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THE SECOND BOOKE 319
assurance may we then take of so unconstant and
wavering a thing subject by its owne condition to the
power of trouble, never marching but a forced and
borrowed pace ? If our judgement be in the hands of
sickenes itselfe and of perturbation ; if by rashnesse and
folly it be retained to receive the impression of things,
what assurance may we expect at his hands? Dares
not Philosophie thinke that men produce their greatest
effects, and neerest approaching to divinity when they
are besides themselves, furious, and madde? We
amend our selves by the privation of reason, and by
her drooping. The two naturall waies to enter the
cabinet of the Gods, and there to foresee the course of
the destinies, are furie and sleepe. This is very pleasing
to be considered. By the dislocation that passions
bring into our reason, we become vertuous; by the
extirpation which either furie or the image of death
bringeth us, we become Prophets and Divines. I
never beleeved it more willingly. It is a meere divine
inspiration that sacred truth hath inspired in a Philosophical
spirit which against his proposition exacteth
from him; that the quiet state of our soule, the bestsettled
estate, yea the healthfullest that Philosophy
can acquire unto it, is not the best estate. Our vigilancie
is more drouzie then sleepe itselfe : our wisdome
lesse wise then folly; our dreames of more worth then
our discourses. The worst place we can take is in
ourselves. But thinks it not that we have the foresight
to marke,that the voice which the spirit uttereth when
he is gone from man so eleare sighted, so great, and so
perfect, and whilst he is in man so earthly, so ignorant,
and so overclouded, is a voice proceeding from the
spirit which is in earthly, ignorant, and overclouded
man; and therefore a trusties and not to be-believed
voice? I have no great experience in these violent
agitations, being of a soft and dull complexion, the
greatest part of which, without giving it leisure to
acknowledge her selfe, doe sodaincly surprise our soule.
But that passion, which in young mens harts is saied
to be produced by idlenes, although it march but