A09461:67
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.
And touching help in this case, sundry duties are to be performed. Saint James sets down four, two whereof concern the sick patient, and other two such as be helpers. The first duty ⟨p. 103⟩of the sick man is to send for help: where two circumstances must be considered; who must be sent for, and when. For the first S. James saith, Is any sick among you? 1let him call for the elders of the Church. Whereby are meant not only Apostles and all ministers of the Gospel, but others also (as I take it) which were men ancient for years endued with the spirit of understanding and prayer, and had withal the gift of working miracles and of healing the sick. For in the primitive Church this gift was for a time so plentifully bestowed on them that believed in Christ,2 that soldiers cast out devils, and parents wrought miracles on their children. Hence we may learn, that howsoever it be the duty of the Ministers of the word principally to visit ⟨p. 104⟩and comfort the sick, yet is it not their duty alone: for it belongs to them also which have knowledge of Gods word, and the gift of prayer.3 Exhort one an other (saith the holy Ghost) while it is called to day. And again,4 Admonish them that are disordered, and comfort those that are weak. And indeed in equity it should be the duty of every Christian man to comfort his brother in sickness. Here we must needs take knowledge of the common fault of men and women when they come to visit their neighbours and friends they can not speak a word of instruction and comfort, but spend the time either in silence, gazing, and looking on; or in uttering words to little or no purpose saying to the sick party, that they are sorry to see him ⟨p. 105⟩in that case, that they would have him to be of good comfort, but wherein, and by what means they cannot tell: that they doubt not but that he shall recover his health and live with them still, & be merry as in former time: that they will pray for him: whereas all their prayers are nothing else but the Apostles Creed, or the ten Commandments, & the Lords prayer uttered without understanding. And this is the common comfort that sick men get at the hands of their neighbours, when they come unto them: and all this comes either because men live in ignorance of Gods word, or because they falsely think that the whole burden of this duty lies upon the shoulders of the minister.