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.

An addition, of things that came to my minde after∣ward.

THe last combate with the [ 1] diuell in the pang of death, it oftentimes most dangerous of all. For then he will not vrge men to desperation, knowing that by this meanes he shall stir them vp to resist hm: but hee labours with them, that they would not resist him when hee assaults them, and by this means hee endeauours to extinguish hope: and this thing is not done in any other tēptation in which faith or hope alone are impug∣ned, whereas in this they are

both impugned togither. This must be thought vpon, for whē the diuels temptation is, not to resist his temptation; it is most deceitfull of all: and it is more easie to ouercome the enemie that compels vs to fight, then him that disswades vs from it.

[ 2] The temptation of M. Iohn Knox in time of his death is worth the marking.* 1.1 He lay on his death-bed silēt for the space of foure houres, very often gi∣uing great sighes, sobbes, and grones, so as the stāders by well perceiued that hee was troubled with some grieuous temptatiō: and when at length hee was rai∣sed in his bedde, they asked him how hee did, and what was the cause of his much sighing, to whom hee answered thus; that in his life he had indured many combates and conflicts with Sa∣tan,

but that now most mightily the roaring lyon had assaulted him: often (said he) before he set my sinnes before mine eies, of∣ten he vrged me to desperation, often hee laboured to intangle me with the delights of the world, but beeing vanquished by the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, hee could not preuaile. But now hee as∣saults me an other way: for the wily serpent would perswade me, that I shall merit eternal life for my fidelitie in my ministe∣rie. But blessed bee God which brought to my minde such Scriptures, whereby I might quench the fiery darts of the de∣uill, which were, What hast thou that thou hast not receiued, and, By the grace of God, I am that I am: and, Not I, but the grace of God in me: and thus beeing van∣quished

he departed

When thou art tempted of [ 3] Satan & sees no way to escape, euen plainly close vp thine eies, and answer nothing, but com∣mend thy cause to God. This is a principall point of Christian wisedome, which wee must fol∣low in the houre of death.

If thy flesh tremble, and feare [ 4] to enter into an other life, and doubt of saluatiō; if thou yeeld to these things, thou hurtest thy selfe: therefore close thine eyes as before, & say with S. Steuen, Lord Iesus into thy hands I com∣mend my spirit, and then certenly Christ will come vnto thee with all his Angels, and be the guider of thy way. Luther.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib. de obitu Knoxi.