Gods Goodness Vindicated, Text
Gods Goodneſs Vindicated, For the help of ſuch, (eſpecially in Melancholy) as are tempted to deny it, and think him cruel, becauſe of the preſent and future miſery of mankind with reſpect to the Doctrine of Reprobation and Damnation.
TO help all ſuch perſons out of the ſnare of this dangerous and troubleſome temptation, as are deſcribed in the propounded caſe, we muſt have reſpect. I. To the ſpecial caſe of the Melancholy, who are more lyable than others to ſuch diſturbances▪ II. To the common cauſe of their trouble and perplexity, as it conſiſteth in ſuch opinions as you deſcribe.
I. With the Melancholy, the greateſt difficulty lyeth, in making them capable to receive plain truths. For it will work, not as it is, but as it i… received. And Melancholy doth breed and ſeed ſuch kind of thoughts, as naturally as a dead Carkaſs feedeth Vermine: Of forty or fifty Melancholy perſons that I have to deal with, there is ſcarce four that are not burried with ſuggeſtions to Blaſphemous thoughts, againſt God or the Sacred Scriptures; and ſcarce two that are not under diſmal apprehenſions that they are miſerable, undone creatures, (except only ſome that are all carryed to conceits of Prophecies, Revelations, and ſome rare exalting communications of light unto themſelves.) This unhappy diſeaſe of Melancholy is firſt ſeated in the Organs of Imagination and Paſſion both, that is in the ſpirits, and thereby in the very Imagining faculty it ſelf: Though the Natural parts being without pain or ſickneſs, they will not believe that it is a diſeaſe at all. It inclineth them uſually to ſolitarineſs, to Muſing and to diſmal thoughts, that they are undone, graceleſs, hopeleſs, &c. which becauſe they paſſionately ſeem to feel, no words, which ſilence them, will ſatisfie them; or if you ſeem a little to ſatisfie them to day, its all gone to morrow: For a Melancholy man is like the eye that looketh on all things through a coloured glaſs, or in an ophthalmie, and ſeeth them according to the medium.
The Diſeaſe in ſome few beginneth with overſtretching thoughts and troubles about things ſpiritual; But in moſt that I have met with (ten to one) it beginneth with ſome worldly croſs, loſs or trouble, which grieveth them and caſteth them into troubleſome anxieties and cares; and then when by theſe the ſpirits are diſeaſed, it preſently turneth upon Conſcience; firſt againſt themſelves aggravating ſin and miſery, apprehending calamity from every thing which they ſee, hear, or think of, and next againſt God and Scripture; perplexed in every thing that cometh before them, and quarrelling with all; and offended in all; And uſually they are importuned, as if it were by ſomething elſe within them, to ſay ſome blaſphemous word againſt God, or do ſome miſchief againſt themſelves. No doubt through Satans ſpecial inſtigation, who can work on men according to the advantage of their bodily and ſenſitive diſtempers, and can do that on a Melancholy…man (though a Godly man) which he cannot do on another; as he can alſo work on the Chollerick, Flegmatick, &c. according to their temper.
1. The cure of this muſt be by theſe means, (1.) You muſt not ſuffer them to be much alone. (2.) You muſt divert them from all muſing, and turn it to Diſcourſe. (3.) You muſt keep from them diſpleaſing things and perſons, and help them to ſuitable pleaſing company and converſe. (4.) You muſt change their aire and company ſometimes, that ſtrange objects may change their imagination. (5.) Above all, if they have ſtrength, you muſt not ſuffer them to be idle, to lie in bed longer than they ſleep in the day; nor to ſit muſing, but muſt get them upon the work of a lawful Calling, and drive them on to ſo much diligence, that body and mind may be cloſely employed. This will be more than all other ordinary means. (6.) In moſt, meet phyſick alſo will do very much, which muſt be ordered by an experienced Phyſician that is with them, or well knoweth them. (7.) Laſtly, their falſe thoughts alſo muſt be confuted, and their minds have due ſatisfaction. And if you cannot have all, or moſt of theſe done, you can hardly expect a cure, unleſs time wear it off, which is doubtful.