The law unsealed

which Augustine▪ Vincentius and others call a heinous sin and an offering or Sacrificing to the Devil, the first inventer of them) show their neglect of Christian duty and carelessness in sinning, whereas they willingly commit themselves to the sna•e of the Devil: which hath been often sadly exemplified, particularly in these two Christian women spoken of by Tertullian in his Book de sp•ctacu is cap. 26. to the truth of which, he saith God is witness.

which Augustine▪ Vincentius and others call a hainous sin and an offering or Sacrificing to the Devil, the first inventer of them) shew their neglect of Christian duty and carelesness in sinning, whereas they willingly commit themselves to the sna•e of the Devil: which hath been often sadly exemplified, particularly in these two Christian women spoken of by Tertullian in his Book de sp•ctacu is cap. 26. to the truth of which, he saith God is witness.

The one whereof, was at her returning Home from a Stage▪Play, immediately possessed with a Devil; who being by Exorcism Expostulated with, How he durst thus assault, and enter into a Believing Woman? Answered bodily, That he had done it most justly: For, said he, in meo eam inveni, I found here in my own Temple, or in my own Ground, or in my own Dominion, or Jurisdiction; and as if he had said, About my own Work and Business. The other who the same Night, alter hearing a Tragedian, had a Lining-Sheet presented to her, in her Sleep; The Actor in the Play being also named, with a sharp braiding of her, for this deed of hers; and lived not above five days after. And in Alipi•s, ⟨image 11⟩a dear Friend, and Convert of Augustine's; who (as that Father Narrates, in the 6. Book of his Confession, cap. .) being importuned one day by some of his Friends, and Fellow-Students, meeting him on the way, to go along with them to see a Sword-Play, earnestly at first withstood them; and being at last drawn a long with them, he resolved to be absent, while he was present, and to shut his Eyes all the while he was there: and accordingly did, when he took his place: But when a great Shout was made, occasioned by some Accident in the Play, he opened his Eyes; Yet with a Resolution to contemn the sight, whatever it should be: but forth-with he was smitten with a grievous Wound in his Soul, and was not now the same man, that he came thither: But a true Companion of them, that brought him; he beheld, he shouted he grew out-ragious; and brought away Madness with him; whereby he was excited to return thither again, drawing others along with him, and even out-stripping these, by whom he was first drawn away: Yet after this length of Profanity, he was mercifully recovered, but not till along time after. (Persons that are once mislead by Stage-Plays though Civil or Religious, being seldom speedily reclaimed from them.) This was also Exemplified, in that late English Gentle-Woman of good-rank, Who spending much of her precious Time, in Attendance on Stage-Plays; and falling at last into a Dangerous Sickness, whereof she dyed, Anno 1631. Friends in her Extremity, sent for a Minister to prepare her for Death who beginning to Instruct and Exhort her to repent and call on God for Mercy she made him no Reply at all, but cried out Hieronimo, Hieronimo; O let me see Hieronimo Acted!