[Foreword] In 1969, Ford Lewis Battles--a name that has by now rightly become virtually synonymous with the leading, modern edition of John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion--set his fertile mind to explaining not only the systematic theology of the great Genevan Reformer but also the underlying piety that continually sparked the engine of that systematic theology

[Daughter's Preface] It was with a great sense of reassurance of God's providential hand that I received word of the intention to republish this work in its entirety, musical settings included.

[Preface to the First Edition] The present collection of texts was originally made primarily to acquaint Roman Catholic students with the spiritual teaching of John Calvin (1509-1564), the Reformer of the Swiss city of Geneva and the chief architect of the Reformed tradition of Protestantism.

[Introduction] In his first Catechism (published in French in 1537 and in Latin in 1538), John Calvin defined the untranslatable word pietas, which for him was the short-hand symbol for his whole understanding and practice of Christian faith and life:

True piety does not consist in a fear which willingly indeed flees God's judgment, but since it cannot escape is terrified. True piety consists rather in a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears ...

It is hard to express in words
What varied and shining riches
This treasure contains:
Whatever I am about to say
I know will fall far short
Of the worth of the Book of Psalms.