The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Title page – To the reader
THE INSTITVTION OF Christian Religion, vvrytten in Latine by maister Ihon Caluin, and translated into Englysh according to the authors last edition. Seen and allowed according to the order appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions.
Imprinted at London by Reinolde Vvolfe & Richarde Harison. Anno. 1561.
Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.
The Printers to the Reders.
WHeras some men hauehave thought and reported it to be a fault and negligence in vsus for that we hauehave so long kept backe from you this boke being so profitable a woorke for you, namely sithe maister Iohn Dawes had translated it and deliuered it into our handes more than a tweluemoneth past: you shall vnderstande for our excuse in that behalfe, that we could not wel emprinte it soner. For we hauehave ben by diuerse necessarie causes constrayned with our earnest entreatance to procure an other frende of oures to translate it whole agayn. This translation, we trust, you shal well allow. For it hath not only ben faythfully done by the translater himself, but also hath ben wholly perused by such men, whoes iugement and credit al the godly learned in Englande well knowe & esteme. But sithe it is now come foorth, we pray you accept it, and vse it. If any faultes hauehave passed vsus by ouersight, we beseche you let vsus hauehave your patience, as you hauehave had our diligence.
Ihon Caluin to the Reader.
AT the first setting out of this worke, because I did not loke for that successe, which the Lord of his vnmeasurable goodnesse hath geuen, I had (as men vse to do in small workes) for the more parte lightly passed it ouer. But when I vnderstode that it was receiued with that fauor of all the godly, which I neuer durst hauehave desired, muche lesse hauehave hoped for: as I verily felt in my hart that much more was geuen to me than I had deserued, so I thought it should be a great vnthankfulnesse if I should not at the least after my sclender abilite endeuor to answere so fauourable affections towarde me, and which of themselues prouoked my diligēce. And this I attempted not only in the seconde setting fourth of it: but how oft sins that time the worke hath ben emprinted, so oft it hath ben enriched with some encreasce. But although I did not then repent me of the labor that I had employed: yet I neuer helde my selfe contented til it was disposed into that order which is now set before you. Now I trust I hauehave geuen you that whiche may be allowed by all your iugemētes. Truely with how great endeuor I hauehave applied my selfe to the doing of this seruice to the Chirche of God, I maye bring fourth for an euident witnesse, that this last winter, when I thought that the feuer Quartaue had summoned me to death, how much more the sickenesse enforced vponupon me, so much lesse I spared myselfe, til I mighte leaue this boke to ouerliue me, which might make some part of thankfull recompense to so gentle prouoking of the godly. I had rather in dede it had ben done soner: but it is sone enough if well enough. And I shall then thinke that it is come abrode in good season, when I shal perceiue that it hath brought yet more plē tiful frute than it hath done heretofore to the Chirch of God. This is my only desire. And truely ful ill it were with me, if I did not, holding my selfe contented with the allowance of God alone, despise the iugementes of men, whether they be the foolishe and frowarde iugementes of the vnskilful, or the wrongfull and malicious of the wicked. For although God hath throughly settled my minde to the endeuor bothe of enlarging his kingdome, and of helping the common profit: and though I am clere in myne owne conscience, and hauehave himselfe & the Angels to witnesse with me, that sins I toke vponupon me the office of a teacher in the Chirch, I hauehave tēded to none other purpose but that I might profit the Chirch in mayntayning the pure doctrine of godlynesse: yet I thinke there is no man, that hath ben snatched at, bitten, & torne in sonder with moe sclaūders thā I.Vuhē my epistle was now in printing, I was certainly enformed that at Augsburgh where the assemblie of the states of the Empire was holdē, there was a rumor sprede abrode of my reuolting to the Papacie, and the same was more gredely receiued in the courtes of Princes than was mete. This forsoothe is their thankfulnesse who are not ignorant of many trialls had of my stedfastnesse, which trialls as they shake of so fowle a sclander, so they should with al indifferent and gentle iudges hauehave defended me from it. But the Deuell with his whole route is deceiued if in oppressing me with filthy lies, he thinke that by his vniust dealing I shalbe either the more discouraged or made the lesse diligent: because I trust that the Lorde of his vnmeasurable goodnesse wil graunt me that I may with euē sufferāce cōtinue in the course of his holy calling. Vvhereof I geue to the godly reders a new profe in this setting fourth of this boke. Nowe in this trauail this was my purpose so to prepare and furnish them that be studious of holy Diuinitie to the reding of the worde of God, that they may bothe hauehave an easy entrie into it, and goe forwarde in it without stombling: for I thinke that I hauehave in all pointes so knitt vp together the summe of religion, and disposed the same in suche order, that whosoeuer shal wel hauehave it in minde, it shal not be hard for him to determine both what he ought chefely to seke in the Scripture, and to what marke to apply whatsoeuer is conteined in it. Therefore, this as it were a way being ones made plaine, if I shal hereafter set fourth any expositiōs of Scripture, because I shal not nede to enter into long disputations of articles of doctrine, and to wander out into common places: I wil alway knitt them vp shortly. By this meane the Godly reder shalbe eased of great peine▪ and tediousnesse, so that he come furnished aforehand with the knowlege of this present worke as with a necessarie instrumente. But because the entente of this purpose, doth clerely as in mirrors appeare inso many commentaries of mine, I had rather to declare in dede what it is, than to set it out in wordes. Farewel frendly Reader, and if thou receiue any frute of my labors, helpe me with thy praiers to God our Father.
At Geneua, the first day of August in the yere. 1559.
Augustine in his vii. Epistle.
I professe my selfe to be one of the number of them, which write in profiting, and profit in writing.