A00777:71
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
Diseases of the soul a discourse divine, moral, and physical. By Tho. Adams.Diseases of the soule a discourse diuine, morall, and physicall. By Tho. Adams.
London: printed by George Purslowe for John Budge, 1616London: printed by George Purslowe for Iohn Budge, 1616
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Cure.
His Cure is hard, even as with a tabe in the body: too much Physic makes him worse. Crosses are fitly called Gods physic; whereby if God will cure him, he must minister them to those he hates. Strange! that one man should be healed, by giving physic to another. Two simples may do him good, if he could be won to take them: a scruple of content, and a dram of charity. If these be given him, (well stirred) in a potion of repentant tears, he may be brought to wish himself well, and others no harm, and so be recovered.
HIs Cure is hard, euen as with a tabe in the body: too much Physicke makes him worse. Crosses are fitly called Gods physicke; whereby if God will cure him, hee must minister them to those hee hates. Strange! that one man should bee healed, by giuing physicke to another. Two simples may do him good, if he could bee wonne to take them: a scruple of content, and a dramme of charity. If these be giuen him, (well stirred) in a potion of repentant teares, he may be brought to wish himselfe well, and others no harme, and so be recouered.
Idleness, the Lethargy. Disease 5.
Idlenesse, the Lethargie. Disease 5.
Idleness in the soul is a dangerous disease as the Lethargy in the body. The very name of Lethargy speaks the nature: for it is compounded of [Greek or Hebrew] forgetfulness, and [Greek or Hebrew] slothful; and so consequently is defined to be a dull oblivion. The Idle man is a piece of base heavy earth, moulded with muddy and standing water. He lies in bed the former half of the day, devising excuses to prevent the afternoons labour. He cannot endure to do any thing by himself, that may be done by Attorney. He forestalls persuasion inducing him to any work, by forecasting the unprofitableness: he holds business mans cruellest enemy, and a monstrous devourer of time. His body is so swollen with lazy humours, that he moves like a tun upon two pottle pots. He is tempted to covetise, for no other reason, but to be able to keep servants; whom he