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

Thus I have endeavoured to demonstrate Madness, in the true definition, form and colours. But as a man cannot so well judge of a Sum, whiles it lies in the heap, as when it is told and numbered out: if this united and contracted presentation of madness be not so palpable in your conceits, as you would desire it; behold, to your further satisfaction, I come to particulars. The whole denominates the parts; as all of water, is water; all of flesh, flesh: so every wilful sin is madness. Doubtless, when we come to this precise distribution, and narrow scrutiny, to the singling out of Frenzies, you will bless your selves, that there are so few Bedlam-houses, and yet so many out of their wits.

Thus I haue endeuour'd to demonstrate Madnesse, in the true definition, forme and colours. But as a man cannot so well iudge of a Summe, whiles it lyes in the heape, as when it is tolde and numbred out: if this vnited and contracted presentation of madnes bee not so palpable in your conceites, as you would desire it; behold, to your further satisfaction, I come to particulars. The whole denominates the parts; as all of water, is water; all of flesh, flesh: so euery wilfull sinne is madnesse. Doubtlesse, when we come to this precise distribution, and narrow scrutiny, to the singling out of Frenzies, you will blesse your selues, that there are so few Bedlam-houses, and yet so many out of their wits.

Stultorum plena sunt omnia. It were no hard matter to bring all the world into the compass of a fools Cap. I dare not go so far: onely magna est plenitudo hominum, magna solitudo sapientum: There is great plenty of men, and no scarcity of mad-men. Plurima pessima: The most are not the best. Pretiosa non numerosa: Vile things breed as plentifully as mountain-mice. Goodness, like the Rail, flies alone: but Mad-men, like Partridges by Coveys. Nay, we may say, Magna solitudo hominum: if it be true that Lactantius sayes. Nemo potest jure dici homo, nisi qui sapiens est: He is not a man, that is a mad-man. The fool is but imago hominis, the shadow or resemblance of a man. The world is full of mad-men, and the madder it is, the less it is sensible of the own destruction. Semel insanivimus omnes: We have been all once mad, is too true a saying: some in youth, others in age. The first is more obvious and common: wildness is incident to youth: the latter more perilous, and of less hope to be reclaimed. If we must be mad, better young then old: but better not be borne then be mad at all, if the mercy of God and grace of Jesus Christ recollect us not. In the