And I shall pray unto Almighty God for his prosperous increasing in virtue, wisedom, and humanity, that he may be equal with the most renowned of all his noble progenitors; and so to live in this present life that after this transitory life he and we all may come to everlasting life in Heaven.

Amen.
DEDICATION OF THE INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION BY JOHN CALVIN (1536)[A] To His Most Christian Majesty, FRANCIS, King of the French, and his Sovereign, John Calvin wisheth peace and salvation in Christ.
When I began this work, Sire, nothing was further from my thoughts than writing a book which would afterwards be presented to your Majesty.

My intention was only to lay down some elementary principles, by which inquirers on the subject of religion might be instructed in the nature of true piety.

And this labour I undertook chiefly for my countrymen, the French, of whom I apprehended multitudes to be hungering and thirsting after Christ, but saw very few possessing any real knowledge of him.

That this was my design, the book itself proves by its simple method and unadorned composition.