A06514:65
A treatise co[n]teining certain meditatio[n]s of true & perfect consolatio[n], ... Written in the…A treatice co[n]teining certain meditatio[n]s of trew & perfect consolatio[n], ... Written in the…
A treatise co[n]teining certain meditatio[n]s of true & perfect consolatio[n], ... Written in the French tongue, and translated in to English by Robert FillsA treatice co[n]teining certain meditatio[n]s of trew & perfect consolatio[n], ... Written in the Frenche tung, and translated in to Englishe by Robert Fills
London : J. Alde, 1564
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.
¶ The first Chapter of the first consideration which is the good within us.
¶ The first Chapiter of the first consideration whiche is the good within vs.
What man is he that can number the goods and treasures, that one possesseth in his own person? First, who can esteem how great the bodily graces be? that is to say. ⟨p. 28⟩Health, strength, beauty, the quickening of the spirit, and also the noble kind of man, which is mete to put in execution many excellent things as well privately as in public, the which other creatures can not do? But I pray you what great thing is it, if we have used these good gifts, ten, twenty or thirty years, with quietness and pleasures, by the grace and goodness of God? And yet the Germans have a proverb: there is many evils in one good hour. What ought we to do, we that have received so long rest, and so many good hours, and will not suffer a little evil one poor hour? We see then how we be covered all with the goodness of God. And how small be the evils that we be touched or stricken with (at the least y• greatest part of us) our good God not being only content with these goods: but joineth to them riches, abundance of all things? And although it be not common to ⟨image 41⟩all, yet it is to many, and principally to those that be not strong enough, to suffer evils and misery. For as I have said before, he giveth greater strength to those whom he giveth less goods, that all things may be equal, & he may be known a righteous judge in all things. For great abundance of goods and riches bringeth not so great consolation: as doth a good conscience and a joyful hart. And also he giveth to some plenty of children, which is a sovereign pleasure (as they say). To other glory, power, principality, good renown, favour, honour and other like things, the which though they be given us to pleasure in, either long time or short, yet they give us to understand, how we shall behave our selves in small evils, when they come. But the goods of the spirit, be much more excellent then all these aforesaid. As understanding, judgement, facundity,