A Christian Directory

and a flegmatick fleshy person to sloth, and a sanguine or hot tempered person to lust, and wantonness; so also a melancholy person to thoughts of blasphemy, infidelity, and despair. And oft-times they feel a vehement urgency, as if something within them urged them to speak such or such a blasphemous or foolish word; and they can have no rest unless they yield in this and other such cases to what they are urged to! And some are ready to yield in a temptation to be quiet: and when they have done, they are tempted utterly to despair because they have committed so great a sin: and when the Devil hath got this advantage of them, he is still setting it before them. 27. Hereupon they are further tempted to think they have committed the sin against the Holy Ghost; not understanding what that sin is, but fearing it is theirs, because it is a fearful sin: At least they think they shall not be forgiven: not considering that a temptation is one thing, and a sin another; and that no man hath less cause to fear being condemned for his sin, than he that is least willing of it, and most hateth it. And no man can be less willing of any¹ sin, than these poor souls are of the hideous blasphemous thoughts which they complain of. 28. Hereupon some of them grow to think that they are possessed of Devils; and if it do but enter into their fantasy how possessed persons use to act, the very strength of imagination will make them do so too: so that I have known those that will swear, and curse, and blaspheme, and imitate an inward alien voice, thinking themselves that it is the Devil in them that doth all this. But these that go so far are but few. 29. Some of them that are near distraction, verily think that they hear voices, and see lights, and apparitions, that the Curtains are opened on them, that something meets them, and saith this or that to them, when all is but the error of a crazed brain, and sick imagination. 30. Many of them are aweary of their lives, through the constant tiring perplexities of their minds: and yet afraid of dying: some of them resolutely famish themselves: some are strongly tempted to murder themselves, and they are haunted with the temptation so restlessly, that they can go no whither but they feel as if somewhat within them, put them on, and said, Do it, do it: so that many poor creatures yield, and make away themselves. 31.

and a flegmatick fleshy person to sloth, and a sanguine or hot tempered person to lust, and wantonness; so also a melancholy person to thoughts of blasphemy, infidelity, and despair. And ost-times they feel a vehement urgency, as if something within them urged them to speak such or such a blasphemous or foolish word; and they can have no rest unless they yield in this and other such cases to what they are urged to! And some are ready to yield in a temptation to be quiet: and when they have done, they are tempted utterly to despair because they have committed so great a sin: and when the Devii hath got this advantage of them, he is still setting it before them. 27. Hereupon they are further tempted to think they have committed the sin against the Holy Ghost; not understanding what that sin is, but fearing it is theirs, because it is a fearful sin: At least they think they shall not be forgiven: not considering that a temptation is one thing, and a sin another; and that no man hath less cause to fear being condemned for his sin, than he that is least willing of it, and most hateth it. And no man can be less willing of any