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

Though Sin, the Devils mad dog hath bitten thee, and thou at first beginnest to run frantic: yet apply the plaster of the blood of Christ to thy sores. This shall draw out the venom, and grace shall get the mastery of madness. Be of good comfort, thou shalt not die frantic. Encourage thy self with a holy violence against thy fleshly lusts: intend, contend to enfeeble, and at length to extinguish the force of thy depraved nature. Kill madness, lest madness kill thee. Be sensible of the bane, that lies in this spiritual frenzy, and do not laughing die. Madness is at first, inimicus blandus, a fleering enemy: in the middest, dulce venenum, sweet poison: at last, the Epithets of blandum and dulce being lost, it is Scorpio pungens, a stinging Serpent. Well, yet let it sting thee here, that it may not sting thee hereafter. Happy is he, that learns to be sober by his own madness; and concludes from I have sinned, I will not sin. Madness may be in his heart, like a Tenant; it shall never be like a Tyrant. Innocent Adam was naked, and knew it not: sinful Adam was naked, and knew it. Then comes God, hearing his excuse of concealing ⟨p. 78⟩himself deduced from his nakedness: Who told thee that thou wast naked? ¹Sure, his guilt told him. We have been mad, and are now come to our selves, to know our own madness. If it be asked, who told us, that we were mad? I answer, Even the same grace of Gods Spirit, that reclaimed us from madness. For the wicked, since they love madness, be it unto them: and when they will never be recollected, let them be mad still. But blessed be that God, that helped us; praised be his holy Name, that hath recalled us. He hath in this life freed us from madness, as a Tyrant, and shall hereafter free us from it as a Tenant.

Though Sinne, the Deuils madde dogge hath bitten thee, and thou at first beginnest to runne franticke: yet apply the plaister of the bloud of Christ to thy sores. This shall draw out the venome, and grace shall get the mastery of madnesse. Bee of good comfort, thou shalt not die franticke. Encourage thy selfe with a holy violence against thy fleshly lusts: intend, contend to infeeble, and at length to extinguish the force of thy depraued nature. Kill madnesse, lest madnesse kill thee. Bee sensible of the bane, that lies in this spirituall frenzy, and doe not laughing die. Madnesse is at first, inimicus blandus, a fleering enemy: in the middest, dulce venenum, sweet poyson: at last, the Epithets of blandum and dulce being lost, it is Scorpio pungens, a stinging Serpent. Well, yet let it sting thee heere, that it may not sting thee hereafter. Happy is hee, that learnes to bee sober by his owne madnesse; and concludes from I haue sinned, I will not sinne. Madnesse may bee in his heart, like a Tenant; it shall neuer bee like a Tyrant. Innocent Adam was naked, and knew it not: sinnefull Adam was naked, and knew it. Then comes God, hearing his excuse of concealing