Therefore first of all we must know this and so persuade our selves, that there be devils, and that they be more nigh unto us than our ⟨image 7⟩shirts to our body. And this saint Peter doth well testify which is no liar saying, in the v. ca.1 Be you sober and be ware, for your adversary the devil goeth about like a roaring lion whom he may devour. These words were not spoken of no drunkard, nor is no fools bolt, as we be wont to say, but they were spoken of Peters own mouth by the holy ghost, nether in geest nor in sport, but in earnest as earnestly as he could speak them. Be sober & beware saith he, as though he would say, do not so imagine with your selves, as though your enemy were far from you. Your enemy is a strong and a perpetual adversary evermore against you, with all hatred and malice he can, whose purpose is nothing else but to destroy you both body and soul. Where is he than wilt thou say. Peter ⟨image 7⟩telleth thee. He runneth about thee, saith he / what doeth he, what intendeth he running about us? Peter shewyth thee, he seeketh / saith Peter, whom he may devour. Here you have the devil painted in his colours. Ye hard before that there is a devil, here you see what a thing he is, how malicious, how pestilent, and vexed against us, which every day doth no thing else but studieth how to devour us & to destroy us, this is all his intent & purpose, to work our destruction, evermore running about us, with such hatred and malice that no man can express it, even like a roaring lion he rageth about, that is to say / what soever thou doest, whether thou thinkest or speakest, or what so ever thou settest upon to do, other to begin a thing or to finish any work, the devil is ever present seeking all means and ⟨image 8⟩occasion to stop to trouble thee, & to let thee. But few men believe it, for if they did, they would not live so securely & so carls as they do. And this is the cause that we see all the world so full of strife, debate, hatred, inveigh, pride, covetousness lusts, and such other vices. And yet how securely & how negligently men live, as though they had clean devoured and consumed the devil. And here is to be understand that there be two sorts of men possessed with the devil. Sum be possessed bodily in whom we may plainly perceive the good will of the devil toward us, as in Matthe. viii.2
Therfore fyrst of all we must knowe thys and so persuade our selues, that there be deuylles, and that they be more neghe vnto vs thā our shyrt⟨image 7⟩is to oure body. And thys saynct Peter doth well testefye which is no lyer sayng, in the v. ca.1 Be you sober and be ware, for your aduer sarie the deuyll goeth aboute lyke a roryng lyon whom he may deuoure. These wordes were not spoken of no dronkerd, nor is no fooles bolte, as we be wonte to say, but they were spoken of Peters owne mouth by ye holy goost, nether in geest nor in sport, but in ernest as ernestly as he culde speake thē. Be sober & beware sayth he, as thoughe he wold say, do not so imagine with youre selues, as thoughe youre enemye were farre from you. Your enemye is a strōg and a perpetuall aduersary euermore agaynste you, wt all hatred and malice he can, whose porpose is nothyng els but to dystroy you both body and soule. Where is he than wylt thou say. Peter tellyth⟨image 7⟩the. He runnyth about the, sayth he / what doyth he, what entēdyth he runnynge about vs? Peter shewyth the, he sekyth / sayth Peter, whome he may deuoure. Here you haue the deuyl paynted in his colours. Ye hard before that there is a deuyll, here you see what a thyng he is, how malitious, how pestilent, and vexed agaynste vs, which euery day doth no thīg els but studieth how to deuoure vs & to dystroy vs, this is all hys entēt & purpose, to worke oure dystruction, euermore rūnyng about vs, with such hatred and malice that no man can expresse yt, euen lyke a roryng lyon he ragyth about, yt is to say / what soeuer thou doest, whether thou thīkyst or speakyst, or what so euer thou settyst vpon to do, other to begyn a thynge or to fynysh any worke, the deuyll is euer presēt sekyng all meanes and ⟨image 8⟩occasion to stoppe to troble the, & to lett the. But fewe mē beleue it, for yf they dyd, they wold not lyue so securely & so carles as they do. And thys is the cause that we see all the world so full of stryffe, debate, hatred, enuey, pryde, couetousnes lustes, and suche other vices. And yet how securely & how negligently men lyue, as though they had clene deuoured and cōsumed the deuyll. And here is to be vnderstand that there be two sortes of men possessed with the deuyll. Sum be possessed bodely in whō we may planly perceiue the good wyll of the deuyll toward vs, as in Matthe. viii.2
- 1Pet. 5.
- 2Mat. 8.
