Diseases of the Soul, Part 11
Palsey and timorous suspicion. Disease 9.
THe former sicke were Tumidi, these are Timidi: they were bold to all euill, these are fearefull to all good. The palsey is a disease, wherein one halfe of the body is endamaged in both sense and mouing. Of that disease which is called Paralysis, Resolution, or the dead palsey, wherin somtimes sense alone is lost, somtimes motion alone, and somtimes both together perish, I intend not to speake. It is (proportion considered) more dangerous to the body, then I would imagine this disease to be to the soule. I would cō pare it to that corporal infirmity, which Physicians call Tremorem, and some vulgarly the palsey; wherein there is a continuall shaking of the extremer parts: somewhat aduerse to the dead palsey: for that takes away motion, and this giues too much, though not so proper and kindly. This spirituall disease is a cowardly fearefulnesse, and a distrustfull suspicion, both of actions and men. He dares not vndertake, for feare of hee knowes not what: he dares not trust, for suspicion of his owne reflection, dishonestie.
Cause.
THis euill in the body is caused generally through the weaknesse of the sinewes, or of the cold temperature of nature, or accidentally of cold drinke taken in Feuers. Old age and feare are not seldome causes of it. This spirituall palsey ariseth either from the weaknesse of zeale, and want of that kindly heate, to be affected to Gods glory, or from consciousnesse of selfe-corruption, therby measuring others. The first is Fearefulnesse, the second Distrustfulnesse.
Signes and Symptomes.
THe Signes of the palsey are manifest; of this not very close and reserued. He conceiues what is good to be done, but fancies difficulties and dangers, like to knots in a bul-rush, or rubbes in a smooth way. Hee would bowle well at the marke of Integrity, if he durst venture it. Hee hath no iourney to goe, but either there are bugges, or he imagines them. Had he a pardon for his brother (being in danger of death) and a Hare should crosse him in the way, he would no further, though his brother hang'd for it. He owes God some good will, but he dares not shew it: when a poore plaintiffe cals him for a witnesse, hee dares not reueale the truth, lest he offend the great aduersary. He is a new Nicodemus, and would steale to heauen, if no body might see him. He makes a good motion bad by his fearefulnesse and doubting; and hee cals his trembling by the name of conscience. Hee is like that Collier, that passing thorow Smithfield, and seeing some on the one side hanging, he demaunds the cause; answere was made, for denying the Supremacie to King Henry: on the other side some burning, he askes the cause; answered, for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament: some, quoth he, hang'd for Papistry, and some burn'd for Protestancie? then hoyte on a Gods name: chill bee ne're nother. His Religion is primarily his Princes, subordinately his Land-lords. Neither deliberates he more to take a new religion, to rise by it; then he feares to keepe his old, lest he fall by it. All his care is for a ne noceat. Hee is a busie inquirer of all Parliament acts, and quakes as they are read, lest hee be found guilty. He is sicke, and afraide to dye, yet holds the potion in a trembling hand, and quakes to drinke his recouery. His thoughts are an ill ballance, and will neuer be equally poysed. Hee is a light vessell, and eueryevery great mans puffe is ready to ouerturne him. Whiles CHRIST stands on the battlements of heauen, and beckens him thither by his word, his heart answeres, I would faine be there, but that some troubles stand in my way. He would ill with Peter walke to him on the pauement of the Sea, or thrust out his hand with Moses, to take vp a crawling Serpent, or hazard the losse of himselfe, to find his Sauiour. His minde is euer in suspicion, in suspension, and dares not giuegive a confident determination either way. Resolution, and his hart are vtter enemies, and all his Philosophy is to be a Sceptick. Whether is worse, to doe an euill action with resolution that it is good; or a good action with dubitation that it is euill, some body tell me. I am sure neither is well: for an euill deede is euill, whatsoeuer the agent thinke; and for the other, Whatsoeuer is not of Faith, is sinne. Negatiuely, this rule is certaine and infallible: It is good to forbeare the doing of that, which wee are not sure is lawfull to bee done. Affirmatiuely; the worke being good, labour thy vnderstanding so to thinke it.
Feare rather then profit hath made him a flatterer; and you may reade the statutes and his Land-lords disposition in the characters of his countenance. A Souldier, a Husband-man, and a Marchant should be ventrous. He would be Gods Husband-man, and sow the seeds of obediēce, but for obseruing the wind & weather of great mens frowns. He Eccles. 11. 4. Luke 11. 13.would be Gods factor, but that he feares to lose by his Talent, and therefore buries it. He would be Gods souldiour, but that the world and the diuell are two such shrewd and sore enemies. He once began to prosecute a deed of charitie, 2. Tim. 2. 3.and because the euent crossed him, he makes it a rule to do no more good by.
As he is fearefull of himselfe, so distrustfull of others, carrying his heart in his eyes, his eyes in his hands: as hee in the Comedy, Oculatae mihi sunt manus, credunt quod vident: Hee knowes nothing by himselfe but euill, and according to that rule measures others. Hee would faine bee an Vsurer, but that hee dares not trust the Law with waxe and paper. He sweares damnably to the truth of that he affirms; as fearing otherwise not to be beleeued, because without that othing it, he will credit none himself. The bastardy of swearing lays on him the true fatherhood. Hee will trust neither man nor God without a pawne: not so much as his Taylor with the stuffe to make his clothes: he must be a Broker, or no neighbour. Hee hath no faith; for he beleeues nothing, but what he knowes; and knowledge nullifies beleefe. If others laugh, he imagines himselfe their ridiculous obiect: if there bee any whispering, conscius ipse sibi, &c. it must be of him without question. If he goes to law, he is the aduocates sprite, and haunts him worse then his owne malus genius. Hee is his owne Cater, his owne Receiuer, his owne Secretary; and takes such paines, as if necessitie forced him, because all seruants hee thinks theeues. He dares not trust his mony aboue ground for feare of men; nor vnderunder ground for feare of rust. When he throwes his censures at actions, his lucke is still to goe out: and so whiles he playeth with other mens credits, he cousins himselfe of his owne. His opinion lights vponupon the worst sense still; as the Fly, that passeth the sound parts to fastē on a scab; or a Dorre, that ends his flight in a dunghil. Without a Subpaena these timorous cowherds dare not to London, for feare lest the citie aire should conspire to poison them: where they are euer crying, Lord, hauehave merciemercy on vsus, when as Lord, hauehave merciemercy on vsus is the special thing they feared. The ringing of bels tunes their hearts into melancholy; and the very sight of a corps is almost enough to turne them into corpses. On the Thames they dare not come, because they hauehave heard some there drowned: nor neere the Parliament-house, because it was once in danger of blowing vp. Home this Embleme of diffidence comes, and there liues with distrust of others, and dies in distrust of himselfe; onelyonly now finding death a certaine thing to trust to.
Cure.
THe Cure of this bodily shaking is much at one with that of the Palsey; specially if it be caused of cold and grosse humours. To helpe a man of this spirituall trembling, these intentions must be respected. First, to purge his heart by repentance, from those fowle and feculent corruptions, wherewith it is infected: and being cleane himselfe, he will more charitably censure of others. Then teach him to lay the heauiest loade on himselfe, and to spare others. True wisedome from aboue is without iudging, Iam. 3. 17.without hypocrisie. The wisest men are the least censurers: they hauehave so much a doe to mend all at home, that their neighbours liue quietly enough by them. Set him a good affection, and he will hauehave a good construction. Minister to his soule a draught of charitie, which will clense him of suspition: for Charitie thinkes no euill. None? It thinkes no 1. Cor. 13. 5.euill, vnlesse it perceiue it apparantly. To credite all were sillinesse; to credite none, sullinnesse. Against his timorousnesse he hath an excellent receit, set downe by God himselfe. Feare not the feare of the wicked; but sanctifie the Lord Esa. 8. 12. 13of hosts himselfe: let him be your feare, let him be your dread. The way for him to feare nothing as he doth, is to feare one thing as he should. Awfull reuerence to God doth rather bolden, then terrifie a man. They that trust in the Lord, shall be as mount Sion, which cannot be remooued, but abideth for euer. Psa. 125. 1.They may be moued, they cannot bee remoued, from what is good, from what is their good, their god. This course may cure his paralyticke soule; only if it shall please God, to be his Physician.