1634 John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Institution Of Christian Religion, Written In Latine By M. Iohn Caluine, Translated Into English According To The Authors Last Edition; With Sundry Tables To Finde The Principall Matters Intreated Of In This Booke, And Also The Declaration Of Places Of Scripture Therein Expounded: By Thomas Norton. Whereunto There Are newly Added In The Margin Of The Booke, Notes Containing In The Briefe The Substance Of The Matter Handled In Each Section.

Summary

An attractive copy of this significant work that is John Calvin’s magnum opus, considered one of the most important works to emerge from the Reformation.

Description

Woodcut title page (1634) within ornamental frame. Each of the four chapters begins within a headpiece and decorative initial. Text presented in single-column Roman font within ruled border. Outer margin contains cross-references and few notes. Includes two indexes at the rear.

Calvin explores both "knowledge of God" and "knowledge of ourselves" with profound theological insight in four books. The first book discusses God the Father; the second God the Son; the third the Holy Spirit; the fourth the Church. Calvin began his work as a catechism in 1536 and it grew to an extensive systematic theology by 1560.

Pagination

[20], 749, [159] pp. Complete.

Collation

(*)^6, A^4, B-Z^6, Aa-Zz^6, Aaa-Zzz^6, Aaaa-Gggg^6, Hhhh^4.

Binding

Attractively rebound in blind paneled black calf. Spine with five raised bands and a red gilt-lined label with the words “Calvin’s Institution” and the date “1634” lettered in gilt. Endpapers renewed.

Condition

Intermittent staining; title page frayed to fore-edge and upper corner with loss of printed outer border, otherwise good margins throughout; T with small marginal hole to fore-edge; lower marginal loss to final leaf of Tables; an attractive copy of Calvin’s most important work.

References

ESTC S107163; STC 4425.