SHORT RULES OF A GOOD LIFE
The Seventh Chapter
Of Rules in Sickness
If my sickness be great, I need not use any vocal prayers at all, more than in the morning to commend myself to God with a Pater Noster and a Creed, or if I cannot well say so much, now and then I must call upon God with short prayers, as “Lord Jesus, save me,” “Lord, strengthen me,” “Lord, grant me patience,” and suchlike. In sickness, when I can bear it, it will be good sometimes to have a part of some good book read unto me, but not much, for fear of hurting my health. As in health I ought to be obedient to my superiors and by diligent observation of my rules to show my duty towards God, so in my sickness I must be contented to be ruled by the physicians and such as have care of me in things belonging to my bodily health; and I must persuade myself that in that time one chief rule I have to observe is to be patient and tractable, which in such case countervaileth the duty of all my usual exercises. I must also assure myself that I do God good service when I do any necessary thing and take any convenient recreation that may further my health. I must take heed of being testy or froward, which sickness for the most part doth cause, thinking that how much pain soever I suffer Christ suffered far more for my sake, and far more had I suffered long since in hell if God had dealt with me as I deserved.
So soon as I fall sick I must make confession of my sins unto God, and if my sickness continue long I must keep my custom of receiving, at the least every eight days, though I must not think that I am then bound to so much preparation or prayer as when my body was in good health. If I see my disease dangerous and have cause to fear death, I must procure to have some good body with me to put me often in mind of God, of the Passion of Christ, and seek to have my viaticum and other ceremonies and preparations of God’s Church. It is good also to have my will ready before I fall to any extremity, and a certain order set down for all temporal matters, that I be not cumbered with them when it standeth me most upon to look to my soul.
The Eighth Chapter
Of the Care of Servants
I must see that they lie not out in the nights but that I know what becometh of them. I must not keep such as are great swearers or given to any great or notorious vice, unless there be great likelihood and certain hope of their amendment. I must procure by what means conveniently I may that they may have necessary instruction in matters appertaining to the salvation of their souls. I must take special heed of any secret meetings, messages, or more than ordinary liking between the men and the women of my family. I must see that the men have no haunt of women to their chambers, lest lewdness be cloaked under some other pretence. I must have great regard that my chiefest officers and men of most account be trusty persons, of good life and example, because the rest will follow as they shall lead them. I must seek as much as may be that my servants be not idle nor suffered to use any great gaming, for by the one they shall fall into lewd life, by the other into swearing, unthriftiness, robbing, and such vices. I must see that they have their wages at due times, lest for want they fall into bad courses. When they do not their duties, I must rebuke them agreeably to the quality of their fault, and not wink at great matters lest they wax careless and bold to do the like again. Yet must my rebukes be tempered with gravity and mildness.
The Ninth Chapter
Of the Care of My Children
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