GRANT ME HELP, O Lord, in my tribulation, for vain is the help of man!1
How often have I been deceived, finding want of faithfulness where I thought it sure!
And how often have I found it, where beforehand I least expected it!
It is vain therefore to trust in men, but the salvation of the righteous is in thee, O God!
Blessed be thou, O Lord, my God, in all things that befall us.
We are weak and unsteadfast; we are quickly deceived, and soon changed.
2. Who is he that is able in all things so warily and circumspectly to keep himself, as never to fall into any deceit or perplexity?
But he that trusteth in thee, O Lord, and seeketh thee with a single heart, doth not so easily fail.2
And if he fall into any tribulation, however much he is entangled, yet he shall quickly either through thee be delivered, or by thee be comforted; for him that trusteth in thee, thou wilt not forsake, even to the end.
A friend is rare to be found, that continueth faithful in all his friend’s distresses. Thou, O Lord, even thou alone art most faithful at all times, and there is none like unto thee.
3. Oh, how wise was that holy soul that said, “My mind is firmly settled and grounded in Christ.”
If it were so with me, then would not human fear easily vex me, nor the arrows of human words move me.
Who can foresee all things? Who is able to prepare beforehand for future evils? If things even foreseen do oftentimes hurt us, how can things unlooked for do otherwise than wound us grievously?
But wretch as I am, why did I not provide better for myself? Why also have I so easily had confidence in others?
But we are men, nothing else but frail men, although by many we are esteemed and called angels.
To whom shall I give credit, Lord? to whom but to thee? Thou art the truth, which neither doth deceive, nor can be deceived.
And on the other side, “every man is a liar,”3 weak, inconstant, and subject to fall, especially in words; and therefore we must not easily give credit even to that which in outward show seemeth at the first to be right.
4. O with what wisdom hast thou warned us to beware of men; and because a man’s foes are they of his own household;4 do not believe it, if one should say, “Behold here,” or “Behold there.”
Injury has been my instructor, and I wish it may make me more cautious and less simple.
“Be wary,” saith one, “be wary, keep to thyself what I tell thee”; and while I hold my peace, and think it is secret, he can not himself keep that which he desired me to keep, but presently betrays both me and himself, and is gone.
From such tales and such indiscreet persons protect me, O Lord, that I neither fall into their hands, nor ever commit such things myself.
Grant me to observe truth and constancy in my words, and to remove far from me a crafty tongue.
What I am not willing to suffer in others, I ought by all means to avoid myself.
5. Oh how good is it and tending to peace, to be silent about other men, and not to believe promiscuously all that is said, nor easily to report what we have heard.5
Also it is good to lay one’s self open to few, and always to be seeking after thee, who art the beholder of the heart.6
Nor should we be carried about with every wind of words, but desire that all things, both within and without, be accomplished according to the pleasure of thy will.
How safe is it for the keeping of heavenly grace, to avoid appearances, and not to seek those things that seem to cause admiration abroad, but to pursue with all diligence the things which bring amendment of life and zeal of godliness.
6. To how many hath virtue known and over-hastily commended, been hurtful!
How profitable hath grace been when preserved in silence, in this frail life, which is said to be all temptation, and warfare!
1. Psalm 60:11
2. Prov. 10:29
3. Rom. 3:4
4. Mic. 7:5
5. Prov. 25:9
6. Isaiah 26:3