Institutes of Christian religion - Calvin - II - Epistles to the reader & 'Method and arrangement'

Required reading
Institutes of Christian religion by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the three epistles to the readers and the section entitled 'Method and arrangement'.

My summary
Last week we read what was essentially an epistle to a particular reader, the King of France. 

This week we read a further three epistles to the readers which were prefixed to:
(i) the second edition;
(ii) the French edition;
(iii) the final edition.

Pretty much, each of these epistles emphasises the value of the work for students and that the publication of the Institutes saves Calvin from lengthy doctrinal discussions in his commentaries.

But today we also read an overview of how the work is arranged.  Thus we learn that the Institutes is divided into four parts, dealing with:
(i) God the Father;
(ii) the Son;
(iii) the Holy Spirit;
(iv) the church.

What grabbed me
I appreciated Calvin's comment on the need for guidance when reading the Scriptures: 'Although the Holy Scriptures contain a perfect doctrine, to which nothing can be added—our Lord having been pleased therein to unfold the infinite treasures of his wisdom—still every person, not intimately acquainted with them, stands in need of some guidance and direction, as to what he ought to look for in them, that he may not wander up and down, but pursue a certain path, and so attain the end to which the Holy Spirit invites him. '

If we are honest we must admit that God has not only given us his Scriptures, he has also given us other Christians to help us understand them.  For which we should be eternally grateful.

Next week's reading
Read Chapters 1 to 4 of Book 1.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.