Philosophy begins in wonder, and there is perhaps no higher mode of wonder than prayer. The scholastic and humanist Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562) is rightly known as a master theologian, philosopher, and bible commentator of the early Protestant tradition. He is less known, to his contemporary readers, for his contemplative prose. Here we see the contemplative aspect of philosophy in a Protestant key (bridging the worlds of exegesis, theology, philosophy, and ordinary experience) in the prose of a soul saturated with God and his gospel.
FROM PSALM 1:
Take away from us, O great and good God, wicked plans and their attendant sins. Do not let us fall into an evil and shameful life. Likewise keep our souls far from contemning piety and scorning virtues. Instead of these plagues grant that we may constantly meditate on your law and your sacred writings. Then we will not, like the wicked, be carried about by every wind of impulse and doctrine as are light flakes of dust and worthless rubbish. Rather like trees planted by streams of water, endowed with faith and the life of the spirit, may we also bear the outward fruit of good works, and may whatever we do prosper and give praise and glory to your name and [3v] add to our salvation. Finally may we, in accord with your mercy, both stand up and be absolved before the court of your judgment after the wicked have already fallen. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
FROM THE SAME PSALM:
Almighty God, we already understand quite clearly how serious troubles and woeful disasters so afflict the Church because we have often yielded to the counsels of the wicked when we should have turned away from the moment we recognized them. We have in no way turned aside from the path of sinners but have followed their path closely with our constant transgressions against your commandments. Moreover, for a long time we have contemned sound admonitions and healthy practices. We have neglected with considerable laziness and even insolence and have derided whatever your word offered to us. It is no wonder that now we have to undergo every heavy, irksome, and bitter experience instead of the happiness and tranquil peace that for so long we have, alas, misused. But now, O God, we flee to you as suppliants, confessing the evil deeds we have done, and we ask with urgent and ardent prayers that you be kind and forgive us the sins that we have committed in our stupidity and wickedness. Make our souls as devoted as possible to your law so that we may ponder in our hearts day and night nothing except the words of your Holy Scriptures. That way we shall bring forth in due season sweet fruit, employing our faith in your word, and we will not be robbed of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, our efforts will always have a blessed outcome. But now we are hard pressed by our sins and are not unlike husks blown up and down by the winds of tribulation. At least, good Father, grant this: that our life may not be wasted in evil like the wicked. Rather, like the cause of the just, may you defend our life with the highest care and protection so that we may stand at the judgment and gathering of the just and that we may not fail in our cause. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FROM THE SAME PSALM:
Since it has already been explained to us, O almighty God, that our happiness while we live here depends in large measure on how we beware of evil advice and profligate behavior and flee the company of those who spurn and deride everything and on how such plagues are replaced by wondrous zeal for the divine law on which we meditate and reflect night and day. Since we realize we have strayed far from this goal of our salvation, indeed have sinned grievously against this, we ask you that in your mercy you forgive our failures and deign to make us henceforward fruitful plants by the continual study and use of your word. May we not only bear fruit in your Church while we live, but may we also be able to pass successfully our judgment in the other world before you, who knows perfectly the way of the just. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
FROM PSALM 2:
In this time, O great and good God, we feel that not only the Antichrist but all the power and force of the world has conspired against you and your Christ—namely those who think that the Gospel and the reformation of the Church are intolerable chains and a heavy yoke, so that they try by every device to break apart communities of believers and reject all discipline. But since you dwell in heaven and since the plotting of the devil and sinful flesh are not hidden from you, you laugh at their useless schemes, render vain their efforts, and make them instead the joke and laughingstock of your elect. Make them realize your anger, and may they at last be filled with terror by the fury of your wrath so that they cannot destroy your Church. You have put Jesus Christ, our only savior, over the Church so that he may reign in it mighty and invincible by his word and spirit. Graciously grant to us, your children, even though we are unworthy and disloyal, enough faith and constancy that we may have him as our only king and confess the same. May we have no doubts that we are his nation, people, and heritage. May we rightly understand that he is endowed with such strength and power that he punishes those he wishes with a power stronger than iron and brings them low like clay pots. O God, convert the kings of the earth to yourself so that they may understand and acknowledge and embrace and kiss your Son lest, his wrath being kindled, they perish on the spot. When it seems good to you, make blessed forever those who have really committed themselves to your faith. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
FROM THE SAME PSALM:
Regardless of how much the devil rages, O great and good God, or the worldly powers rise up daily, or the flesh conspires with its slaves against the kingdom of your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, still we know and hold firmly as part of our steadfast faith that you mock and scorn all such things—you who are mighty to crush them in your wrath and anger as soon as it pleases you. Since we are sometimes weak in our faith, so that driven by various fears we obey your commandments less than we ought, we beseech you that in your goodness you show us your favor so that we may be firmly convinced that your Son is our king and redeemer and holds complete power at your side over all things. When you begot him, you handed over all the nations for him to rule rightfully as his heritage. Grant us now finally to realize that and learn it so well that by serving you with all fear and honor we may not be smashed on the last day like a clay pot by the rod of your anger. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.