A07355:8
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.
THE SOLACE OF THE SOUL.
THE SOLACE OF THE SOVLE.
THOU SHALT Ever be at this point (o thou Christian) which art sick and diseased, faithfully to believe that thy punishment & trouble cometh not unto the by chance or fortune, but by the appointment, counsel and sufferance of God. What soever sickness, calamity or misery chanceth to the godly, all that come to pass at the appointment, will & pleasure of God.1 For in him we live, move, and have our being. He hath made us,2 and not we our selves. Nether shalt thou doubt, but that of a right good and very fatherly mind he sendeth the what so ever disease thou hast, not to destroy thee, but to call the unto repē tans, and to exercise, prove, try, ⟨image 5⟩and store up thy faith. For afflictions are the sure signs & undoubted tokens of Gods high mercy, and singular good will. Whom he loveth, him he correcteth, saith Solomon.3 He scourgeth every son, that he receiveth:4 that thy most tender heavenly father, which so dearly loveth thee, according to his singular good appointment, & of an earnest bent good will toward thee, with this thy adversity even as it were with bonds doth pluck back, refrain, and mortify thy old man, that y• mayst crucify with Christ the gladlier & more cheerfully thy body & offer it as a sacrifice: