Diseases of the soul a discourse divine, moral, and physical. By Tho. AdamsDiseases of the soule a discourse diuine, morall, and physicall. By Tho. Adams

Signs and Symptoms.

Signes and Symptomes.

The Symptoms of this disease are manifest. He is an out liar, and never keeps within the pale. He runs after liberality and beyond it. He is diametrially opposite to the Covetous; and the difference is in the transposing of one Adverb. The one, dat non rogatus: the other, non dat rogatus. One hand is his receiver, but like Briareus, he hath an hundred hands to lay out. He would beare Dissipatoris, non dispensatoris officium. His father went to the devil one way, and he will follow him another: and because hath chosen the smoother way, he makes the more haste. Parasites are his Tenterhooks, and they stretch him till he bursts; and then leave him hanging in the rain. You may put his heart in your pock; if you talk to him bare-headed, with many parentheses of your worship: there is no upstart buys his titles at a dearer rate. He loves a well furnished table; so he may have three Ps. to his guests: Parasites, Panders, and Players: the fourth he cannot abide, Preachers. He will be applauded for a while, though he want (almost) pity, when he wants. Like an hourglass turned up, he never leaves running, till all be out. He never looks to the bottom of his patrimony, till it be quite unravelled; and then (too late) complains that the stock of his wealth ran course at the fag-end. His father had too good an opinion of the world, & he too much disdains it. Herein he speeds, as he thinks, a little better; that those that barked at his Sire like dogs, fawn upon him, and lick his hand like Spaniels. He vies vanities with the Slothful, and it is hard to say, who wins the game; yet give him the bucklers: for Idleness is the coach to bring a man to Needome, Prodigality the post-horse. His father was no mans friend but his own; and he (saith the Proverb) is no mans foe else: of what age soever, he is ⟨p. 54⟩under the years of discretion; and if Providence do not take him Ward, his heirs shall never be sought after. His vessel hath three leaks, a lascivious eye, a gaming hand, a deified belly; and to content these, he can neither rule his heart, nor his purse. When the shot comes to be paid, to draw in his company is a quarrel. When he feels want, (for till then he never sees it) he complains of Greatness for ingratitude, that he was not thought of when promotions were a dealing.