A06516:54
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.
Who would not be terrified with these words of Paul, where he expressly affirmeth, that they are not the sons of God, which are without the correction of God? And who can be more strongly confirmed, & more effectually comforted, then he that heareth that they are loved of the Lord which are chastened of him, that they are sons, that they have communion with all the Saints, and that not they alone do suffer? This vehement exhortation is able to make chastening and correction even amiable and to be loved. 1Neither is here any place for excuse, for that some do suffer lighter evils, some those that be more grievous, for every one is tried according to measure, not above his strength, as it is said Psal. 80: Thou shalt feed them with the bread of tears, and give them tears to drink with measure. The same Paul also saith: God is faithful, which will not suffer you to be tempted above that you be able, but will even give the issue with the tentation, that ye may be able to bear it. ⟨p. 29⟩Where therefore there is a greater evil, there are more means to escape out of tentation, and more help, so that the inequality of suffering is rather in appearance then in very deed.
Who would not be terrified with these wordes of Paule, where he expresly affirmeth, that they are not the sonnes of God, which are without the correction of God? And who can be more strongly confirmed, & more effectually comforted, then he that heareth that they are loued of the Lorde which are chastened of him, that they are sonnes, that they haue communion with all the Sainctes, and that not they alone doe suffer? This vehement exhortation is able to make chastening and correction euen amiable and to be loued. 1Neither is here any place for excuse, for that some doe suffer lighter euills, some those that be more grieuous, for euery one is tried according to measure, not aboue his strength, as it is sayd Psal. 80: Thou shalt feede them with the bread of teares, and giue them teares to drinke with measure. The same Paule also sayth: God is faithfull, which will not suffer you to be tempted aboue that you be able, but will euen giue the issue with the tentation, that ye may be able to beare it.