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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 Saints being animated by this affection, and by this example stirred up, are wont to pray even for the evils of their enemies, & to do all things according to the example of Christ, & forgetting their own injuries or righteousness, to be careful how they may deliver them from their evils, wherewith they are without comparison more troubled then with their own, as Peter writeth of Lot 2. Pet. 2, who dwelled among them, which vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.
The Saincts being animated by this affection, and by this example stirred vp, are wont to pray euen for the euills of their enemies, & to do all things according to the example of Christ, & forgetting their owne iniuries or righteousnes, to be careful how they may deliuer them from their euills, wherwith they are wtout comparison more troubled then wt their owne, as Peter writeth of Lot 2. Pet. 2, who dwelled among them, which vexed his righteous soule from day to day wt their vnlawfull deedes.
Thou seest therefore how deep a pit of evils here appeareth, & that we have occasion ⟨p. 23⟩to take pity and compassion, & to forget our own small evil, if the love of God be in us: thou seest also how little God permitteth us to suffer in respect of those things which they suffer. 1But whereas these things do little move us, the cause is, for that the eye of the hart is not sufficient clear, whereby we should see how great the ignominy and misery of man is lying under sin, that is, being separate from God & in subjection under the devil. For who is so hard hearted, which is not greatly moved with pity and compassion at the miserable sight of them that lye in the porches of Churches, & in the streets, their faces being gnawne, their noses and eyes eaten with corruption, and their other members wasted with filth and rottenness, so that the mind detesteth to think thereof, much less can the eye abide to behold it. But what doth God intend and purpose by these miserable creatures, who have like flesh as we have, & are our brethren like unto us, but that he may open the eyes of our mind, whereby we may see in how more ugly a sort the filth and corruption of the soul of a sinner appeareth, albeit he wear