Rouland Hall to the Reader

There are three causes especially that move me to print these sermons of Master John Calvin, the faithful servant of God and the apostle of our time. The first is the worthiness of the matter set forth in these sermons. The other is the plainness and simplicity that this great cleric uses in all his sermons to the people. The third is the reverent handling of the Scriptures, without taunts, scoffs, or jests, or any trifling tales, whereby our English nation may see and judge what power the word of God has of itself, when it is most naked and bare and void of that painted sheath that men would put upon it.

The matter is meet for all men to know and stands in these four points. First, there is a general admonition to flee idolatry. Secondly, an exhortation to follow Christ in suffering persecution and bearing the cross. Thirdly, the liberty to serve God, and the commodity to live in the church of God is commended. Fourthly, with how great pains and care this liberty to worship God purely in some Christian congregation ought to be sought for and desired of all Christians is described. And for a conclusion, there is added the exposition of the 87th Psalm, which teaches that the church of God, though it seems miserable in this world, yet does it excel all the kingdoms of the earth because God loves it, governs it, establishes it, multiplies it, and takes the count and number of his elect people out of it.

Concerning the second point. The simplicity is such as our Saviour Christ and his apostles used in their preaching, of which Saint Paul speaks to the Corinthians, saying that he came not with excellency of words or of man's wisdom to show unto them the testimony of God, lest the cross of Christ and the power of God working thereby should be of none effect, while men should attribute that to eloquence which only is wrought by the Spirit of God in the hearts of the faithful.

For the third: he observes the precept of Saint Peter. If any man speaks, let him speak as the words of God. So that all his sermons seem nothing else but the sweet liquor of the Scriptures and lively word of God set forth before our eyes in crystalline vessels to entice us to behold them and to provoke us to taste and to smell of these liquors of life which he broaches unto us of that abundance which God has given unto him in these our times. God grant us grace thankfully to receive God's good gifts in this and all other things offered unto us. So be it.