Diseases of the Soul, Part 17
Apoplexie and Securitie. Disease 15.
THe Apoplexie is a disease, wherin the fountain & originall of all the finewes being affected, eueryevery part of the body loseth both mouing & sense; all voluntary functions hindred, as the wheels of a clocke when the poyse is down. To this I liken Securitie, which though it be not sudden to the soule, as the other is to the body; yet is almost as deadly. There may be some difference in the strength of opposition, or length of obsession; all similitudes run not like Coaches on foure wheeles: they agree in this, they both lie fast a sleepe; the eyes of the ones body, of the others reason shut, and they are both wtihin two grones of death.
Cause.
THe cause of the Apoplexie is a flegmaticke humour, cold, grosse, and tough, which abundantly fils the ventricles of the braine. The cause of Securitie, is a dusking and clouding of the vnderstanding with the blacke humours, and darke mists of selfe-ignorance; a want of calling himselfe to a reckoning, till he be non-suted.
Signes and Symptomes.
THe Signes of the corporall are more palpable, then of the spirituall sickenesse. The parish of his affections is extremely out of order; because Reason his Ordinary doth not visite; nor Memorie his Churchwarden present; (or if it at all, Omnia bene.) Neither doth Understanding the Iudge censure and determine. Hee keepes the chamber of his heart lock'd, that meditation enter not, and though it be sluttish with dust and cobwebs, will not suffer repentance to sweepe it. He looseth the fruit of all crosses; and is so farre from breaking his heart at a little affliction, that a sharpe twitch stirres him not. Whereas a melting heart bleeds at the least blow, he feeles not the sword drinking vp his bloud. Most men sleepe nigh halfe their time, he is neuer awake: though the Sunne shines, he liues in sempiternall night. His soule lies at ease, like the rich mans, and is loth to rise. Custome hath rocked him asleepe in the cradle Luk. 12.of his sinnes, and he sleepes without starting. His Securitie is like Popery, a thicke curtaine euer drawne to keepe out the light. The Element hee liues in, is mare mortuum. He is a foolish Gouernour, and with much clemency and indulgence nurseth rebellion; neither dare he chide his affections, though they conspire his death. Hee is the Antitype to the fabulous Legend of the seuen Sleepers. Policy may vse him as a blocke, cannot as an engine. Hee is not dangerous in a commonwealth; for if you let him alone, he troubles nobody.
Cure.
THe Cure of the Apoplexie is almost desperate. If there be any helpe, it is by opening both the Cephalica veines; and this course speeds the patient one way. Securitie, if it sleepes not to death, must be rung awake. There are fiue bels, that must ring this peale.
First, Conscience is the Trebble, and this troubles him a little: when this bell strikes, hee drownes the noyse of it with good fellowship. But it sounds so shrill, that at last it will be heard; especially if God puls it.
Secondly, Preaching is the Stint or the Certen to all the rest. This is Aarons Bell, and it must be rung loude to wake him: for lightly he begins his nappe with the Sermon, and when the parish is gone home, hee is left in his seate fast asleepe: yet this may at last stirre him.
Thirdly, another Bell in this ring, is the death of others round about him; whom he accompanyes to the Church with a deader heart then the corps; knowes he is gone to iudgement, yet prouides not for his owne accounts at that Audite. It may bee, this spectacle and a mourning cloake may bring him to weepe.
Fourthly, the oppressed Poore is a Counter-tenor, and rings loude knels of mones, grones, and supplications, either to him for his pitie, or against him for his iniury. If this bell, so heauily tolling, do not waken him, it will waken God against him. Their crie is come vp into the eares of the Iam. 5. 4.Lord of Hostes.
Fifthly, the Tenour or Bow-bell is the abused creatures; the rust of the gold, the stone out of the wall crying against the Oppressor: the corne, wine, oyle, against the Epicure.
Happily this peale may wake him. If not, there is yet another goade, affliction on himselfe, God cutting short his hornes, that he may not gore his neighbours: and letting him bloud in his riches, lest being too ranke, hee should grow into a surfet: or casting him downe on his bed of sickenesse, and there taking sleepe from his body, because his soule hath had too much. If neither the Peale nor the Goade can waken him, God will shoote an Ordinance against him, Death. And if yet he dies sleeping, the Archangels Trumpe shall not faile to rowse him. Awake then, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall giuegive thee Ecl. 5. 14.light.