There is a Disease in the Soul called Inconstancy, not unfitly shadowed to us by a bodily infirmity, possessing the superior part of man, vertigo, a swimming in the ⟨p. 8⟩head, a giddiness, or the Staggers. The disease in the body is described to be an astonishing and dusking of the eyes and spirits, that the Patient thinks all that he seeth to turn round, and is suddenly compassed with darkness. The parallel to it in the Soul, is Inconstancy, a motion without rule, a various aspect, a diversifying intention. The Inconstant man is like a Pour contrell; if he should change his apparel so fast as his thought, how often in a day would he shift himself? He would be a Proteus too, and vary kinds. The reflection of every news melts him, whereof he is as soon glutted. As he is a Noun, he is only adjective, depending on every novel persuasion: as a Verb, he knows only the Present Tense. To day he goes to the Key to be shipped for Rome, but before the Tide come, his tide is turned. One party think him theirs, the adverse theirs: he is with both, with neither, not an hour with himself. Because the Birds & Beasts be at controversy, he will be a Bat, and get him both wings and teeth. He would come to heaven, but for his halting: two opinions (like two Water-men) almost pull him a-pieces, when he resolves to put his judgement into a Boat, and go somewhither; presently he steps back, and goes with neither. It is a wonder, if his affections, being but a little luke-warm water, do not make his religion stomach-sick. Indifferency is his ballast, and Opinion his sail: he resolves, not to resolve. He knows not what he should hold; he knows not what he doth hold. He opens his mind to receive motions, as one opens his palm to take a handful of water; he hath very much, if he could hold it. He is sure to dye, but not what religion to dye in; he demurs like a posed Lawyer, as if delay could remove some impediments. He is drunk when he riseth, and reels in a morning fasting. He knows not whether he should say his Pater noster in Latine, or English; and so leaves it and his prayers unsaid. He makes himself ready for an appointed feast; by the way he ⟨p. 9⟩hears of a Sermon, he turns thitherward, yet betwixt the Church gate, and Church door, he thinks of business and retires home again.
THere is a Disease in the Soule called Inconstancie, not vnfitly shadowed to vs by a bodily infirmity, possessing the superiour part of man, vertigo, a swimming in the ⟨p. 8⟩head, a giddinesse, or the Staggers. The disease in the body is described to bee an astonishing and dusking of the eyes and spirits, that the Patient thinkes all that he seeth to turne round, and is sodainly compassed with darknes. The paralel to it in the Soule, is Inconstancie, a motion without rule, a various aspect, a diuersifying intention. The Inconstant man is like a Pour contrell; if hee should change his apparell so fast as his thought, how often in a day would he shift himselfe? He would be a Proteus too, and vary kinds. The reflection of euery news melts him, whereof he is as soone glutted. As he is a Noune, hee is only adiectiue, depending on euery nouel perswasion: as a Verbe, he knowes only the Present Tense. To day hee goes to the Key to bee shipped for Rome, but before the Tyde come, his tyde is turn'd. One party thinke him theirs, the aduerse theirs: he is with both, with neither, not an howre with himselfe. Because the Birds & Beasts be at controuersie, he will be a Batte, and get him both wings and teeth. He would come to heauen, but for his halting: two opinions (like two Water-men) almost pul him a-pieces, when he resolues to put his iudgement into a Boat, and goe somewhither; presently he steps backe, and goes with neither. It is a wonder, if his affections, being but a little luke-warme water, do not make his religion stomack-sicke. Indifferencie is his ballast, and Opinion his sayle: he resolues, not to resolue. He knowes not what he should hold; hee knowes not what hee doth hold. He opens his mind to receiue motions, as one opens his palme to take a handful of water; he hath very much, if he could hold it. He is sure to dye, but not what religion to dye in; he demurres like a posed Lawyer, as if delay could remoue some impediments. He is drunk when he riseth, and reeles in a morning fasting. He knowes not whether he should say his Pater noster in Latine, or English; and so leaues it and his prayers vnsayd. Hee makes himselfe ready for an appointed feast; by the way hee ⟨p. 9⟩heares of a Sermon, he turnes thitherward, yet betwixt the Church gate, and Church dore, hee thinkes of businesse and retires home againe.
