A17689:39
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.
A great many of diseases on every side assault us, otherwhilest rageth the pestilence, otherwhilest with the calamity of war we be cruelly vexed, some time the frost or hail, the hope of the year being put away, bringeth in barrenness, which driveth us to penury, our wife, parents, children, and neighbours, be taken away by death, our house is destroyed ⟨image 39⟩by fire. These be the things, at the chancing whereof men wish they had broken their necks, they cry out alas that ever they were borne, they bid avengeaunce upon all place and time, or cry out harrow, yea they brawl with God and curse him, they are eloquent in uttering blasphemies, they lay to his charge both unrighteousness, & cruelty. But the faithful man, in these things also, must behold the mercy and very fatherly love of God. Therefore, if he see his own house left alone, all his neighbours being taken away, yet then he shall not cease to praise the Lord: but rather shall turn him self to this thought: for all this the grace or mercy of our Lord, which dwelleth in my house, shall not leave it desolate, or if his corn, ⟨image 39⟩being blasted with lightening, or destroyed with cold, or beaten down with hail, he see famine to be at hand: yet for all that, he shall not be discomforted in his heart, nor shall murmur against God: but in this sure trust shall stand fast, thinking: we yet be in the Lords keeping, and be sheep bred up in his fold, he therefore will minister unto us food, yea in most greatest barrenness. Or if he shall be visited with sickness, he then shall not be so overcome through the grievousness of his sorrow, that he should break forth into impatientnesse, and so should chide or find fault with God. But considering in the rod of god both justice and mercy, he will call him self back to patient receiving of it. And finally what so ever shall happen, because ⟨image 40⟩he shall know, that it is ordained by the hand of God, he shall take it with a joyful and thankful heart. And shall not stubbornly withstand the commandment and pleasure of him, under whose power he hath once willingly thrown him self and all things that be his. First of all let be caste away out of christen mens hearts the foolish and most miserable consolation of the infidels:
A great meany of diseases on euery syde assaulte vs, otherwhylest rageth the pestilence, otherwhylest with the calamitie of warre we be cruelly vexed, some tyme the froste or hayle, the hope of the yere beinge put awaye, bryngeth in barēnes, whiche dryueth vs to penurie, oure wyfe, parentes, chyldren, and neighbours, be taken away by death, our house is destroyed