To All Christians in France

It is a wondrous matter, right dearly beloved brethren, how all of us glory in our Baptism, and yet do not all consider with one accord what that mark imports of its own nature, namely by following the intent of him that is the author of it. For no doubt but if we did so, we should all join together in one holy consent to worship the only one God in spirit and truth, and to acknowledge Jesus Christ for our only Savior, Advocate, Master, yes and Lord, as touching the government of our souls and consciences: and we would take his only word for our wisdom, guide, and rule of our whole life, and specially of his service, without mingling of the inventions of man's brain with it, however great antiquity or countenance they may seem to have. Yes, and for the outward government and visible order of the Church, we would hold to that which our Lord Jesus Christ in whose name we were Baptized, has shown thereof to his Apostles, and by them enjoins the whole world to follow even to the last day. And certainly then should the strange confusion and divisions cease which are to be seen in Christendom, whereof those are the cause, which will not listen to God, and yield full authority to his word, which fault shall be laid to their charge at the judgment of God, unless they turn over a new leaf. The Lord and Father of mercy grant them grace so to do, according as supplication is made to him for them, in all holy assemblies where he is called upon according to his will, in the only name of Jesus Christ. That is the thing which we desire: for here the case concerns not the bringing in of some new device, after the fancy of men, neither strive we to make the victory fall upon men's sides, whatever they be, as some surmise: but that God and his word may have the upper hand against all abuses, superstitions, and lies of Satan, and [reconstructed: that] we may all together give glory to our God, confessing that both [reconstructed: we] and our fathers have most shamefully forgotten him, insomuch [reconstructed: that we] have not followed his holy Law, but have bowed aside both [reconstructed: from] the right hand and to the left. And truly whenever we read [reconstructed: his] word in a tongue that we understand, or hear it preached and [reconstructed: declared] purely: he allures us to him, to make the like acknowledgment. And he has done so much in these late years by striving with his mercy against the malice of the world, that diverse have returned into the right way, whom others yes even of all degrees do follow still anew. But yet is not that enough, unless the residue which have up to now been deaf or asleep, do think themselves to awake in good earnest, and to have ears to hear, as says Jesus Christ. Therefore we entreat and exhort them to it [reconstructed: in] God's name, that they may discharge themselves of the promise to which their Baptism does secretly bind them, as has been said. And to further them therein, besides the lively voices of the true ministers, and other books containing faithful expositions of the Scripture: we offer them here the Sermons of Master John Calvin upon the Epistle of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Ephesians, where (as we hope) they shall have matter to fare the better by, for the plainer understanding of the things, which they shall either hear preached, or read alone by themselves afterward. To make long rehearsal of things that might be alleged in commendation of the doctrine herein contained, or of the manner of teaching used by the Author, which is both simple and familiar, and yet nevertheless full of authority and force: it is not now necessary. For we are sure that such as seek God's honor and their own salvation, shall in reading them, perceive that the Author had no other meaning with him: and that shall even the malicious sort themselves be driven to confess, spite of their hearts. Therefore to conclude, right dear brethren which shall meet with this book, we pray you again, to give ear to our God and to his son our Master, who by his servant and excellent minister of his Church, declares the things which his holy Apostle had long ago preached with lively voice, and afterward compiled briefly in writing for us, and all that shall come after us to the world's end. And of whatever degree you be or have been, shrink not back, forasmuch as it is God that speaks, who has loved us so dearly, that he has not spared his own son, but has given him to death to redeem us from death, and from the vain traditions of our fathers: Come on therefore, and let us all serve our God with one accord, walking in the ways which he teaches us, and forsaking our own, (that is to say, all that disagrees with the rule of his word,) and making all his gifts to serve to his glory. And in so doing we shall be Christians both in name and deed: we shall discharge ourselves of our promise made in Baptism: we shall see good agreement in Christianity: and we shall serve for a good example to the Jews and Turks, which are yet enemies to Christendom. So be it, so be it, Amen.

Your brethren in our Lord, the causers of these Sermons to be brought to light.