me.
17 For I cannot maruell, that they should so doe, considering, that when I feele the waight of my sinnes, I my selfe am ready to halt, and despaire: and the rea∣son of my sorrow is, because thy Iudgements are euer before mee, and in my thoughts.
18 For remedy whereof, I wil declare, and confesse to thee O Lord, in the bitternesse of my soule my iniquitie, and take re∣uenge of my selfe for it: yea I will be, (as long as I liue) heartily sory, and much grieued for my sinne past, though it be forgiuen.
19 But mine enemies, thinke not of forsaking their waies, they are liuely and merry, and crie peace, peace, to their soules: and they are strong to doe euill: and they also that hate mee (because they see my conuersion) wrong∣fully,
and without cause, are mul∣tiplied, and excedingly increa∣sed.
20 They also, that vnthanke∣fully render euill to me, for the good, which I haue done vnto them, are also become mine ad∣uersaries, and doe vnto mee, all the mischiefe they can, and why? because they perceiue my conuer∣sion, and that I follow and loue, the thing that good is, which they hate.
21 Forsake mee not, either in tentation, or tribulation, though they persecute mee, O Lord, the author of my saluation: O my God, whom I desire to serue, be not farre from me, by withdraw∣ing thy grace from me,
22 Make hast (least I faint vnder the burden of my sinnes) to helpe me, against my enemies, O Lord, who art my only stay in this life, and my Saluation, in the life to come.
Glory be to the Father &c.
1 HAue mercy vpon me mi∣serable sinner, O God, full of mercy and compassion, ac∣cording to thy louing and infinite kindnesse, to the sonnes of men: and as my sinnes are infinite, so according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, which thou hast euer shewed to penitent sinners, blot out of the booke of thy re∣membrance, my innumerable transgressions.
2 Wash mee throughly, with the blood of thy deare Sonne, from mine iniquitie, whereby I haue so often offended thy Ma∣iestie: and cleanse me, in the foun∣taine of thy mercies, from my sinne, whereby I haue also offen∣ded my neighbour.
3 For behold O Lord, I hide not, nor excuse, but in the bitter
teares of repentance acknowledge and confesse, my horrible trans∣gressions against thee: and my grieuous sinne, in which I did for a time take delight, is growne o∣dious to mee, and is euer before me, in remorse of conscience.
4 Against thee, most merci∣full Father, only, haue I sinned, and though I were ashamed to commit sinne in the sight of men, yet I haue done this great euill in thy alseeing sight: yet O Lord be mercifull to mee, and pardon it, that thou mightst be iustified, and found true and faithfull, when thou speakest (as thou hast often done) of mercy and forgiuenesse to the penitent, and bee cleare from the imputation of iniustice, when thou art arrogantly and falsely Iudged for seueritie, thy punishments being iust, though the eyes of our vnderstanding, be not so cleare, as to perceiue the iustice of them.
5 Behold O Lord, that I, as
all mankinde, was shapen in the iniquity of originall sinne, from which fountaine, springeth my misery: and in sinne, and concu∣piscence, did my mother conceiue me, from whence, groweth the infirmitie of my flesh.
6 Behold also O LORD, I know, that thou desirest Truth, Faith, and Integrity, in the inward parts of my conscience: and in the hidden parts of mee (my Soule) thou shalt make me, by the illu∣mination of thy Holy Spirit, to know Wisedome, to eternall life.
7 Purge mee, leprous sinner with spirituall Hyssope, the blood of thy Sonne, in stead of the Hys∣sope, which was wont to cleanse the leprous, in the lawe: and by that blood, I shall be cleane, and purified, from the leprosie of sinne: Wash me, in the fountaine of Grace, and then, by the teares of repentance, and the merits of my Sauiour, I shall bee whiter in thy sight, then Snow.
8 Make mee poore wretch to heare, and sensiblie feele, the ioy and comfort, of remission of my sinnes: and let me finde gladnesse in the promise of life eternall, that the Spirituall bones of my soule, which thou hast broken with ten∣tations and afflictions, may re∣ioice, and giue thee thankes and praise.
9 Hide and turne away thy face, and wrathfull countenance, from my sinnes, lay them not to my charge: and blot out of thy Register, all mine iniquities that they neuer appeare to condemne me.
10 Create an new forme in me (polluted sinner) a cleane and pure heart: O God, the Cre∣ator of all things, and renew by thy Grace, aright, and sanctified Spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away, into the pit of desperation, by debarring me from thy presence, where (on∣ly)
is fulnesse of ioy: and take not for euer, thy Holy Spirit of com∣fort, from me.
12 Restore vnto me rather, the vnspeakeable ioy of thy Saluation in Christ Iesus, which they feele in their consciences, to whom thou remittest their sinnes: and when I am re-instated in thy fa∣uour, vphold and keepe me, from falling againe, with thy free, pow∣erfull, and sauing Spirit.
13 Then, euen when I shall be so restored, I will, by word of exhortation, and example of con∣uersation, teach transgressors, how they shall keepe thy waies and commandements: and by that meanes (thy Grace assisting) they, which now are sinners, shall forsake their wickednesse, and shall bee truely conuerted to thee.
14 Deliuer me, and quit me, from my former bloody offences, and keepe mee henceforth, from blood guiltinesse, and carnall cor∣ruptions,
O God, my protector: Thou God, which art my Redee∣mer, and Author of my Saluati∣on: and all the dayes of my life, my tongue, for ioy thereof, shall sing vnto thee, and that aloud, and cheerefully: and praise thy Name, by extolling of thy righ∣teousnesse, who dost iustifie sin∣ners, and art mercifull to the pe∣nitent.
15 O Lord, who giuest wise∣dome to the simple, Open thou my lippes, which are closed by sinne, from doing any seruice vn∣to thee: and then, with bold∣nesse, my mouth shall vtter, and shew forth thy praise, for to thee alone, belongeth all Honour, and Glory.
16 For thou O God, desirest not, that I should offer the Sacri∣fice of Goates and Calues, to ex∣piate my offences, else would I willingly giue it, and lay it on thy Altar: but thou (hauing by sending thy Sonne Christ Iesus,
abrogated the ceremonies of the Law) delightest not any longer, in burnt offerings, but in obedi∣ence to thy Commandements.
11 The Sacrifices accepted of God, and whereby wee are in Christ reconciled to him, are a broken and humble Spirit, deiect∣ed with the sight of sinne: a bro∣ken and contrite heart, truly mor∣tified and repentant, O God, thou hast promised, that thou wilt not despise, but louingly accept.
18 Doe good O God, in thy good pleasure, and be fauourable and gratious, vnto Sion, thy Ca∣tholique Church: Build thou, vpon a sure foundation of religi∣on, and establish the hearts of thy Saints, and Seruants, the walles of thy Church Ierusalem.
19 Then shalt thou, in Christ Iesus, be pleased with vs, and with the Sacrifices of Righteousnesse, in thy Congregation. And with burnt Offerings and Oblations of our hearts. Then shall they, thy
Seruants thus established, offer bullockes, the Sacrifice of praise, vpon thine Altar, in thy presence, to the honour of thy most holy Name. Glory be to the Father, &c.
1 HEare my prayer, which in the bitternesse of my soule, I make to thee, O Lord, whose mercy, is the Sanctuary of di∣stressed sinners: and let nothing stand betweene that mercy and me, which may hinder my cry to come to thee.
2 Hide not thy face, turne not away thy countenance from me, as if thou wert offended at me, but rather, in the day of aduersity, when I am in trouble and sorrow, encline thine eare of pitie vnto me, and that right soone, and speedily.
3 For my daies, which I haue mis∣spent, are cōsumed away like smoke, which for want of substance, re∣solueth
to nothing: and my bones which by my broken spirit, are dri∣ed vp, are burnt vp as a firebrand.
4 My heart is deiected and smitten with the thought of thy Iustice, and it is withered, with remembrance of thy Iudgements, like grasse, without iuyce or sap: so that, in this anguish of soule, I forget, and loath to eate my bread.
5 By reason of the grieuous voyce of my groaning, sighes, and teares, I am so consumed away, that my bones for want of flesh, cleaue to my skinne, and I am no∣thing, but skin and bone.
6 I am (for shame that I haue offended thee) become in conditi∣on, like a Pellican, that liueth so∣litarily in the Wildernesse: and I am like an Owle, not daring to be seen, but that auoideth the light, and is continually, in the desert, shunning the company of other birds.
7 I watch, and sleepe not, for the thought of my sinnes, and am as a sparrow, that caring for no
company, sitteth alone, making grieuous lamentation, in a mourn∣full note, vpon the house top.
8 Mine enemies, seeing mee thus penitent, reproach mee, with opprobrious speeches, all the day continually, deriding mee: and they that (while I was their com∣panion in sinne) applauded mee, are vpon my conuersion, mad a∣gainst me, and doe combine, and are sworne, to doe me mischiefe, and to that end, set themselues a∣gainst me.
9 For this cause, taking no pleasure in this world, I haue ea∣ten ashes, and fed vpon course meate, like as if it were fine bread, and dainty fare: and I haue ming∣led my drinke with teares, weeping, and lamenting for my sinnes.
10 Because of thine indigna∣tion at me, for them, and thy wrath against my life past, all this euill, and more, hath befallen me, for thou hast lifted mee vp very high, and from thence, hast cast mee
downe, that my fall might be the greater.
11 My dayes, few and euill, are passed like a shadow vpon a Sun-diall, that declineth toward the euening: and I, that lately seemed to flourish, am withered, and dryed vp, like grasse with∣out sap, for want of thy comfort.
12 But thou O Lord, which wert, and art, shalt continue im∣mutable, and shalt endure for e∣uer, while all transitory things passe, and come to nothing: and thy glorious workes, shall be had in remembrance, vnto all genera∣tions, euen vnto the end of the world.
13 Thou O Lord, who see∣mest to men to sleepe, shalt arise, in thy strength, and haue mercy and compassion vpon Sion, thy Church militant, now oppressed, with the tyranny of Antichrist: for the time, to looke vpon her, and fauour her, is at hand, yea the set time, which thou hast de∣creed
for her deliuerance, is, or will not be long, ere it come.
14 For they which bee thy true and faithfull Seruants take pleasure and delight, in her stones (their fellow Seruants) and are glad when they see them prosper: and fauour and pitie, the very dust, and ruines thereof, when they see them vnder persecuti∣on.
15 So, that when they shall be deliuered from their misery, the very heathen shall feare and trem∣ble, at the Name of the Lord, and be conuerted to him: and all the Kings, and Potentates of the earth, which now oppose the Truth, shall acknowledge thee O Lord, to be King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and be afraid, at the great∣nesse of thy Glory and Maiestie.
16 When the Lord, by his al∣mighty power, shall build vp Si∣on, and repaire the ruines of his Church, he shall then, to the con∣fusion of his enemies, appeare in
his glory, which they shall not be able to endure.
17 He will then in mercy re∣gard, and hearken to the prayer of his poore seruants, and the de∣stitute of his helpe: and not any longer seeme to turne away his face from them, nor despise their prayer, and earnest supplicati∣ons.
18 This mercy of his, shall then be recorded, and written, as a remembrance; for the generati∣ons to come, euen to the end of the world, which shall attempt the like against his Church: and the people, yet vnborne, that shall succeed, and be created, in ages to come, shall praise, and magnifie, the Lord, which only, doth mar∣ueilous things.
19 For hee hath in mercy by sending his Sonne Christ Iesus, looked downe from the height of his Sanctuary, his holy place: euen from Heauen, his Fathers bosome, did the Lord Iesus behold the
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earth, and had compassion vpon all the Sonnes of men.
20 To heare, and pitie the groaning of the prisoners, such as did groane vnder the burden of the law, and to loose, and set at liberty by his passion, and inter∣cession, those of the posterity of Adam, that are appointed to suffer death, for not fulfilling the same.
21 To the end, that they be∣ing so deliuered, may declare, and shew the power, and the Name of the Lord, which is Iesus the Sa∣uiour, in Sion, his Church: and magnifie and extoll his praise, in Ierusalem, his holy habitation.
22 When the faithfull people, which are yet dispersed ouer the face of the earth, are gathered to∣gether, and made one congrega∣tion, and the Kingdomes of the earth, which are yet in darknesse, are instructed, to serue thee, the only Lord of Heauen and earth.
23 He euen the Lord, in the time of this expectation, hath
weakened and abated my strength, so that I can doe no good of my selfe, in the way of this my earthly pilgrimage: he hath shortned and cut off my dayes, by afflicting me for my sinne.
24 I said yet, in this weake∣nesse and anguish of my soule, O my God, withdraw not now thy mercy from me, and take me not away out of this world in the midst of my dayes, in the chiefe time of my strength: as for thy yeeres, as they are from all eternity, so shall they endure, throughout all generations, euen for euer.
25 Of old, at the beginning of time, hast thou of thine owne power, layd and created the foun∣dations of the earth, the visible world, anwd all things in it: and the heauens and firmament there∣of, are the onely worke of thy al∣mighty hands and power.
26 They, euen heauen and earth, and all things in them shall passe away and perish, from the
forme they now haue: but thou O Lord, the creator of them, shalt endure immutable. Yea, without all doubt, all of them, as thou hast decreed, shall waxe old, and con∣sume with age, like a garment, long worne, and as a vesture or garment shalt thou, by the sound of the last trump, change and dis∣solue them, and they shall yeeld to thy power, and be changed.
27 But thou O Lord art the same, alwayes vnchangeable: and thy yeeres, being from all eterni∣ty, shall haue no end, but continue for euer.
28 The children and posterity of thy faithfull Seruants, begotten by the seedes-men of thy Word, shall continue in grace in this life: and their righteous seed shall stand fast, and be established for euer, together with them in glory hereafter, and enioy euerlasting happinesse before thee in thy bles∣sed presence.
Glory be to the father, &c.
1 OVt of the depth of tentati∣ons, dangers, and sorrowes for my sinnes, wherein my Spirit is almost ouerwhelmed, haue I, by feruent prayer, cryed, and cal∣led vnto thee O Lord, who onely art able to giue me reliefe.
2. Lord, of thy mercy haste thee, and heare my voyce and pe∣tition; and deliuer me from my misery. O my God, Let thine eares of pitie and compassion, be attentiue to consider and well weigh the lamentable voyce of my humble supplications, and let not my prayer, returne vnpitied or vn∣heard of thee.
3 If thou Lord, contrary to thy disposition, shouldest be so exact and extreame, as in the rigour of thy Iustice, to marke the iniqui∣ties, which we, by our naturall
corruption, dayly fall into, and punish vs accordingly: O good Lord, who? none, not the most vpright, shall be able to answere one for a thousand, or stand be∣fore thee, (without much horror,) at thy Iudgement seate.
4 But, for the comfort of poore wretched sinners, and to keepe vs from vtter desperation, we finde it recorded, by the holy Spirit, that There is forgiuenesse of sinnes, and mercy towards sinners repenting, with thee, by Iesus Christ, who came to saue sinners: and yet, this mercy of thine, is tyed with such conditions, that thou, who also art Iust, mayest be also feared, lest thy lenity be a∣bused.
5 I, for my part, wait and confidently expect, for the Lord, to receiue mercy from him: My sinfull, but repentant soule, doth wait, to receiue consolation: and in his Word (whereby he promi∣seth mercy to repentant sinners,)
doe I hope, and place my whole confidence, because I know, that he which hath promised, is Iust.
6 My sinfull Soule, in this ex∣pectation, waiteth for the Lord, and tarieth his good pleasure, to comfort it, more earnestly then they that in a disconsolate long night, watch for the morning: yea (I say it againe) more zealously, then they, that are weary of the night, and watch for the light of the morning.
7 Let Israel and all Gods faithfull people, hope still, and put their trust in the goodnesse of the Lord: and not without cause: For with the Lord, though hee iustly take vengeance on vs, for our sinnes, yet there is, euer was, and will bee found, Mercy to∣wards penitent sinners: and with him, by Iesus Christ, is not onely forgiuenesse for a few sinnes, but plenteous redemption, from the captiuity of the Deuill and sinne.
8 And he, euen Iesus Christ,
by his merits and intercession, shall redeeme and saue Israel, and each of his faithfull seruants, from all his iniquities, and the punish∣ment due for them.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
1. HEare my earnest and hum∣ble Prayer, O Lord, which in misery, I make vnto thee, Giue eare, and be not deafe, to my sup∣plications, in the time of my di∣stresse: but in thy faithfulnesse and truth, which endureth for euer, answer me, and grant my petition, which I make, not tru∣sting in any merits of mine owne, but in thy righteousnesse.
2 And my further petition to thee is, that thou enter not into the throne of thy Iudgement, by strictly examining my misdeeds, and dealing rigorously with me,
thy poore Seruant, who hath misspent his talent: for in thy all∣seeing sight, shall no man liuing in this vale of misery, be iustified or found innocent.
3 For the old enemie of man∣kinde, the Deuill, hath by his ma∣lice persecuted, and sought to entrap my soule, to separate it from the loue of thee: he hath smitten, and cast my life and soule downe to the ground and filled me full of earthly desires, he hath made, and caused me to dwell, and take pleasure in, the darkenesse of my sinnes, as those, that are with∣out sence, and haue beene long dead.
4 Therefore O Lord, conside∣ring my desperate estate, is my spirit ouerwhelmed with griefe within me, and my heart, is dis∣quieted within me, and is also de∣solate, and sore troubled.
5 I yet, in the midst of the sorrowes that are in my heart, doe remember what I haue read
and heard, what thou hast done in the dayes of old, how that thou hast beene gratious to the peni∣tent, and seuere against the vnre∣pentant sinner. I meditate also, on all thy workes, but especially on that of thy mercy, and I muse, and exercise my selfe, in contem∣plating on the worke of thy hands, admiring thy Power, and Wise∣dome, in the creation of all things.
6 I stretch forth, and lift vp my hands in my prayers vnto thee O Lord: my soule (which is drie for want of the deaw of thy grace) thirsteth after thee, for the water of life, as a thirsty land, in a time of drought.
7 Heare me, and answer me speedily, delay not O Lord for my spirit waxeth faint, and faileth me in my deuotion: Oh hide not thy face and louing countenance from me miserable sinner▪ least it come to passe, that I bee like in condition, vnto them, that goe downe headlong after their owne
inuentions, into the pit of destru∣ction and perdition.
8 Cause mee by thy spirit, to heare and feele, thy louing kind∣nesse and mercy in the morning speedily, least I perish: for in thee only, and not in the helpe of men or Angels, doe I place my whole trust and confidence: cause mee by thy grace, to know and learne the way of thy testimonies, where∣in I should, and ought to walke, without declining to the right hand, or the left. For I lift vp my soule by prayer and repentance vnto thee, who only canst direct me aright.
9 Deliuer me O Lord, by thy power, from all mine enemies, vi∣sible and inuisible, for I flie, and make hast for succour vnto thee, as to my protector, to hide and de∣fend me from their violence.
10 Teach and instruct mee, (that am ignorant) to doe thy Will; and those things, which thou commandest, for thou art
my God and director: Thy Spirit is good, and all sufficient for me: Lead me therefore by it, into the right way, which bringeth, into the land of righteousnes and truth.
11 Quicken mee againe O Lord, and reuiue mee, from the death of sinne, for thy Names sake, which is Iesus, and for thy righteousnesse sake, and loue to goodnesse, bring my soule by thy grace, out of the trouble and an∣guish whereinto my sinnes haue brought me.
12 And of thy tender mercy and compassion, cut of, and kill in me, mine enemies, the concu∣piscences of the flesh, and destroy and confound all them, that with iniuries and tentations afflict and disquiet my soule, which is whol∣ly deuoted to thee: for I am thy Seruant, and Sonne, of thy hand∣maid, and desire to serue thee, in holinesse and righteousnesse, all the daies of my life.
Glory be to the Father &c.