The forme of prayers and ministration of the sacraments, &c. vsed in the Englishe Congregation at Geneua and approued, by the famous and godly learned man, Iohn Caluyn.

Morninge prayer.

ALMIGHTIE God, and most merci∣full father, we do not1 present our sel¦ues here before thy Maiestie trusting in our owne merites or worthynes, but in thy manifold mercies, which hast promised to heare our prayers and2 graunt our reque∣stes, which we shall make to thee in the name of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ our lord: who hath also commaunded vs to assemble our selues together in his3 na∣me, with ful assurance that he wyll not onely be emongst vs, but also be our4 me∣diator, ād aduocate towards thy Maiestie, that we may5 obteyne all thinges which shall seme expedient to thy blessed wyll, for our necessities. Therfore we beseche thee most mercifull father, to tourne thy louynge contenance towardes vs, and6 im∣pute not vnto vs our manyfold synnes, and offences, wherby we iustely deserue thy wrath and sharpe punishement, but ra∣ther receyue vs to thy mercye for Iesus

Christes sake, acceptinge his death and pas¦sion as a iuste7 recompence, for all our of∣fences, in whome onely, thow art pleased and throgh whome thow canst not be of∣fended with vs. And seinge that of thy great mercies, we haue quietly passed this night, graunt (ò heauenly father) that we may spēd and bestowe. this day wholy in thy seruice, so that all our8 thoghtes, wor∣des, ād deedes, may redounde to the glorie of thy name, ād good ensample to all men: who seinge our good workes, may glorifie thee our heauenly father. And forasmoche as of thy mere beneuolēce, and loue, thow haste not onely created vs to thyme owne9 similitude, and lykenes, but also haste chosen vs to be heyres with thy dere sonne Iesus Christ, of that immortall kingdome which thow preparedst for vs before the beginnynge of world: we beseche thee to10 encrease our faith and knowlage, and to lighten our hartes with thy holy spirite, that we may in the meane tyme lyue in golyd cōuersation and integritie of lyfe: knowinge that11 idolaters, adulterers, coue¦tous men, contentious persons, dronkar∣des, glotons, and suche lyke shall not inhe¦rite the kingdome of God.

(.) And becawse thou haste com∣maūded vs to pray one for on other, we do

not onely make request (ò lord) for our sel¦ues and theym that thow hast already cal∣led to the trew vnderstandinge of thy hea¦uenly wyll, but for all people and12 nations of the world, who as they knowe by thy wonderfull workes, that thow arte God ouer all: so they may be instructed by thy holy spirite, to beleue in thee their onely sauiour and redemer. But forasmoche as they can not13 beleue except they heare, nor can not heare, but by preaching, and none can preache except they be sent, therfore ò lord, rayse vp faithfull distribu∣ters of thy mysteries, who settinge a parte all worldely respectes, may bothe in theyr lyfe and doctrine, onely seke thy glorie. Contrarely confownd14 Satan, Antechrist, with all hyrelinges and papistes, whome thow hast already cast of into a reproba∣te sense, that they may not by sectes, schis∣mes, heresies, and errors, disquiet thy lytle flocke. And becawse, ò lord, we be fallen into the latter days, and15 daungerous ty∣mes, wherin ignorance hath gott the vp∣per hand, and Satan with his ministers seeke by all meanes to quenche the light of thy gospell, we beseche thee to mayntay¦ne thy cawse against those16 raueninge wolues, and strengthen all thy seruantes, whome they kepe in pryson and bondage.

Let not thy longe sufferinge be an occasi∣on either to encrease theyr tyrannye or to discorage thy childrene, nether yet let our synnes and wickednes be a hinderance to thy mercies, but with spede (ò lord) consi∣der these great miseries: and chieflye, the afflictions of our Contrie, which once flo∣rished through thy mercies, and nowe for contempt of thy worde is17 plaged accor∣dinge to thy iudgement. Alas lord mayst thow not be intreated? shall we thus be left in dispayre? shall all the world laugh at our shame for18 euer? truthe it is lord that we were more then sufficiently warned of this thy vengeance to come, both by thy worde ād exemples of others. For thy people Israell many tymes by their19 synnes prouoked thyne anger, and thow ponishedest theym, by thy iuste iud∣gement, yet thogh theyr synnes were neuer so greuous, if they once returned frome their iniquitie, thow receyuedst theym to20 mercie. we therfore most wret¦ched synners bewayle our manyfolde syn∣nes, and earnestly repent vs for our former wickednes and vngodly behauyor towar∣des thee, and wheras we can not of our21 selues purchase thy pardon: yet we hum∣bly beseche thee, for Iesus Christ sake, to shewe thy mercies vpon vs, and restore

vs agayne to thy fauour. Graunt vs deare father these our requestes, and all other thinges necessarie for vs and thy whole churche, accordinge to thy promes in Iesus Christe our lorde: In whose name we be∣seche the as he hath taught vs saing. Our father. &c.

Notes

• 1

  Daniel 9. c.
• 2

  Ioh. 16. c
• 3

  Matt. 18. c.
• 4

  1. Tim. 2. b.
• 5

  1. Ioh. 3. d.
• 6

  Psal. 32. a.
• 7

  1. Ioh. 2. a.
• 8

  Col. 3. c.
• 9

  Gen. 1. d.
• 10

  Luk. 17. a.
• 11

  Gal. 5. d.
• 12

  Act: 10. e 1. Tim. 2. a
• 13

  Rom. 10. d
• 14

  Rom. 16. c
• 15

  2. Tim. 3. a
• 16

  Matt. 7. c
• 17

  Amos 8. Matth. 11. c
• 18

  Psal. 77. b.
• 19

  Exo. 32. a
• 20

  Esa. 37. a
• 21

  Rom. 7. d 2. Cor. 3. Luk. 17. c