Grant, Almighty God, that as you have once adopted us, and continue to confirm your favor by calling us unceasingly to yourself, and not only severely chastise us, but also gently and paternally invite us to yourself and exhort us at the same time to repentance--O, grant that we may not be so hardened as to resist your goodness, nor abuse your incredible forbearance, but submit ourselves in obedience to you; that whenever you may severely chastise us, we may bear your corrections with genuine submission of faith, and not continue untameable and obstinate to the last, but return to you, the only fountain of life and salvation, that as you have once begun in us a good work, so you may perfect it until the day of our Lord, amen. (a prayer of John Calvin, in his Commentary on Hosea, translated into English in 1846 and updated by me into modern English)
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