An Answer to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations

for except that God did bridle him and draw him back, I doubt not, but that most subtle and crafty spirit would have handled this matter far otherwise. But now when as God hath thus restrained him he is not able to do so much as he would and as he desireth, but so far as God permitteth him, he fretteth & rageth. For the devil which desireth to destroy the Christian faith, goeth not this way to work to give liberty, for men to have many wives at once. for he knoweth well that men do abhor it, it is so open, detestable, and filthy a thing in all mens eyes, The Politic and civil government may this way be troubled: but to invade the kingdom of Christ withal, there must be other manner of weapons and engines used. for he that will go about to flatter the people by fraud and deceit, he must not be desirous to reign, not to declare him self a tyrant (for all the world reproveth that, and seeth to what end such enterprises ⟨p. 439⟩do tend) but he must come by some privy means: as by holy speakings, his garments homily, and not like unto others, a grave countenance his head hanging toward the ground, in abstinence not touching money, not eating flesh, refusing marriage, esteeming civil government, and bearing of authority to be a profane thing, to refuse to bear rule, and to profess him self to be of a singular and lowly spirit: this (I say) is the ready way or means which may deceive even the very wise, and all by simulation and subtlety to aspire to the highest reign upon earth. But to usurp authority with unshamefast extremity, and for filthy desire to take as many wives as he list, this is not the craft of any practised devil, but of some rude and late sprung up spirit, or at least if he be of any experience, yet God hath now so tied him in chains that he can no more subtly deceive: which thing the Lord doeth to the end that we should reverence his Majesty, and that we should be first stirred up to repentance, be fore he let lose the bridle of some more expert devil,¹ which surely shall assault and besiege us much more sharply and with greater fury. For if this little master devil can stir up such a trouble, what shall the great doctor devil of both the laws do when he shall come and practise all his power against us? Wherefore this homily devil that is of so small experience, is not of us greatly to be feared.

for except that God did brydle hym and drawe hym backe, I dout not, but that most subtile and craftie spirit wold haue hādeled this mater farre otherwise. But now when as God hathe thus restreyned hym he is not able to do so muche as he wolde and as he desireth, but so farre as God permitteth him, he fretteth & rageth. For the deuil which desireth to destroy the Christian faith, goeth not this way to worke to giue libertie, for men to haue many wiues at once. for he knoweth well that men do abhorre it, it is so open, detestable, and filthie a thing in all mennes eyes, The Politick and ciuil gouernement may this way be troubled: but to inuade the kingdome of Christe withall, there must be other maner of weapons and enginnes vsed. for he that wil go about to flatter ye people by fraude and deceat, he must not be desirous to reigne, not to declare him self a tyrāne (for all ye world reproueth that, and seeth to what end such enterprises