1580 John Calvin Sermons Upon Job

Printed: London

Measures: 15 x 10.5 x 2.5

John Calvin (1509-1564) was originally trained as a humanist lawyer. He broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530. After religious tensions erupted in widespread deadly violence against Protestant Christians in France, Calvin fled to Basel, Switzerland, where in 1536. Calvin was recruited by Frenchman William Farel to join the Reformation in Geneva, where he regularly preached sermons throughout the week. However, the governing council of the city resisted the implementation of their ideas, and both men were expelled. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and in 1541 he was invited back to lead the church of the city. During this period, Michael Servetus, a Spaniard regarded by both Roman Catholics and Protestants as having a heretical view of the Trinity, arrived in Geneva. He was denounced by Calvin and burned at the stake for heresy by the city council. After the death of Servetus, Calvin was acclaimed a defender of Christianity. Following an influx of supportive refugees and new elections to the city council, Calvin's opponents were forced out. Calvin spent his final years promoting the Reformation both in Geneva and throughout Europe.

Calvin developed his theology in his Biblical Commentaries as well as his Sermons and Treatises. The book featured is an early example of one of his Books of Sermons upon the Book of Job. All of Calvin's' work has become very rare and sought after.