A07163:17
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.
Yea so blinded are our hearts, that the nearer we approach unto the end of our life, the more studious, careful & diligent are we to get the substance of this world. We remember not this saying of the holy Apostle.1 Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath. For we brought nothing into the world neither may we carry any thing out. But when we have food and raiment,2 let us therewith be content. The holy scriptures calleth us strangers and Pilgrims in this world,3 & declareth that we have here no continuing city,4 but we seek one to come. Notwithstanding as though there were none other life after this, or else as though we should for ever here remain and never depart, we travail about the getting of worldly substance.5 Al, as the Prophet saith, even from the lowest unto the hiest set their minds on filthy lucre.6 They are ⟨image 5⟩shameless dogs, that be never satisfied. Hereto agreeth the saying of the Apostle,7 all seek their own advantage and not that, which should set forth the glory of Jesus Christ. And as in covetousness, so likewise in all other abominable sins do we most wickedly walk. And all things come to pass, because we remember not the shortness of this life and forget our latter end. This considered the wise man right well, when he saith: Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember thy end, and thou shalt never do amiss,8 Moses also saith, O that men would ones be wise and understand, and make provision for their latter end. There is not a stronger bit to bridle our carnal affects, nor a better schoolmaster to keep us in an order then the remembrance of our latter end, then to remember that we shall not alway here remain, that we are but strangers and pilgrims in this world, that we shall leave behind us, whatsoever worldly substance we have here, ether painfully gotten or carefully kept, that we shall die the death, that we shall appear before the judgement seat