A09461:62
A salve for a sick man. or, A treatiseA salve for a sicke man. or, A treatise
A salve for a sick man. or, A treatise containing the nature, differences, and kinds of death as also the right manner of dying well. And it may serve for spiritual instruction to 1. Mariners when they go to sea. 2. Soldiers when they go to battle. 3. Women when they travel of child.A salve for a sicke man. or, A treatise containing the nature, differences, and kindes of death as also the right manner of dying well. And it may serue for spirituall instruction to 1. Mariners when they goe to sea. 2. Souldiers when they goe to battell. 3. Women when they trauell of child.
London: printed by John Legat, 1611London: printed by Iohn Legat, 1611
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.
As for the Annoying of the sick, that is, the anointing of the body, specially the organs ⟨p. 93⟩or instruments of the senses, that the party may obtain the remission of his sins, and comfort against all the temptations of the devil in the hour of death, and strength more easily to bear the pains of sickness and the pangs of death, and be again restored to his corporal health, if it be expedient for the salvation of his soul, it is but a dotage of mans brain, and hath not so much as a show of reason to justify it. The fifth of James is commonly alleged to this purpose, but the anointing there mentioned is not of the same kind with this greasy sacrament of the Papists. For that anointing of the body was a ceremony used by the Apostles and others, when they put in practise the miraculous gift of healing, which gift is now ceased. Secondly, that anointing ⟨p. 64⟩had a promise that the party anointed should recover his health: but this popish anointing hath no such promise; because for the most part the persons thus anointed die afterward without recovery: whereas those which were anointed in the primitive Church always recovered. Thirdly, the ancient anointing served only for the procuring of health, but this tends further to the procuring of remission of sins, and strength in temptation. Thus having seen the doctrine of the Papists, I come now to speak of the true and right manner of making particular preparation before death, which contains three sorts of duties: one concerning god, the other concerning a mans own self, the third concerning our neighbour. The first concerning God, is to seek to be reconciled ⟨p. 95⟩unto him in Christ, though we have bin long assured of his favour. All other duties must come after in the second place, & they are of no effect without this. Now this reconciliation must be sought for & is obtained by a renewing of our former faith & repentance: and they must be renewed on this manner. So soon as a man shall feel any manner of sickness to seize upon his body, he must consider with himself whence it ariseth: & after serious consideration, he shall find that it comes not by chance or fortune, but by the providence of God. This done, he must go yet further & consider for what cause the Lord should afflict his body with any sickness or disease.