A salve for a sick man. or, A treatiseA salve for a sicke man. or, A treatise

And to conclude this point touching physic, I will here set down two especial duties of the physician himself. The first is, that in the want and defect of such as are to put sick men in mind of their sins, it is a duty specially concerning him, he being a member of Christ, to advertise his parties that they must truly humble themselves, and pray fervently to God for the pardon of all their sins: and surely this duty would be more ⟨p. 139⟩commonly practised then it is, if all physicians did consider that oftentimes they want good success in their dealings, not because there is any want in art, or good will, but because the party with whom they deal is impenitent. The second duty is, when he sees manifest signs of death in his patient, not to depart concealing them, but first of all to certify the patient thereof. There may be and is too much niceness in such concealments, and the plain truth in this case known, is very profitable. For when the party is certain of his end, it bereaves him of all confidence in earthly things, & makes him put all his affiance in the mere mercy of God. When Hezekiah was sick, the Prophet speaks plainly to him, and saith, Set thine house ⟨p. 140⟩in order: for thou must die, And what good we may reap by knowing certainly that we have received the sentence of death, Paul showeth when he saith. we received the sentence of death in our selves, ¹because we should not trust in our selves, but in God that raiseth the dead,

And to conclude this point touching physicke, I will here set downe two especiall duties of the physitian himselfe. The first is, that in the want and defect of such as are to put sicke men in minde of their sinnes, it is a duty specially concerning him, he being a member of Christ, to aduertise his parties that they must truely humble themselues, and pray feruently to God for the pardon of all their sinnes: and surely this dutie would be more ⟨p. 139⟩commonly practised then it is, if all physitians did consider that oftentimes they want good successe in their dealings, not because there is any want in arte, or good will, but because the partie with whome they deale is impenitent. The second duty is, when he sees manifest signes of death in his patient, not to depart concealing them, but first of all to certifie the patient therof. There may bee and is too much nicenes in such concealements, and the plaine truth in this case knowne, is very profitable. For when the partie is certen of his end, it bereaues him of all confidence in earthly things, & makes him put all his affiance in the meere mercie of God. When Ezechias was sicke, the Prophet speakes plainely to him, and saith, Set thine house