A09461:72
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.
Thus much of the duty which the sick man owes to God; now follow the duties which he is to perform unto himself, and they are twofold: one concerns his soul, the other his body. The duty concerning his soul is, that he must arm & furnish himself against the immoderate fear of present death. And the reason hereof is plain: because howsoever naturally men fear death through the whole course of their lives more or less, yet in the time of sickness when death approacheth, this natural fear bred in the bone will most of all show it self, even in such sort, as it will astonish the senses of the sick party; and sometime cause desperation. Therefore it is necessary that we should use means to strengthen our selves against the fear of death.
Thus much of the duty which the sick man owes to God; now follow the duties which he is to performe vnto himselfe, and they are twofold: one concernes his soule, the other his bodie. The dutie concerning his soule is, that he must arme & furnish himself against the immoderate feare of present death. And the reason hereof is plaine: because howsoeuer naturally men feare death through the whole course of their liues more or lesse, yet in the time of sicknesse when death approcheth, this naturall feare bred in the bone will most of all shew it selfe, euen in such sort, as it will astonish the senses of the sicke partie; and sometime cause desperation. Therefore it is necessarie that we shold vse meanes to strengthen our selues against the feare of death.
The means are of two sorts: practises, and meditations: Practises are two especially. The first is, that the sick man must not so much regard death it self as the benefits of God which are obtained after death. He must not fix his mind upon the consideration of the pangs and torments of death; but all his thoughts and affections must be set upon that blessed estate that is enjoyed after death. He that is to pass over some great and deep river, must not look downward to the stream of the water; but if he would prevent fear, he must set his foot sure & cast his eye to the bank on the further side: & so must he that draws near death as it, were, look over the waves of death, and directly fix the eye of his faith upon eternal ⟨p. 112⟩