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

Whiles the heart like a Cistern, stands perpetually open, and the devil like a Tankard-bearer, never rests fetching water from the conduit of hell to fill it; and there is no vent of repentance to empty it; how can it choose, but be full of evil? The heart is but a little thing, one would therefore think it might be soon full: but the heart holds much, therefore one would think, it could not be soon full. It is a little morsel, not able to give a Kite her breakfast; yet it contains as much in desires, as the world doth in her integral parts. Neither if the whole world were given to the Pellaean Monarch, would he yet say, My heart is full, my mind is satisfied.

Whiles the heart like a Cesterne, stands perpetually open, and the deuill like a Tankerd-bearer, neuer rests fetching water from the conduit of hell to fill it; and there is no vent of repentance to empty it; how can it chuse, but be full of euill? The heart is but a little thing, one would therefore thinke it might be soone full: but the heart holds much, therefore one would thinke, it could not bee soone full. It is a little morsell, not able to giue a Kite her breakefast; yet it containes as much in desires, as the world doth in her integrall parts. Neyther if the whole world were giuen to the Pellaean Monarch, would he yet say, My heart is full, my mind is satisfied.

There must then concur some co-working accidents to this repletion. Satan suggests: concupiscence harkens, flatters the heart with some persuasion of profit, pleasure, content: the heart assents; and sends forth the eye, hand, foot, as instruments of practise: lastly, sin comes; and that not alone: one is entertained, many press in. Mala sunt contigua & continua inter se. Then the more men act, the more they affect; & the exit of one sin, is another's hint of entrance: that the stage of his heart is never empty, till the tragedy of his soul be done.

There must then concurre some co-working accidents to this repletion. Satan suggests: concupiscence harkens, flatters the heart with some perswasion of profite, pleasure, content: the heart assents; and sends forth the eye, hand, foote, as instruments of practise: lastly, sinne comes; and that not alone: one is intertayned, many presse in. Mala sunt contigua & continua inter se. Then the more men act, the more they affect; & the exit of one sinne, is anothers hinte of entrance: that the stage of his heart is neuer empty, till the tragedy of his soule be done.