A04930:41
A fort for the afflicted Wherein are ministered many notable & excellent remedies against…A fort for the afflicted VVherin are ministred many notable & excellent remedies against…
A fort for the afflicted Wherein are ministered many notable & excellent remedies against the storms of tribulation. Written chiefly for the comfort of Christs little flock, which is the final number of the faithful, by John Knox.A fort for the afflicted VVherin are ministred many notable & excellent remedies against the stormes of tribulation. Written chiefly for the comforte of Christes little flocke, which is the final number of the faithfull, by Iohn Knoxe.
Imprinted at London : At the three Cranes in the Vintry, by Thomas Dawson, 1580Imprinted at London : At the three Cranes in the Vintree, by Thomas Dawson, 1580
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.
Consider, dearly beloved, that such things as the spirit of God foresaw dangerous and damnable unto them, the same things are to be ⟨image 13⟩feared in us: for all things happened unto them in figures. They were in Egypt corporally punished by a cruel tyrant: we were in spiritual bondage of the Devil, by sin and incredulity. God gave to them a land that flowed with milk and honey, for which they never laboured: God hath opened to us, the knowledge of Christ Jesus which we never deserved, nor yet hoped for the same. They were not able to defend the land, after they were possessed in it: we are not able, to retain our selves, in the true knowledge of Christ, but by his grace only. Some enemies were left to exercise them. Sin is left in us, that we may learn to fight. If enemies had not been, wild beasts should have multiplied amongest them. If such beasts as we think most do trouble us, were not permitted so to do, worse beasts should have dominion over us, that is to wit: Trust in our self, arrogance, oblivion, & forgetfulness of that estate from which GOD hath delivered us, together with a light estimation of all Christs merits, which sins are the beasts that (alas do devour no small number of men. Neither yet let any man think, that if all kind of crosses were taken from us, during ⟨image 14⟩the time that we bear the earthly Image of Adam, that we should be more perfect in using the spiritual gifts of God: to wit, the remission of sins, his free grace, and Christ his justice, for which we never laboured: than that people should have been, in using of those corporal gifts. And Moses saith unto them, Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God. He who knoweth the secretes of hearts, giveth not his precepts in vain: if man his heart had not been prone and ready to forget God, and to glory in his own strength, God had not given this precept, and repeated it so diligently. For he neither doeth nor speaketh in vain, but knowing what things be most able to blind and deceive man, the wisdom of God by his contrary precepts, giveth him warning of the same. Experience hath taught us how such beasts have troubled the church of God: to speak nothing of the time of the Prophets, of the Apostles, or of the primitive church.
Consider, deerely beloued, that such things as the spirite of God foresawe dangerous and damnable vnto them, the same things are to be