SKU: 36419990643

Institutes of the Christian Religion: Books 1-4

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Institutes of the Christian Religion: Books 1-4Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is one of the most important and straightforward works of theology ever written, yet so few people actually read it. The Christian Heritage Series presents all four books of the Institutes in complete, unabridged, easy to read volumes. John Calvin certainly writes good theology, but he also writes with beauty and clarityand both these aspects are captured in Beveridges translation. Calvin is concerned that

Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is one of the most important and straightforward works of theology ever written, yet so few people actually read it.

The Christian Heritage Series presents all four books of the Institutes in complete, unabridged, easy-to-read volumes. John Calvin certainly writes good theology, but he also writes with beauty and clarity—and both these aspects are captured in Beveridge’s translation. Calvin is concerned that readers not be puffed up with new knowledge, rather he wants us to be drawn to the majesty and holiness of God in order to know our sin and our need for grace. Read this classic to grow closer to God.

Book 1

“What accords better and more aptly with faith than to acknowledge ourselves divested of all virtue that we may be clothed by God, devoid of all goodness that we may be filled by Him, the slaves of sin that He may give us freedom, blind that He may enlighten, lame that He may cure, and feeble that He may sustain us; to strip ourselves of all ground of glorying that He alone may shine forth glorious, and we be glorified in him?” ~From Book I of the Institutes

Look Inside the Book

Book 1 of the Institutes is about the knowledge of God the creator. As Calvin observes, the knowledge of God and the knowledge of man are inextricably intertwined, and if we are to know ourselves rightly, we must have a knowledge of God’s holiness and majesty. However, since the human mind is an idol factory, our knowledge is so tainted and dim that we live in death and ignorance unless God’s grace intervenes. Here Calvin discusses God, natural law, human sinfulness, Scripture, the Trinity, and providence.  

"Of those shelved classics warranting a dusting off, Book I of Calvin’s Institutes is among the most deserving. This is not because it offers much that is new; the treasures Calvin offers are not those to be unearthed only through possession of secret coordinates. As with so many literary gems, the trouble is not a lack of access but a dearth of appreciation for what lies hidden in plain sight, the contents more assumed than actually explored. The reader who takes the time to ponder the riches here will not be disappointed. He will find that this is not just a good old book, worth reading solely for its inherent literary value. More than this, it is a volume with critical import for today, as its pages soundly sketch the realm, made visible by divine revelation, that conditions our present situation." ~From Timothy G. Harmon’s Introduction

 

Book 2

“The Word of God leaves no half life to man, but teaches, that, in regard to life and happiness, he has utterly perished. Paul, when he speaks of our redemption, says not that the half dead are cured (Eph. 2:5, 6; 5:14) but that those who were dead are raised up.” ~From Book II of the Institutes

Look Inside the Book

Book 2 of the Institutes is about the knowledge of God the redeemer—Jesus Christ. Calvin captures the completeness of our redemption, explaining the depths of our sinfulness and the ways that Jesus Christ is present in both the old and new covenants. The law is a picture of Christ’s righteousness, and the gospel is the declaration of Christ’s redemption of us. Whether he’s unpacking the ten commandments or describing Christ as prophet, priest, and king, Calvin makes Jesus and his work on the cross the center of our theology.

“Please remember that Calvin’s goal in writing the Institutes was not to distill out of Scripture the “theology things” that we all ought to be thinking. To do so would be to attempt to replace Scripture. Rather, his goal was to give us a map so that we could run back into Scripture and better understand what we find there. And as we read book II of the Institutes, what we find is that throughout Scripture what we should always see is Christ set before us.” ~From Ben Merkle’s Introduction

Book 3

“[Our] renewal, indeed, is not accomplished in a moment, a day, or a year, but by uninterrupted, sometimes even by slow progress God abolishes the remains of carnal corruption in His elect, cleanses them from pollution, and consecrates them as His temples, restoring all their inclinations to real purity, so that during their whole lives they may practice repentance, and know that death is the only termination to this warfare.” ~From Book III of the Institutes

Look Inside the Book

Book 3 of the Institutes is about the mode of procuring the grace of Christ, or what we might call individual salvation. Calvin does not get lost in technical terminology or relegate faith to mere intellectual belief. Instead, our individual salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit and results in faith, repentance, justification, and sanctification. Whether he is arguing against Catholic errors such as Purgatory or teaching about predestination or Christian liberty, Calvin shows the beauty of the utterly free forgiveness that we have in Jesus and how He who began a good work in us will surely complete it.

“But if you have picked up on any of the caricatures of John Calvin, you may be surprised to find him describing faith and repentance, justification and election, and holiness and heaven in ways that are startlingly moving. Do not let me mislead you, Calvin was a theologian and an academic. Calvin was a stern spiritual general of the church. His work is at war with the world, the flesh, and the devil, and he does not take the battle lightly. Paragraph after paragraph consists of volley after volley in which Calvin meticulously aims and fires the Word of God at sinful hearts, lofty arguments, and arrogant corruptions in the world and the church.... And yet, through the meticulous barrage, just when you might be tempted to think him some kind of Biblical or theological machine, his words crest again with an unmistakable light and warmth.” ~From Toby Sumpter’s Introduction

 

Book 4

“For as God, regenerating us in baptism, ingrafts us into the fellowship of His Church, and makes us His by adoption, so we have said that He performs the office of a provident parent, in continually supplying the food by which He may sustain and preserve us in the life to which He has begotten us by His word. Moreover, Christ is the only food of our soul, and, therefore, our heavenly Father invites us to Him, that, refreshed by communion with Him, we may ever and anon gather new vigor until we reach the heavenly immortality.” ~From Book IV of the Institutes

Look Inside the Book

Book 4 of the Institutes is about the external helps by which God brings us in fellowship with Christ, three of the most notable being the Church, the sacraments, and the civil government. For Calvin, the Christian walk is never something an individual does in isolation, but involves pastors, elders, and deacons who preach the word, administer the sacraments, and exercise church discipline. Furthermore, God uses the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to remind us of His grace towards us, and uses the magistrate as His deacon, taking vengeance on evil-doers and rewarding the righteous.

“John Calvin was one of the eminent servants of Christ in the history of the church, and we should cultivate a demeanor of gratitude whenever we are given the opportunity to reflect on his contributions.... Returning to the teaching of the great Reformer himself will be a great protection against this kind of foolishness—the error of claiming the heritage of great men that you have almost nothing in common with. And guarding against this error may not be as daunting as you thought. As C.S. Lewis once pointed out, the great books often offer a great deal more clarity than the commentaries on them do.” ~From Douglas Wilson’s Introduction

THE CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SERIES: The authors in the Christian Heritage Series paid a high price for the words you see before you. Not all paid with blood, but each spent his life fighting for the truth. This faithful sacrifice has become a rich inheritance for the Church in our day, even though it is often neglected. The Christian Heritage Series aims to put these important theological classics on every Christian’s bookshelf in colorful, well-crafted, and affordable volumes, with introductions written by those that love the books and their heritage.

AUTHOR: John Calvin

INTRODUCTION: Tim Harmon, Ben Merkle, Toby J. Sumpter, Douglas Wilson

TRANSLATOR: Henry Beveridge

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Douglas Wilson

PAGE COUNT: 400, 474, 736, 782

SIZE: 5.5x8.5"

BINDING: Paperback

ISBN-10: 1952410541, 195241055X, 1952410568, 1952410576

ISBN-13: 978-1952410543, 978-1952410550, 978-1952410567, 978-1952410574

PUB. DATE: October 27, 2020 (first published in 1559)

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Jacobson
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Adorable and Well‑Made Outfit for Special Events
Color: Light Blue, Size: 10, Color: Light Blue, Size: 10
Got this suit set for my son and absolutely love it. It comes with everything he needs to look sharp, and I really appreciate that it includes both a tie and a bow tie so we can switch up the style depending on the occasion. The quality is impressive for the price — the fabric feels light and comfortable, and the whole outfit has a polished look without being stiff or uncomfortable. The fit was spot on, and the adjustable waistband is a huge help for getting it just right. My son looked great in it, and it’s definitely something he can wear for more than one event. The little details on the jacket and pants give it a classic, dressed‑up feel that works for weddings, holidays, or any special moment. Overall, it’s a stylish, practical set that makes getting him ready so much easier. Really happy with this purchase.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2026
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Crystal
Boise, US
★★★★★ 4
Boys linen fabric suit
Color: Light Green, Size: 16
Boys suit set in a lighter green color. This suit is made with good proportions and seems to fit well. The sizing seems slightly big so maybe size down one size. The fabric does wrinkle easily so be aware that sitting and folding the suit may cause wrinkling. Otherwise it is a very nice suit for a formal occasion. It comes in many good colors.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
A
Atherney Family Farm
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice elegant suit for any occasion.
Color: Light Blue, Size: 12, Color: Light Blue, Size: 12
The suit set is very nice, the fabric material is durable and soft. Overall stitching is tight with nice surging of the hems and great construction on the shoulders. Buttons and button wholes are well done. I'm going to iron in the creases on the front of the pants because they weren't folded properly for shipping. The material does hold on to wrinkles so don't be afraid of your iron to get a super sharp look. The color is a soft baby blue that stands out in a crowd of black suits. With the option of an elastic tie or clip on bowtie this is everything you need to make him look presentable for a variety of occasions. My only complaint about this suit kit is the dress shirt is stiff and thin. I found some loose threads that I don't trust to not get played with. I'll probably trade it out for something with a little more cotton. As far as cost goes mid range, but definitely worth the cost. I might consider something with a vest if it's a super formal event, but I'm very happy with how this suit comes together.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2026
M
Martin V.
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Modern luxury with summer fabric that performs above its price!
Color: Beige, Size: 14, Color: Beige, Size: 14
Wow! My son wore it for Easter Sunday and this suit fits the bill! The linen material is spot on--not too heavy and not too light especially since the weather is warming up now. The jacket is quality made--the design is modern executive, the stitches are strong no flaws to note. The pants are tad bit longer but that's okay, build quality is also great. The white shirt is decent and matches well with the rest of the set. The bow tie and tie itself is a great complimentary to the set, though optional to wear. The whole set just has that quality you would really look for in the price range you would want to pay. Overall, best value for for the, wear right outside the bag, maybe a light ironing otherwise it's perfect! I highly recommend it, no complaints here very happy with this suit!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2026
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Ariel B.
New York, US
★★★★★ 4
Heavy linen character, but a beautifully tailored suit!
Color: Beige, Size: 4, Color: Beige, Size: 4
This is a really nice linen suit! The jacket is beautifully made and well-tailored, with a fun speckled texture that has lots of pretty color variation (we ordered the beige). When I placed it side by side with a similar linen suit from another brand, the difference in the linen texture was really noticeable — this had a much stronger linen character that stands out! It has three useful pockets on the outside of the jacket, which is great for little hands. The only downside is that one of the inside pockets is just for show (faux), which was a bit surprising and somewhat disappointing for my little guy. The pants have pockets too, but they aren’t very deep — perfect for small treasures, but not much more. The pants are made from a lighter, thinner single-layer linen compared to the fully lined, double-layer jacket, which makes sense for comfort and easy movement. The pants didn’t come with a front crease ironed in, so you’ll want to press one yourself. The linen did pick up some creases from being folded in the package, but it doesn’t seem quite as wrinkly as some other linen fabrics I’ve tried. Still, like most linen clothes, especially for boys, the pants will need occasional ironing to keep them looking neat and crisp, especially after a day of play and general wear. The structured, lined jacket stays looking smoother and more put-together with less effort. It also came with a bow tie, a neck tie, and a tuxedo-style white shirt as extras. The ties aren’t great quality — they’d work fine for quick photos but probably won’t hold up to much actual wear. The formal white shirt feels a bit funny paired with the casual linen suit, but I don’t mind at all. We already have white shirts that we prefer, so we’ll use those instead. For us, the extras are really just bonus items we won’t plan on using. Overall, it’s a handsome little suit that’s perfect for special occasions like weddings, family photos, or holiday events. My kid looked adorable in it! The stronger linen texture on the jacket gives it a premium feel that I really like. Just be ready for a bit of extra care with the pants to keep everything sharp.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026

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