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

TO THE TRULY Judicious, and worthily eminent in his Profession, Mr. WILLIAM RANDOLPH, Doctor of Physic.

TO THE TRVLY Iudicious, and worthily eminent in his Profession, Mr. WILLIAM RANDOLPH, Doctor of Physicke.

IT will seem strange to those, that better know my unworthiness then your merits, that I should administer Physic to a Physician. But my Apology is just; convincing rather them of ignorance, then my self of presumption. It is not a Potion, I send, but a Prescript in paper; which the foolish Patient did eat up, when he read in it written, Take this. Neither do I send it, to direct you, but that you should rectify it. So the poor Painter sent Apelles a Picture, to mend it, not to commend it. That which tastes of Philosophy in it, is but so much of those axioms and rudiments, as I gathered in the University in a short time, and have had much opportunity to lose since. Somewhat is chym'd out of experience; wherein I may say, Necessit as was ingenii largitor: as Pliny writes of the Raven; who labouring of thirst, and spying a vessel with ⟨image 3⟩some little water in it, but so deep as she could not reach, filled the vessel with stones; till the heavier matter sinking downwards, raised up the lighter to her easy apprehension. My own ill health forced me to look into that poor Cistern of knowledge, which I had: and finding it almost dry, I assayed by some new contemplations, to raise it up to experience; which now, behold, runs over, and (without diminution to it self) is communicatively dispersed to others. Only do you use it, as I desire you should my self: if it be in health, conserve it: if foul purge it. For my own part, I am content, that no happy meditation of mine should be ut Curia Martis Athenis; or like some precious mystery, which a Practitioner will get money by, whiles he lives; but suffer none else to use, when he is dead: for he resolves, it shall die with him. It is more Moral, then Physical; and yet the greater part Theological. wherein I have most satisfied my own conscience, in aiming at that punctual Centre, and blessed Scope, whither all endeavours should look; the straitening our warped Affections, and directing the Soul to heaven. And in this passage, (you must pardon me) I fear not to say your memory at least, if not your understanding, may hereby be helped. My Medicines are not very bitter; but nothing at all sweet to a sensual palate: learning from Saluian; that Quae petulantium auribus placent, aegrotantium animis non prosunt.