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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.
THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE FIRST CONsideration, which is of the inward evil.
THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE FIRST CONsideration, which is of the inward euil.
This is certain and most true, whether man believe it or not, that there can be none so great trouble & vexation in man, which is the worst of the evils which are in him, so many moe and greater evils are there in him then which he feeleth. For if he felt his evil, he should feel even hell: for he hath hell in him self. Dost thou demand, how? 1The Prophet saith: All men are liars. And again: Every man living is altogether vanity. Now to be a liar and vain is to be void of verity, & not to be in deed: but to be without verity, and not to be in deed, is to be without God, and to be nothing: and this is to be in hell, and to be condemned. Therefore God mercifully chastening us, openeth unto us and layeth upon us the smaller & lighter evils, knowing, that if he should bring man to the knowledge of his evil, he should forthwith perish ⟨p. 2⟩in a moment: howbeit he hath given it to some to have a feeling and taste of it, of whom it is said: He bringeth down to the grave, and fetcheth up again. Wherefore they say rightly who call corporal sufferings certain advertisements of the inward evil. And the Apostle Heb. 12 calleth them the fatherly chastenings of God, saying: 2He scourgeth every son that he receiveth. Which he therefore doth, that by these scourges and small evils he may expel those great evils, least we should at any time feel them, as it is said Proverb. 22: Foolishness is bound in the hart of the child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away. Are not godly parents also more grieved by their children if they be thieves or evil, then if they be wounded? yea they do them selves beat and wound them that they may not be evil.