The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reverend father, M. John Calvin, compendiously…The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reuerend father, M. Iohn Caluin, compendiously…

To the reverend Father in Christ, John, by the permission of Almighty God, Bishop of London, Edward May wisheth the true felicity of this life, and the eternal happiness by the coming of Jesus Christ.

To the reuerend Father in Christ, John, by the permission of Almightie God, Bishop of London, Edward May wisheth the true felicitie of this life, and the eternall happinesse by the comming of Iesus Christ.

Perusing (Right reverend Father) the worthy soundness of godly doctrine and instruction, contained in this short, fruitful, and learned Compendium, drawn out of Calvins Institutions: I supposed with my self that my labour should not only be not evil bestowed, but also fruitfully employed in the englishing of the same, aswell for that the doing thereof might be a means, at those void times which I found out, to translate this work, to expel idleness, ⟨image 3⟩wherein homines male agere discunt, Men practise to do evil, and also to exercise and increase with the good servants, the small talent of knowledge that God in mercy hath given me; as also the same being done, that those godly disposed brethren that are not of ability to buy the whole Institutions, having this (whereunto I have added the exposition of those places which the enemies of all trueth have falsely corrupted, to maintain their errors (not of my self, but verbatim as it lieth in Calvin) may enjoy & obtain some profit thereof. And although we have much to praise God our heavenly Father for his great blessings bestowed upon us, by the worthy travel of godly learned men, in setting forth and translating diverse and learned books into our vulgar tongue, to the increasing ⟨image 3⟩of the knowledge of almighty God in them, that have not the knowledge of tongues, to their great profit, and singular comfort of all godly men, which rather wish their knowledge in Gods word, to their salvation, than their continual ignorance to their eternal damnation: yet I think that this Epitome aswell for the brevity thereof, as the pithiness of the same, will do good unto as many as thirst after the true knowledge of Gods sacred word. And albeit, all places of scripture are not there expounded, yet such places are there opened, as may satisfy any Christian man to confirm his faith by, & such light in them showed, as may easily show the way to the true meaning of many other places, not there contained. Wherefore right Honourable and Reverend Father in Christ, my