A06516:96
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 sixth chapter of the sixth consideration, which is of the good on the right hand.
The sixt chapter of the sixt consideration, which is of the good on the right hand.
This is the Church of the Saints, 1the new creature of God, our brethren & friends, in whom we see nothing but good, nothing but consolation, howbeit not always with fleshly eyes (for according to the outward appearance they are for the most part to be referred to the contrary consideration ⟨p. 74⟩of evils) but with spiritual eyes. Although even those their good things also which are seen with fleshly eyes, are not to be rejected, but we may perceive that even in these God doth comfort us. For David in the 72 Psalm durst not disallow of all that possessed riches in the world, saying: If I should say that I would judge after this sort, lo then I should condemn the generation of thy children, that is, if I should say that all are evil, which are rich, healthful, and had in estimation, I should then condemn thy Saints, of whom many are such. The Apostle moreover teacheth Timothy to charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not hie minded, not forbidding them to be rich. And the Scripture declareth that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were rich. Daniel with his fellows were had in honour and reputation even in Babylon: finally many Kings of Judah were holy men. David therefore considering these saith: If I should say that I would judge so, I should condemn the generation of thy children. God I say giveth to his abundance of these good things, to the comfort of them & of others, but these are not their ⟨p. 75⟩proper good things, yea they are but shadows in respect of the true good things, which are faith, hope, love, and other graces and gifts, all which are made common by love.
THis is the Church of the Saincts,