A17689:16
Of the Life or Conversation of a Christian Man
Of the life or conversation of a Christen man, a right godly treatise, written [sic] in the latin tongue, by master John Calvin, a man of right excellent learning and of no less godly conversation. Translated into English by Thomas Broke Esquire Paymaster of Dover. An[no] M. D. XLix. The first day of JanuaryOf the life or conuersation of a Christen man, a right godly treatise, wyrtten [sic] in the latin tonge, by maister Iohn Caluyne, a man of ryghte excellente learnynge and of no lesse godly conuersation. Translated into English by Thomas Broke Esquier Paymaister of Douer. An[no] M. D. XLix. The first day of Ianuary
London: printed by John Daye and, 1549London: printed by Iohn Daye and, 1549
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
[…] or largely to entreat hereof peradventure the time may here after serve. But this present work, requireth that we write a true plain doctrine, as compendiously as we can. But as philosophers have certain ends or causes of justice and honesty from whence they derive & fetch the particular properties, & the whole company of virtues: so scripture in this thing lacketh not an order, but keepeth in writing a goodly manner and way, yea much more certain then all the philosophers. Herein only is the difference, that, in so much as they were men desirous of honour, they coveted to attain to an exquisite fineness of teaching, that they might thereby boast out the excellency of their wit. But the spirit of god, because it doth teach without such ⟨image 12⟩affectation and desire, observeth not so exactly, nor so often, a con pendious way. But yet, that such ought not to be contemned or despised of us, it telleth unto us sufficiently, whiles the same scripture teacheth unto us otherwhilste the same.
〈…〉 or largly to entreate hereof peraduenture the tyme maye here after serue. But thys presente worcke, requireth that we wryte a true plaine doctrine, as cōpendiously as we can. But as philosophers haue certeyne endes or causes of iustice and honestie from whēce they deriue & fetche the particular properties, & the whole company of vertues: so scripture in this thynge lacketh not an ordre, but keepeth in writynge a goodly maner and way, yea muche more certeyne then al the philosophers. Herein onely is the difference, that, in so much as they were men desirous of honour, they coueted to atteyne to an exquisite finenes of teachynge, that they might thereby boste out the excellencie of theyr witte. But the spirite of god, because it doth teach without such ⟨image 12⟩affectation and desire, obserueth not so exactly, nor so often, a cō pēdious way. But yet, that such oughte not to be contemned or dispised of vs, it telleth vnto vs sufficiētli, whiles the same scripture teacheth vnto vs otherwhilste the same.