The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reverend father, M. John Calvin, compendiously…The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reuerend father, M. Iohn Caluin, compendiously…

8 The third is, that who so ever presenteth him self before God to pray, should forsake all thinking of his own glory, put of all opinion of worthiness,¹ and finally, give over all trust of himself, giving in the abasing of him self, the glory wholly to God: lest if we take any thing be it never so little to our selves, we do with our own vain swelling fall away from his face: which also he showeth by certain examples.

8 The third is, that who so euer presenteth him selfe before God to pray, should forsake all thinking of his owne glorie, put of all opinion of worthines,¹ and finally, giue ouer all trust of himselfe, giuing in the abasing of him selfe, the glory wholly to God: lest if we take any thing bée it neuer so little to our selues, we doe with our owne vayne swelling fall away from his face: which also he sheweth by certaine examples.

1. 1Dan. 9.18. Psal. 144.2.

9 Hereupon it followeth, that the beginning and also the preparing of praying rightly, is to flee to the mercy of God,¹ and to crave pardon, with an humble and plain confession of the fault: but this is wont to be done two ways, first, in general, which belongeth to all men. Moreover, specially ⟨image 176⟩when any man prayeth to have his sins forgiven, when he desireth release of pain, that the cause being taken away. the effect may be taken away.