Title Page and Preface
CALVIN:
HIS
LIFE AND TIMHES.
BY
THOMAS LAWSON.
ILLUSTRATED.
FOURTH EDITION.
Lonvon: F. Kirsy, 17, Bouverie Street, B.C.
BricHron: A. M. Roprnson anv Son, 39, Duke Street.
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ]
BRIGHTON: Printep By A. M, RoBINSoN aND Son, 37, 38 anp 39, DuKE Street.
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.
Her Majesty Queen Victoria was graciously pleased to accept a copy of the First Edition of this work and to order the following letter of thanks to be sent :—
“ Osborne, “ January 13th, 1885,
“Srr,—I am commanded by the Queen to thank you for the copy of your work, ‘ The Illustrated Life of John Calvin,’ which you have presented to the Queen.
“J have the honour to be, “ Sir, “Your obedient servant, “Henry F, Ponsonsy.
“Mr. Thomas Lawson.”
The former editions of this work having found acceptance with the public, and being now out of print, it was thought that another and much cheaper edition, in an attractive form, might be found suitable as a Sunday ‘School reward. The present edition is unabridged, excepting that a few of the long hymns have been. shortened, while some of the illustrations have been enlarged.
In perpetuating the memory of the worthy dead, the writer seeks to arouse the living to action. He does not set up the creature as an object of worship, nor his bones as relics for veneration. But following the example given in Hebrews xi., he seeks by the deeds of the dead to stimulate the faithful to emulate their self-denying zeal. Next to Christ, Calvin was the greatest Reformer the world has ever known. This fact may account for the calumny heaped upon him by the Papacy. Christ will, however, vindicate the characters of His saints in that day when ‘the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Fathor.”
May the Spirit of the Lord graciously honour this feeble attempt to exalt the riches of Divine grace, and to Jehovah Triune be all the praise.
T. Lawson,
PREFACE.
In producing the following chapters, the object of the author has been to supply, in an attractive form, as much reliable information upon the life and labours of this remarkable man as possible.
The principles and practices of the Papacy, in which the Reformer was trained, have been, in all fairness and charity, contrasted with the doctrine and grace of Christ, to which he was converted.;
Many admirable works, and some much more voluminous than the present, have since John Calvin’s day appeared upon his life and times. But it is to be regretted that some of his biographers have, through natural aversion to his doctrine, formed harsh judgments of his motives. This, however, is not surprising, for man’s dignified notions of the freedom of his own will, are so averse to the unconditional predestination of elect sinners to everlasting life, that although this truth shines as clearly in the Bible as the sun in the firmament, he is found constantly opposing it, and yet in his blindness he thinks he is doing God service.
While giving a faithful record of this remarkable Reformer, great care has been taken in the following pages to avoid ascribing undue honour to the creature. -To glorify the God of grace, who delivered John Calvin from the power of darkness, translated him into the kingdom of His dear Son, and made him an able, faithful minister of Christ, has been the sincere desire of the writer.
Taos. Lawson. Brighton, Calvin: Ibis Life and Times.