A09461:73
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.
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⟩life. The second practise is to look upon death in the glass of the Gospel, and not in the glass of the Law: that is, we must consider death not as it is propounded in the Law, and look upon that terrible face which the law giveth unto it; but as it is set forth in the Gospel. Death in the law is a curse and the down-fall to the pit of destruction: in the Gospel it is the entrance into heaven: the law sets forth death as death, the Gospel sets forth death as no death, but as a sleep only: because it speaks of death as it is altered & changed by the death of Christ; by the virtue whereof death is properly no death to the servants of God. When men shall have care on this manner to consider of death, it will be a notable means to strengthen ⟨p. 113⟩and stablish them against all immoderate fears & terrors that usually rise in sickness.
The meanes are of two sorts: practises, and meditations: Practises are two especially. The first is, that the sicke man must not so much regard death it self as the benefits of God which are obtained after death. He must not fixe his minde vpon the consideration of the pangs and torments of death; but all his thoughts and affections must be set vpon that blessed estate that is enioyed after death. He that is to passe ouer some great and deepe riuer, must not looke downward to the streame of the water; but if he would preuent feare, he must set his foote sure & cast his eye to the banke on the further side: & so must he that drawes neere death as it, were, look ouer the waues of death, and directly fixe the eye of his faith vpon eternall ⟨p. 112⟩