There are no diseases, (right Honourable) so dangerous to a Country or Common-wealth, as those which being Epidemical, infectious and of a spreading nature, are also mortal; and yet so desperately neglected by the people, that they have not any providence to prevent them, or care to cure them: neither do any more need the skill and care of the learned Physician, ⟨image 3⟩seeing the Patient being insensible of his sickness, is careless of his own recovery. And the same also as it may be truly said of all vices, the sicknesses of the Soul, which are then most perilous, when as they are common, over-spreading all sorts of men with an universal infection, deadly dangerous, and yet so stupefying those that are tainted and taken with them, that they are insensible of their disease, and shun carelessly the means of cure; so especially, it may fitly be applied to this vicious habit of Lying, which is so universal an infection, that we may particularly apply unto it Solomons question, who can say I have made my heart 1clean, I am pure from this sin? So mortally dangerous, that without repentance it bringeth certain destruction, excludeth us from Heavenly Happiness, and casteth us headlong into the fire of ⟨image 3⟩Hell; and yet so pleasing to corrupt nature, and so available (as men think) for the achieving of their worldly and carnal ends, that they are insensible of their danger, love their disease, and neglecting all means of cure do live and die in it without repentance. In which regard as it is the duty of those whom God hath called to be the Souls Physicians, that they show their skill and care in discovering this dangerous disease, and in using all good means both for the preventing and curing of it: So I thought my self interested in this work, and the rather because being an argument of such necessary importance, yet there hath been hitherto little written of it. Of which my poor labours, I have made choice of your Honours as Patrons, being hereunto moved, partly by that experimental knowledge which I have had ⟨image 4⟩of your piety and love to religion, approved by your practice of Christian duties in your daily exercise, your good respect to the Ministers of Christ, and all that fear God; as also your delighting in Truth, Justice, and all other Virtues:
THere are no diseases, (right Honourable) so dangerous to a Country or Common-wealth, as those which being Epidemicall, infectious and of a spreading nature, are also mortall; and yet so desperately neglected by the people, that they have not any providence to prevent them, or care to cure them: neither do any more neede the skill and care of the learned Physitian, ⟨image 3⟩seeing the Patient being insensible of his sickenesse, is carelesse of his owne recovery. And the same also as it may bee truely said of all vices, the sickenesses of the Soule, which are then most perillous, when as they are common, over-spreading all sorts of men with an universall infection, deadly dangerous, and yet so stupifying those that are tainted and taken with them, that they are insensible of their disease, and shunne carelessely the meanes of cure; so especially, it may fitly be applied to this vitious habite of Lying, which is so universall an infection, that wee may particularly apply unto it Salomons question, who can say I have made my heart 1cleane, I am pure from this sinne? So mortally dangerous, that without repentance it bringeth certaine destruction, excludeth us from Heavenly Happinesse, and casteth us headlong into the fire of ⟨image 3⟩Hell; and yet so pleasing to corrupt nature, and so availeable (as men thinke) for the atchieving of their worldly and carnall ends, that they are insensible of their danger, love their disease, and neglecting all meanes of cure doe live and die in it without repentance. In which regard as it is the duety of those whom God hath called to bee the Soules Physitians, that they shew their skill and care in discovering this dangerous disease, and in using all good meanes both for the preventing and curing of it: So I thought my selfe interessed in this worke, and the rather because being an argument of such necessary importance, yet there hath beene hitherto little written of it. Of which my poore labours, I have made choyce of your Honours as Patrons, being hereunto mooved, partly by that experimentall knowledge which I have had ⟨image 4⟩of your piety and love to religion, approved by your practice of Christian duties in your daily exercise, your good respect to the Ministers of Christ, and all that feare God; as also your delighting in Truth, Justice, and all other Vertues:
- 1Prov. 20. 9 Psal. 5. 6. Apoc. 22. ••. & 21. 8.
