life.  They think evil against their wills; that which they abhor themselves, they must needs think, do, and speak.  He gives instance in a patient of his, that when he would pray, had such evil thoughts still suggested to him, and wicked [6745]meditations.  Another instance he hath of a woman that was often tempted to curse God, to blaspheme and kill herself.  Sometimes the devil (as they say) stands without and talks with them, sometimes he is within them, as they think, and there speaks and talks as to such as are possessed:  so Apollodorus, in Plutarch, thought his heart spake within him.  There is a most memorable example of [6746]Francis Spira, an advocate of Padua, Ann. 1545, that being desperate, by no counsel of learned men could be comforted:  he felt (as he said) the pains of hell in his soul; in all other things he discoursed aright, but in this most mad.  Frismelica, Bullovat, and some other excellent physicians, could neither make him eat, drink, or sleep, no persuasion could ease him.  Never pleaded any man so well for himself, as this man did against himself, and so he desperately died.  Springer, a lawyer, hath written his life.  Cardinal Crescence died so likewise desperate at Verona, still he thought a black dog followed him to his death-bed, no man could drive the dog away, Sleiden. com. 23. cap. lib. 3. Whilst I was writing this Treatise, saith Montaltus, cap. 2. de mel. [6747]"A nun came to me for help, well for all other matters, but troubled in conscience for five years last past; she is almost mad, and not able to resist, thinks she hath offended God, and is certainly damned.”  Felix Plater hath store of instances of such as thought themselves damned, [6748] forsaken of God, &c.  One amongst the rest, that durst not go to church, or come near the Rhine, for fear to make away himself, because then he was most especially tempted.  These and such like symptoms are intended and remitted, as the malady itself is more or less; some will hear good counsel, some will not; some desire help, some reject all, and will not be eased.

SUBSECT.  V.—­Prognostics of Despair, Atheism, Blasphemy, violent death, &c.

Most part these kind of persons make [6749]away themselves, some are mad, blaspheme, curse, deny God, but most offer violence to their own persons, and sometimes to others.  “A wounded spirit who can bear?” Prov. xviii. 14.  As Cain, Saul, Achitophel, Judas, blasphemed and died.  Bede saith, Pilate died desperate eight years after Christ. [6750]Felix Plater hath collected many examples. [6751]A merchant’s wife that was long troubled with such temptations, in the night rose from her bed, and out of the window broke her neck into the street:  another drowned himself desperate as he was in the Rhine:  some cut their throats, many hang themselves.  But this needs no illustration.  It is controverted by some, whether a man so offering violence to himself, dying desperate, may be saved, ay or no?  If they