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…

Philemon. O Most loving Saviour, & gentle redeemer, which camest into this world to call sinners unto repentance, and to seek up that was lost,¹ thou seest in what case this our brother lieth here: visited with thy merciful ⟨p. 519⟩hand all weak, feeble, sick, and ready to yield up his soul into thy holy hands. O look upon him (most gentle saviour) with thy merciful eye, pity him and be favourable unto him. He is thy workmanship, despise not therefore the work of thine own hands. Thou sufferedst thy blessed body, and thy precious blood to be shed for his sins, and to bring him unto the glory of thy heavenly father, let it not therefore come to pass, that thou shouldest suffer so great pains for him in vain. He was baptised in thy name, and gave him self wholly to be thy servant, forsaking the devil, the world, and the flesh, confess him therefore before thy heavenly father and his blessed Angels to be thy servant.² His sins, we confess are great (for who is able to say, my heart is clean & I am free from sin) but thy ⟨p. 520⟩mercies,³ O Lord, are much greater. And thou camest not to call th• righteous, but sinners unto repentance. To them that are diseased and overladen with the burden of sin, doest thou promise ease. Thou art that God,⁴ which willest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn and live. Thou art the saviour, which wishest all men to be saved,⁵ and to come to the knowledge of thy truth. Withdraw not therefore thy mercy from him because of his sins, but rather lay upon him thy saving health that thou mayest show thy self toward him to be a saviour. What greater praise can there be to a physician then to heal the sick? Neither can there be a greater glory, to thee being a saviour, then to save sinners, save him therefore, O Lord for thy names sake. Again, let the law be no corrosive to his conscience