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

But how can this evil juice in our hearts be perceived? what beams of the Sun ever pierced into that abstruse and secret pavilion? The anatomizing of the heart remains for the work of that last and great day.¹ Rom, 2. 16. As no eye can look into it, so let no reason judge it. But our Saviour answers, Out of the heart proceed actual sins: the water may be close in the fountain, but will be discerned issuing out. The heart cannot so contain the unruly affections, but like headstrong rebels they will burst out into actions; and works are infallible notes of the hart. I say not, that works determine a man to damnation or bliss: the decree of God orders that: but works distinguish of a good or bad man. The Saints have sinned, but the greatest part of their converted life hath been holy.

But how can this euill iuyce in our hearts be perceiued? what beames of the Sunne euer pearced into that abstruse and secret pauilion? The anatomizing of the heart remaines for the worke of that last and great day.¹ Rom, 2. 16. As no eye can looke into it, so let no reason iudge it. But our Sauiour answeres, Out of the heart proceede actuall sinnes: the water may bee close in the fountaine, but will bee discerned issuing out. The heart cannot so containe the vnruly affections, but like headstrong rebels they wil burst out into actions; and works are infallible notes of the hart. I say not, that works determine a man to damnation or blisse: the decree of God orders that: but works distinguish of a good or bad man. The Saints haue sinned, but the greatest part of their conuerted life hath beene holy.

1. 1Eccl. 12. 14.

Indeed we are all subject to passions, because men: but let us order our passions well, because Christian men. And as the skilful Apothecary makes wholesome potions of noisome poisons, by a wise melling and allaying them: so let us meet with the intended hurt of our corruptions, and turn it to our good. It is not a sufficient commendation of a prince to govern peaceable and loyal subjects: but to subdue or subvert rebels. It is the praise of a Christian to order refractary and wild affections, more then to manage yielding and pliable ones. As therefore it is a provident policy in Princes, when they have some in too likely suspicion, for some plotted faction, to keep them down, and to hold them bare: that though they retain the same minds, they shall not