A17689:29
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.
But how many be there, that when they be once pricked or stirred up, use such manner of moderation or humbleness? And there is no other remedy but that this most noisome pestilence of blind love and of love to our selves, must be plucked up, out of the bottom of our hearts, even as also by the doctrine of the scripture, it is pulled up. For, this we be taught, that the gifts, which god hath given us, we ought to remember not to be our goods, but the free gifts of god, of the which, if men be proud, they thereby utter their unthankfulness. Furthermore by the continual considering of our since, we call our selves back unto lowliness of heart. Thus there shall nothing rest in us wherefore we should swell for anger or pride, but there shall be great cause, why we should ⟨image 25⟩throw down our selves or bear our selves low. Again we be commanded, what so ever gifts of God we behold in other, so to reverence and behold those same, that we also honour them, in whom they be. For it were a part of great wickedness, to take away from them that honour, which our Lord hath vouchsafed to give them. But at their vices, we are taught to wink, not that through flattery we should nourish or maintain them: but that we should not, because of them, speak reproach of those persons, unto whom we ought to bear friendship and honour. Thus shall it come to pass that with whom so ever we have to do, we shall bear our selves not only lowly & gently: but also familiarly & friendly: even as contrariwise, unto true meekness ⟨image 26⟩thou shalt never come any other way, but if thou shalt have thy heart tempered both with the throwing down of thy self and also with the reverencing of other.
But howe manye be there, that whē they be once pricte or stirred vp, vse such maner of moderaciō or humblenes? And there is no other remedy but that this most noysome pestilence of blind loue and of loue to oure selues, muste be plucked vp, out of the bottom of oure hertes, euē as also by the doctryne of the scripture, it is puld vp. For, this we be taught, that the giftes, whiche god hath geuē vs, we ought to remembre not to be oure goods, but the fre giftes of god, of the which, if mē be proud, they therby vtter theyr vnthākfulnes. Furthermore by the continuall considerynge of oure synnes, we calle our selues backe vnto lowlines of herte. Thus there shal nothynge reste in vs wherefore we shoulde swel for anger or pride, but ther shalbe greate cause, why we shoulde