A Golden Chain

And to conclude this point touching physic, I will here set down two especial duties of the Physician himself. The first is, that in the want and defect of such as are to put sick men in mind of their sins, it is a duty specially concerning him, he being a member of Christ, to advertise his patients that they must truly humble themselves, and pray fervently to God for the pardon of all their sins: and surely this duty would be more commonly practised then it is, if all physicians did consider that oftentimes they want good success in their dealings, not because there is any want in art or good will, but because ⟨p. 803⟩the party with whom they deal is impenitent. The second duty is, when he sees manifest signs of death in his patient, not to depart concealing them, but first of all to certify the patient thereof. There may be and is too much niceness in such concealments, and the plain trueth in this case known, is very profitable. For when the party is certain of his end, it bereaves him of all confidence in earthly things, & makes him put all his affiance in the mere mercy of God. When Hezekiah was sick, the prophet speaks plainly unto him and saith, Set thine house in order: for thou must die. And what good we may reap by knowing certainly that we have received the sentence of death, Paul showeth when he sayeth,¹ We received the sentence of death in our selves, because we should not trust in our selves, but in God which raiseth the dead.

And to conclude this point touching physicke, I will here set downe two especiall duties of the Physitian himselfe. The first is, that in the want and defect of such as are to put sicke men in mind of their sinnes, it is a dutie specially cōcerning him, he being a mēber of Christ, to aduertise his patients that they must truly humble themselues, and pray feruently to God for the pardon of all their sinnes: and surely this dutie would be more commonly practised then it is, if all physitians did consider that oftentimes they want good successe in their dealings, not because there is any want in art or good will, but because ⟨p. 803⟩the partie with whome they deale is impenitent. The second dutie is, when he sees manifest signes of death in his patient, not to depart concealing them, but first of all to certifie the patient thereof. There may be and is too much nicenesse in such concealements, and the plaine trueth in this case knowne, is verie profitable. For when the partie is certaine of his end, it bereaues him of all confidence in earthly things, & makes him put all his affiance in the meere mercie of God. When Ezechias was sicke, the prophet speakes plainely vnto him and saith, Set thine house in order: for thou must die. And what good we may reape by knowing certainly that we haue receiued the sentence of death, Paul sheweth when he saieth,