A17662:1256
The Institution of Christian Religion
The institution of Christian religion, written in Latin by master John Calvin, and translated into English according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctionsThe institution of Christian religion, vvrytten in Latine by maister Ihon Caluin, and translated into Englysh according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions
London: printed by Reinolde Wolfe & Richard Harison, 1561London: printed by Reinolde VVolfe & Richarde Harison, 1561
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Hereunto let the third rule be joined, that whosoever presenteth §8himself before God to pray, should forsake all thinking of his own glory, put of all opinion of worthiness, & finally give over all trust of himself, giving in the advancing of himself the glory wholly to God: least if we take any thing be it never so little to our selves, we do with our own swelling fall away from his face. Of this submission which throweth down all height, we have often examples in the servants of God: among whom the holier y• every one is, so much the more he is thrown down when he cometh into the sight of the Lord. So Daniel, whom the Lord himself commended with so great a title of praise,1 said: We pour not out our prayers before thee in our righteousnesses, but in thy great mercies. Hear us Lord, Lord be merciful to us: Hear us, & do these things that we ask, for thine own sake: because thy name is called upon over the people, & over thy holy place. Neither doth he by a crooked figure (as men sometime speak) mingle him self with the multitude as one of the people, but rather severally confesseth his own guiltiness & humbly fleeth to the sanctuary of forgiveness, as he expressly saith: When I confessed my sins & the sins of my people. And this humbleness David also setteth out with his own example, when he saith: Enter not into judgement with thy servant, because in thy sight every one that liveth shall not be justified.2 In such manner Isaiah prayeth: Lo, thou art angry because we have sinned: the world is founded in thy ways,3 therefore we shall be sa•ed: And we have been all filled with uncleanness, & all our righteousnesses as a defiled cloth: and we have all withered away as a leaf, & our iniquities do scatter us abroad as the wind: and there is none that calleth upon thy name, that raiseth up himself to take hold of thee: because thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast made us to pine away in the hand of our wickedness. Now therefore O Lord, thou art our father, we are clay, thou art our ⟨image 297⟩