The Soul's Conflict with Itself

As the distemper of the fancy disturbing ¹the act of reason, oftentimes breeds madness in regard of civill conversation; So it breeds likewise spiritual madness, carrying men to those things, which if they were in their right wits they would utterly abhor; therefore we cannot have too much care upon what we fix our thoughts; And what a glorious discovery is there of the excellencies of Religion that would even ravish an Angel, which may raise up, exercise, & fill our hearts? ⟨p. 219⟩We see our fancy hath so great a force in natural conceptions, that it oft sets a mark and impression upon that which is conceived in the womb. So likewise strong and holy conceits of things (having a divine virtue accompanying of them,) transform the soul, and breed spiritual impressions answerable to our spiritual apprehensions. It would prevent many crosses, if we would conceive of things as they are; When trouble of mind, or sickness of body, and death it self cometh, what will remain of all that greatness which filled our fancies before? then we can judge soberly, and speak gravely of things. The best way of happiness, is not to multiply honours or riches, &c. but to cure our conceits of things, and then we cannot be very much cast down with any thing befalls us here.

As the distemper of the fancie disturbing ¹the act of reason, oftentimes breeds madnesse in regard of civill conversation; So it breeds likewise spirituall madnesse, carrying men to those things, which if they were in their right wits they would utterly abhorre; therefore wee cannot have too much care upon what wee fixe our thoughts; And what a glorious discovery is there of the excellencies of Religion that would even ravish an Angell, which may raise up, exercise, & fill our hearts? ⟨p. 219⟩We see our fancie hath so great a force in naturall conceptions, that it oft sets a marke and impression upon that which is conceived in the wombe. So likewise strong and holy conceits of things (having a divine vertue accompanying of them,) transforme the soule, and breed spirituall impressions answerable to our spirituall apprehensions. It would prevent many crosses, if we would conceive of things as they are; When trouble of minde, or sicknesse of body, and death it selfe commeth, what will remaine of all that greatnesse which filled our fancies before? then we can judge soberly, and speake gravely of things. The best way of happinesse, is not to multiply honours or riches, &c. but to cure our conceits of things, and then we cannot be very much cast downe with any thing befalls us here.