The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

and Love and Desire too Passionately: For there is a Degree of Thinking or Meditating, and of Passionate Love and Desire, which the brain cannot bear, but it will cause Madness, and quite overthrow the use of Reason, by overstretching the organs, or by the extreme turbulency of the agitated spirits. Yet I never knew the man, nor ever shall do I think, that was ever guilty of one of these excesses, that is, of Loving or Desiring God so Passionately as to distract him: But I have often known weak-headed people (that be not able to order their thoughts) and many Melancholy People▪ Guilty of the other; that is, of ⟨p. 151⟩thinking too much and too seriously and intensely on Good and Holy things, whereby they have overthrown their Reason and been distracted. And here I would give all such weak-headed Melancholy persons this warning, That whereas in my Book of Rest, I so much press a constant course of Heavenly Meditation, I do intend it only for sound heads, and not for the Melancholy that have weak heads, and are unable to bear it. That may be their sin, which to others is a very great duty: While they think to do that which they cannot do, they will but disable themselves for that which they can do. I would therefore advise those Melancholy persons whose minds are so troubled, and heads weakened, that they are in danger of overthrowing their Understandings (which usually begins in multitudes of scruples, and restlessness of mind, and continual fears, and blasphemous temptations: where it begins with these, distraction is at hand, if not prevented) that they forbear Meditation, as being no duty to them, though it be to others; and instead of it be the more in those duties which they are fit for: especially Conference with Judicious Christians, and Cheerful and Thankful acknowledgement of Gods Mercies. And thus have I showed you, how far we may possibly exceed in Gods service: Let me now a little apply it.

and Love and Desire too Passionately: For there is a Degree of Thinking or Meditating, and of Passionate Love and Desire, which the brain cannot bear, but it will cause Madness, and quite overthrow the use of Reason, by overstretching the organs, or by the extreme turbulency of the agitated spirits. Yet I never knew the man, nor ever shall do I think, that was ever guilty of one of these excesses, that is, of Loving or Desiring God so Passionately as to distract him: But I have often known weak-headed people (that be not able to order their thoughts) and many Melancholy People Guilty of the other; that is, of