Mystical bedlam, or the world of mad-men. By ThoMystical bedlam, or the vvorld of mad-men. By Tho

The name of Jesus Christ is, sayeth Saint August. Nomen, sub quo nemini desperandum est: A name able to defend us from desperation. But there are many implacable threatenings against out guiltiness: There are none implacable to faith; none without reservation of mercy to repentance. Every conditional proposition hath two parts: the former suspendeth the sentence, and is called the antecedent: the latter concludeth the sentence, and is called the consequent. The first, Nil ponit in esse. As a conditional promise inferreth nothing, but deriveth all force and virtue from the connection, whereof it dependeth. So in menaces, there is either some presupposed cause, or after-concession, wherein it inferreth a consequence. If thou hast sinned: if thou doest not repent. There is place for remission with God, if there be place for repentance in thy own heart.

The name of Iesus Christ is, sayeth Saint August. Nomen, sub quo nemini desperandum est: A name able to defend vs from desperation. But there are many implacable threatnings against out guiltinesse: There are none implacable to faith; none without reseruation of mercy to repentance. Euery conditionall proposition hath two parts: the former suspendeth the sentence, and is called the antecedent: the latter concludeth the sentence, and is called the consequent. The first, Nil ponit in esse. As a conditionall promise inferreth nothing, but deriueth all force and vertue from the connexion, whereof it dependeth. So in menaces, there is eyther some presupposed cause, or after-concession, wherein it inferreth a consequence. If thou hast sinned: if thou doest not repent. There is place for remission with God, if there be place for repentance in thy owne heart.

If then distrust of Gods mercy be not madness, what is? when it causeth a man to break that league of kindness which he oweth to his own flesh; and offers to his hand engines of his own destruction: evermore presenting his mind with halters, swords, poisons, pistols, ponds: disquieting the heart with such turbulent and distracting cogitations; till it hath adjured the hands to imbrue themselves in their own blood, to the incurring of a sorer execution from the justice of God. Is he not mad, that will give credit to the Father of lies, rather then to the God of Truth? when God promiseth to Penitence, the wiping away her tears, the binding up her wounds, and healing her sores: and the devil denieth it; giving it for impossible to have the justice of God satisfied, and thy sins pardoned: behold, darkness is believed rather then light, and falsehood is preferred to truth.