Diseases of the Soul, Part 16
The Iaundeis and Profanenesse. Disease 14.
ICterus or the Iaundeis, is a spreading of yellow choler or melancholy all ouer the body. To this I compare Profanenesse, which is an epidemiall and vniuersall spreading of wickednesse throughout all powers of the soule.
Cause.
THe Iaundeys is caused sometimes accidentally, when the bloud is corrupted by some outward occasiō with out a Feuer; or through inflammation and change of the naturall temperament of the liuer; or through obstruction of the passages which goe to the bowels, &c. The causes of Profanenesse are an affected ignorance, a dead hart, a sensuall disposition, an intoxicate reason, an habituated delight in sinne, without sense, without science, without conscience.
Signes and Symptomes.
THe Symptomes of both the Iaundeys and Profanenesse need no description: their externall appearance discolouring, the one the skinne, the other the life, saue both Physicians much labour; if it be true, that the knowledge of the disease is halfe the cure. He hath sold himselfe to wickednesse, for the price of a little vanity, like Ahab; or let a Lease, not to expire without his life. At first sight you would take him for a man; but he will presently make you change that opinion, for Circe's cup hath transform'd him. His eyes are the casements, that stand continually open, for the admission of lusts to the vncleane rest of his heart. His mouth is the diuels trumpet, and sounds nothing but the musicke of hell. His hand is besmeared with aspersions of bloud, lust, rapine, theft; as if all the infernall serpents had disgorged their poysons on it. Hee loues Sathan extremely, and either swimmes to him in bloud, or sailes in a vessell of wine. His heauen is a Tauerne, whence hee neuer departs, till hee hath cast vp the reckoning. Hee is ready to sweare, there is no God, though hee sweares perpetually by him. Religion is his footstoole, and Policy his horse, Appetite his huntsman, Pleasure his game, and his dogges are his senses. He endeuours by the continuance of his sports, to make the motion of pleasure circular, and the flame of his delight round, as the Moone at full, and full as bright. The point of his heart is touched with the Load-stone of this world, and he is not quiet but toward the North, the scope of wickednesse. He hath bowled his soule at the marke of sensuality, and runs to hell to ouertake it. If the diuell can maintaine him a stocke of thoughts, let him alone for execution; though to bastard his owne children, and water on his fathers graue. To conclude, he is but a specialtie of hell antedated and striues to be damned before his time.
Cure.
HIs Physick, as in some Iaundeis, must be strong of operation; for the drynesse of the ones stomacke, of the others conscience, doth eneruate the force of medicines. The speciall intentions of his cure are strong purgations and bloud-letting. If the law of God doth not purge out this corruption from his heart, let him bloud by the law of man: manacle his hands, shackle his feete, dispute vponupon him with arguments of yron and steele: let him smart for his blasphemyes, slanders, quarrels, whoredomes: and because he is no allowed Chirurgion, restraine him from letting bloud. Musle the Wolfe, let him hauehave his chaine and his clogge, bind him to the good behauiour: and if these vsuall courses will not learne him continence, sobrietie, peace, try what a New-gate and a grate will doe. If nothing, let vsus lament his doome. Their end is damnation, whose Phil. 3. 19.God is their bellie, and whose glorie is in their shame, who minde earthly things.