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.
Eusebius. This is also proved true by the saying of our saviour Christ:1 ye shall weep and lament, saith he, but contrariwise the world shall rejoice. And the Apostle, sayeth, all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus: shall suffer persecution. Hither pertaineth the saying of.2 S. Peter. The time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God. If it first begin at us: what shall the end of them be, which believe not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved: where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that are troubled according to the will of God, commit their souls to him with well doing, as unto a faithful creator.
Eusebius. This is also proued true by the saying of oure sauiour Christ:1 ye shall wepe and lament, saith he, but contrariwise ye world shall reioyce. And the Apostle, saieth, all that will lyue Godly in Christe Iesu: shall suffer persecution. Hither pertaineth the saying of.2 S. Peter. The time is come that iudgement must begin at the house of God. If it first begin at vs: what shal the ende of them be, whiche beleue not the Gospell of God? And if the rightous scarsely be saued: where shall the vngodly and the sinner appere? Wherfore let them that are troubled according to the will of God, commit their soules to him with well doing, as vnto a faithfull creatour.
then by considering the history, which blessed Luke telleth in his Gospel of the unmerciful rich man and of pore Lazarus. The rich glutton was Gods enemy and an adversary to all good men, unkind, churlish, and unmerciful, and yet how pleasantly, and wealthily lived he all his life time? We do not read, that he tasted any thing at all of the cross, but that he was rich, wealthy, gallantly apparelled, fared daintily every day, and lived in all kind of pleasures according to his hearts lust, and yet the end of him was everlasting damnation, that this saying of our saviour Christ might be found true.
Woe be unto you that are rich: for you have your consolation. Woe be unto you that are full: for ye shall hunger. Woe be unto you that now laugh: for ye shall
⟨p. 20⟩
wail and weep. Contrariwise, Lazarus being Gods friend (and dearly beloved of God) was plagued with poverty, hunger, thirst, cold, nakedness, sores, sickness, & divers mortal diseases, which never departed from him so long as he lived: and notwithstanding both patiently and thankfully did he bear this his Cross,
even unto the death, being persuaded that prosperity & adversity, life, and death, poverty, & wealth, are of God, and therefore immediately after his departure out of this world, he was received into everlasting glory. This history brother Epaphroditus declareth evidently, that sickness or trouble sent of God unto the godly, is not a token of Gods wrath and heavy displeasure, but rather a sure argument and manifest sign of his good will, love and favour toward
that thou (O Lord) hast corrected me, that I may learn thine ordinances. Hereto agreeth the saying of S. Paul. When we are judged of the Lord we are chastened,
blessed is the man whom God punisheth: therefore refuse not thou the chastening of the almighty. For though he maketh a wound, he giveth a plaster, though he smite, his hand maketh hole again. God is faithful, saith the Apostle,
Phi. This thing cā by no meanes better be perceiued,1 then by considering the history, whiche blessed Luke telleth in his Gospell of the vnmerciful riche man and of pore Lazarus. The riche gloton was Gods enemy and an aduersary to all good mē, vnkind, churlish, and vnmerciful, and yet how plesantly, and wealthely liued he all his life time? We do not rede, that he tasted any thing at all of the cros, but that he was riche, welthy, galantly apparelled, fared daintely euery day, and liued in all kind of pleasures according to his hartes lust, and yet thende of him was euerlastyng damnation, that thys saying of our sauior Christ might be founde true.2 Wo be vnto you that are riche: for you haue youre consolation. Wo be vnto you that are ful: for ye shal hōger. Wo be vnto you that now laugh: for ye shal ⟨p. 20⟩waile and wepe. Contrariwise, Lazarus being Gods frende (and dearly beloued of God) was pla•ged with pouerty, honger, thirst, colde, nakednes, sores, sicknes, & diuers mortal diseases, which neuer departed from him so long as he liued: and notwithstandinge bothe paciently and thanckfullye did he beare this his Crosse,3 euen vnto the deathe, being perswaded that prosperitie & aduersitie, life, and deathe, pouerty, & wealth, are of God, and therfore immediatly after his departure oute of thys world, he was receiued into euerlasting glorye. This history brother Epaphroditus declareth euidentely, that sicknes or trouble sent of God vnto the godly, is not a token of Gods wrath and heauy displeasure, but rather a sure argumente and manifest signe of his good will, loue and fauour towarde ⟨p. 21⟩vs. Blessed is he, saithe the Psalmograph,4 whome thou (O Lord) nourterest. Again, he saith: it is highly for my wealth,5 that thou (O Lord) hast corrected me, that I may learne thine ordinances. Hereto agreeth the saying of S. Paul. When we are iudged of the Lord we are chastened,6 that we shuld not be damned with the worlde. In the history of Iob it is also written,7 blessed is the man whom God punisheth: therefore refuse not thou the chastening of the almighty. For though he maketh a woūd, he geueth a plaster, though he smite, his hand maketh hole again. God is faithfull, saith the Apostle,8 whiche wil not suffer you to bee tempted aboue youre strength, but shall in the mids of the temptacion make away, that •e may be able to beare it.9
For he •s the father of mercies, and God ⟨p. 22⟩of all consolation, which comforteth us in all our trouble, which knoweth also how to deliver the godly out of temptation.1 All these texts borrowed out of the holy scriptures with many other, do evidently declare, that the cross is laid upon the godly at Gods appointment, and that not for their hurt and destruction, but for their health and salvation. For though our outward man perish:2 yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our trouble,3 which is short & light prepareth an exceeding and an eternal weight of glory unto us, while we look not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen, are temporal, but things which are not seen are eternal.
For he •s the father of mercies, and God ⟨p. 22⟩of all consolacion, whiche comforteth vs in all our trouble, whiche knoweth also howe to deliuer the godly out of temtation.1 All these textes borowed out of the holy scriptures with many other, do euidently declare, that the crosse is laid vpon the godly at Gods appoyntment, and that not for their hurt and destruction, but for their health and saluation. For though our outward man perish:2 yet thinward man is renued day by day. For our trouble,3 whiche is short & light prepareth an exceading and an eternall waight of glory vnto vs, while we loke not on ye things which are sene, but on the things whiche are not sene. For ye things whiche are seene, are temporall, but thinges whiche are not seene are eternall.
Theo. Our elder br••ther Christ, which never commi• sin,1 & in whom no guile nor deceit ⟨p. 23⟩was found, entered not into glory but by the cross, as the apostle saith: We see that Jesus for the suffering of his death was crowned with glory and honour.2 Therefore may not we look to possess the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom by living all in pleasure health, joy, and worldly felicity: but rather by suffering the cross that is laid upon us at gods appointment both patiently and thankfully. For the disciple is not above the master,3 nor the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master is, and that the servant be as his Lord.4 Whosoever beareth not his cross and cometh after me (saith our saviour Christ) he can not be my disciple,5
Theo. Our elder br••ther Christ, which neuer commi• sinne,1 & in whom no guile nor de•ceat ⟨p. 23⟩was found, entred not into glory but by the crosse, as thapostle saith: We se that Iesus for the suffring of his death was crowned with glory and honor.2 Therfore may not we loke to possesse the enheritance of the heauenly kingdom by liuing all in pleasure health, ioy, and worldly felicitie: but rather by suffring the crosse yt is laid vpon vs at gods appoyntment both paciently and thankefullie. For the disciple is not aboue the master,3 nor the seruant aboue his Lord. It is inough for the disciple yt he be as his master is, and that the seruaunt be as his Lord.4 Whosoeuer beareth not his crosse and commeth after me (saith our sauiour Christe) he can not be my disciple,5
Chri. In the revelation of blessed John we read that they which were arrayed with long white garments and are continually ⟨p. 24⟩in the presence of the seat of God, and serve him day & night in his temple, came out of great tribulation.
Chri. In the reuelacion of blessed Iohn we rede that they whiche were araied with longe white garmentes and are continually ⟨p. 24⟩in the presence of the seat of God, and serue him day & night in his temple, came out of greate tribulation.
Philem. It is truth. For such are most mete for the kingdom of God, nether can the voluptuous worldlings be partakers of the heavenly inheritance, which in this world taste of no cross, but live in all pleasure after the desires of the flesh. It is not possible that a man may live here pleasantly with the world, and afterward reign gloriously with Christ, for the friendship of the world,1 is enmity with God. Whosoever will be a friend of the world, is made the enemy of God. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? Or what company hath light with darkness. Or what concord hath Christ with Belial?2 Either what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ⟨p. 25⟩worldly joy & eternal felicity can not agree together. Therefore whosoever is free from the cross in this world, he hath no part in the kingdom of Christ & of God. So that you neighbour Epaphroditus have a great occasion to thank the Lord our God, that it hath pleased him to remember you with this his loving visitation, and through this sickness to declare his good & fatherly will toward you. For by laying this cross upon you, he proveth you, whether you be constant in your faith and profession or not, and whether you will patiently and thankfully b•are this his working in you, which is unto your everlasting salvation or not. And after this manner doth God handle all such as he receiveth unto glory, as the wise man saith:3 What soever happeneth unto thee, receive it, suffer in ⟨p. 26⟩heaviness, and be patient in thy trouble.4 For like as gold & silver are tried in the fire: even so are acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. Again he saith: the oven proveth the potters vessel,5 so doth temptation of trouble, try righteous men. List wise said Raphael the Archangel unto Toby:6 Because thou wast accepted and beloved of God, it was necessary that temptation should try thee. And as Moses said unto the children of Israel:7 the lord your God proveth you, to wit whether ye love the Lord your God withal your hart and with all your soul. S. Peter also saith:8 ye are now for a season in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith being much more precious than gold that perisheth, & yet is tried by fire, might be found unto the praise, glory and honour at the ⟨p. 27⟩appearing of Jesus Christ.
Philem. It is truthe. For suche are moste mete for the kingdom of God, nether can the voluptuous worldlinges be partakers of the heauenly enheritāce, whiche in this worlde taste of no crosse, but liue in all pleasure after the desires of the fleshe. It is not possible that a man may liue here pleasauntly with the worlde, and afterward reigne gloriously with Christe, for the frendshippe of the world,1 is enmitie with God. Whosoeuer wil be a frend of the world, is made the enemy of God. For what felowship hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnes? Or what cōpany hath light wt darcknes. Or what cōcord hath Christ with Beliall?2 Either what part hath he yt beleueth with an infidel? ⟨p. 25⟩worldly ioy & eternall felicity can not agre together. Therfore whosoeuer is fre frō the crosse in this world, he hath no part in the kingdom of Christ & of God. So that you neighbor Epaphroditus haue a great occasion to thancke the Lorde our God, that it hath pleased him to remēber you with this his louinge visitation, and through this sickenesse to declare his good & fatherly wyll towarde you. For by laying this crosse vpon you, he proueth you, whether you be constant in your faith and profession or not, and whether you will pacientlie and thanckefullie b•are this his worcking in you, whiche is vnto your euerlasting saluation or not. And after this maner doth God handle all suche as he receiueth vnto glory, as the wyseman saith:3 What soeuer hapneth vnto thee, receiue it, suffer in ⟨p. 26⟩heauiues, and be pacient in thy trouble.4 For like as gold & siluer are tried in the fire: euen so are acceptable men in the fornace of aduersitie. Again he saith: the ouen proueth the potters vessel,5 so doth temptation of trouble, trie righteous men. Liste wyse said Raphael the Archaungell vnto Toby:6 Because thou wast accepted and beloued of God, it was necessary yt temptacion shuld try thee. And as Moses saide vnto the children of Israel:7
Epah. This comforteth well my weak mind to here of you out of the word of God neighbour Philemon, that this sickness, which I now suffer is the loving visitation of God, and a token of Gods good will toward me, again, that the faithful and friends of God are in this world subject to the Cross more than the unfaithful and enemies of God,
Epah. This comforteth well my weake mind to here of you out of ye word of God neighbor Philemon, that this sicknesse, which I now suffer is the louing visitation of God, and a token of Gods good wyll toward me, again, that the faithfull and frends of God are in this world subiect to the Crosse more than the vnfaithfull and enemies of God,
Phile. I am heartily glad to hear you so say. And doubt you not, but that this your gentle God and loving father, will turn this your sorrow unto your great comfort.1 For he is a faithful God, which will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength, but shall in the mids of the temptation make a way, that ye may be able to bear it, as the Psalmographe saith:2 His wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye, ⟨p. 28⟩and in his pleasure is life. Heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Thou (O Lord) hast turned my heaviness in to joy: thou hast put of my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness. Again he sayeth: Thou O God,3 hast proved us, thou also hast tried us like as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the snare, and laidst trouble upon our loins, thou sufferedst men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and water, and thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place,4 Item: O what great troubles & adversities hast thou showed me? and yet didst thou turn & refresh me, yea and broughtest me from the deep of the earth. Thou hast brought me to great honour and comforted me on every side. Therefore will I praise thee & thy faithfulness O God. Also in another ⟨p. 29⟩place he saith: they that sow in tears,5 shall reap in joy. He that now goeth on his way weeping & beareth forth good seed, shall doubtless come again with joy, & bring his sheaves with him. The ancient father Toby in his prayer unto God saith:6 after a storm, O Lord thou makest the weather fair & still: after weeping and heaviness thou givest great joy. Thy name O God of Israel, be praised for ever.
Phile. I am hartely glad to hear you so say. And doubt you not, but that this your gentle God and louyng father, wyll turne this your sorowe vnto your great comfort.1 For he is a faithful God, whiche will not suffer you to bee tempted aboue your strength, but shall in the mids of the temtation make a way, that ye may be hable to beare it, as the Psalmographe sayth:2 His wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eie, ⟨p. 28⟩and in his pleasure is life. Heauines may endure for a night, but ioy commeth in the morning.
Thou (O Lord) hast tourned my heauines in to ioy: thou hast put of my sackcloth, and girded me with gladnes. Againe he saieth: Thou O God,3 hast proued vs, thou also hast tried vs like as siluer is tried. Thou broughtest vs into the snare, and laidst trouble vpō our loynes, thou suffredst mē to ride ouer our heads. We went thorowe fire and water, and thou broughtest vs out into a welthy place,4 Item: O what great troubles & aduersities hast thou shewed me? and yet didst thou turne & refresh me, yea and broghtest me from the depe of the earth. Thou hast brought me to great honour and comforted me on euery syde. Therfore will I praise thee & thy faithfulnes O God. Also in another ⟨p. 29⟩place he saith: they that sowe in teares,5 shal repe in ioy. He that now goeth on his way weping & bereth foorth good sede, shal doutles come againe with ioy, & bryng his sheues with him. Thauncient father Toby in his prayer vnto God saith:6 after a storme, O Lord thou makest the weather faire & still: after weping and heauinesse thou geuest great ioy. Thy name O God of Israel, be praised for euer.
Phile. Doubt ye not neighbour, but if ye call on the name of the Lord, ye shall find great comfort. For as that princelike Prophet saith:1 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, and will save such as be of an humble spirit. ⟨p. 30⟩Great are the troubles of y• righteous, but the lord delivereth them out of all: he keepeth all their bones so that not one of them is broken.
Phile. Doubt ye not neighboure, but if ye call on the name of the Lord, ye shall finde great comfort. For as that princelike Prophet sayth:1 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them, and deliuereth them out of al their troubles. The Lord is nie vnto thē that are of a contrite heart, and will saue suche as be of an humble spirite. ⟨p. 30⟩Great are the troubles of y• righteous, but the lord deliuereth thē out of al: he kepeth all their bones so that not one of them is broken.
Phi. I will do it gladly. As I may let pass the ancient Patriarchs. What a cross laid God upon Josephs shoulders in Egypt? yea and that for no fault that he had committed but only to prove and try his faith, love, obedience, patience, thankfulness & perseverance. He suffered Joseph being a godly and chaste young man to be falsely accused of his whorish mistress,1 and to be cruelly thrown of his master into prison, where he continued ⟨p. 31⟩certain years in captivity and thraldom. But behold the merciful dealing of God with his faithful servants. Afterward, wham God by proving him, had found him faithful, constant & patient: he delivered Joseph out of prison, restored him unto his liberty, won him into the kings favour, in so much that the king toke of his ring from his hand, & put it upon Joseph's hand, & arrayed him in cloth of rains, & put a golden chain about his neck, and set him upon the best chariot that he had save one. And they cried before him: bow the knee. And king Pharaoh made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Phi. I will do it gladly. As I may let passe the auncient Patriarkes. What a crosse laid God vpō Iosephes shoulders in Egipt? yea and that for no fault that he had committed but only to proue and try his faith, loue, obedience, pacience, thankfulnes & perseuerance. He suffred Ioseph being a godlie and chast yong man to be falsly accused of his whorish mystres,1 and to be cruelly throwne of his master into prison, where he continued ⟨p. 31⟩certen yeares in captiuitie and thraldom. But behold ye mercifull dealing of God with his faithfull seruāts. Afterward, whā God by prouing him, had foūd him faithful, cōstant & pacient: he deliuered Ioseph out of prison, restored him vnto his libertie, won him into ye kings fauor, in so much yt the king toke of his ring from his hand, & put it vpō Ioseps hand, & araied him in cloth of rains, & put a golden chain about his necke, and set him vpon the best charet yt he had saue one. And they cried before him: bow the kne. And king Pharao made hym ruler ouer all the land of Egipt.
ye are nowe for a season in heauines thorow manifold temtacions, that ye triall of your fath being muche more precious than gold that perisheth, & yet is tried by fire, might be founde vnto the prayse, glory and honoure at the
