The Anatomy of Melancholy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,057 pages of information about The Anatomy of Melancholy.

The Anatomy of Melancholy eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,057 pages of information about The Anatomy of Melancholy.
infinite swarms of people that are seduced by them.  In the other extreme or in defect, march those impious epicures, libertines, atheists, hypocrites, infidels, worldly, secure, impenitent, unthankful, and carnal-minded men, that attribute all to natural causes, that will acknowledge no supreme power; that have cauterised consciences, or live in a reprobate sense; or such desperate persons as are too distrustful of his mercies.  Of these there be many subdivisions, diverse degrees of madness and folly, some more than other, as shall be shown in the symptoms:  and yet all miserably out, perplexed, doting, and beside themselves for religion’s sake.  For as [6341]Zanchy well distinguished, and all the world knows religion is twofold, true or false; false is that vain superstition of idolaters, such as were of old, Greeks, Romans, present Mahometans, &c. Timorem deorum inanem, [6342]Tully could term it; or as Zanchy defines it, Ubi falsi dii, aut falso cullu colitur Deus, when false gods, or that God is falsely worshipped.  And ’tis a miserable plague, a torture of the soul, a mere madness, Religiosa insania, [6343]Meteran calls it, or insanus error, as [6344]Seneca, a frantic error; or as Austin, Insanus animi morbus, a furious disease of the soul; insania omnium insanissima, a quintessence of madness; [6345]for he that is superstitious can never be quiet.  ’Tis proper to man alone, uni superbia, avaritia, superstitio, saith Plin. lib. 7. cap. 1. atque etiam post saevit de futuro, which wrings his soul for the present, and to come:  the greatest misery belongs to mankind, a perpetual servitude, a slavery, [6346]_Ex timore timor_, a heavy yoke, the seal of damnation, an intolerable burden.  They that are superstitious are still fearing, suspecting, vexing themselves with auguries, prodigies, false tales, dreams, idle, vain works, unprofitable labours, as [6347]Boterus observes, cura mentis ancipite versantur:  enemies to God and to themselves.  In a word, as Seneca concludes, Religio Deum colit, superstitio destruit, superstition destroys, but true religion honours God.  True religion, ubi verus Deus vere colitur, where the true God is truly worshipped, is the way to heaven, the mother of virtues, love, fear, devotion, obedience, knowledge, &c.  It rears the dejected soul of man, and amidst so many cares, miseries, persecutions, which this world affords, it is a sole ease, an unspeakable comfort, a sweet reposal, Jugum suave, et leve, a light yoke, an anchor, and a haven.  It adds courage, boldness, and begets generous spirits:  although tyrants rage, persecute, and that bloody Lictor or sergeant be ready to martyr them, aut lita, aut morere, (as in those persecutions of the primitive Church, it was put in practice, as you may read in Eusebius and others) though enemies be now ready to invade, and all in an uproar, [6348]_Si fractus illabatur orbis, impavidos ferient ruinae_, though heaven should
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The Anatomy of Melancholy from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.