A07163:267
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.
Epaph. First as touching my wife:1 with whom I coupled my self in the fear of God, and refusing all other women, I •inked my self unto her, living with her in the blessed state of honourable wedlock, by whom also thou the blessing of God, I have •ad certain children, whereof part •re gone before me unto the lord, ⟨p. 138⟩and part yet remain a live, albeit I doubt not, but the god, after my departure according unto his promise, will be unto her an husband, yea a father, a patron & defender, & will not suffer her to lack, if she go •orth to live in his fear, to serve him, and diligently to call on his holy name, yet forasmuch as God hath blessed me with worldly substance, and she is mine own flesh, and whosoever provideth not for his,2 hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel, I bequeath & give unto her for term of her life, this house wherein I now dwell, with the appurtenances, and all the household stuff contained therein. And after her departure, I will that my eldest son (whom now I only have alive of all my sons) have the house. Let this suffice for my wives portion, whom I doubt not, God will take into ⟨p. 139⟩his protection, and so provide for her in the time of her short pilgrimage, that she shall want no good thing. Only I crave this at her hand, that she be diligent in training up my children in the fear and doctrine of the Lord: so shall God be unto her an husband, and to her children a father. Moreover as concerning my children, albeit I am fully persuaded that God according to his promise will be a father unto them, & if they live in his fear, he will not see them lack, yet both the law of God, & of nature requireth, that I should also have some care for them.3 Therefore unto my son I bequeath the house & the land, which I have given my wife for term of her life, freely to be his own after his Mothers departure. And if God so appointing, he chanceth to depart before his mother, I will that the