'I confess that at the outset I was put off by the fear of being thought rash and arrogant if I should attempt such an undertaking after so many excellent works. 'So wrote John Calvin (1509-1564) in the dedicatory letter of his commentary on Romans, his first printed exposition. The initital hesitation overcome, Calvin went on to produce a commentary series covering much of Scripture, one which is, in words of William Cunnignham, 'not only superior to any that preceded it, but it has continued ever since, and continues to this day, to be regarded by all competent judges, as a work of highest value.' C.H. Spurgeon concurred: 'Everything that Calvin wrote by way of exposition is priceless. His expositions are more equal in excellence than those of other men; other men rise and fall, but he is almost uniformly good.'