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

How many run mad of this cause, inordinate & furious lusts! If men could send their understandings, like Spies, down into the Well of their hearts, to see what obstructions of sin have stopped their veins, those springs that erst derived health and comfort to them; they should find, that male afficiuntur, quia malè afficiunt: their mad affects have bad effects: and the evil disposednesse of their souls, ariseth from the want of composedness in their affections. The Prophet Jeremiah, ¹chap. 2. compareth Israel to a swift Dromedary, traversing her ways, and to a wild Ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure. Be ye not, ²saith the Psalmographer, as the horse and mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle. Men have understanding, not beasts: yet when the frenzy of lust overwhelmeth their senses, we may take up the word of the Prophet, and pour it on them. Every man is a beast by his own knowledge. And therefore man that is in honour and understandeth ⟨p. 46⟩not, ³is like unto beasts that perish. Did not the bridle of Gods over-ruling providence, give cohibition to their madness, they would cast off the saddle of reason, and kick nature it self in the face.

How many runne madde of this cause, inordinate & furious lusts! If men could send their vnderstandings, like Spyes, downe into the Well of their hearts, to see what obstructions of sinne haue stopp'd their veines, those springs that erst deriued health and comfort to them; they should finde, that male afficiuntur, quia malè afficiunt: their madde affects haue bad effects: and the euill disposednesse of their soules, ariseth from the want of composednesse in their affections. The Prophet Ieremy, ¹chap. 2. compareth Israel to a swift Dromedary, trauersing her wayes, and to a wilde Asse vsed to the wildernesse, that snuffeth vp the winde at her pleasure. Be yee not, ²