THE institution of Christian religion written by John Calvin seemeth to me to challenge to it self by good right (right worshipful) that which being uttered by men most wise and of singular experience, is common almost in every mans mouth, that good things must be repeated again and again. For seeing that in things necessary and profitable the same things are spoken again & again: or things ten times repeated do please, neither is that spoken & repeated too oft, which is never sufficiently learned, undoubtly all those which are studious of sound divinity, do acknowledge long ago that the commodities of this writing are diverse & manifold, not only to learn but also to teach: & not only to the sowing, watering & new digging, but also to gather in the fruit of the filled of the Church. And for these causes, when at such times as the harvest began to wax white in France in times past, I was called back from the course of physic which I had already ended, addressing my self to the practise thereof, unto the entrance of divinity, and to take upon me the ministry, I made choice of that work especially, next to the holy Bible, to be read & remembered by me. And ⟨image 4⟩as those which go into a garden bedecked with infinite variety of flowers, are wont to make a nosegay of all those which either their sight or smell shall most allow, that it may resemble and represent unto them the garden after they become out of it. So I feeling in that pleasant garden of divinity, wonderful smells of heavenly things, gathering out of every section of the chapters, as from the knots and borders of paradise such things as did best like me, have framed this Abridgement, that it might never suffer so great pleasure to depart from mine eyes, mind, and remembrance. And seeing there be always slaves of Satan ready, whereby he goeth about to corrupt the trueth with falsehood, and so consequently to thrust her out of her place, & in her seat to set lying whose Father he is, I have set down most short answers, which are set against the objections of the adversary, whereby the Christian champion may know that the darts which the enemies of christians do shake & bend against the most strong fortress of the truth it self are but blunt and brittle:
THE institution of Christian religiō written by Iohn Caluin seemeth to me to chalenge to it selfe by good right (right worshipfull) that which being vttered by men most wise and of singular experience, is common almost in euery mans mouth, that good things must be repeated againe and againe. For seing that in things necessarie and profitable the same things are spoken againe & againe: or things ten times repeated do please, neither is that spoken & repeated too oft, which is neuer sufficientlie learned, vndoubtly all those which are studious of sound diuinitie, doe acknowledge long ago that the commodities of this writing are diuerse & manifold, not onlie to learne but also to teach: & not only to the sowing, watering & new digging, but also to gather in the fruit of the fild of the Church. And for these causes, when at such times as the haruest began to waxe white in France in times past, I was called backe from the course of phisicke which I had alredie ended, addressing my self to the practise thereof, vnto the entrance of diuinity, and to take vpon me the ministerie, I made choice of that worke especialy, next to the holy Bible, to be read & remembred by me. And ⟨image 4⟩as those which go into a garden bedect with infinit varietie of floures, are wont to make a nosegay of all those which either their sight or smell shall most allowe, that it may resemble and represent vnto thē the garden after they become out of it. So I feeling in that pleasant garden of diuinitie, wōderfull smels of heauenlie thinges, gathering out of euery section of the chapters, as from the knottes and borders of paradise such things as did best like me, haue framed this Abridgement, that it might neuer suffer so great pleasure to depart from mine eyes, minde, and remēbrance. And seing there be alwayes slaues of Sathan readie, whereby he goeth about to corrupt the trueth with falshood, and so consequentlie to thrust her out of her place, & in her seat to set lying whose Father he is, I haue set downe most short answeres, which are set against the obiections of the aduersarie, wherby the Christian champion may know that the dartes which the enemies of christians do shake & bend against the most strōg fortresse of the truth it selfe are but blunt and britle:
