INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION

John Calvin

OF PRAYER

Translated by Henry Beveridge

1845

BOOK III.

CHAPTER XX.

OF PRAYER — A PERPETUAL EXERCISE OF FAITH. THE DAILY BENEFITS DERIVED FROM IT.

The principal divisions of this chapter are, —

I. Connection of the subject of prayer with the previous chapters. The nature of prayer, and its necessity as a Christian exercise, sec. 1, 2.

II. To whom prayer is to be offered. Refutation of an objection which is too apt to present itself to the mind, sec. 3.

III. Rules to be observed in prayer, sec. 4–16.

IV. Through whom prayer is to be made, sec. 17–19.

V. Refutation of an error as to the doctrine of our Mediator and Intercessor, with answers to the leading arguments urged in support of the intercession of saints, sec. 20–27.

VI. The nature of prayer, and some of its accidents, sec. 28–33.

VII. A perfect form of invocation, or an exposition of the Lord's Prayer, sec. 34–50.

VIII. Some rules to be observed with regard to prayer, as time, perseverance, the feeling of the mind, and the assurance of faith, sec. 50–52.