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

1. For Melancholy, I have by long experience found it to have so great and common a hand in the fears and troubles of mind, that I meet not with one of many that live in great Troubles and fears for any long time together, but Melancholy is the main seat of them: Though they feel nothing in their body, but all in their Mind. I would have such persons make use of some able godly Physician, and he will help them to discern how much of their Trouble comes from Melancholy. Where this is the Cause, usually the party is Fearful of almost every thing: a word, or a sudden thought will disquiet them: Sometime they are sad and scarce know why: all Comforts are of no continuance with them: but as soon as you have done comforting them, & they be never so well satisfied, yet the trouble returns in a few days or hours, as soon as the dark and troubled spirits return to their former force: They are still addicted to musing and solitariness, and thoughts will run in their minds, that they cannot lay them by: If it go any thing far; they are almost always assaulted with Temptations to Blasphemy, to doubt whether there be a God, or a Christ, or the Scriptures be true; or whether there be a Heaven or a Hell: and oft tempted to speak ⟨p. 9⟩some blasphemous words against God; and this with such importunity that they can hardly forbear: and oft times they are tempted to make away themselves. When it goes so far, they are next to the loss of the use of reason, if it be not prevented.

1. For Melancholy, I have by long experience found it to have so great and common a hand in the fears and troubles of minde, that I meet not with one of many that live in great Troubles and fears for any long time together, but Melancholy is the main seat of them: Though they feel nothing in their body, but all in their Minde. I would have such persons make use of some able godly Phisitian, and he will help them to discern how much of their Trouble comes from Melancholy. Where this is the Cause, usually the party is Fearfull of almost every thing: a word, or a sudden thought will disquiet them: Sometime they are sad and scarce know why: all Comforts are of no continuance with them: but as soon as you have done comforting them, & they be never so well satisfied, yet the trouble returns in a few dayes or hours, as soon as the dark and troubled spirits return to their former force: They are still addicted to musing and solitariness, and thoughts will run in their mindes, that they cannot lay them by: If it go any thing farre; they are almost alwayes assaulted with Temptations to Blasphemy, to doubt whether there be a God, or a Christ, or the Scriptures be true; or whether there be a Heaven or a Hell: and oft tempted to speak