A07163:101
The sick mans salve Wherein the faithful christians may learn both how to behave…The sycke mans salue VVherin the faithfull christians may learne both how to behaue…
The sick mans salve Wherein the faithful christians may learn both how to behave them selves patiently and thankfully, in the time of sickness, and also virtuously to dispose their temporal goods, and finally to prepare them selves gladly and godly to die. Made and newly recognised by Master Tho. Becon. 1561.The sycke mans salue VVherin the faithfull christians may learne both how to behaue them selues paciently and thankefully, in the tyme of sickenes, and also vertuously to dispose their temporall goodes, and finally to prepare them selues gladly and godly to die. Made and newly recognised by Maister Tho. Becon. 1561.
London: printed by John Day, 1561London: printed by Iohn Day, 1561
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Philem. It is truth. For such are most mete for the kingdom of God, nether can the voluptuous worldlings be partakers of the heavenly inheritance, which in this world taste of no cross, but live in all pleasure after the desires of the flesh. It is not possible that a man may live here pleasantly with the world, and afterward reign gloriously with Christ, for the friendship of the world,1 is enmity with God. Whosoever will be a friend of the world, is made the enemy of God. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? Or what company hath light with darkness. Or what concord hath Christ with Belial?2 Either what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ⟨p. 25⟩worldly joy & eternal felicity can not agree together. Therefore whosoever is free from the cross in this world, he hath no part in the kingdom of Christ & of God. So that you neighbour Epaphroditus have a great occasion to thank the Lord our God, that it hath pleased him to remember you with this his loving visitation, and through this sickness to declare his good & fatherly will toward you. For by laying this cross upon you, he proveth you, whether you be constant in your faith and profession or not, and whether you will patiently and thankfully b•are this his working in you, which is unto your everlasting salvation or not. And after this manner doth God handle all such as he receiveth unto glory, as the wise man saith:3 What soever happeneth unto thee, receive it, suffer in ⟨p. 26⟩heaviness, and be patient in thy trouble.4 For like as gold & silver are tried in the fire: even so are acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. Again he saith: the oven proveth the potters vessel,5 so doth temptation of trouble, try righteous men. List wise said Raphael the Archangel unto Toby: