David's harp strung and tuned, or, An easie analysis of the whole book of Psalms cast into such a method, that the summe of every Psalm may quickly be collected and remembred : with a devout meditation or prayer at the end of each psalm, framed for the most part out of the words of the psalm, and fitted for several occasions / by the Reverend Father in God, William ... Lord Bishop of Gloucester.

The Prayer out of the One hundred and twenty seventh Psalm.

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man that walks, to direct his steps; Thou art our sirength, and all our sufficiency is in thée; vouchsafe therefore so to preserve, [Ver. 1] and direct us through the whole course of our lives, that whatsoever we do may prosper: Prosper thou the work of our hands, O prosper thou our handy-work, build thou our Houses and Families for us; let our wives, our children, our servants, our corn and Cat∣tle be watered with the dew of heaven. Watch thou upon the Walls of our Cities, and assist and bless the Watch-men, our Princes, Prelates, [Ver. 2] Counsel∣lors, Magistrates, and Souldiers, with thy favour; for we know without thy help, except thou build with us, and watch over us, our building and waking is but vain. It is vain for us to rise early, to sit up late, and to eat the bread of sorrowes, anxiety and carefulness; all our early labour, and late endeavours, accompansed with thrist, and trouble of mind, to come forward in our vocati∣ons, are to no purpose, if thou shalt blow upon it.

Prevent us then, O Lord, with thy gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help, that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in thée, [Ver. 2] we may ever glori••••e thy holy Name, attributing the success to thy mercy only. Never suffer us to be distracted with anxiety for the things of this life, or be over-sollicitous for to morrow; but having used those means which thou hast ordained, honest labour, and a competent thrist, let us rely upon thy Provi∣dence, and compose our minds to rest and sléep in it; for this is the acquiescence thou givest to those thou lovest.

We know, O Lord, that children are the props of our Families, [Ver. 3] and that these are thy blessings also: For children are an heritage of the Lord, and the f••••it of the womb are thy Reward. Thou, O God, hast the Keyes of Heaven and Hell, of Rain and Providence, of the Grave, and of the womb; let not then thy servants féel the curse of dry breasts, and a barren womb; but make us joyful parents of children, that may increase the number of thy re∣déemed.

Give us thy grace and favour, that we may instruct them with diligence and méekness, govern them with prudence and holiness, and bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; provide for them such useful imploy∣ments,

That they may be as Arrowes in the hand of a mighty man, [Ver. 4] defences and succours to our old age. If it he thy blessed Will, let them live to a full age, and make us happy, that we have our quivers full of them, from whose powerful arm may be shot quick and sharp arrowes into the very hearts of those, [Ver. 5] who are enemies to all Piety, thy Gospel, and thy Truth; fill, O Lord, thy Church with such children of youth, who while they oppose the Adversary, and maintain the sincerity of Religion in word and déed, may never be asha∣med, nor yield, when they speak with the enemies in the gate. Grant us these things, O gracious Father, for thy Son, our Lord Iesus Christs sake.