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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
Part › Chapter 1: THE FIRST CHAPTER of the first consideration, which is of the inward good.
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 good.
Who is able to number even those good things only which every one possesseth in his one person? 1First how many are the gifts of the body? as beauty, strength, health, quickness of sense, whereunto in the male kind may be added the most noble sex, whereby he is fit to do many things both ⟨p. 40⟩private and public, and to achieve many notable exploits, 2whereunto a woman is unapt. Now what a great matter is it, if by the blessing of God thou enjoyest these excellent gifts ten, twenty, thirty years with pleasure, & at the last art troubled in some one of them for the space of ten days? It is a common saying among notorious offenders: It is but one ill hours matter, and again, A good hour is worth an ill hour. What shall be said of us, who enjoy many good hours, and will not suffer evil so much as one hour? We see therefore in how great plenty we enjoy the benefits of God, and with how few evils we are scarce touched, at the least the most of us. Our most gracious God not content with these good things, giveth moreover riches, abundance of all things, if not to all, surely to many, and to them especially that are weak to bear evils. For as I have said before, upon whom he bestoweth less riches, or gifts of the body, upon them he bestoweth more gifts of the mind, that all things may be equal, & he a just judge of all. For abundance of riches doth not so much comfort as a joyful mind. Moreover ⟨p. 41⟩he giveth unto some goodly children, great pleasure, power, rule, honour, fame, glory, favour, &c. which if he permit to enjoy a long time, yea but a small time, they will easily admonish what is to be done in a little evil.
WHo is able to number euen those good thinges onely which euery one possesseth in his one person?