A04930:54
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.
Hast not thou made me so glad by the multitude of thy mercies, & thy most gracious favour which thou from time to time most abundantly hast poured upon me, that both soul & body hath rejoiced through the gladness of thy countenance? hast thou not bin so effectually with me present in troubles and dangers, that my very enemies have known & confessed that thy power was always with me, and that thou diddest take my defence upon thy self? and wilt thou now so leave the habitation which thou hast chosen? Shall it be left desolate for ever? can thy mercies have an end? and shall thy fatherly pity never appear more unto me? Shalt thou leave me for ever thus to be tormented, whom thou hast afore so abundantly comforted? O Lord, I am sure thy mercies will not so entreat me, and therefore turn again ⟨image 22⟩O Lord, and make me glad with thy countenance, whom of long time thou hast left void of consolation & comfort. Advert and consider, dearly beloved, in what estate was David, when that he had none other comfort, except the only remembrance of Gods former benefits showed unto him. And therefore marvel ye not, nor yet despair ye: albeit that you find your self in the same case that David was. Sure I am, that your own heart must confess that ye have received like benefits at the hand of God, as David did. He hath called you from a more vile office, then from the keeping of sheep, to as great a dignity (touching the everlasting inheritance) as he did David. For from the service of the Devil and sin, he hath anointed us Priests and Kings, by the blood of his only Son Jesus: he hath given you courage and boldness to fight against more cruel, more subtle▪ more dangerous, and against enemies that be more nigh unto you, then either was the Lyon, the Bear or Goliath to David: against the Devil I mean, and his assaults, against your own flesh, and most inward affections, against the multitude▪ of them that were (and yet remain) enemies to Christs religion: yea, against some of ⟨image 22⟩your natural friends, which appear to profess Christ with you, and in that part the battle is the more vehement. What boldness I have seen with you, in all such conflicts, it needeth not me to rehearse. I write this, to the praise of God, I have wondered at that bold constancy, which I have found in you at such time as mine own heart was faint.