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

2. When you have truly found out, how much of your Disquietness proceeds from Melancholy, acquit your soul from that part of it: Still remember in all your self-examinations, self-judgings and reflections on your heart, that it is not directly to be charged with those sorrows that come from your Spleen: save only remotely, as all other Diseases are the fruits of sin: as a Lethargic dullness is the deserved fruit of sin; but he that should charge it immediately on his soul, ⟨p. 11⟩should wrong himself, and he that would attempt the Cure must do it on the Body.

2. When you have truly found out, how much of your Disquietness proceeds from Melancholy, acquit your soul from that part of it: Still remember in all your self-examinations, self-judgings and reflections on your heart, that it is not directly to be charged with those sorrowes that come from your Spleen: save only remotely, as all other Diseases are the fruits of sin: as a Lethargick dullness is the deserved fruit of sin; but he that should charge it immediatly on his soul, ⟨p. 11⟩should wrong himself, and he that would attempt the Cure must do it on the Body.

3. If you would have these fears and troubles removed, apply your self to the proper Cure of Melancholy. 1. Avoid all passions of sorrow, fear and anger as much as you can; and all occasions of discontent and grief. 2. Avoid much solitariness, and be most commonly in some cheerful company: Not that I would have you do as the foolish sinners of the world do, to drink away Melancholy, and keep company with sensual, vain and unprofitable persons that will draw you deeper into sin, and so make your wound greater instead of healing it, and multiply your Troubles when you are forced to look back on your sinful loss of time: But keep company with the more cheerful sort of the Godly: There's no mirth like the mirth of Believers, which faith doth fetch from the blood of Christ, and from the Promises of the Word, and from experiences of Mercy, and from the serious fore-apprehensions of our everlasting Blessedness. Converse with men of strongest faith that have this heavenly mirth, and can speak experimentally of the Joy of the holy Ghost; and these will be a great help to the reviving of your spirit, and changing your Melancholy habit, so far as without