The Cause being thus conceived, the Cure is fair and1 easy to comprehend; namely, Cure these inordinate and raging lusts, and thence will follow a still and quiet composure of mind; purge the stomach if it be foul, and that will ease the pain of wind in the Head, because that is caused by the fumes that arise from thence. Take off the plummet, or lessen but the weight of it, the minutes though they hurried never so fast before, yet will not move at all, or at least very slowly and quietly. So here, take off the poise of the affections, purge away these noisome lusts which carry and command the head, and send up dunghill steams which distemper the mind, ⟨p. 235⟩and disturb it, and those windy imaginations will cease, and those thoughts of the mind like the minutes, either will not move, or move in order and manner as may help and not hinder. Here the great skill and care ought to be to labour the cleansing and sanctification of such affections which are most tainted, and where the vein and fourse of original corruption, either through custom, or constitution, or company, hath vented it self most usually, and so hath taken up the soul, and gained, and so exercised greater power over it. For as in bruised or weak parts, all the humours run thither, so commonly this corruption is the link and drain of the soul, all distempered thoughts, and other inferior lusts, empty themselves, and become Servants unto this. If once the affections had gained such a taste and relish of the sweetness that is in Christ, and his Truth, that all these baggage and inferior things here below seemed sapless, and that the heart were endeared to him & his Truth, and carried strongly […] both this would carry the thoughts vehemently, & keep them so strongly to both, that they would be so far from wandering away from Christ, that they would not be taken from bestowing the strength of their intentions about him, Psal. 119 97. Oh how I love thy Law, it is my Meditation […] the day; verse 93. I will never forget thy Precepts, for thereby thou hast quickened me; ver. 23. Princes sate and spake against me, but thy servant did meditate in thy Statutes. In reason he would have conceived it […] […] time for him to bethink himself how to prevent their fury, & it would cost him sad thoughts of heart how to provide for his […] and safety; no truly, Thy servant did meditate in thy law.
The Cause being thus conceived, the Cure is fair and1 easie to comprehend; namely, Cure these inordinate and raging lusts, and thence wil follow a stil and quiet composure of mind; purge the stomach if it be foul, and that wil ease the pain of wind in the Head, because that is caused by the fumes that arise from thence. Take off the plummet, or lessen but the weight of it, the minutes though they hurried never so fast before, yet wil not move at all, or at least very slowly and quietly. So here, take off the poyse of the affections, purge away these noysom lusts which carry and command the head, and send up dunghil steams which distemper the mind, ⟨p. 235⟩and disturb it, and those windy imaginations wil cease, and those thoughts of the mind like the minutes, either wil not move, or move in order and manner as may help and not hinder. Here the great skil and care ought to be to labor the clensing and sanctification of such affections which are most tainted, and where the vein and fourse of original corruption, either through custom, or constitution, or company, hath vented it self most usually, and so hath taken up the soul, and gained, and so exercised greater power over it. For as in bruised or weak parts, all the humors run thither, so commonly this corruption is the link and drain of the soul, all distempered thoughts, and other inferior lusts, empty themselves, and become Servants unto this. If once the affections had gained such a tast and rellish of the sweetness that is in Christ, and his Truth, that al these baggage and inferior things here below seemed sapless, and that the heart were endeared to him & his Truth, and carried strongly 〈…〉 both this would carry the thoughts vehemently, & keep them so strongly to both, that they would be so far from wandring away from Christ, that they would not be taken from bestowing the strength of their intentions about him, Psal. 119 97. Oh how I love thy Law, it is my Meditation 〈…〉 the day; verse 93. I will never forget thy Precepts, for thereby thou hast quickened me; ver. 23. Princes sate and spake against me, but thy servant did meditate in thy Statutes. In reason he would have conceived it 〈…〉 〈…〉 time for him to bethink himself how to prevent their fury, & it would cost him sad thoughts of heart how to provide for his 〈…〉 and safty; no truly, Thy servant did meditate in thy law.
- 1The cure 1.