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…

The fifth chapter of the fifth consideration, which is of the good on the left hand.

The fift chapter of the fift consideration, which is of the good on the left hand.

Here we must enter into consideration of our adversaries, who as yet remain in this life (for in the chapter going before we have spoken of them that are already damned and in like case with the devils) these we must behold with an other affection, and consider two sorts of their good things. First that they abound with ⟨p. 68⟩temporal good things, ¹so that the Prophets have been almost moved even to envy by their prosperity, as David Psal. 72: My feet were almost gone, my steps had wellnigh slipped: for I fretted at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. And afterwards: Lo these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches. Jeremiah chap. 12 saith: O Lord thou art more righteous then that I should dispute with thee, nevertheless let me talk with thee in things reasonable: Howe happeneth it that the way of the ungodly is so prosperous? and that it goeth so well with them, which without any shame offend and live in wickedness?

HEre we must enter into consideration of our aduersaries, who as yet remaine in this life (for in the chapter going before we haue spoken of them that are already damned and in like case with the deuills) these we must beholde with an other affection, and consider two sortes of their good thinges. First that they abound with ⟨p. 68⟩temporall good thinges, ¹