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FOR PUBLICATION OF TRANSLATIONS OF THE WORKS OF JOHN CALVIN.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, ONE POUND, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE ON 1ST JANUARY,

FOUR VOLUMES: CIRCULATED IN TWO HALF-YEARLY ISSUES.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE OF THE WHOLE SERIES, £13.

TO BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 1855.

Acting and Editorial Secretary, Robert Pitcairn, F.S.A. Scot. Calvin Office, 9, Northumberland Street, Edinburgh.

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TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN, AND COLLATED WITH
THE FRENCH EDITION,

BY HENRY BEVERIDGE, ESQ.

PROFESSOR THOLUCK'S DISSERTATION:

AND

OPINIONS AND TESTIMONIES

OF FOREIGN AND BRITISH DIVINES AS TO THE
VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF

CALVIN'S WRITING S.

EDINBURGH:

PRINTED FOR THE CALVIN TRANSLATION SOCIETY.

M.DCCC.LIV

"I AFFIRM THAT HE (CALVIN) EXCELS BEYOND COMPARISON IN THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE, AND THAT HIS COMMENTARIES OUGHT TO BE MORE HIGHLY VALUED THAN ALL THAT IS HANDED DOWN TO US BY THE LIBRARY OF THE FATHERS."-Arminius.

"THAT INCOMPARABLE CALVIN, TO WHOM MAINLY, AND NEXT TO GOD, THE CHURCH OWES ITS REFORMATION, NOT ONLY IN FRANCE, BUT IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF EUROPE.”—Amyraut.

[Entered at Stationers' Hall.]

"CALVIN'S COMMENTARIES REMAIN, AFTER THREE CENTURIES, UNPARALLELED FOR FORCE OF MIND, JUSTNESS OF EXPOSITION, AND PRACTICAL VIEWS OF CHRISTIANITY."-Bishop of Calcutta, (Dr. Wilson.)

"CALVIN'S WORKS CONTAIN NEARLY A COMPLETE COMMENTARY OF THE WHOLE BIBLE, AND THAT OF INESTIMABLE VALUE TO EVERY MINISTER. A MINISTER WITHOUT THIS IS WITHOUT ONE OF THE BEST COMMENTARIES ON THE SCRIPTURES, AND A VALUABLE BODY OF DIVINITY."-Rev. E. Bickersteth.

EDINBURGHI: PRINTED BY T. CONSTABLE, PRINTER TO HER MAJESTY.

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

THE COMMENTARY ON JOSHUA was the last literary labour of its venerable Author. When he engaged in it, his constitution, which had never been strong, was completely worn out by excessive exertion, and almost every line of it must have been dictated to his amanuensis during momentary intervals of relief from severe bodily pain. On this point we possess authentic documents which leave no room for doubt.

In a letter dated 30th November 1563, not quite six months before his death, after alluding to the difficulty he felt in continuing his studies, while both mind and body were exhausted by sickness, he states that he had undertaken a Commentary on Joshua, in compliance with the wishes of his friends, but had not then been able to advance beyond the third Chapter, though he had endeavoured to be as brief as possible.

Little more than two months after this letter was written, on 6th February 1564, he made his appearance in the pulpit for the last time; and on 10th March following, the complication of diseases which too plainly indicated that his earthly career was about to close, had become so alarming as to cause an entry in the Register of Geneva in the following terms :-" Arrêté que chacun prie Dieu pour la santé de M. CALVIN, qui est indisposé depuis longtemps, et même en danger de mort:"-" Decreed that every one pray to God for the health of MR. CALVIN, who has been indisposed for a long time, and even in danger of death."

Such are the circumstances in which this Commentary was composed, and it is impossible, in reflecting on them,

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