The Devil hath another cure for the sad and Melancholy than such as I have here prescribed, which is to caste away all belief of the immortality of the soul, and the life to come, or at least not to think of it, and for to take Religion to be a superstitious, needless fancy, and for to laugh at the threatenings of the Scripture, and go to Play-Houses and Cards, and Dice, and to drink and play away Melancholy; Honest Recreations are very good for Melancholy Persons if we could get them to use it, but alas this Satanical cure is but like the Witches bargain with the Devil, who promiseth them much, but payeth them with shame and utter misery. The end of that mirth is uncurable sorrow, if timely repentance cure not the cause, the Garrison of Satan in the hearts of Sinners are strongly kept when they are in peace, but when they have fooled away time, and Mercy, and Hope, dye they must, there's no remedy, and to go merrily and unbelievingly to Hell, after all Gods calls and Warnings, will be no abatement of their torment, to go ⟨p. 303⟩out of the world in the guilt of Sin, and to end life before they would know the use of it, and to undergo Gods Justice for the mad contempt of Christ and Grace, will put a sad end to all their mirth, for there is no Peace to the wicked saith my God, Isa. 48.22. and 57.21. But Christ saith to his mourners, Mat. 5.4. Blessed are you that mourn, for you shall be comforted, and John 16.20. Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rej••c•, and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. And Solomon knew that the House of Mourning was better than the house of feasting, and that the heart of the wise is in the House of Mourning, but the heart of Fools in the house of mirth. Eccles. 7.2, 3, 4. But holy joy of Faith and Hope is best of all.
The Devil hath another cure for the sad and Melancholly than such as I have here prescribed, which is to caste away all belief of the immortality of the soul, and the life to come, or at least not to think of it, and for to take Religion to be a superstitious, needless fancy, and for to laugh at the threatnings of the Scripture, and go to Play-Houses and Cards, and Dice, and to drink and play away Melancholly; Honest Recreations are very good for Melancholly Persons if we could get them to use it, but alas this Satanical cure is but like the Witches bargain with the Devil, who promiseth them much, but payeth them with shame and utter misery. The end of that mirth is uncureable sorrow, if timely repentance cure not the cause, the Garrison of Satan in the hearts of Sinners are strongly kept when they are in peace, but when they have fool'd away time, and Mercy, and Hope, dye they must, there's no remedy, and to go merrily and unbelievingly to Hell, after all Gods calls and Warnings, will be no abatement of their torment, to go ⟨p. 303⟩out of the world in the guilt of Sin, and to end life before they would know the use of it, and to undergo Gods Justice for the mad contempt of Christ and Grace, will put a sad end to all their mirth, for there is no Peace to the wicked saith my God, Isa. 48.22. and 57.21. But Christ saith to his mourners, Mat. 5.4. Blessed are you that mourn, for you shall be comforted, and John 16.20. Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rej••c•, and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. And Solomon knew that the House of Mourning was better than the house of feasting, and that the heart of the wise is in the House of Mourning, but the heart of Fools in the house of mirth. Eccles. 7.2, 3, 4. But holy joy of Faith and Hope is best of all.
