THE DISEASES OF THE TIMES OR, THE DISTEMPERS OF THE commonwealth.  
Succinctly describing each particular Disease wherein the kingdom is troubled.  
Contracted into these Heads. viz. 

1. The Immedicable tumour of Faction.  
2. The strange diffusion of brownianism.  
3. The stupendeous inundaton of heresy.  
4. The desperate swellng of obstinacy.  
5. The dangerous disease of Feminine divinity.  
6. The aspiring ambition of presumption.  
7. The audacious height of disobedience.  
8. The painted deceitfulness of hypocrisy.    
London, printed for R. T.   

The Diseases of the Times.  
WHen with mature deliberation I seriously ponder & consider the promiscuous multiplicity of Distempers, wherein this kingdom is dangerously involved, I conceive it to be reduced into such a miscellaneous labyrinth of Faction and schism that I may without any scrupulous dubitation freely confess with Seneca, Nunc vere vivimus in inquinatis temporum faecibus: we now truly live in the polluted dregs of time: Yet there was not long since a Pamphlet (for I may without offence so give it that appellation) divulged to the public spectacle of the World, inti●uled, A medicine for the Times, but I think him an unskilful physician, that shall apply a Medicine before he hath searched out the Disease; yet I confess it was well mixed, and of a strong operation too, had it been rightly taken; it had excellent Compounds, but only it was a little too much troubled with stinging astimulation of conscientiall physic. But although it may seem preposterous to proceed in explication of the diseases, since the medicine hath been applied before; yet I will l●●ch the wounds afresh● that they may heal the better: First then to begin with the Immedicable tumour of Faction, it swells so extremely big in the universal sight of all, that it becomes a ●eart-sore to all true-hearted protestants, it imbroyders the kingdom with such prodigious distractions, that the Church thereby is almost t●rned upside down. Our streets swarm● with the ●●multuous division of schism, whi●h makes thereby this realm sick of a quotidian Ague, and perplexeth the State extremely. Secondly, we come to the strange diffusion of brownianism; this ●ect distur●es our Church in●initely, and as the evil spirit of their minds moves them, they are seduiously employed with the great exercising of their talon about Cheapside cross, that instead of preaching in T●bs, I hope some will suddenly preach in the pillory. Their Doctrine comes altogether by inspiration, and hereupon they do so frequent the barns and stables (a place only for Oxen and Asses) that they do exclude the former, and principally retain the latter appellation to themselves. The times groan of this disease, and unless some sudden cure be remedied by the Parliament, this will bring t●e C●urch quickly into a deep Consumption. Thirdly, we proceed to the stupendeous inundation of heresy, but our Common Pulpits do so groan with this Mal●dy, that the Church hereby hath almost contracted a surfeit: These Amsterdamian zealots can breath five hours in a Text, and they delight not only in Battologies, b●t also in tautologies, which makes them become so infamous and ridiculous to the World, that t●ey are ludibrious spectacles of derision: Moreover, they non solum multa, sed etiam stulta eructant: this Hell-nourished ●eresie (for sure it must receive its original from thence, and be inspired from that sulphurous place of blinded ignorance) hath begot such a desperate disease in the Clergy, that 'tis almost grown to a dropsy Fourthly, we come to the desperate swelling of obstinacy; this is a dangerous Disease, and withal carries such a reluctaney with her, that it seems incurable: The hearts of these obstinate persons are so Adamantine, that although they be conf●ted by the credible probability of common reason, yet they are so obdu●e, that nothing but their own self-approved ways can take any I●pression in them Fifthly, the dangerous disease of Feminine Divintiy, this is frequently heard in every Conventicle, whereof the T●bbes and Trees in most Woods do ●ing, and there they tattle louder than they use to do at Markets. These would reform the Church, and under that pretence deform it, but that will be a rare World when women shall wear the breeches, & men petticoats, this greatly tingleth in the ●ares of the world. Sixthly, we are arrived at the aspiring ambition of presu●ption: These superbious persons dare presume to snatch the ministerial Function from the mouths of the clergy, and dare say they are sent from Heaven, and inspired by the spirit (of pride;) 'tis in vain to enumerate the latitude of their presumption, for they dare, and will do any thing what they please: This sickness is very desperate, and will (if not castigated) contaminate the whole body. Seventhly, we are to describe the audacious height of Disobedience, we may apparently behold what infamous aspersions are daily cast on the superior Magistrates; yea, some are so peremptory, that they dare even de●ract from the King's imperial T●rone and regal diadem: If this disease so ig●o●inious, sh●mefull, and contagious continueth incorrigible, it will exulcerate the w●ole Ki●g●o●e beside. Eighthly, and lastly, we come to the painted deceitfulness of hypocrisy; this is too obvious in the public view of the w●rld, and those that under the colour of Religio● would reform the Church● do wholly defor●e it; ●hese have the voice of Jacob, but the h●nd of Es●●, and like a Candle, they show a fair Light to others, but waste and consume themselves in their own pride. T●ese are the Diseas●s, whe●eof these Ti●es languish, and divers cures and Remedies for them may be pers●icuously s●ene in a Book, called, A medicine for the Times. And I hope the Parliament those r●re physicians, will in due time heal all these distempers.  
FINIS.