A06516:15
A right comfortable treatise containing fourteen points of consolation for them that labour and…A right comfortable treatise containing fourteene pointes of consolation for them that labor and…
A right comfortable treatise containing fourteen points of consolation for them that labour and are laden: Written by D. Martin Luther to Prince Frederick Duke of Saxony, he being sore sick, thereby to comfort him in the time of his great distress. Englished by W. Gace.A right comfortable treatise containing fourteene pointes of consolation for them that labor and are laden: VVritten by D. Martin Luther to Prince Friderik Duke of Saxonie, he being sore sicke, thereby to comfort him in the time of his great distresse. Englished by W. Gace.
London: printed by Thomas Vautrollier, 1578
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.
TO THE MOST FAMOUS PRINCE AND LORD, THE LORD FREDERICK, Duke of Saxony, &c, his very good Lord.
TO THE MOST FAMOVS PRINCE AND LORD, THE LORD FRIDERIK, Duke of Saxonie, &c, his very good Lord.
OUR Lord and Saviour Jesus hath left a commandment which pertaineth indifferently to all Christians, that we should perform the duties of humanity, or rather (as the Scripture calleth them) the works of mercy to the afflicted and miserable: that we should visit the sick, endeavour to deliver the captives, and do such like to our neighbour, whereby the present evils may be somewhat assuaged. Hereof our Lord Jesus Christ hath in him self set forth unto us a most manifest & singular example, whereas of his exceeding love toward mankind, he came down from the bosom of the father into our miseries and into our prison, that is, into our flesh and most miserable life, and took the punishment of our sins upon him self, that we might be saved: according as Isaiah saith chap. 43: Thou hast laden me with thy sins, and wearied me with thy ungodliness, &c. If there be any whom this so manifest & singular an example doth not stir up, and the authority of Gods commandment ⟨image 5⟩added thereunto doth not move to perform these works of charity, surely he shall worthily in the last judgement hear the voice of the angry Judge: Go thou cursed into everlasting fire. For I was sick and thou didst not visit me, but being altogether unthankful for the exceeding benefits which I bestowed on thee and all the world, thou didst not even in the most slender duties relieve or help thy brethren, no not me Christ in my brethren.
OVR Lorde and Sauiour Iesus hathe left a commaundement which pertayneth indifferently to all Christians, that we should performe the duties of humanitie, or rather (as the Scripture calleth them) the workes of mercy to the afflicted and miserable: that we should visit the sicke, endeuour to deliuer the captiues, and doe such like to our neighbour, whereby the present euills may be somewhat asswaged. Hereof our Lord Iesus Christ hath in him selfe set forth vnto vs a most manifest & singular example, wheras of his exceeding loue toward mankind, he came downe from the bosom of the father into our miseries and into our prison, that is, into our flesh and most miserable life, and tooke the punishment of our sinnes vpon him selfe, that we might be saued: according as Esai sayth chap. 43: Thou hast laden me with thy sinnes, and wearied me with thy vngodlines, &c. If there be any whom this so manifest & singular an example doth not stirre vp, and the authoritie of Gods commaundement