heart, mine heart panteth, &c. Psalm xxxviii. 8. O Lord, rebuke me not
in thine anger, neither chastise me in thy wrath, Psalm xxxviii. 1.
Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast
broken, may rejoice, Psalm li. 8. and verse 12. Restore to me the joy
of thy salvation, and stablish me with thy free spirit. For these
causes belike [1114]Hippocrates would have a physician take special
notice whether the disease come not from a divine supernatural cause,
or whether it follow the course of nature. But this is farther
discussed by Fran. Valesius, de sacr. philos. cap. 8. [1115] Fernelius,
and [1116]J. Caesar Claudinus, to whom I refer you, how this place of
Hippocrates is to be understood. Paracelsus is of opinion, that such
spiritual diseases (for so he calls them) are spiritually to be cured,
and not otherwise. Ordinary means in such cases will not avail: Non est
reluctandum cum Deo (we must not struggle with God.) When that
monster-taming Hercules overcame all in the Olympics, Jupiter at last
in an unknown shape wrestled with him; the victory was uncertain, till
at length Jupiter descried himself, and Hercules yielded. No striving
with supreme powers. Nil juvat immensos Cratero promittere montes,
physicians and physic can do no good, [1117]we must submit ourselves
unto the mighty hand of God, acknowledge our offences, call to him for
mercy. If he strike us una eademque manus vulnus opemque feret, as it
is with them that are wounded with the spear of Achilles, he alone must
help; otherwise our diseases are incurable, and we not to be relieved.
SUBSECT. II.—_A Digression of the nature of Spirits, bad Angels, or
Devils, and how they cause Melancholy_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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