A04930:78
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.
but they are not permitted of any continuance to blaspheme, neither to remain in unbelief and desperation to the end, as in Christs Apostles plainly may be seen. And that more clearly we may understand, our time and estate within the Realm of England, this day, to agree with the time and estate of Christs disciples, immediately after his death: let us consider what chanced to them before and after the same. Before Christs passion as they were instructed by Christs own mouth of many things, appertaining to that kingdom of God, which they neither perfectly understood, neither worthily then regarded: so were they advertised and oft admonished,1 that Christ their Master should suffer a cruel death, that they should be ashamed, slandered and offended in him, that they should fly from him: And finally that persecution and trouble from time to time should apprehend them. With these most dolorous tidings, he also promised, that he should rise upon the third day, ⟨image 45⟩that he should rise for them again to their comfo•ce and consolation,2 and that he should mightily deliver them from all troubles and adversities. But what availed all these admonitions to Christs […], before his death, or in that extremity of their anguishes shortly after the same? did they fear, and verily look for trouble before it came? Or did they look for any comfort, when the forespoken trouble was come? It is most evident that no such thing did enter into their hearts. For before Christs death their greatest mind was upon worldly honour, for which sometimes they debated and contended amongest themselves:3 yea, even when Christ was most earnestly preaching of his cross. And after his death they were so oppressed with anguish, with care, with dolour and desperation, that neither could the witnessing of the women, affirming that they had seen Christ, neither the grave left empty & void, neither the Angels, who did appear to certify his resurrection, neither yet the very voice and presence of Christ Jesus himself, remove all doubts from their afflicted hearts: but from time to time their minds wa•ered and ⟨image 45⟩