Thomas Broke, unto the Reader

¶ Thomas Broke, unto the Reader,

Grace and peace from God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you (Christian Reader) and with all that love our Lord unfeignedly, Amen. The right godly, and no less famous clerk, Master John Calvin, wrote in the Latin, this treatise: of the conversation of a Christian man. Which little work to have been made in the treasury, or storehouse of God, it doth so evidently appear: that for me, to spend time in the commendation of it, it were but superfluous. This much only I will say: it so sets forth, and paints before our eyes, what is the office or duty of a Christian man: yea how in all things, and at all times, we ought to behave ourselves: that whoso shall attentively, read this work, cannot be deceived in judging whether he himself be a Christian man or not, neither shall need, to seek elsewhere besides the scripture a perfect rule, to order his life by. Here may we learn that it is not enough for us, to have received the outward sacrament of Baptism, but that now, we must also put on Christ, and express him in our conversation. For, as many of us, as are christened or baptized into Christ, are baptized into his death, that, as Christ was raised up from death, through the glory of his Father, even so we should walk in a newness of life. For, not all that say, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but they which do, the will of the Father, which is in heaven. Here may we also learn, that we ought not to reckon ourselves Christians, when our deeds declare, that we know not, what Christ hath done for us: neither to think it sufficient to say, or suppose, that we have faith, when contrariwise, our deeds show, that we have only a dead faith, or rather no faith at all, but a vain opinion that lacks the fruits of a lively faith, which are here by the author evidently set forth. For faith (as Saint Paul describes it) is a sure confidence of things hoped for, and a certainty of things, which are not seen. You hear (good reader) that faith is a sure confidence (or, as it were, a having already) of things to be hoped for, and a certainty of things, that are not seen. Yea, for how can it be otherwise, when we through it, be made the children of God: and have Christ himself, thereby dwelling in our hearts? Can it be, that God hath made you his son, and yet keepeth it so secret from you, that you can by no fatherly touch nor tender kindness of his, have any experience or certainty thereof, no more than his enemies, the ungodly persons have: who, though they have often times in this world plenty of riches, very good health, high estimation, multitude of friends, and an idle and long life, yet are they the children of Satan and carry about with them an unquiet conscience? Nay nay, God hideth not so, from his children, his fatherly love, for by his Spirit in us we know what he hath given us, yea and we know and believe the love which he hath unto us, and know that he dwelleth in us and we in him, neither dwelleth his Son Christ idly in our hearts. For if you have a true faith and not an opinion only, you have now a certainty that you are the child of God, and (as Saint John says) that you are translated from death into life. Now therefore, that you may feel, and know, that you have a true faith, a sure confidence, and an infallible certainty, in your heart of God's mercy towards you, I will, by describing unto you, what I take a true faith to be, induce you thereunto, after the poor talent of my knowledge: ☞Faith is such a trust in the promise of God, as works in a man's heart an earnest repentance of sin and a desire to do God's will. Do you ask what that promise is? I answer: it is this, that all that believe in him, have remission of their sins and everlasting life. Or else: faith is such a sure confidence in the mercy of God the Father (promised unto us, for his Son Christ's sake) as works in our heart, an earnest loathing of our sin, and a love to his commandments. Or else, to describe it more at large, faith is such a sure confidence in the mercy of God (which for Christ's sake he hath promised to all that believe in him) that it not only feels our sins to be so vile, that for them God might by his justice, worthily damn us: but also feels God's mercy to be so great (first, in the free forgiveness of our sins: then, in the enriching of us, with the inheritance of everlasting life: and thirdly, in keeping and defending us in this wretched world, until the time of our departure from hence) that it works now in our hearts toward God (even of a thankfulness for his goodness) such an earnest love, as, not only repents our sins, and abhors them, but also heartily desires to do the will and commandments of God. Here you see (good Christian) a lively faith and a sensible or feeling faith. But here consider well that first herein is required of you, that you know, the vileness of your sins to be such as God by his justice might worthily damn you for them: for, before you see them so vile and dangerous, you can never be forgiven of them. And this is also very true, that you can never too much consider the vileness of sin, so far forth as you despair not of the mercy of God. Now that you may therefore consider your sins and the grievousness of them, it is expedient that you look in the most holy and righteous law of God, for it shows unto you, both what you should follow, and what you should fly from. If you shall therefore truly compare your life and it together, you shall undoubtedly find yourself, innumerable ways a sinner by transgressing against it, and may see the vileness of your sins to be exceeding great by the punishment that is threatened thereunto, which is the curse of God and everlasting damnation. Unto the knowledge of sin, by the law are brought, not only the faithful, but also the wicked. But in deed it works in either of them contrary effects. For, the ungodly, when by the law is declared unto them, the righteous will of God, and the punishment that is due to the transgressors of the same: they straightway, either utterly despair of the mercy of God (which of all sins is the greatest) or else turning their hearts away from that holy law, which should be a light to their feet to lead them unto righteousness, they give themselves over into security of sin, murmuring against God the giver of the law. But contrariwise the faithful when by the law they know themselves innumerable ways transgressors, are then by it, as by a schoolmaster, brought unto Christ. But then, where before by the law they saw their offenses to be heinous and great: now by the price that was paid for their ransom, the vileness of them appears more horrible and grievous a great deal: so that they are utterly dismayed, and as it were in an ecstasy, thereby. But consider and mark well that then they hearken and give ear most gladly unto Christ. Who says: he that believeth in me, hath everlasting life. O most merciful promise and most comfortable news. He says also: come unto me all ye that labor and are laden and I will refresh you. O most joyful voice, to them that are burdened with fear of hell pains for the just reward of their sins their own consciences witnessing against them. But how will he refresh them? Forsooth marvelously, for he promiseth unto all that believe in him first, free forgiveness of their sins: secondarily, after this life everlasting joy: and thirdly, while they live in this wretched world, to keep and defend them so, that one hair of their head, cannot be diminished without his will and pleasure: yea and therewithal promiseth to turn unto the best for them, whatsoever thing, at any time shall come to them, either by the devil, or any other evil creature. Methinks I hear you say: if I were assured to attain this great mercy at God's hand, then should I have great joy in my heart: I answer, consider dearly beloved, two things: first, that it is God that hath made the promise, who is faithful, and can no more cease to be true, than he can cease to be God, therefore he will fulfill his promise for his truth's sake. And again consider, that he hath made that promise to all that believe it to be true. Now why do you not then, believe it? You doubt peradventure of your faith, lest it be but an opinion: well I shall tell you, or rather, I have told you already, and now once again I do tell you, how you may know and feel whether it be a lively faith. For if, it works in your heart a loathsomeness of your sin, and a desire to do God's will then are you sure that you have a true faith: for your repentance on the one side, and your desire to work righteously, on the other side, do testify it, yea and that you have already, and (as I may say) or ever you are aware, obtained God's mercy, for, they are the right fruit of a lively faith, yea only, of such a faith, as through the Holy Ghost, hath apprehended mercy, and of such a conscience, as wherein, the same Spirit, who is the earnest of everlasting life, doth dwell for ever. Have you not now cause then to have great joy in your heart? Nay rather how can you but have exceeding great joy, and the peace of God also which passeth all understanding? Thus you see that faith, is not a vain opinion, but an assured confidence, of things hoped for, and of things which are not seen. And what is more to be hoped for, or less can be seen, than God himself? Then faith is an assuredness and a certainty of the having of God, yea of having God to be our merciful Father, our tenderly loving Brother and Savior, our continually present, and most strongest Comforter. Him therefore, of a thankfulness for his mercy and goodness, let us all our life long so unfeignedly love, that our life and conversation may declare that we have thus tasted of his plenteous mercy, and in his holy righteous and good law, let our meditation be day and night. And now that we may the more readily walk therein, behold we have here before our eyes, the conversation of a true believer or Christian, so godly, so plainly, and so learnedly, set forth, that if we shall express the same in ourselves, we shall declare, that we are not feigned Christians, but worthy warriors of Jesus Christ, against self-love, sin, and Satan. And furthermore we shall show, that Christ by faith, dwelleth in our hearts not idly, but working, yea mightily working, being never unlike unto himself, so that now you shall, in your life and conversation, show yourself another certain Christ unto your neighbor, in so much, that where Christ came into this world, and bestowed himself upon us, and to our uses, even so Christ will now, do the same in us: as once he died for us, even so, will he kindle in our hearts, a love to our brethren and that in so sure and fervent wise, that we shall rejoice, not only to be evil spoken of, or to suffer loss of goods or imprisonment, but also (if need require) to suffer death for their sakes. You will say, I am weak and frail I am not able to do thus: no. But have faith and you shall be strong, for all things are possible to him that believes, and you are able to do all things through him that strengtheneth you and dwelleth in you. Therefore marvelous things shall he do by you, his instrument. For, as when Christ was conversant here on earth, he let nothing pass him, whereby he might express his great love towards us, even so now, Christ shall likewise be minded in you: as then, for our love, Christ was scourged, crucified, and put to open shame, even so now, Christ shall be patient and suffering in you: as then Christ most liberally, gave himself and all that he had, unto us, while we were sinners and his enemies, even so now Christ shall be both liberal and merciful in you. And as then, Christ desired the cross, thirsted for our salvation, and humbled himself to very death praying for his enemies: even so now Christ in us, shall neither seek his own profit, nor think on avengement, nor despise such as be weak, but shall become all unto all men, that at the least way he may win some. And by this means shall we stop the slanderous mouths of the enemies of faith, which say that the teaching of it, destroyeth and taketh away all good works, so that unless they be altogether ungodly, as they shall see the good works of the faithful, they shall glorify our Father which is in heaven. Now to make an end, I have (good reader) translated a good part more, of the institution of a Christian man written by this noble clerk, which I cannot now put in print, partly through mine own business, as well at Dover as at Calais, and, partly by reason the printer hath presently no leisure for the same. Yet, by the grace of God, I will shortly (the King's Majesty's business giving me leave) put forth either the same or part thereof, to the edifying (I trust) of the Christian congregation. In the mean time, the grace and peace of God be with you, and with all, that through the hate they have to sin, do longingly look for, and patiently abide, the coming of the great Shepherd of our souls, Jesus Christ. To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be praise world without end. Amen.