First Take: "Sermons on the Beatitudes"

I just finished helping Jake unload the truck with this newest addition to our Banner of Truth books: John Calvin's, "Sermons on the Beatitudes." Of course, I had to set everything else aside and give it a quick look. I'll admit - I got hooked (at least me reading in the middle of the day is also job-related!). I know I say this a lot, but ... this book is good. OK, set aside the fact that Calvin may not have looked like the guy we hope our daughters bring home someday (remember, we're back in the 1500s). Once inside, this book quickly settles you into the pew with John Calvin at the pulpit and the Beatitudes before him. And for the next five sermons, we get to soak in and reflect upon, with him and his congregation, "the kind of life to which our Lord Jesus Christ calls us once we are in his school" and discover "where true peace of mind lies and what goals are especially worth pursuing." So far, I've only completed the introduction and two sermons, but thought I'd share with you what I knew. The list of sermon titles is below. If you want more information, click on the image that you'll find here.
Have a great weekend; my two daughters are in a cross-country race in about 45 minutes so I best be on my way.
Grace & Peace -
Steve

The Five Sermon Titles:
(1) Called and Chosen ... Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-19
(2) The Broken Blessed ... Matthew 5:1-4; Luke 6:20-21
(3) Meekness and Mercy ... Matthew 5:5-7; Luke 6:20-21a
(4) The Price of Peace ... Matthew 5:8-10; Luke 6:22-23
(5) The Rejected Recompensed ... Matthew 5:11-12; Luke 6:22-26

Calvin's "Prayer Before The Sermon":
"Let us call upon our good God and Father, beseeching him, since all fullness of wisdom and light is found in him, mercifully to enlighten us by his Holy Spirit in the true understanding of his Word, and to give us grace to receive it in true fear and humility. May we be taught by his Word to place our trust only in him and to serve and honour him as we ought, so that we may glorify his holy name in all our living and edify our neighbour by our good example, rendering to God the love and the obedience which faithful servants owe their masters, and children their parents, since it has pleased him graciously to receive us among the number of his servants and children." Amen.