6. A Prayer made at 1st Assembly of Congregation

A Prayer Made at the First Assembly of the Congregation, when the Confession of Our Faith, and Whole Orders of the Church, Were There Read and Approved

O Lord God Almighty, and Father most merciful, there is none like Thee in heaven nor in earth,(1 Kings 8:23) who workest all things for the glory of thy name and the comfort of thine elect. Thou didst once make man ruler over all thy creatures, and placed him in the garden of all pleasures; (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:8-17) but how soon, alas, did he in his felicity forget Thy goodness? (Genesis 3:1-24) Thy people Israel, also, in their wealth did evermore run astray, (Exodus 32:1-35) abusing thy manifold mercies; like as all flesh continually rageth when it hath gotten liberty and external prosperity. But such is thy wisdom adjoined to Thy mercies, dear Father, that Thou seekest all means possible to bring Thy children to the sure sense and lively feeling of Thy fatherly favour. (Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 18:32[?]) And therefore when prosperity will not serve, then sendest Thou adversity, graciously correcting all Thy children whom Thou receivest into Thy household. (Hebrews 12:6, Proverbs 3:11-12[?]) Wherefore we, wretched and miserable sinners, render unto Thee most humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased Thee to call us home to Thy fold by Thy fatherly correction at this present [time], whereas in our prosperity and liberty we did neglect Thy graces offered unto us. For the which negligence, and many other grievous sins whereof we now accuse ourselves before Thee, Thou mightest most justly have given us up to reprobate minds and induration of our hearts, (Romans 1:28) as Thou hast done others. But such is thy goodness, O Lord, that Thou seemest to forget all our offences, (Isaiah 43:25 [?]) and hast called us of Thy good pleasure from all idolatries into this city [Geneva] most Christianly reformed, to profess Thy name, and to suffer some cross amongst Thy people for Thy truth and gospel’s sake; (Matthew 5:11) and so to be Thy witnesses with Thy prophets and apostles, (Luke 24:44-48, Acts 1:8) yea, with Thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Head, to whom Thou dost begin here to fashion us like, that in His glory we may also be like Him when He shall appear. (1 John 3:2) O Lord God, what are we upon whom thou shouldest show this great mercy? (Psalms 8:4) O most loving Lord, forgive us our unthankfulness, and all our sins for Jesus Christ’s sake. O heavenly Father, increase Thy Holy Spirit in us; to teach our hearts to cry Abba, dear Father! (Galatians 4:6) to assure us of our eternal election in Christ; to reveal Thy will more and more towards us; to confirm us so in Thy truth, that we may live and die therein; and that by the power of the same Spirit, we may boldly give an account of our faith to all men with humility and meekness, that whereas they backbite and slander us as evil doers, they may be ashamed and once stop their mouths, seeing our good conversation in Christ Jesus, (1 Peter 3:15-16) for whose sake we beseech Thee, O Lord God, to guide, govern, and prosper this our enterprise in assembling our brethren to praise Thy holy name; and not only to be here present with us Thy children according to Thy promise, (Matthew 18:20) but also mercifully to assist Thy like persecuted people, our brethren, gathered in all other places, that they and we, consenting together in one spirit and truth, (Romans 15:5-6) may (all worldly respects set apart) seek only Thy honour and glory in all our and their assemblies. So be it.