that if we were joined in our prayers, we should quickly be united in affections: and to this purpose I have some reason to believe this Psalter may do good service. For I have seen an essay of this design made by that prudent and pious moderator of controversies, George Cassander, who did much for the peace of Christendom. When disagreeing interests and opinions made the great schism in the western churches, he puts forth devotions, and with them collects to each psalm. But I said, it was a mere essay, they are short of what he could have done: but when I saw his name at them, I guessed what every man else would have guessed concerning him, it was a pursuance of his great design for peace and charity. - I have seen three more: the first by an old Saxon priest or bishop, in which there is nothing of offence, nothing but pious and primitive for the matter; but the collects so short, that the psalm did scarce pass through the prayer; so little of the relish is left, that the percolation is scarce discernible. A second was printed at Lyons 1545, without the author's name, with a complying design of avoiding all offence, and a not engaging of God in our scholastical wranglings, but quite contrary to the Saxon: the prayers are so full of paraphrase, that I resolved to go further, and see if I could speed better; and at last met with a Psalter printed lately at Antwerp by command, very fairly indeed, with a title and a collect to every psalm, all free from dispute and partaking in the questions of Christendom, not so much as a gust or relish of his own party till the Psalter be done; the prayers all good and here I had fixed, but that I had found them very often to be impertinent. But that which I observed in all these, is that the design seems alike, and they are a form of devotion made for no private sect, but for the benefit of all Christian people; which the author of the Antwerp Psalter declines in his additional devotions, where he brings in litanies to saints as grossly, as he had before avoided it with discretion. If any man's piety receives advantage by this intendment, it is what I wish but I desire that his charity might increase too, and that he would say a hearty prayer, when his devotion grows high and pregnant, for me and my family; for I am more desirous my posterity should be pious than honourable. I have no ends of my own to serve, but to purchase an interest of prayers; for I would fain have these devotions go out into a blessing to all them that shall use them, and yet return into my own bosom too: and if I may but receive the blessings of the Psalter, even the sure mercies of David," it will be like the reward of five cities for the improvement of a few talents; I shall venture again in a greater negociation, and traffic for ten talents; for there is no honour so great as to serve God in a great capacity; and, though I wait not at the altar, yet I will pay there such oblations of my time and industry, as I can redeem from the services of his Majesty, and the impertinencies of my own life. 66 THE PSALTER OF DAVID, WITH TITLES AND COLLECTS FITTED TO EACH PSALM, &c. THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH. Morning Prayer. PSALM I.* A Prayer that we may continually meditate in God's Law, and have no Fellowship with wicked Persons in the Manner of their living or dying. O HOLY Jesu, Fountain of all blessing, the Word of the eternal Father, be pleased to sow the good seed of thy word in our hearts, and water it with the dew of thy divinest Spirit; that while we exercise ourselves in it day and night, we may be like a tree planted by the water side, bringing forth, in all times and seasons, the fruits of a holy conversation; that we may never walk in the way of sinners, nor have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but that when this life is ended, we may have our portion in the congregation of the righteous, and may be able to stand upright in judgment, through the supporting arm of thy mercy, O blessed Saviour and Redeemer, Jesu. Amen. To avoid enlarging the volume unnecessarily, the words of the Psalms have been omitted, as reference can easily be made to the Psalter. PSALM II. A Prayer to promote Christ's Kingdom, and for Grace to serve him with Fear and Reverence. O blessed Jesu, into whose hands are committed all dominion and power in the kingdoms and empires of the world, out of whose mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it thou mightest smite the nations, and rule them with a rod of iron, on whose vesture and on whose thigh a name is written, King of kings, and Lord of lords; we adore thee in thy infinite excellency and most glorious exaltation, beseeching thee to reveal thy name, and the glory of thy kingdom, to the heathen which know thee not, and to the uttermost parts of the earth, which are given thee for thy possession and inheritance. And to us give thy grace to serve thee in fear, and plant the reverence of thy law, and of thy name, in our hearts; lest thy wrath be kindled against us, and thou break us in pieces like vessels of dishonour. Have mercy on us, O King of kings, for we have put our trust in thee: thou art our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesu. Amen. PSALM III. A Prayer for Defence against all our Enemies, bodily and ghostly. O Lord, our Defender, have pity upon us: behold, the armies of the flesh, the world and the devil, fight against our souls, and multiply against us, every day, temptations and disadvantages. We are not able of ourselves, as of ourselves, to think a good thought, much less to put to flight the armies of them, that have set themselves against us round about. But thou, O Lord, art our Defender; thou art our worship, and the lifter-up of our heads. Up, Lord, and help us arm us with the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, and, in all times of temptation and battle, cover our heads with the helmet of salvation: so shall we not be afraid for ten thousands of our enemies: for salvation belongeth unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PSALM IV. A Prayer in which we exercise an Act of Hope in God, and desire his Providence over us. O God, who art the Author of all righteousness, from whom all grace, and safety, and glory, does proceed, hear the prayers of thy humble servants, whensoever we call upon thee in our trouble; for our trust is in thee alone; and no creature can show us any good, unless it derives from thee. Show the light of thy countenance upon us, let thy providence guide all our actions and sufferings to thy glory and our spiritual benefit, and consign us to the blessedness of thy kingdom, by the testimony of thy Holy Spirit; that we may not place our joys and hopes upon the good things of this life, which perish and cannot satisfy, but in the eternal fountain of all true felicities; that, thou being our treasure, our hearts may be fixed upon thee by the bands of charity and obedience; that thou mayest make us to dwell in safety here, and when our days are done, we may lay us down in peace, and take our rest in thy arms, expecting the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. PSALM V. A Prayer for a Blessing upon all pious People, and for O most holy and blessed Lord God, who canst take no pleasure in wickedness, neither can evil come nigh thy dwelling; defend us and all thy holy church from the fraud and malice of blood-thirsty and deceitful men, and from the crafty insinuations of all them that work vanity: but let thy blessings be upon the righteous, and let thy favourable kindness defend thy whole church as with a shield; that all those who put their trust in thy mercy, may be ever giving of thanks, and may be joyful in thee. O lead us in thy righteousness, that we become not a rejoicing to our enemies; but that we may worship thee in fear, and come into thy house to make our prayers unto thee, and to give thee thanks for the multitude of thy mercies, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. |