The father of modern reformed theology, Calvin was born in 1509, and after Martin Luther was a premiere leader in the Protestant movement. Quoting Charles Spurgeon: "It would not be possible for me too earnestly to press upon you the importance of reading the expositions of that prince among men, John Calvin..." Quoting Arminius: "I affirm that he excels beyond comparison in the interpretation of Scripture, and that his commentaries ought to be more highly valued than all that is handed down to us by the Library of the Fathers; so that I acknowledge him to have possessed above most others, or rather above all other men, what may be called an eminent gift of prophecy" [from Spurgeon's "Commenting and Commentaries", 1876].