Dedication
JOHN CALVIN · SERMONS ON THE HISTORY OF MELCHIZEDEK
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE
Sir Robert Cecil Knight, one of her Majesty's most honorable privy Council.
AS it has been for the most part (right Honorable) a very commendable and orderly course among the learned, as well divine as profane writers, to publish their works to be read and heard of the common people, either in their own vulgar tongue for their benefit, or else in Hebrew, Greek, or Latin, for the learneder sort: so has been also their manner to dedicate them unto some honorable or worshipful personages, for the patronizing of those their pains and travels: which their doings, have at this present made me presume upon your honorable courtesy, to dedicate this my travail of these Sermons of Master John Calvin, translated by me out of French into English, for the benefit of my countrymen, that understand not the same language. Most humbly beseeching you,
Sir, to accept hereof, as a token of my poor goodwill towards you, not in respect of my travail which is but rude and of no worth, but in regard of the worthiness of the matter, and of the grave and reverend handling thereof by mine Author. The Lord of Lords increase all honorable and godly virtues in you (that you may be as excellent a Magistrate in this commonwealth as your honorable and most wise father has of long time been and still is), with prosperity in this life, to his divine pleasure, and after the course of this time ended, perpetual joy and felicity.
Your Honors at commandment, Thomas Stocker.