An abridgement of the Institution of Christian religion written

CHAP. XX. Of prayer which is the principal exercise of faith, and whereby we do daily receive the benefits of God.

CHAP. XX. Of praier which is the principall exercise of faith, and whereby we doe dailie receiue the benefites of God.

¹1 BY that which goeth before we plainly perceive how needy and empty man is of all good things, and how he wanteth all helps of salvation. Therefore if he seek helps to relieve his poverty withal, he must needs go without him self: to wit, unto the Lord, who doth give himself unto us of his own accord, & freely, in his son, in ⟨p. 221⟩whom he offereth us in steed of our misery, felicity, and setteth open to us the heavenly treasures: that all our faith may behold his well-beloved son, that all our expectation may depend upon him, that all our hope may rest in him. It remaineth that we seek in him, and that by prayer we crave at his hands, that which is wanting in our selves, and which we have learned to be in him. For as the Apostle witnesseth, like as faith springeth from the Gospel,² so by the same faith our hearts are framed to call upon the name of God*.

¹1 BY that which goeth before wee plainely perceiue how needie and emptie man is of all good things, and how he wanteth all helpes of saluation. Therefore if he seeke helpes to releeue his pouertie withall, hee must needes goe without him selfe: to wit, vnto the Lord, who doth giue himselfe vnto vs of his own accord, & freelie, in his sonne, in ⟨p. 221⟩whom he offereth vs in steed of our miserie, felicity, and setteth open to vs the heauenlie treasures: that all our faith may behold his welbeloued sonne, that all our expectation may depend vpon him, that all our hope may rest in him. It remaineth that we seek in him, and that by praier wee craue at his handes, that which is wanting in our selues, and which wee haue learned to be in him. For as the Apostle witnesseth, like as faith springeth from the Gospell,