Phisicke for the soule verye necessarie to be vsed in the agonie of death, and in those extreme and moste perillous seasons, aswell for those, which are in good health, as those, which are endewed with bodily sicknesse. Translated out of Latine into Englishe, by H. Thorne.

Of the making of a testament, and confession of sinnes vnto God.

THe testament is to be made of all them, that may law∣fully make a will, and giue legacies, when there yet cō∣sisteth and remayneth per∣fite minde, and memorie in the body. Least if they prolong that busi∣nesse vnto the last moment of lyfe, they bée preuented by death. Therfore, it shal be wis∣dome for him, that hath lawfull heires, to referre all the care of making his testament vnto them. If so be that he haue borowed money, and be indebted to any man, he shall

openly declare it, and prouide for the pay∣ment of that he oweth. This being done, let him remoue and put from him all them, which trouble hym wyth matters of this worlde. Wherein many men doe offende, which bring in doubtes vnto him, which is now at the point of death, of his testament, and other externall things, and sometimes doe compell him to subscribe, & that against his will, being readie to dye, refusing, and detesting there importunitie, which will not suffer him quietly to die, then the which fréends, what thing cā be more vnfreendly?

After this, if the maner, and kinde of his disease will suffer him, let him endeuor ra∣ther to cure his soule, than his bodye, by a shorte confession vnto God, but simple, and without dissimulation, and let the elders standing by, put him in remembrance of re∣pentaunce, grounded vpon a sure faith, and deuotion, and let him call for Gods mercie from the bottome of his hart, and purpose, and entende the amendement of lyfe, if hée happen to escape. But if so be that happily no elder, or coūsell giuer may be had, let not the sick straight waies fal into desperation, as some presumptuous people are woont to

doe for the lacke of a priest, but let him de∣clare his vnrighteousnesse, and open his conscience vnfainedly vnto God himselfe, which according to his clemēcie, wil vouch∣safe, to accept the desire of the minde, in the steade of the fact, and will of his peculiar grace, fulfill of himselfe that, which lacketh in the outwarde signes of the sacraments of the Lordes supper, which he desireth to re∣ceyue. For through him, the sacramentes are made effectuall, which after a fashion are seales of his diuine beneuolēce towards vs. But he saueth man, when néede doth re∣quire, without these signes, onely so that there be no neglecting, or contempt of the sacrament, but faith, and a readie good will is therevnto.

Notes

• The sa∣craments are seales of Gods mercye towardes vs.