A07355:4
The solace of the soul against the bitter storms of sickness and death greatly…The solace of the soule agaynst the bytter stormes of sycknes and deathe greatly…
The solace of the soul against the bitter storms of sickness and death greatly encouraging the faithful, patiently to suffer the good pleasure of God in all kind of adversity, newly set forth in English by Thomas Becon.The solace of the soule agaynst the bytter stormes of sycknes and deathe greatly encouragynge the faythfull, paciently to suffer the good pleasure of God in all kynd of aduersite, newly set forth in Englysshe by Thomas Becon.
Imprinted in Loudon sic : In Pauls church yard at the sign of the Hill by Wyllyam Hill, and are to be sold at the west side of pauls under Peter college by John Casse, Anno. M.D.XLUIII. 1548Imprynted in Loudon sic : In Pauls churche yarde at the sygne of the Hyll by Wyllyam Hyll, and are to be solde at the west syde of pauls vnder Peter college by John Casse, Anno. M.D.XLUIII. 1548
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.
TO THE READER.
TO THE REDER.
VERY notable is this saying of our LORD and saviour Jesus Christ he that continueth unto the end,1 shall be safe, for it declareth unto us, that though the most and greatest part of our life seemeth to be spent both faithfully, and godly, yet if we persevere not in tha• faith and godliness even unto the last breath, but let slip our hold, that we have had heretofore of faith and godly conversation in Christ Jesus, all the labours, pains and travails, that we have sustained in the former part of our life, are frustrate and vain. For no man that putteth his hand to the Plough and looketh back,2 is mete unto the kingdom of God. And it is written in the Revelation of saint John. Be faithful unto the •eath, and I shall give the y• crown3 ⟨image 3⟩of life, the crown of life is prom• sed. But to whom? verily to those that be faithful even unto death, as saint Paul saith. No man is crowned except he striveth lawfully,4 to strive lawfully, is not to play the coward in the battle of Christ our captain, & to give place to our adversaries, but at all times valiantly to fight against them with the strong and mighty shield of faith, and so to continue even unto the end. And albeit this conflict between the faithful Christians and there enemies be at all times jeopardous and full of peril, yet in in the time of sickness, and when death beginneth to draw nigh, it is most dangerous. In health and prosperity Satan's assaults seem to be but trifles and things of dalliance, but in adversity, trouble, sickness and death, they appear most vehement, grievous, terrible