Also here is mention made of workers with Familiars. As touching the which, needs must Satan's illusions be horrible. But what? There have been of them in all ages, and we see a notable example thereof in king Saul when he went to the Witch.1 He as king had erst forbidden all enchantments and all kind of damnable crafts, and he had behaved himself virtuously in executing Gods law. And yet in the end he became so wretched, that he fell §60to running after a Witch. And what was the cause thereof, but that he despised God? Whereupon in the end he fell into despair, and gave himself over altogether to Satan: which thing he showed full well. For if ye look advisedly into the matter, ye shall find that Satan's illusions do then get the upper hand of men, when their wits be amazed by reason of sorrowfulness that gnaweth them inwardly, & for that in stead of receiving some comfort of Gods word, they be overwhelmed with such anguish, that they fall into utter despair. When doeth Satan meet a man in some bodily shape, and tangle him in his snares? When a man is in some grief of mind, or in some hatred against his neighbour, or when a woman spiteth her husband. Well then, although such affections bear sway, yet doeth not God by and by give Satan the bridle, to reign over men, until they be come to such extremity that they fall to chawing upon the bit, and become so wilful in their sorrow, that they fall into despair and will no more admit any comfort, but refuse all remembrance of GOD, and would that his name were buried: for there is the gate open to Satan, and he entereth to work his illusions, which a man is not able to withstand. Hereof we have a fair warning is Saul. For he had offended God, and therefore was to be bereft of his kingdom, because it was Gods pleasure it should be so, and there was none other shift for him but to humble himself. But he would not do that. And when he saw there was no mean to appease Gods displeasure, but that for all his flattering of Samuel,2 yet he availed so little thereby, that when he had rent the Prophets Cote, the Prophet said unto him, even so will God rend the kingdom from thee: he cried out and flung himself out of his bounds, saying thus: What should I do more? Seeing that God hath forsaken me, I also on my side must forsake him. And what was the end hereof?
Also here is mention made of workers with Familiars. As touching the which, needes must Satans illusions be horrible. But what? There haue beene of them in all ages, and wee see a notable example thereof in king Saule when he went to the Witch.1 He as king had erst forbidden all inchauntmentes and all kinde of damnable craftes, and hee had behaued himselfe vertuously in executing Gods lawe. And yet in the ende he became so wretched, that hee fell §60to running after a Witch. And what was ye cause thereof, but that he dispised God? Whereuppon in the end he fell into despaire, and gaue himselfe ouer altogether to Satan: which thing hee shewed full well. For if ye looke aduisedly into the matter, ye shall finde that Satans illusions doe then get the vpper hand of men, when their wittes bee amased by reason of sorrowfulnesse that gnaweth them inwardly, & for that in steede of receiuing some comfort of Gods word, they bee ouerwhelmed with such anguishe, that they fall into vtter despayre. When doeth Sathan meete a man in some bodily shape, and tangle him in his snares? When a man is in some greefe of minde, or in some hatred against his neighbour, or when a woman spiteth her husbande. Well then, although such affections beare sway, yet doeth not God by and by giue Sathan the bridle, to raigne ouer men, vntill they be come to such extremitie that they fall to chawing vppon the bit, and become so wilfull in their sorowe, that they fall into despaire and will no more admit anie comforte, but refuse all remē braunce of GOD, and woulde that his name were buried: for there is the gate open to Satan, and he entereth to worke his illusions, which a man is not able to withstande. Hereof we haue a faire warning is Saul. For hee had offended God, and therefore was to be bereft of his kingdome, because it was Gods pleasure it shoulde be so, and there was none other shifte for him but to humble himselfe. But he would not doe that. And when hee sawe there was no meane to appease Gods displeasure, but that for all his flattering of Samuell,2 yet hee auayled so litle thereby, that when hee had rent the Prophetes Cote, the Prophete saide vnto him, euen so will God rende the kingdome from thee: hee cryed out and flang himselfe out of his bounds, saying thus: What should I doe more? Seeing that God hath forsaken mee, I also on my side must forsake him. And what was the end hereof?
- 11. Sam. 28.7.
- 21. Sam. 15.27.28.
