Fourteen Points of Consolation, Title page – Dedication 1
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.
Imprinted at London by Thomas Vautrollier dwelling in the Blacke Friers. 1578.
Martin Luther.
I Did write this booke in the beginning of my procedings, to the moſt gracious Prince Friderik Duke of Saxony, when he was ſore ſicke. Now many thought good that it ſhould be imprinted, but when it had bene eftſones imprinted, it was ſo corrupted and made vnperfect, that I found many wordes wanting, which I my ſelfe could not coniecture what they were: howbeit the ſentences I hauehave reſtored after a ſort, and ſuch as I thinke I had in the beginning. Neither hauehave I thought it good now to chaunge or adorne them as I could: For I will in this booke ſhewe a teſtimonie of my proceeding, and gratifie the aduerſaries, that they may hauehave wherewith to exerciſe their malice. It is ſufficient for me if I pleaſe my Lord Chriſt & his Sainctes: I reioyce from my hart, and giuegive thankes to my God that I am enuied and hated of the deuill and his Impes.
TO THE VVORSHIPFVLL M. HENRIE DALE CITIZEN AND MARchant of the citie of London, VV. Gace wiſheth grace and peace from God the Father through Chriſt Ieſus our Lord.
MAnifold are the miſeries of mans life, wherewith he is greatly grieued and ſundry wayes moleſted, inſomuch as Iob ſayth that man that is borne of a woman hathe but a ſhort time to liue, and is repleniſhed with miſerie. For he beginneth his life with teares & weeping, he paſſeth it with ſorrow & trouble, and endeth it with dolour and payne. Wherefore it is no maruell if ſome hauehave thought that it is the beſt thinge not to be borne, and the next to dye quickly: and that other ſome hauehave mourned and wept at the birthes of their friendes, and ſolemnly reioyced at their burialls. For what could they being deſtitute of the light of God and true religion, ſee in this life but trouble & miſerie? Yea the godly themſelues, as they hauehave in all ages ſuffered many afflictions in this life, ſo hauehave they paſſed through the ſame as through a ſtraunge countrie. For if heauen be our countrie, what is the earth els but a place of baniſhment? wherein being exiled from true delightes and pleaſures, we liue in a ſtate vnquiet, troubleſom, and many wayes miſerable, as to him that ſhall duely conſider the ſundry troubles that are incident to all ſortes of men in this life, wil eaſily appeare.
Foraſmuch then as this life is ſo miſerable, as both the Saincts of God hauehave pronounced of it, the very heathen hauehave accounted it, & daily experience proueth it, & yet neuertheleſſe we, ſeeing God hath placed vsus in it, muſt remaine therein till he call vsus away: great neede we hauehave of ſuch conſolation & encouragement as may be a meane to make vsus paſſe the time thereof without grudging & impatiencie. For of our ſelues we are very fraile & weake, not able to reſiſt, much leſſe of power to ouercome, as is manifeſt by them, who in the time of affliction hauehave through impaciēcie murmured againſt God, albeit there both hauehave bene, and are many, who being not of them ſelues but by other meanes ſupported, hauehave patiently ſuſtained many troubles and miſeries.
Wherefore I truſt that my labor ſhall not be thought ill beſtowed, but rather profitably emploied, which I hauehave taken in tranſlating this treatiſe into the Engliſhe tongue, for that it tendeth chiefly to the conſolation of ſuch as are in affliction and diſtreſſe. For that which the title of this booke portendeth, the matter thereof ſufficiently proueth, namely that it containeth conſolations for them that labor and are laden, that is, that ſuffer afflictions and troubles in this life: ſo that they which ſhall diligently read and peruſe the ſame, may be ſo confirmed thereby, that when they be troubled with hardnes of aduerſitie, they may not be ouercome or throwne downe therewith: when they be moleſted with griefe & ſorrow, they may be alſo delited with ſpirituall ioy: when they be euen diſtreſſed with troubles and afflictions, they may receiue courage againe, being cheared with ſundry conſolations, & ſo patiently ſuffer according to Gods will whatſoeuer it ſhall pleaſe him to lay vponupon them.
Howe great this commoditie is, it plainely appeareth not onelyonly by this, that the feelinge of the preſent affliction is thereby aſſwaged, but by this alſo, that it is a meane to moue and make vsus to obey Gods will, which otherwiſe we woulde be readye to reſiſt, and to ſuffer patiently, whereas otherwiſe we woulde by impatiencie be ſtubborne agaynſte the righteouſnes of God.
Wherefore foraſmuche as I am not ignoraunt that the croſſe is vſually incident to the godly, and that through many afflictions we muſt enter into the kingdome of God, I am bolde to commende this treatiſe to all the godly in generall, to be read of them to their ſingular commoditie and comfort, but eſpecially to your worſhippe, whoſe godly conuerſation both of a longe tyme hath bene, and dayly is an euident teſtimonie of your ſyncere and vnfeyned profeſſion of Chriſte his religion: deſiringe you to eſteeme thereof, not accordinge to the quantitye or outward appearance (for then ſhall you make but ſmall account of it, being both litle in quantitie, & adorned with no eloquent tearmes or glorious wordes) but according to the frute that the godly ſhall reape by diligent reading therof. For pearles and precious ſtones for the moſt part are in quantitie but ſmall, and in outward appearance ſimple, which in value notwithſtanding are great and in vertue excellent. Howbeit being ſufficiently perſwaded of your well accepting hereof, I will not ſtand vponupon this point, leſt I ſhoulde ſeeme in any wiſe to dout of it, but doe deſire Almighty God, that as you hauehave hitherto liued in his feare, ſo ye may dayly increaſe, and conſtantly continue in the ſame euen vntounto the ende.
Your vvorships at commaundement W. GACE.