John Calvin 
Institutes of the Christian Religion 

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The earliest of Calvin’s writings – a Commentary on Seneca’s Two Books, De Clementia – was published at Paris in 1532, before he had completed his twenty-third year. In this Commentary there is nothing to indicate that its author had begun, or was ever destined, to be a distinguished Reformer. It is dedicated to the Abbot of St Eloy of Noyon, who is addressed as a most wise and holy Prelate, and complimented not for the faithful discharge of his sacred functions, but for learning and taste; the highest motive for publishing the work is plainly avowed to be the acquisition of literary fame: and throughout, though there are passages in Seneca’s text which might have furnished ground for serious reflection, the subject of religion is scarcely once alluded to – certainly not alluded to in such a way as could lead any one to infer that the author had made his final choice, and was resolutely prepared to make every sacrifice for the furtherance of the Gospel.<br><br>The probability is, that at the period when Calvin wrote this Commentary, he had not embraced the Reformed Faith.