A07163:656
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.
The. Amen.
Phi. Al the godly even from the beginning have believed the promises of God, and nothing doubted of them, whether they concerned temporal or spiritual things, and according to their faith, so received they. Yea when God seamed most to be angry with them & utterly to cast them from his favour: •uen then did they nothing doubt •f his merciful goodness, but with •rong faith cleaveth to the promises of God, as a certain man saith: ⟨p. 470⟩Though he kill me,1 yet will I put my trust in him. The Psalmograph also saith:2 Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid. And though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him. If ether Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, or any other saints of the old testament had doubted of the promises which God made unto them, so had they never found favour at the majesty of god, nor obtained those things, which God had promised them.3 For without faith it is impossible to please God. He that doubteth of the promises of God, shall obtain no good thing at the hand of God. To what end are we so often in the holy scripture exhorted to believe God and his promises, if it were lawful for us to doubt of them? If to believe and to doubt be one thing, why is everlasting salvation promised to the one, and ⟨p. 471⟩eternal damnation to the other? Whosoever therefore will be saved, let him cast away all unbelief and doubtfulness, and with tooth and •ayle (as they use to say) clean to the promises of God, nothing doubting, but according as God hath promised, so shall it chance unto him. If we do repent and believe his word, God hath promised us for christs sake to favour us, to forgive us all our sins, and to bring us unto everlasting life, let us not therefore doubt of this his promise, but with strong and unshaken faith believe it, and look for boldly that is promised, so we may be sure to have the grace and avour of God, to have remission and forgiveness of our since, nd finally to have everlasting ife. Let us therefore approach with oldnes, and not with doubting nd wavering,