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.
Thomas Becon 1512–1567London: printed by John Day, 1561London: printed by Iohn Day, 1561
[12], 545, [3] p. · 82k words · STC 1757 · ESTC S114654
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.
Epa. This. At the time of my burial, when the people be gathered together, I would gladly have some learned man to make a Sermon, wherein the people may be admonished of their mortality, and be taught, how they ought to dispose them selves in this life, that when the time come, they may yield up a good soul into the hands of the living God. For his pains I appoint. x.s. to be given him. Also I give for the preaching of four score sermons at other times, when it shall be thought most convenient xx. pounds. And as I with these ⟨p. 149⟩
Sermons to be preached by godly & discrete learned men: so I wish them to be preached in such places, as the people have most need of doctrine and teaching. For the Lord knoweth, the people perish for want of godly knowledge.
The greatest part of our beneficed men (God help us) are blind guides, and dom dogs, not once able to bark. The people are desirous to know God, and among the great multitude of so many beneficed men, none almost ether is able, or else endeavoureth him self to bring them unto Christ. It is in these our days found true, that is written in the gospel.
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. It behoveth therefore every Christen heart to pray the Lord of the harvest, that he will send labourers (not loiterers) into his harvest, and to procure
⟨p. 150⟩
so much as lieth in his power, that the word of God may be universally preached, that the people may repent, turn unto the Lord our God, and serve him in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life, which can not be brought to pass, where the word of God is not preached.
How shall they believe on him, of whom they have not hard? How shall they hear without a preacher? To declare therefore my good will toward the word of God, & the salvation of the Christians, I give .xx. pounds for the preaching of .lxxx. sermons. I pray you note it in my will,
Epa. This. At the tyme of my buriall, when the people be gathered together, I wold gladly haue some learned man to make a Sermon, wherin the people may be admonished of their mortalitie, and be taught, howe they ought to dispose them selues in this life, that whan the tyme come, they may yelde vp a good soule into the handes of the liuing God. For his paines I appoynt. x.s. to be geuen him. Also I geue for the preaching of foure score sermons at other times, whē it shalbe thought most conuenient xx. poundes. And as I with these ⟨p. 149⟩Sermōs to be preached by godly & discrete learned men: so I wishe them to be preached in suche places, as the people haue most nede of doctrine and teaching. For the Lorde knoweth, the people perish for want of godly knowledge.1 The greatest parte of our beneficed men (God helpe vs) are blinde guides, and dom dogges, not once able to barke. The people are desirous to knowe God, and omong the great multitude of so many beneficed men, none almoste ether is able, or els endeuoreth him selfe to bring them vnto Christ. It is in these our daies found true, that is written in the gospel.2 The haruest truely is plenteous, but the labourers are fewe. It behoueth therefore euery Christen heart to pray the Lord of the haruest, that he will send labourers (not loyterers) into his harnest, and to procure ⟨p. 150⟩so much as lieth in his power, that the worde of God may be vniuersally preached, that the people may repent, turn vnto ye Lord our God, and serue hym in holynes and righteousnes al the days of their life, whiche can not bee brought to passe, where the word of God is not preached.3 How shal they beleue on him, of whom they haue not hard? How shal thei hear without a preacher? To declare therfore my good will toward the word of God, & the saluatiō of the Christians, I geue .xx. poundes for the preaching of .lxxx. sermōs. I pray you note it in my wil,
Eu The manner is (as ye know) that when a man of honest reputation departeth, & is brought to be buried, there should follow him certain in fine black gowns, & certain pore men & women in courser cloth.
Eu The manner is (as ye know) yt whan a man of honest reputation departeth, & is brought to be buried, ther shuld follow him certaine in fine blacke gownes, & certain pore men & women in courser cloth.
Ep. Why for me? Because good things have chanced unto me? Because I have passed over the dangerous sea, and am come unto the haven of quietness? Or because I am delivered from all evil and set in a blessed and joyful state? I think that at the burials ⟨p. 152⟩of the faithful, there should rather be joy & gladness, then mourning and sadness, rather pleasant songs of thanksgiving: then lamentable and doleful diriges. Let the infidels mourn for their dead: the Christians ought to rejoice, when any of the faithful be called from this vale of misery unto the glorious kingdom of God.
Ep. Why for me? Because good thinges haue chaunced vnto me? Because I haue passed ouer ye daungerous sea, and am come vnto the hauen of quietnes? Or because I am deliuered from al euil and set in a blessed and ioyfull state? I thinke that at the burials ⟨p. 152⟩of the faithfull, there shuld rather be ioy & gladnes, then mourning and sadnes, rather pleasant songes of thankesgeuing: then lamentable and dolefull diriges. Let the infideles mourn for their dead: the Christians ought to reioyse, whan any of the faithfull be called from this vale of misery vnto the glorious kyngdome of God.
