A06516:70
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.
Why then do we not most willingly receive this temperature sent of God, which if he should not send, our life which is not able ⟨p. 43⟩continually to suffer pleasures & good things, would procure it of it own accord? We see therefore how truly the wise man said of God: He reacheth from one end to an other mightily, and lovingly doth he order all things. If we throughly consider these things, that also will appear to be true which Moses saith Deut. 32: He hath borne him on his shoulders, he hath carried him about, and kept him as the apple of his eye. Hereby we may stop the mouths of them which unthankfully babble that there are more evil then good things in this life, when as there are not wanting infinite good things and sweet commodities, but they are wanting which should see & acknowledge them with him that said: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. And again: The earth is full of his praise. And Psal. 103: The earth is full of thy riches: thou hast made me glad by thy works. Hereupon we daily singe: Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Why so? because there are many good things whereby he may be praised, howbeit of them only which see and acknowledge this fullness. For as we have ⟨p. 44⟩said in the first consideration of evils, that the evils of every one are so great, as is his opinion & knowledge of them: so also good things although they come unto us abundantly on every side, yet are they only so great as they are esteemed. For all things that God hath made are exceeding good, yet are they not so acknowledged of all, as of them of whom the 103. Psalm speaketh: They contemned that pleasant land.
Why then doe we not most willingly receiue this tēperature sent of God, which if he should not send, our life which is not able ⟨p. 43⟩continually to suffer pleasures & good thinges, woulde procure it of it owne accorde? We see therefore howe truely the wise man said of God: He reacheth from one ende to an other mightely, and louingly doth he order all things. If we throughly consider these thinges, that also will appeare to be true which Moses saith