A07163:18
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.
And when the time cometh, that God visiteth us with sickness or otherwise plagueth us for our evil behaviour, then do we not prepare our selves unto the cross, as we ought submitting our selves to the good pleasure of God, and being contented patiently and thankfully to receive what so ever is laid upon us at the appointment of God, but we rather murmur and grudge against God, and with unwilling hearts suffer that loving visitation of God, almost wishing that there were no God to plague and punish us, but that we might here live continually and go forth to sin freely & without punishment. And when death approacheth, & no remedy can be found against the violence thereof, then do the ungodly & wicked livers beholding the miserable face of their conscience, which presenteth unto ⟨image 6⟩them nothing but sin, the wrath of God hell fire, & everlasting damnation, begin to despair & straight yield them selves to the pleasure of Satan to be for ever and ever tormented in that lake that burneth with fire & brimstone,1 them selves their souls and consciences consenting and assenting thereunto. For what other end can be looked for of a wicked & ungodly life? Is it to be thought, that he which through sin hath served the devil all the time of his life, can at his latter end look for the inheritance of everlasting glory, wherewith God rewardeth them ye painfully labour to serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life?2 S. Paul saith. So run, that ye may obtain, that is to say, so train your life in all Godliness and virtue to the uttermost of your power while ye live in this world, that after the have finished your course here, ye may enjoy the glorious reward of eternal life. A corruptible crown is not obtained without great pains taking, & shall we look for an everlasting crown by leading an ungodly and wanton life?3 No man is crowned, saith the apostle, except he ⟨image 7⟩fighteth lawfully. In this world therefore, wherein our life is nothing but a knighthood or warfare,4