All four Gospels bear witness to the supernatural person and work of Jesus Christ, but only the first and third testify explicitly to his supernatural conception and birth. The accounts given in Matthew and Luke are clearly independent of each other, but both unambiguously affirm that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, through the direct action of the Holy Spirit and without the intervention of a human father. Luke's Gospel is notable for its distinctive songs, strikingly reminiscent of the Psalms. Chief among these are Mary's song, the Magnificat, Zechariah's song, the Benedictus, the Angels song, the Gloria in excelsis, and Simeon's song, the Nunc dimittis. Together, they have nourished the prayer and meditation of countless Christians, and enriched the churchs worship. They are full of prophetic hope, eager expectation, and joyful thanksgiving. God's great redemptive work is moving to its climax with the birth of the Saviour, Jesus, Son of the Most High. Luke's gospel of the incarnation was good news to all who, like the representatives of the old Israel, looked for Messiah's first advent; it is good news to all who, today, look for his second. Preached in Geneva between October 1559 and March 1560, Calvin's sermons on the nativity story are the fruit of almost twenty-five years of gospel ministry. Here we see Calvin the faithful pastor expounding the text and applying it with passion and vigour to his congregation by means of persuasion, exhortation, admonition and rebuke. Robert White's excellent translation transports the reader back to St Peter's Cathedral, Geneva, where Calvin can be heard or overheard preaching on issues of perennial importance to all Christian men and women. This French theologian and Genevan pastor is one of the most preeminent of all the 16th-century Christian reformers. After learning about Martin Luther’s teachings, Calvin passionately embraced Reformation beliefs, sharing his conversion story in his Commentary on the Psalms . Writing this book of Psalms commentary put Calvin at great risk, given that many of his fellow believers were being martyred at the stake for their beliefs. He was not daunted, however, and another of the John Calvin books is now known as Protestantism’s magnum opus: The Institutes of the Christian Religion . Additional books of note include A Guide to Christian Living , which offers clear direction to believers, and encouragement to everyone wanting to live according to the Gospel; and Truth for All Time , this book written to show French monarchs the beliefs of Protestants in the country.