The Institution of Christian Religion

So shall it come to pass that the Scripture shall have full authority with us, and that no success shall hinder the blessing which God deserveth in the whole course of the governing of the world. Again the petition also tendeth to this purpose, that all ungodliness which defileth this holy name, may be destroyed and taken away: that whatsoever things do darken and diminish this sanctifying, as well slanders as mockings, may be driven away: and when God subdueth all sacrileges, his glory may thereby more and more shine abroad.

So shall it comme to passe that the Scripture shall haue full authoritie with vs, and that no successe shall hynder the blessyng whiche God deserueth in the whole course of the gouernyng of the worlde. Agayne the petition also tendeth to this purpose, that all vngodlynesse whiche defyleth this holy name, may be destroyed and taken away: that whatsoeuer thynges doo darken and diminishe this sanctifieng, as well sclaunders as mockynges, may be driuen away: and when God subdueth al sacrileges, his glorie may therby more and more shine abroade.

The second petition is, that The Kingdom of God may come: which although it contain no new thing, is yet not without cause severed from the first: because if we consider our own drowsiness in a thing greatest of all other, it is profitable that the thing which ought of it self to have ben most well known, be with many words oft beaten into us. Therefore after that we have ben commanded to pray to God to bring into subjection, and at length utterly to destroy whatsoever spotteth his holy name: now is added a like and in a manner the same ⟨p. 233⟩request, that his kingdom come. But although we have already set fourth the definition of this kingdom, yet I now briefly rehearse, that God reigneth when men as well with forsaking of themselves as with despising of the world and of the earthly life, do so yield themselves to his righteousness, that they aspire to the heavenly life. Therefore there are two parts of this kingdom: the one, that God correct with the power of his Spirit all corrupt desires of the flesh, which do by multitudes make war against him: the other, that he frame all our senses to the obedience of his government. Therefore none do keep right order in this prayer, but they which begin at themselves, that is to say, that they be cleansed from all corruptions which trouble the quiet state of the kingdom of God, and infect the pureness thereof. Now because the word of God is like a kingly sceptre, we are here commanded to pray that he will subdue the minds and hearts of all men to willing obedience of it. Which is done, when with the secret instinct of his Spirit he uttereth the effectual force of his word, that it may be advanced in such degree as it is worthy. Afterward we must come down to the wicked which do obstinately and with desperate rage resist his authority. God therefore setteth up his kingdom by humbling the whole world: but that in diverse manners: because he tameth the wantonnesses of some, and of other some he breaketh the untamed pride. This is daily to be wished that it be done, that it may please God to gather to himself Churches out of all the coasts of the world, to enlarge and increase them in number, to enrich them with his gifts, to stablish right order in them: