That We May Embrace the Grace

Grant, Almighty God, that as you have not only of late adopted us as your children, but before we were born, and as you have been pleased to sign us as soon as we came forth from our mother's wombs with the symbol of that holy redemption, which has been obtained for us by the blood of your only begotten Son, though we have by our ingratitude renounced so great a benefit--O, grant that, being mindful of our defection and unfaithfulness, of which we are all guilty, and for which you have justly rejected us, we may now with true humility and obedience of faith embrace the grace of your gospel now again offered to us, by which you reconcile yourself to us; and grant that we may steadfastly persevere in pure faith, so as never to turn aside from the true obedience of faith, but to advance more and more in the knowledge of your mercy, that having strong and deep roots, and being firmly grounded in the confidence of sure faith, we may never fall away from the true worship of you, until you at length receive us into that eternal kingdom, which has been procured for us by the blood of your only Son. Amen.

(a prayer of John Calvin, in his Commentary on Hosea, translated into English in 1846 and updated by me into modern English)