A06516:57
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 seventh chapter of the seventh consideration, which is of the evil above us.
The seuenth chapter of the seuenth consideration, which is of the euill aboue vs.
Lastly we must lift up our hart on hie, & ascend up the mountain of myrrh with the spouse. Here is Jesus Christ crucified, 1the head of all the Saints, the chief of all that suffer. The memory of him is commended to the spouse, where it is said: Set me as a seal upon thine hart, & as a signet upon thine arm. The blood of this lamb being stricken on the posts, suffereth not the angel the destroyer to approach. Hereof is the spouse commended, that her hear is like purple (that is, her meditation is red by the memory of Christs passion.) This is the tree which Moses was commanded to cast into the waters of Marah, that is, bitter passions, & they were made sweet. There is nothing that this passion doth not make sweet, even death, as the spouse saith: His lips are like lilies, 2that drop pure myrrh. Now concerning this likeness of lilies and lips, forasmuch as these are red, & those are white, ⟨p. 34⟩surely she speaketh mystically, that the words of Christ are most gentle and pure, wherein is no cruel bitterness or spite, but are sweet and mild, which notwithstanding drop and persuade pure and principal myrrh (that is most bitter death.) These most pure & sweet lips are able to make most bitter death (which as pure myrrh taketh away at once all the stink of sin) sweet, mild, gentle, & acceptable. How shall this come to pass? Even while thou hearest that Jesus Christ the Son of God, hath by his most holy suffering consecrated & made holy all passions, even death it self, hath blessed malediction, hath glorified ignominy, hath enriched poverty. So that death is compelled to be the gate of life, malediction the beginning of blessedness, ignominy the way to glory. Now how canst thou be so hard hearted & unthankful, that thou wouldest not even wish for & love all the passions which by the most pure and holy flesh and blood of Christ are sanctified, made harmless, wholesome, blessed and happy unto thee?