A Golden Chain

Having thus seen what be the duties of the sick man to himself, let us now see what be the duties which he oweth to his neighbour; and they are two. The first is the duty of reconciliation, whereby he is freely to forgive all men, and to desire to be forgiven of all. In the old testament when a man was to offer a bullock or lamb in sacrifice to God, he must leave his offering at the altar, & first go & be reconciled to his brethren, if they had ought against him: much more then must this be done, when we are in death to offer up our selves, our bodies, and souls, as an acceptable sacrifice unto god. Quest. What if a man cannot come to the speech of them with whom he would be reconciled; or if he do, what if they will not be reconciled? Answ. When any shall in their sickness seek and desire reconciliation, and can not obtain it, either because the parties are absent, or because they will not relent, they have discharged their conscience, and God will accept their will for their deed. As put case, a man lying sick on his death bed, is at enmity with one that is then beyond the sea; so as he can not possibly have any speech with him, if he would never so fain, how shall he stay his mind? why, he must remember that in this case, a will and desire to be reconciled is reconciliation it self.

Hauing thus seene what bee the duties of the sicke man to himselfe, let vs nowe see what bee the duties which hee oweth to his neighbour; and they are two. The first is the dutie of reconciliation, whereby he is freely to forgiue all men, and to desire to be forgiuen of all. In the olde testament when a man was to offer a bullocke or lambe in sacrifice to God, he must leaue his offering at the altar, & first go & be reconciled to his brethren, if they had ought against him: much more then must this be done, when we are in death to offer vp our selues, our bodies, and soules, as an acceptable sacrifice vnto god. Quest. What if a man cannot come to the speech of them with whome he would be reconciled; or if he doe, what if they will not be reconciled? Ansvv. When any shall in their sicknesse seeke and desire reconciliation, and can not obtaine it, either because the parties are absent, or because they will not relent, they haue discharged their conscience, and God will accept their will for their deed. As put case, a man lying sicke on his death bedde, is at enmitie with one that is then beyond the sea; so as hee can not possibly haue any speech with him, if he would neuer so faine, howe shall he stay his minde? why, he must remember that in this case, a will and desire to bee reconciled is reconciliation it selfe.