A07163:388
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.
Phile. They are all here present.
Epaphr. 1Come hither wife. You see in what case I lie here, sick, weak, and the prisoner of God, looking every hour for my departure out of this world. ⟨p. 201⟩And this visitation of God is unto me welcome, and I thank the Lord withal my heart for it. I doubt not, but that when I am once gone out of this wretched life, I shall be in a far better case then ever I was in this world. Therefore I pray thee good wife, be not heavy, neither take thought for me, but rather pray, that the good will of God may be done in me. And be aswell contented, that I should now at the calling of God go from thee, as ever thou wast to have me in thy company, I have run my race. I have passed those years, which the Lord appointed that I should live in this world. And now is the time of my departure come. And I give over this my life willingly, and with a free hart. Therefore take no thought for me. And doubt thou not (sweet wife) but if ye goest forth to live ⟨p. 202⟩in the fear of God, and to please him, God in the time of thy widowhood will be an husband unto thee. He will be thy patron and defender. He will be thy mighty shield & strong buckler. He will provide and afore see, that thou and thine shall want no good thing.2 For he hath promised in his holy word, that he will take charge of the widows and defend their cause.3 He hath also given a strait commandment to the magistrates & head rulers, to look unto widows, & to deliver them from oppression. And his holy Apostle saith, that the pure and undefiled Religion before God the father, is to visit, help, & comfort widows. Therefore I doubt not but the Lord our God, will abundantly provide for thee and thine. Notwithstanding wife, forasmuch as from the first time o our marriage unto this present day