A17689:42
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.
Put hereunto, that our Lord had no need to take upon him the bearing of the cross, but did for our sakes testify & acknowledge, to the father his obedience. But we have many ways need, to lead our life in a continual cross, for, first, as by nature, we are to much inclined to attribute all things unto our flesh or the only natural man: so except our weakness, as it were with ⟨image 42⟩an eye, be showed unto us, we do soon esteem our own power or strength, more then it is: & doubt not, what so ever may happen, the same our strength to be able to endure it, yea and think that is it is invincible against all dangers. Whereupon, we are lift up into a foolish & vain confidence, or trust, of the flesh or natural man: wherein while we trust, stubbornly, by & by, we wax proud against god him self, as though our own powers were, at the full, sufficient for us, yea, without his grace. This arrogancy or presumptuousness can not better be beaten down, then when we learn by experience, how much both weakness, & frailness is in us. Therefore either with reproach, or poverty, or loss of friends, or with sickness, or other calamities, he scourgeth us: which to ⟨image 43⟩sustain, we, as touching our own power, are far unable, & so are overthrown therewith And being so brought low, we learn to call for the power of him, who only, under the heavy burden of our afflictions, maketh us to endure. Yea the most holy men or saints here in earth, how so ever they know them selves to stand by the mercy of God, & not by there own strengths, yet they trust to much in there own strength and steadfastness, except our Lord, by trial of the cross, do bring them into a more inward knowledge of them selves. Because therefore, in prosperity, they do flatter them selves, with an opinion of greater steadfastness and patience, then in deed they have, they be made humble by adversities, and so learn that it was Hypocrisy. By such documents ⟨image 43⟩(I say) when the faith full be warned of there diseases, they attain to lowliness of heart: that casting of the stubborn confidence of the flesh or natural man, they may get them to the grace and mercy of God. Furthermore, when they have once get them hither, they have experience, & feel the presence of gods power, in the which, there is help enough & enough again. And this is it that Paul teacheth, where he saith: