De consolatione ethnica et christiana, censura theologica

2. The Συναίτιον co-cause is the written word of God. According to that: "Thy testimonies also are my delights and the men of my counsel." Psalm 119. 24. and verse 50. "This is my consolation in my affliction: for Thy word hath quickened me." and 92. "Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction." 93. "I will never forget Thy precepts: for with them Thou hast quickened me."

3. The Συνεργὸν co-worker is the Ministry of the Word of God and the Sacraments, which ought to serve both the instruction and the consolation of the whole Church. 1. Cor. 14. 3. "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." It is, however, a great solace to him who is of a little mind, if he feels himself to be raised up and called into good hope by an intermediary who is, indeed, divinely ordained, but nevertheless a human, who is ὁμοιοπαθὴς of like passion.

4. The Προηγουμένη primary cause in God is His immense goodness and ineffable love towards men. According to the saying: "Let Thy clemency, I pray, be for my consolation, according to Thy word unto Thy servant. Let Thy mercies come unto me, that I may live: for Thy law is my delights." Psalm 119. 76. 77.

The Προηγουμένη of Consolation, which is announced by the ministers of the word, or other believers, is charity and commiseration towards those who mourn. Psalm 41. 1. "Blessed is he that judgeth prudently for the afflicted: for in the day of calamity Jehovah will deliver him." Rom. 12. 15. "Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep." 1. Thess. 4. 18. "Therefore, comfort yourselves together with such words."

5. The Προκαταρκτικὴ preliminary cause is the most harsh lot of those who mourn, by which God is truly affected, so to speak, ἀνθρωποπαθῶς in a human manner. Isaiah 12. 1. "I will confess Thee, Jehovah: for Thou wast angry with me, Thy wrath is turned away, and Thou hast comforted me." As those are most miserable with whom God is angry, so they are most happy whose He pities, and whom He raises up and cheers with the Spirit the Comforter.

6. The final cause for the sake of which Consolation exists is that remedies for pains and sadness, both prophylactic and those that repel evil, may never and nowhere be lacking. From this, our happiness can be estimated, because divine kindness wills that nothing of those things which we need should be lacking to us.

The final cause to which [it points] is, indeed, the nearest one, namely that the pains of pious men may be mitigated and lightened: For God is faithful, who...