The Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536) is widely considered a seminal work of Protestant theology and written by John Calvin.  This work covers a broad range of topics including church doctrine and sacraments; justification by faith; and Christian liberty.  It is also an instrument of criticism pertinent to extra-Biblical teachings that were to be found in the Roman Catholic teachings contemporary with Calvin’s life.

The systematic examination offered here is a great reference source for the doctrine of the Reformed churches.  This is commonly known as Calvinism.  As such this classic is seeing as being on the same level as Origen’s On First Principles, Augustine’s The City of God, Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologica and Schleiermacher’s The Christian Faith.

The dedication to the Institutes of the Christian Religion can be read here:

http://www.bartleby.com/39/10.html

Or,  if you prefer listen to this as part of the audiobook format here: