The Prayer out of the one hundred and twentieth Psalm.

MAny are the afflictions and distresses, into which for my sins, thou, [Ver. 1] O Lord, hast justly brought me, but I murmur not against thy provi∣dence, I have not despaired, nor yet trusted to the arm of flesh for my deli∣verance, but with earnest and servent prayer I have cryed unto thee, and thou hast delivered me: Of which having had experience, and now being oppres∣sed Page  450with a heavy misery, [Ver. 2] I again fly unto thee, O Lord, deliver my soul, that my enemies may not hurt me, who with slanderous calumnies, and a fraudulent tongue, seek to undo me, their words are smoother than oyle, but they have War in their hearts. [Ver. 3] These are very swords that wound near at hand, and these are as arrows that wound afar off, these are shot by the mighty, and sharp they are, [ 4] that wound my good name both déeply, and at unawares; as fire they consume my good name, as coals of Iuniper hoily invade, waste my reputation, and being set on fire by hell, they will not easily be quench'd, deliver then, O Lord, my soul from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

Let the power of thy Word, and those sharp arrows, by which all the craft and subtility of Satan is wounded and pierced through, be sent forth a∣gainst their impiety, and the hot coals of thy anger burn up their malicious snares, [ 3] that they may sée, that no profit shall redound to them from a false tongue. It is a grief and corrasive to my soul, that I am forced to sojourn among these cruel, barbarous, impious and inhumane creatures in the shape of men, [ 5] it is, as if I sojourned in Mesech, and dwelt in the Tents of Kedar, even the Scythians would be more mild to me, the Sarracens more merciful; Help me therefore with thy powerful hand, or else my pilgrimage upon earth without end will be protracted and sadned by these evils and miseries. For they are enemies to peace, and my soul hath too long dwelt among them. Thou knowest, [ 6] O Lord, that I am a man of peace, nay peace it self, I seek peace and ensue it, [ 7] but when I speak for peace, they reject all treaties thereof, and make them ready for battel. Since then they are for War, and I and the rest of thy Servants, must hold a continual War against spiritual wickedness in high places; do not deny, O good Father, to those who call upon thée, thy aid and assistance, and with patience let us fight a good fight, being assured, that from henceforth is laid up for us an immortal Crown of glory, which thou wilt give unto all those that resist till death, for the merits of our Lord and Sa∣viour Iesus Christ. Amen.