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. I trust then within few hours to see all the faithful, which before ⟨p. 338⟩me have departed in the Lord, my children also and all my other acquaintance.
Epa. I trust then within fewe houres to se al the faithfull, whiche before ⟨p. 338⟩me haue departed in the Lord, my children also and all my other acquaintaunce.
Eu. I marvel that any man should doubt of this doctrine, being so clearly set forth both by the authority of the holy scriptures, and by the testimonies of the godly writers: seeing that the very heathen, which knew not God a right, being persuaded […] the immortality of the soul, never doubted of it, but were thoroughly resolved that such as lived in this world justly and uprightly, and deserved well of the common wealth. when so ever they departed from this life, should go unto the blessed company of the immortal Gods, & there not only see & know the gods, but also all those noble, good and virtuous parsons, that ever lived in this world, as well such as they
⟨p. 339⟩
never knew, as also those, whom in this world they did most perfectly know. And they being thus persuaded, desired death, at the least when the time of their departure came, they toke their death the more joyfully and patiently, I will rehearse unto you the wor•es of •ne or two of them. I have […] desire (said Cato the elder) •o see your fathers,
whom I honoured and loved. But I wish not on•y to talk with them, whom I have known in this world, but with such also, as of whom I have •eard and red, yea and I my self •ave written. If I were once go•ng thitherward, I would never •ave mind to return hither a•ain. Again he saith, O that no•le and pleasant day, when it shall •e my chance to come unto that heavenly company and blessed fellowship, and depart from this troublous
⟨p. 340⟩
& stinking world. For the• shall I go not only unto those men • of whom I spake unto you before but also unto my Cato, which was as worthy a man as ever lived, and as noble. And it is written of Socrates, that when he wen• unto his death among many other things he said, that it is a most blessed & goodly thing for them to come together, which have lived justly & faithfully: o saith he what a great pleasure think you it to be, friendly to talk with Orpheus,
Musaeus Home•rus, Hesiodus, & such like? verily I would die full oft, if it were possibl• to get those things that I speak of Thus see we that many among yt very Heathen, which were perswade• of the immortality of the soul, beleve• that they which in this world live• godly, justly, uprightly & honestly should all go unto a joyful place o• rest, & there having the blessed company of the immortal gods, they shul•
⟨p. 341⟩
know one another, talk & rejoice one with an other.
Eu. I maruell yt any man shuld doubt of thys doctrine, beynge so clearlye set forthe both by the authority of the holye scriptures, and by the testimonyes of the godly wryters: seynge that the very heathen, which knew not God a right, beynge parswaded 〈…〉 the immortality of the soule, neuer doubted of it, but were thorowlye resolued that such as lyued in this world iustly and vprightly, and deserued wel of the common wealth. whan so euer they departed from this life, should go vnto the blessed company of the immortal Gods, & there not only se & know the gods, but also all those noble, good and vertuous parsons, that euer liued in this world, as wel suche as they ⟨p. 339⟩neuer knew, as also those, whome in this world they dyd moste perfectly know. And they beyng thus perswaded, desyred deathe, at the leaste when the tyme of theyr departure came, they toke their deathe the more ioyfully and paciently, I wil rehearse vnto you ye wor•es of •ne or two of them. I haue 〈…〉 desire (said Cato the elder) •o se your fathers,1 whom I honou••d and loued. But I wish not on•y to talke wyth them, whome I haue knowen in thys worlde, but with such also, as of whom I haue •eard and red, yea and I my selfe •aue wrytten. If I were once go•ng thitherward, I woulde neuer •aue mynde to retourne hyther a•ain. Againe he saith, O that no•le and pleasant day, when it shall •e my chaunce to come vnto that •eauenly company and blessed fe•owship, and depart frō this troublous ⟨p. 340⟩& stincking world. For the• shall I go not only vnto those mē • of whom I spake vnto you befor• but also vnto my Cato, whiche was as worthy a man as euer liued, and as noble. And it is written of Socrates, yt when he wen• vnto his death amōg many other thīgs he said, yt it is a most blessed & goodly thing for thē to come together, which haue liued iustly & faithfully: o saith he what a grea• pleasure thinke you it to be, frēdl• to talk wt Orpheus, 2Musaeus Home•rus, Hesiodus, & such like? verely I wold die ful oft, if it were possibl• to get those things yt I speake of Thus se we yt many among yt very Heathē, which wer perswade• of thinmortality of ye soul, beleue• yt they whiche in this world liue• godly, iustly, vprightly & honestly should al go vnto a ioyful place o• rest, & ther hauing ye blessed comp••ny of ye immortal gods, they shul•⟨p. 341⟩know one another, talk & reioyce one wt an other.
The. As touching the Ethnics, which in this world led a just & upright life in the sight of men. I pronounce nothing, but leave them unto gods judgment, but as concerning the faithful christians which believe in God, fear & love God, are persuaded of their salvation in Christs blood, & frame their life unto the uttermost of their power, according to the commandments of God, as they shall all obtain one glorious kingdom & be Citizens of one City: so likewise shall they see & know one an other, talk, rejoice, & be merry one with another. This is my belief.
The. As touching ye Ethnickes, which in this world led a iust & vpright life in the sight of mē. I pronoūce nothing, but leue thē vnto gods iudgmēt, but as concerning the faithful christians which beleue in God, feare & loue God, are perswaded of their saluatiō in Christes blud, & frame their life vnto the vttermost of their power, according to the cōmaundements of God, as they shall al obtain one glorious kingdome & be Citezins of one Citie: so likewyse shal they se & know one an other, talke, reioyse, & be mery one with another. This is my belief.
Ph. I agree with you in opinion concerning this matter. Therefore good neighbour Epaphrodit. be of good •here, take a good hart unto you, faint not, nether fear you death. For the time is at hand, that you leaving ⟨p. 342⟩this wretched world and the inhabitants thereof, shall come unto that most glorious and heavenly kingdom, where you shall have the sight and knowledge not only of God and of his holy angels, but also of all Gods elect and chosen people. Al your dear friends, which are gone afore you, shall gloriously come and mete you, joyfully receive you, gladly present you unto the majesty of God, and so shall you altogether remain in all glory and joy for ever and ever.
Ph. I agre wt you in opiniō concerning this matter. Therfore good neighbor Epaphrodit. be of good •here, take a good hart vnto you, faynt not, nether feare you death. For ye time is at hand, that you leauing ⟨p. 342⟩this wretched worlde and the inhabitantes therof, shall come vnto that most glorious and heauē ly kingdom, where you shall haue the sight and knowledge not only of God and of his holy angels, but also of al Gods elect and chosen people. Al your dear frendes, which are gone afore you, shal glo•riously come and mete you, ioyfully receiue you, gladly present you vnto the maiestie of God, and so shall you altogether remain in al glory and ioy for euer and euer.
