in an
instant, and cried for mercy in their hearts. If a man put desperate hands
upon himself, by occasion of madness or melancholy, if he have given
testimony before of his regeneration, in regard he doth this not so much
out of his will, as _ex vi morbi_, we must make the best construction of
it, as [6753]Turks do, that think all fools and madmen go directly to
heaven.

SUBSECT. VI.--_Cure of Despair by Physic, Good Counsel, Comforts, &c._

Experience teacheth us, that though many die obstinate and wilful in this
malady, yet multitudes again are able to resist and overcome, seek for help
and find comfort, are taken _e faucibus Erebi_, from the chops of hell, and
out of the devil's paws, though they have by [6754]obligation, given
themselves to him. Some out of their own strength, and God's assistance,
"Though He kill me," (saith Job,) "yet will I trust in Him," out of good
counsel, advice and physic. [6755]Bellovacus cured a monk by altering his
habit, and course of life: Plater many by physic alone. But for the most
part they must concur; and they take a wrong course that think to overcome
this feral passion by sole physic; and they are as much out, that think to
work this effect by good service alone, though both be forcible in
themselves, yet _vis unita fortior_, "they must go hand in hand to this
disease:"--_alterius sic altera poscit opem._ For physic the like course is
to be taken with this as in other melancholy: diet, air, exercise, all
those passions and perturbations of the mind, &c. are to be rectified by
the same means. They must not be left solitary, or to themselves, never
idle, never out of company. Counsel, good comfort is to be applied, as they
shall see the parties inclined, or to the causes, whether it be loss, fear,
be grief, discontent, or some such feral accident, a guilty conscience, or
otherwise by frequent meditation, too grievous an apprehension, and
consideration of his former life; by hearing, reading of Scriptures, good
divines, good advice and conference, applying God's word to their
distressed souls, it must be corrected and counterpoised. Many excellent
exhortations, phraenetical discourses, are extant to this purpose, for such
as are any way troubled in mind: Perkins, Greenham, Hayward, Bright,
Abernethy, Bolton, Culmannus, Helmingius, Caelius Secundus, Nicholas
Laurentius, are copious on this subject: Azorius, Navarrus, Sayrus, &c.,
and such as have written cases of conscience among