first the spiritual medicine ; that is, to wit, in receiving devoutly the sacraments of Holy Church, in ordaining his testament, and in disposing lawfully his house and other goods and needs. And there ought not to be given to any sick person over much hope of recovering his bodily health. Howbeit oft times many do the contrary, in prejudice of their souls, yea, to them otherwhile[1] that draw to their death. And it happeth oft that they will not hear of death, and so by such false comfort, and by such faint trust of health, the sick person falleth into damnation. And therefore the sick person ought to be exhorted and desired that by very contrition and by very confession he procure the health of his soul.
Also that same may much avail for the health of the body, if it be to him expedient, and he shall be better appeased and more assured. For it seldom happeth, saith Saini Gregory, that very contrition be in the end, and that the penance that the sick men or women have then be very and sufficient to their health; and they in especial, — as it is known in all the time of their life they never kept the commandments of God, or their vows voluntarily, but only faintly and by semblance.
Yet ought every man to induce him that is in the article of death that, after the possibility, and by reason of thought, he do pain and labour to have very and ordered patience; that is to say, that, notwithstanding [the] sorrow and dread which then languish, he use reason as much as he shall
- ↑ at times.
