A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

Herein we may observe sundry points of great importance. First, the exceeding policy of Satan: he hath his kingdom in this world: and for the establishing thereof, he must have his thrones where wickedness and idolatry is maintained without controlment, and whence sin is derived to other places. In all ages it hath been thus, and will continue so to the end. In the old world he had his thrones among Cains posterity: in the church of the Jews, even in the days of the kings of Israel, the high places and groves▪ where the people sacrificed to their idols were the devils thrones: the oracles of the gentiles where the devils gave answer unto men were his chief thrones: in the days of popery, every church and chapel were thrones of Satan, wherein were erected images & holy roods for the worship of saints; whither the people came to worship from country to country. In most schools of learning for many hundred years the devil had his thrones; For therein was nothing taught but errors, heresies, and most abominable idolatries. In these our days the devil hath his thrones among us, where any wizard dwelleth, or cunning person (as they are called) for thither whole countries do flock for help and for counsel, and so yield homage to Satan. All dicing, & all brothel houses, wherein abominable wickedness is freely committed, are Satan's thrones. Yea all those families are the devils thrones, where men live without love or practise of religion, in blindness and ignorance, in blasphemy, drunkenness, whoredom, injustice, or any such impieties. And in reason it must needs be thus, for the devil being a prince of this world, will have his throne in some parts thereof.

Herein we may obserue sundrie points of great importance. First, the exceeding pollicie of Sathan: he hath his kingdome in this world: and for the establishing thereof, he must haue his thrones where wickednesse and idolatrie is maintained without controlement, and whence sin is deriued to other places. In all ages it hath bene thus, and will continue so to the end. In the old world hee had his thrones among Cains posteritie: in the church of the Iewes, euen in the daies of the kings of Israell, the high places and groues▪ where the people sacrificed to their idols were the diuels thrones: the oracles of the gentiles where the diuels gaue answere vnto men were his cheefe thrones: in the dayes of poperie, euerie church and chappell were thrones of Sathan, wherein were erected images & holy roods for the worship of saints; whither the people came to worship from countrey to countrey. In most schooles of learning for many hundred yeares the diuell had his thrones; For therein was nothing taught but errors, heresies, and most abhominable idolatries. In these our dayes the diuell hath his thrones among vs, where any wizard dwelleth, or cūning person (as they are called) for thither whole countries do flocke for helpe and for counsell, and so yeeld homage to Sathan. All dicing, & all brothel houses, wherein abhominable wickednesse is freely committed, are Sathans thrones. Yea all those families are the diuels thrones, where men liue without loue or practise of religion, in blindnesse and ignorance, in blasphemie, drunkennesse, whoredome, iniustice, or any such impieties. And in reason it must needs bee thus, for the diuell being a prince of this world, will haue his throne in some parts thereof.