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.
Phile. Cast the eyes of your• mind with strong faith on the seed of the woman, which hath trodden down the serpents head, and destroyed his power, as he sayeth by ⟨p. 353⟩the Prophet:1 O hell, I will be thy destruction,2 which by death hath put him to flight that had Lordship over death, even the Devil, that he might deliver them, which through fear of death were all their life time subdued unto bondage, which also (as the Apostle saith) hath spoiled rule & power,3 & hath made a show of them openly, and hath triumphed over them in his own person.4 So shall you be sure to escape his grievous assaults. For the Son of God appeared for this purpose, even to destroy the works of the Devil. Christ was figured by that brazen serpent, which God commanded Moses to set up in the wilderness, adding this promise unto it,5 that whosoever being stricken of the fiery Serpents did look on that, he should be healed. After this manner, is it between Christ and
us. If that fiery serpent the devil hath stricken and wounded us, let us look upon Christ with strong faith, and we shall surely for Gods promise sake be made whole, as Christ him self testifieth, saying: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness:
so must the son of man be lifted up, that all that believe on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For god sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. If Satan therefore hath either wounded you already, or else goeth about so to do, fear not, repair unto Christ, look on him with the eyes of your faith, so shall you be free from his venomous chaws. For as you are now tempted,
Saint John also saith, this is the victory, which overcometh the world even our faith. Not only all godly & faithful men were tempted, but also our saviour Christ.
His triumph is our victory, and his victory is our triumph.
Phile. Cast the eies of your• mind with strong faith on the sed• of the woman, which hath trode• downe the serpents head, and destroyed his power, as he saieth by ⟨p. 353⟩the Prophet:1 O hel, I wyll be thy destruction,2 which by death hath put him to flight that had Lordeshippe ouer death, euen the Deuill, that he might deliuer them, whiche throughe feare of death were all their lyfe tyme subdued vnto bondage, whiche also (as the Apostle saith) hath spoyled rule & power,3 & hath made a shew of thē openly, and hath triumphed ouer them in his own persone.4 So shal you be sure to escape his greuous assaultes. For the sonne of God apeared for this purpose, euen to destroy the workes of the Deuill. Christ was figured by that brasen serpent, which God commaūded Moses to set vp in the wildernes, adding this promise vnto it,5 that whosoeuer beyng stricken of the firy Serpentes did loke on that, he shoulde be healed. After this maner, is it betwene Christe and ⟨p. 354⟩vs. If that firy serpent the deuill hath striken and wounded vs, let vs loke vpon Christ with stronge faith, and we shal surely for Gods promise sake be made whole, as Christe him selfe testifieth, saying: As Moyses lyfted vp the serpent in the wildernes:6 so must the son of man be lyfted vp, that all that beleue on hym should not peryshe, but haue euerlasting life. For god sent not his sonne into the worlde to condemne the worlde, but that the world shold be saued through him. If Sathan therfore hath either wounded you already, or els goeth about so to do, feare not, repare vnto Christ, loke on him with the eies of your faithe, so shall you be fre from his venomus chause. For as you are nowe tempted,7 so were al godly men, but they ouercame ye tēpter through strōg faith in Christ. Therfore saith s. Peter. ⟨p. 355⟩Be ye sober and watche, for your aduersary the deuill goeth about like a roring Lion,8 seing whome he may deuoure, whome resist ye strong in faith.9 Saint Iohn also saith, this is the victory, which ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith. Not only all godly & faithfull men were tempted, but also our sauiour Christ.10 And this is a great comfort for vs. For in that it fortuned him selfe to be tempted,11 he is hable to succour them, also that are tempted. Christ being tempted, ouercame his temptations to get vs the victory ouer the tempter.12 His triumphe is our victory, and his victory is our triumphe.
Whatsoever he did & got in his humanity, he did and got it not for him self, but for us. And God is faithful (saith the apostle) which will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength,1 but ⟨p. 356⟩will in the mids of the temptation make away, that ye may be able t• bear it. Believe therefore in Christ & you are without all danger.2
Whatsoeuer he did & got in his humanitie, he did and got it not for him self, but for vs. And God is faithfull (saith the apostle) whiche will not suffer you to be tempted aboue your strength,1 but ⟨p. 356⟩wil in the mids of the temptation make away, that ye may be able t• beare it. Beleue therfore in Christ & you are without al danger.2
Phi. That prayer is a necessary remedy for the avoiding of Satan's temptations, the holy scriptures teach manifestly in divers places. Our saviour Christ saith,1 watch & pray, that ye fall not into temptation. Again. This kind of devils is not ⟨p. 357⟩cast out, but by prayer & fasting.2 To repress yt temptations of Satan all godly men even from the beginning fled unto faithful prayer, as a mighty & sure defence against satan and all his crafty assaults. And God hath commanded us to pray, whensoever we are troubled, and doeth also promise us, that he will both hear and help us. Call on me,3 sayeth he in the time of thy trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt honour me. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a troubled heart,4 & he will help them that be broken in spirit.
Phi. That prayer is a necessary remedy for the auoyding of Sathans temptations, the holy scriptures teache manifestly in diuers places. Our sauior Christ saith,1 watch & pray, that ye fal not into temptation. Againe. This kind of deuils is not ⟨p. 357⟩cast out, but by prayer & fasting.2 To represse yt temtatiōs of Satā all godly men euen frō the beginning fled vnto faithfull praier, as a mighty & sure defence againste sathan and al his crafty assaultes. And God hath commaunded vs to pray, whensoeuer we are troubled, and doeth also promise vs, yt he wyll both heare and helpe vs. Call on me,3 sayeth he in the tyme of thy trouble, and I wyl delyuer thee, and thou shalt honoure me. The Lorde is nie vnto them that are of a troubled heart,4 & he wyll help thē that be broken in spirite.
Phi. O heavenly and most merciful father, we most humbly beseech thee for thy sons sake Jesus Christ our Lord, have pity upon this thy creature, and ⟨p. 358⟩succour him in these horrible assaults and temptations of the devil. Deliver his soul in these extreme necessities from all the internal army. Send him down strength from above, that he may be able to resist his enemy, and to stand steadfast in the time of this his temptation. Be thou his strong rock, castle, shield, tower, and defence, that he in this great trouble being preserved from the tyranny of his enemies▪ through thy godly grace assistance & help: may continue in the true and christen faith unto his lives end, and afterward be received into thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Phi. O heauenly and moste mercifull father, we moste humbly besech thee for thy sonnes sake Iesus Christ our Lord, haue pitie vpon this thy creature, and ⟨p. 358⟩succoure him in these horrible assaultes and temptations of the de•uill. Deliuer his soule in these extreame necessities from all the internall army. Sende him downe strength from aboue, that he may be able to resiste his ennemy, and to stande stedfaste in the tyme of this his temptation. Be thou his strong rocke, castell, shield, tower, and defense, that he in this greate trouble being preserued from the tyranny of his ennemies▪ through thy godly grace assistence & helpe: may continue in the true and christen faith vnto his liues end, and afterward be receiued into thy heuenly kingdome, through Iesus Christ our Lord.
Epa. Now will I pore & wretched sinner offer my prayers also unto the Lord my God in Jesus Christs name, trusting and believing undoubtedly, that he graciously will ⟨p. 359⟩hear me, and defend me against mine enemies.1
Epa. Now will I pore & wratched sinner offer my prayers also vnto the Lord my God in Iesus Christes name, trusting and beleuing vndoubtedly, that he gratiously wyl ⟨p. 359⟩heare me, and defend me against mine enemies.1
