The Sacred Mystery of the Government of the Thoughts, Chapter 9

The Sacred Mystery of the Government of the Thoughts · Chapter 9

p. 175CHAP. IX. Of Melancholicke Thoughts, and ſuch perturbations as do ariſe from and accompany them.

What they are not.

IT is ordinary with Sathan when any good Thoughts ariſe to divert vsus from ſinne, or prouoke vsus to goodneſſe, to impute theſe to Melancholy.

2 And it is alſo a ſpeciall prancke of that old Serpent, that when any fearefull and blaſphemous thoughts ariſe to the diſhonour of God, that wee might not regard them, and ſo neglect that p. 176due humiliation which is required in this caſe: to father theſe vponupon Melancholy, it is not corruption, but onelyonly ſome Melancholy mood, we are not in our right mind they are but idle fancies, &c.

Which …ough it were ſufficient to condemn them, yet the policy of Sathan herein, is, that we ſhould vndervalue them, and ſo not anſwer our God in that iuſt honour and deepe aſtoniſhment, as is fit herein.

3 Yea Generally if wee will beleeue diuell, the there is no… …y euill thought but mu… …ee foyſted vponupon Melancholy. That ſo we may condemne the humour and not our ſelues, nay rather that we may altogether neglect p. 177them, as proceeding from ſuch an idle braine.

Very neceſſary therefore is it that wee ſhould know what indeede Melancholy Thoughts are: And ſo to diſcouer the cauſes of them, and alſo the outward occaſions thereof. And withall to lay down the diff…nces therof.

And ſo to …y open the manifold dangers, and iſſues of the ſame.

Together with the Remedie thereof.

Concerning Melancholy Thoughts. What they are.

Namely, Violent and yet ſetled and ſtrong imaginat ons of the Minde, ariſing p. 178from ſuch parts as are eſpecially poſſeſſed with that ſtrong and peſtilent, humor, and namely, the Braine, Splene, and Heart, cauſing ſtrange and vehement paſſions of Feare, Griefe, Ielouſie, Rage, yea oftentimes euen vtter deſpaire, and fearefull violence againſt Nature.

Firſt, I ſay, …ey are violent, as proceeding from the rage of the humour enduring no meane, & frō the ruling of it, as by it flatulent and fierie nature cauſing ſuch ſodain & violent paſſions: And yet though they be v…olent, yet they are ſetled & ſtrong, according to the growth and power of the humour, and difficultie of it remoueall.

3 I adde, that they ariſe p. 179from ſuch parts as are affected with that humor: which being bread, firſt in the ſtomacke, through ill digeſtion, and partly bodily conſtitution, emptying this humour into the Splene, as the naturall ſeate thereof, and ſo cloying and obſcuring the ſame, produceth that flatulent and peſtilent winde: which poſſeſſing the veines and concauities about the heart, choaketh and infecteth the ſpirits thereof, and ſo cauſeth ſuch Melancholicke imaginations. Or elſe fumeth vp to the braine and ſo peruerting the fantaſie, not onelyonly depriueth it of power rightly to diſcerne of things, but peruerteth it with a contrary qualitie to p. 180miſtake the truth, and ſo out of it wrong apprehenſion, peruerting the iudgement, returneth to the heart according to it falſe report, and ſo affecteth the ſame, with ſuch paſſions of feare, ioy, &c as are nothing ſo indeed, or aboue the occaſion. And ſo produceth thereupon ſuch effects in the body & mind of deſpaire, horror, diſtemper, conſumption, &c.

Theſe are Melancholy thoghts. And the inward cauſes of them are.

1 The complextion naturally yeelding ſuch kinde of imaginations.

2 Or the condition of life, as either contemplatiue, p. 181and nouriſhing the ſame, in regard of the deepe imployment of the minde, or that reſt of the body neceſſarie required herein: both which concurre to the procuring of ſuch thoughts, as requiring ſolitarineſſe, and ſo giuing libertie to feede ſuch thoughts, & to feed thereon.

Or, the condition is ſpiritual and abſtracted from the world: and ſo, either for want of outward contentment to the fleſh, cauſeth by the mortification thereof, ſuch ſolemne and retyred thoughts: nay oftentimes by reaſon of our exceſſiue deſire to conquer corruption, followes euen an infatuating of nature, and ſo ſuch ſottiſh imaginations. Or by p. 182reaſon of thoſe extraordinary ioyes and comforts which do accompany ſuch ſpirituall walking, cauſe a kinde of dotage thereon, and ſo ſuch idle and fantaſtick thoughts to humble vsus therein: that ſo wee might hauehave no ſenſible delight in the fleſh: or might be comforted gratiouſly, in our delight therein, or in reſpect of the imperfection of grace, thoughts of infidelitie, deſpaire, &c.

Or a craſie and diſeaſed conſtitution waſting natural heate and moyſture may bee a cauſe hereof, eſpecially if violent feauers, and acute diſeaſes doe accompany the ſame.

Eſpecially a wounded ſpirit finding no reſt in God, p. 183is at continuall vnreſt with it ſelfe, and ſo turmoyled & racked with theſe fearefull and deſperate imaginations.

Outward Occaſions are:

1 Principally, Sathan cloſing with Natures diſpoſition, and ſo continuing theſe dumpiſh and ſotting thoughts, to puſle vsus therein that we may not winde out thereof.

Or, taking aduantage of the imperfections of grace, and ſuch infirmities as doe accompany the ſame, and ſo occaſioning ſuch lumpiſh and diſtracted Thought;.

Or cloſing with the fay…eſt flowers of Grace, and ſo cauſing to doate and reſt p. 184therein, cleareth the minde therewith, and ſo cauſeth mufing and feeding theron.

Or, taking occaſion by outward croſſes to plunge the minde into immoderate ſorrow, and ſo procures melancholicke and fearefull Thoughts.

2 Strange diſtempers and drowſineſſe of the weather, working vponupon the complexion and ſorting with other occaſions, and ſo cauſe theſe lumpiſh and fearfull Thoughts.

3 Or elſe ſome great outward Croſſe may amate and confound the minde, and ſo oppreſſe it with theſe imaginations, vponupon conceit of deſeruing the ſame, vponupon feare of further euils.

p. 1854 Or ſome extraordinary happineſſe may ouer ioy the minde, and ſo not being able to weld it eſtate, is therfore vſually confounded with ſuch diſtracted and lumpiſh imaginations.

5 Or habite and cuſtome of Diet may diſpoſe the body hereunto.

6 Or laſtly, Age and conſumption of nature, may occaſion the ſame.

p. 186The Difference of theſe Thoughts are eyther.

According to the diuers Subiects, wherein they are,

Or elſe according to the ſeuerall occaſions of them.

Concerning the Subiects eyther they are Naturall, or new borne: If Naturall, eyther affected with Naturall Melancholy, or with Melancholique excremēts, that is vnnaturall, ariſing from Aduſtion; and ſo alſo the Thoughts doe differ: Being more temperate in the naturall Melancholy, but in the vnnnaturall, more violent and outragious: the difference beeing onelyonly in quantitie, and meaſure, not p. 187in quality. If the ſubiect bee renued and regenerate, this is to bee conſidered in the ſoundneſſe of his mind, or in the wounding thereof, with the conſcience of ſinne. If the minde bee wounded, the Thoughts will bee yet more fearefull, heauie, deſperate, &c. But a ſound mind will beare his Infirmitie, Prou. 18. yea ſanctifie it graciouſly to be matter of much ſpirituall vſe, as afterward.

This difference may be obſerued in regard of the diuers Subiects: As alſo in reſpect of the occaſions: There may bee great diuerſity of theſe Thoughts, accordingly are they occaſiōs, are more and leſſe violent: p. 188or as they are more and leſſe pleaſing; or as they more & leſſe concerne vsus; which difference may be rather determined by experience and obſeruation, then by any relation or diſcourſe, &c. Thus of the Differences.

And ſo alſo the Effects of them are according to the Diuerſitie of Subiects, & occaſions.

Concerning the Subiects of Melancholike Thoughts, they are generally ſuch as are diſpoſed naturally therunto by complexion, conſtitution, condition of life, and more eſpecially they are two, according to the olde Rule, Aut Deus, aut p. 189Demon. The Melancholike perſon is eyther a God or a Diuell, that is exceedingly well inclined, or diſpoſed, or paſſing ill. This humour admits no meane, eyther it furthers graciouſly to a purſuit of the beſt graces, & ſo is employed & ſanctified thereto; or elſe it is the occaſion of moſt deſperate wickedneſſe, of Pride, Idolatrie Blaſphemie, Deſpayre, &c.' againſt God, or of Malice, Murther, confuſions, and ſtrange combuſtions of men.

In the better of theſe.

It hath theſe effects being qualified & ruled by grace.

1 As to occaſion zeale and courage in the cauſe of God.

p. 1902 To procure conſtancie and reſolution in well doing.

3 To enable to diuine contemplation, and heauenly meditations.

4 To breed tenderneſſe of conſcience, and dayly ſenſe and remorſe for ſinne.

5 To further profounde and deepe inſight into heauenly Myſteries and ſound iudgement thereof.

6 To leade vsus to more intire ſociety with God, and acquaint vsus more familiarlie with him.

7 To weane vsus from the louelove of the World, and all earthly things.

In the other, giuing the reine hereunto, and being p. 191dayly kindled by Sathan, and hath vſually theſe effects.

Namely, according.

To the diuerſity of the cauſe, or cont…nuance and ſtrength of the humour, or ſuch Accidents, as doe accompany the ſame.

As if Naturall Melancholie prevaile in the bloud, there it cauſeth Feare, ſuſpition, ſadneſſe, and penſiueneſſe, euen when there is no cauſe: in that the ſplene ſendeth vp vapours into the heart, and ſo annoying the ſame, paſſeth vp to the braine, counterſayeth terrible obiects to the fantaſie, and polluting both the ſubſtance and ſpirites of the braine, cauſeth it without p. 192externall occaſion to forge monſtrous fictions, and terrible to the conceit: which the iudgment taking as they are preſented by the diſordered inſtrument, delivers vsus ouer to the heart which which hath no iudgement of diſcretion it ſelfe, but giuing credit to the miſtaken report of the braine, breakes out into that inordinate paſſion againſt reaſon. The cauſe hereof is, becauſe the inſtrument of diſcretion is depraued by theſe melancholike Spirites, and by darkneſſe and cloudes of melancholy vapours, riſing from that puddle of the ſplene, obſcure the cleareneſſe which our ſpirites are endued with, and is requiſite p. 193to the true diſcretion of outward obiects. But

If Aduſt choler preuaile, then proceede other paſſiōs of rage, preſumption, deſpayre, and ſuch actions as iſſue thereupon.

The Remedie of theſe Melancholike Thoughts.

This is twofold according to the diuers cauſes of them.

Which are partly Naturall, partly Spirituall, and Externall.

Touching Naturall cauſes, heere though Naturall Remedies hauehave their due places, for which I re…erre them to the godly Phyſitian, yet in theſe I take it the p. 194cure is to bee begonne (if the partie bee capable thereof) with ſpirituall Remedies to diſcouer the ground, namely, Naturall corruption, and to find out the particular ſin which may cauſe the ſame,, and ſo rectifie and ſettle the mind, that it may bee capable of the bodily cure, and better able to make vſe therof. And whē the bodily cure is well proceeded in (for I take it almoſt impoſſible thoroughly to rid this humour, that it may not trouble at all, eſpecially in Students and olde Folkes, and ſuch are giuen to contemplation.) Then the minde is to bee further dealt with, for reſolution and vprightneſſe, that ſo it may ſtill p. 195keepe the Maſterie ouer the humour, and turne it to the beſt.

But my principall intent herein is to miniſter cure to the mind.

And this is to bee diſpoſed according to the diuers cauſes of it, ariſing and temper thereof, and alſo according to the true iudgement of melancholike Thoughts.

Concerning the Cauſes, theſe are firſt the corruption and conſtitution enclining to, and encreaſing the ſame.

Which effecting eyther a dimmeneſſe of the Spirits, according to the earthie qualitie thereof, as it is naturall, or producing an ouermuch p. 196quicknes and operation of them, as it proceedeth from aduſt choler, breeding flatulent and fiery ſpirits, doth ſo produce a double effect.

1 Of Idleneſſe, or beſotting the Spirites, and ſo making them vnfitte, for actiue occaſions.

2 Of high and ſtrange ſpeculations, and ſo attempts accordingly, as proceeding from thoſe inflamed vapours; effecting the ſame; by which wee may wiſely diſcerne, how to apply the remedie: As to Thoughts proceeding of naturall Melancholy, and ſo effecting dulnes, and producing Idleneſſe. Here 1. a ſette calling is neceſſary, ſuch as may ſtirre vp the ſpirites p. 197by exerci…ing the body w… labour, to q…icken the dulnes of the humour, and hū ble the mind alſo with this bodily exerciſe, that ſo it may not giuegive way to ſuch idle thoughts.

But ſpecially labour for a generall calling, namelie, to bee found in Chriſt, and made partaker of his holineſſe; ſo ſhall the grace of God quicken natures dulneſſe, and fitte this drowſie humour to more heauenly medication, as withdrawing from the louelove and delight in earthly things, and affecting reſt and retirednes from the world.

And ſo bee wee carefull to nouriſh & maintaine the euidence of the Spirite, concerning p. 198particular ſaluation, and this ſhal reuiue & quicken vsus to any holy and ciuill occaſion

To this end well gratiouſly further a dayly viewing of the heart, and ſo refreſhing the ſame by dayly renued repentance, that it may bee ſtill a foote in the conſtant worſhip of God.

And here alſo more free vſe of our Chriſtian liberty, in diet, muſicke, recreation, will not bee amiſſe: ſo that ſtill wee watch ouer our ſelues therein, not making it a toyle, and ſo a trade, & thereby a ſnare to entangle the heart with the louelove therof, leſt thereby it proue an occaſion to wound the conſcience, and ſo produce p. 199vexation and deſpayre.

And ſo the true vſe of ſociety ſhall much further this cure, not ſo much to driue away Melancholy, as by conference and comp… ring each others eſtates together, to quicken and ſtir vp one anothet to holy duties of louelove, and examine each other therein.

Thus of the cure of ſuch thoughts as grow from naturall melancholy.

As for ſuch as ariſe from accidentall melancholy, when aduſt choler cauſeth flatulent vapours to aſcend into the heart and braine, & ſo inflame the ſame, and thereby breede preſumptions and deſperate thoughts: theſe may be remedied thus:

p. 200Firſt, the minde muſt be perſwaded, that theſe are but erroneous and falſe conceites, and therefore not to meaſure our eſtates by them.

2 Phyſicke hereupon being vſed to purge the humour, and preſerue the parts affected from obſtruction and inflammation.

The minde againe muſt be taken in hand: and firſt to bee brought to a liuely ſenſe of ſinne, euen of particular ſinnes, which may cauſe ſuch fearefull diſtractions, that ſo being brought to ſound repentance, it may renue it peace with God, in the merite of Chriſt.

Peace beeing reſtored, care muſt bee taken to preſerue p. 201it, by labouring ſoundnes of iudgement, and tenderneſſe of conſcience in all our wayes: By diligence in our particular Callings, and continuall watchfulneſſe ouer our hearts, and by dayly viewing the heart, by the word, and keeping our ſelues cloſe thereunto, labouring to confirme the weake, and rayſe vp ſuch as are fallen, and ſtill preparing for the comming of Chriſt.

p. 202Cautions herein ſeruing for the triall of the Remedie.

Whereas it is the pollicie of Sathan to impute whatſoeuer Thoughts tending to reformation, to Melancholy as implying thereby the minde to be deceiued in the true iudgement of things, becauſe that which is perſwaded to vsus is ſo contrary to naturall light & wiſedom that ſo hee may hold vsus in our old Byas.

Therefore here wee muſt bee warie in diſcerning of things that differ. As firſt,

Betweene ſuch Thoughts as neceſſarily proceed from Melancholy, and ſuch as are p. 203imputed thereto. Namely,

That Thoughts of Melancholy, as they are ſudden and violent, ſo many times they are vnſeaſonable▪ and exorbitant. Yea for the moſt part vaine and idle without ſound ground, yea contrary to common reaſon and religion and yet obſtinate and refractorie, impatient, of cure, very difficult to bee remedied.

1 But holy Thoughts concerning ſanctification ariſe from the true ground, the word of God, and by it are ſubdued to deliberation, for the wiſe diſce…ning of them, & ſo by the aſſiſtance of the ſpirit, find comfortable entertainment, and ſo are profitably brought into p. 204practiſe.

2 All euill thoughts proceed narurally from the corrupt fountain of our harts, & therfore at no hand are to be imputed to Melancholy, this may further them and their dwelling on our hearts, but the ground of them is our curſed nature, led captiue by Sathan at his will, and ſo breaking out into all ſorts of wicked imaginations.

3 All good Thoughts ariſe from the motion of the ſpirit in the regenerate, and ſo in no caſe may bee imputed to Melancholy: wel may they bee checked in regard of the dulneſſe of the humor but if the perſon bee ſanctified, this dulneſſe of the humour may proue a meane to p. 205deliberate of them, that ſo we may determine the fitnes thereof, and ſo to retain them more conſtantly, and the accidentall quickneſſe of the humour if it proceede from aduſt choler, may be a means to put them more ſpeedily in execution, and to eleuate the minde to the higheſt obiect and end of them.

So that if we can be more ſlow to euill, and nimble to good, more retired from the world, and familiar with God, more ſeruiceable to the Church, & leſſe reſpect our ſelues in regard of the fleſh: if we can bee more patient i… troubles, more fearefull of offending our God, more iealous of our ſelues in regard of cleauing corruption, p. 206and more confident on our God in reſting on his faithfulneſſe: ſo turning the effects of naturall melancholy to bee ſpurres vntounto grace, beeing more ſorrowfull for ſin, and chearefull in well doing, and ſo vſing them as furtherances for our exerciſe in holineſſe, and weakning of the body of ſin: hereby wee ſhall know that they are ſanctified vntounto vsus, that wee hauehave obtained a gratious conqueſt ouer nature…, and a good meaſure of Grace.

Ʋſes of theſe Melancholy Thoughts.

It ſerueth firſt to aduance the ſingular goodneſſe, of p. 207our God; that ſeeing we may be ſo farre tranſported by theſe melancholick fit…, as to ſpeake, yea to act ſometimes ſtrange things againſt our ſeiues, yet where Grace preuayleth, theſe are all brought about to the aduancement of his glory. The Lord doth not account of vsus as wee are tranſported by this peſtilent humour, but according to his owne purpoſe and ende to which he hath ordained vsus.

2 We are hereby taught wiſely not to excuſe ſinne by theſe Melancholicke moods; Becauſe indeede it ſecures to do the ſinne, in that it becomes a cloake to defend the ſame. As he that in his drunkenneſſe kills a p. 208man, is guiltie of a double offence, the one that he committeth murther, the other, that he did it in that humor: ſo is it in this caſe of Melancholy. And yet here is exceeding comfort to ſuch as are troubled in minde and through, diſtemper breake out into fearefull courſes and ſpeeches: that ſeeing the Lord will not impute vntounto them what they aduiſedly intend not, therfore becauſe Melancholy may father that on them which they did not, or further them to what they did not entend: The Lord will not impute what they did not, or what in their beſt aduice they would not.