cap. 38. et deinceps._

Last of all: if the party affected shall certainly know this malady to have
proceeded from too much fasting, meditation, precise life, contemplation of
God's judgments (for the devil deceives many by such means), in that other
extreme he circumvents melancholy itself, reading some books, treatises,
hearing rigid preachers, &c. If he shall perceive that it hath begun first
from some great loss, grievous accident, disaster, seeing others in like
case, or any such terrible object, let him speedily remove the cause, which
to the cure of this disease Navarras so much commends, [6815]_avertat
cogitationem a re scrupulosa_, by all opposite means, art, and industry,
let him _laxare animum_, by all honest recreations, "refresh and recreate
his distressed soul;" let him direct his thoughts, by himself and other of
his friends. Let him read no more such tracts or subjects, hear no more
such fearful tones, avoid such companies, and by all means open himself,
submit himself to the advice of good physicians and divines, which is
_contraventio scrupulorum_, as [6816]he calls it, hear them speak to whom
the Lord hath given the tongue of the learned, to be able to minister a
word to him that is weary, [6817]whose words are as flagons of wine. Let
him not be obstinate, headstrong, peevish, wilful, self-conceited (as in
this malady they are), but give ear to good advice, be ruled and persuaded;
and no doubt but such good counsel may prove as preposterous to his soul,
as the angel was to Peter, that opened the iron gates, loosed his bands,
brought him out of prison, and delivered him from bodily thraldom; they may
ease his afflicted mind, relieve his wounded soul, and take him out of the
jaws of hell itself. I can say no more, or give better advice to such as
are any way distressed in this kind, than what I have given and said. Only
take this for a corollary and conclusion, as thou tenderest thine own
welfare in this, and all other melancholy, thy good health of body and
mind, observe this short precept, give not way to solitariness and
idleness. "Be not solitary, be not idle."

SPERATE MISERI--UNHAPPY HOPE.

CAVETE FELICES--HAPPY BE CAUTIOUS.

_Vis a dubio liberari? vis quod incertum est evadere? Age poenitentiam dum
sanus es; sic agens, dico tibi quod securus es, quod poenitentiam egisti eo
tempore quo peccare potuisti_. Austin. "Do you wish to be freed from
doubts? do you desire to escape uncertainty? Be penit