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

The Heart is Mans principal vessel. We desire to have all the implements in our house good: but the vessel of chiefest honour, principally good. Quanm male de te ipse meruisti, &c. saith Saint August. How mad is that man that would have all his vessels good, but his own heart! We would have a strong nerve, a clear vein, a moderate pulse, a good arm, a good face, a good stomach, only we care not how evil the heart is, the principal of all the rest.

The Heart is Mans principall vessell. Wee desire to haue all the implements in our house good: but the vessell of chiefest honour, principally good. Quanm male de te ipse meruisti, &c. sayth Saint August. How mad is that man that would haue all his vessels good, but his owne heart! Wee would haue a strong nerue, a cleare veyne, a moderate pulse, a good arme, a good face, a good stomacke, onely we care not how euill the heart is, the principall of all the rest.

For, howsoever the Head be called the Tower of the mind, the Throne of Reason, the house of wisdom, the Treasure of memory, the Capitol of judgement, the shop of affections: yet is the Heart the receptacle of life,¹ ⟨p. 9⟩And Spiritus, ²which (they say) is Copula animae & corporis, a virtue uniting the soul and the body: if it be in the Liver natural, in the Head animal, yet is in the Heart vital. It is the member, that hath first life in man, and is the last that dies in man; and to all the other members gives vivification.

For, howsoeuer the Head be called the Tower of the mind, the Throne of Reason, the house of wisdom, the Treasure of memory, the Capitol of iudgement, the shoppe of affections: yet is the Heart the receptacle of life,¹ ⟨p. 9⟩