The world possessed with devils containing three dialogues. 1. Of the Devil let loose.…The vvorlde possessed with deuils conteinyng three dialogues. 1. Of the Deuill let loose.…
The world possessed with devils containing three dialogues. 1. Of the Devil let loose. 2. Of black devils. 3. Of white devils. And of the coming of Jesus Christ to judgement, a very necessary and comfortable discourse for these miserable and dangerous days.The vvorlde possessed with deuils conteinyng three dialogues. 1. Of the Deuill let loose. 2. Of blacke deuils. 3. Of white deuils. And of the commyng of Iesus Christe to iudgement, a verie necessarie and comfortable discourse for these miserable and daungerous daies.
Pierre Viret 1511–1571London: printed by John Kingston for John Perin, 1583London: printed by John Kingston for Ihon Perin, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Jerome. Me thinks when the world comes out of such Physicians hands, he is like to those that are lead to S. Matunes in France: for if they be but frantic when they are led thither, they return from thence stark, staring mad. Also I fear me, least the conjurers that thou speakest of, shall be rewarded as the seven sons of Sceva the Jew, (which likewise were Conjurers) were, who in going about to ⟨image 21⟩caste out the Devil out of the possessed man of Ephesus, so provoked him that he ran on them,1 overthrew them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.
Ierom. Me thinkes when the worlde comes out of suche Phisitions handes, he is like to those that are lead to S. Matunes in France: for if thei be but frantike when thei are ledde thether, thei retourne from thence starke, staryng madde. Also I feare me, least the coniurers that thou speakest of, shalbe rewarded as the seuen sonnes of Sceua the Iewe, (whiche likewise were Coniurers) were, who in goyng about to ⟨image 21⟩caste out the Deuill out of the possessed man of Ephesus, so prouoked hym that he ran on them,1 ouerthrew them, and preuailed against them, so that thei fled out of the house naked and wounded.
Theo. The like shall happen to all those that go about to appease the trouble and fury, that now possesseth the world, if they used any other mean, then the power and wisdom of the word of God. For devils can not be cast out, but only by our saviour Christ, or his disciples which come in his name, power, and strength. For, it is Jesus Christ of whom it is written: that he appeaseth the noise of the seas, & the noise of the waves thereof,
for it is only to him, that the winds & tempests obey, which are creatures without reason or understanding, neither hearing nor seeing: therefore they fear and acknowledge none but God, to be their master & governor.
There is none other conjuration, that hath any power over them but only the name of Jesus Christ: and he that cometh in any other name, or bringeth
⟨image 22⟩
any other doctrine, shall not heal the disease, but rather increase it. And it is not enough to come in the name of Christ, and to bring his doctrine, but it must be done with his spirit, and faith. For, the sons of Sceva did use the name of Christ, when they Conjured the wicked spirit, yea, the name of Jesus which Paul preached:
but he obeyed them not, for they took the name of Jesus in vain, not having such faith in him and in his word, as Paul had: and therefore the Devil answered them, that he knew them, but feared them not. Many also in these days come in the name of Christ, and boast much of his Gospel, but because they are without faith and affection, towards the church of Christ, their doctrine is of no great force. For, the power of Jesus Christ and his doctrine, consisteth not in words, but in faith: his troth lieth not in the tong, but in the heart. For the Gospel is no Gospel, nor the word of God is no word, but only the dead letter, except it be joined with the power and efficacy of the holy ghost, who is the author thereof. Neither hath it any great power in him that uttereth it, except it be uttered in faith, so that he may truly say
and therefore have I spoken. And, we also believe, and therefore speak.
Theo. The like shall happē to all those that goe about to appease the trouble and furie, that now possesseth the world, if thei vsed any other meane, then the power and wisedome of the worde of God. For deuils can not be cast out, but onely by our sauior Christ, or his disciples whiche come in his name, power, and strēgth. For, it is Iesus Christ of whō it is written: yt he appeaseth the noise of the seas, & the noise of the waues therof,1 & tumults of the people. Wherfore there is none but he that can deliuer ye little ship of the churche of God, frō ye swallowing gulphes,2 and troublesome seas of this world:3 for it is onely to him, yt the windes & tempestes obey, which are creatures without reason or vnderstandyng, neither hearyng nor seyng: therfore thei feare and acknowledge none but God, to bee their maister & gouernor.4 There is none other coniuration, that hath any power ouer thē but onely the name of Iesus Christe: and he that cōmeth in any other name, or bryngeth ⟨image 22⟩any other doctrine, shal not heale the disease, but rather increase it. And it is not inough to come in the name of Christ, and to bryng his doctrine, but it must be doen with his spirit, and faithe. For, the sonnes of Sceua did vse the name of Christ, when thei Coniured the wicked spirite, yea, the name of Iesus which Paule preached:5 but he obeyed thē not, for thei tooke the name of Iesus in vaine, not hauyng suche faithe in hym and in his worde, as Paule had: and therefore the Deuill answered them, that he knewe them, but feared them not. Many also in these daies come in the name of Christ, and boast muche of his Gospel, but because thei are without faithe and affection, towardes the churche of Christ, their doctrine is of no greate force. For, the power of Iesus Christ and his doctrine, consisteth not in wordes, but in faith: his troth lieth not in the tong, but in the harte. For the Gospell is no Gospell, nor the woorde of God is no worde, but onely the dead letter, except it be ioyned with the power and efficacie of the holie ghost, who is the aucthor thereof. Neither hath it any great power in him that vttereth it, except it be vttered in faithe, so that he maie truely saie ⟨image 22⟩with Dauid and S. Paule, 6I haue beleeued,7 and therefore haue I spoken. And, we also beleue, and therefore speake.
For, to usurp the word of God, only in the mouth, without the faith and troth of the spirit of God, is to abuse the name of God, as the false Prophets, Hirelings, and Enchanters do: for, the kingdom of God consisteth not in the word, but in the power and efficacy of the same.
For, to vsurpe the worde of God, onely in ye mouth, without the faithe and trothe of the spirite of God, is to abuse the name of God, as the false Prophetes, Hirelynges, and Enchaunters doe: for, the kyngdome of God consisteth not in the woorde, but in the power and efficacie of thesame.
Toby. I believe thee very well: & seeing that there is so little faith in the world, I do not much marvel, though the word of God take so little effect in many now a days, aswell the Preachers as the hearers. Furthermore, thou mayest well call this world a raging sea, for it is tossed and turmoiled on every side, with horrible & violent winds of ambition, vainglory, avarice, extortion, Pride, arrogance, presumption, over weening, envy, hatred, malice, and vengeance: which have so swollen and moved it, and tossed up the waves so high, that I look every hour when it shall over flow, and drown up the earth, as Noes flood did.
Tobie. I beleue thee very well: & seyng that there is so little faith in the worlde, I do not muche meruaile, though the worde of God take so little effect in many now a daies, aswel the Preachers as the hearers. Furthermore, yu maiest wel cal this world a ragyng sea, for it is tossed and turmoiled on euery side, with horrible & violent windes of ambition, vainglory, auarice, extortion, Pride, arrogancie, presumption, ouer wenyng, enuie, hatred, malice, and vengeaunce: whiche haue so swollen and moued it, and tossed vp the waues so high, that I looke euery howre whē it shall ouer flowe, and droune vp the earth, as Noes flood did.
Theo. The Geographers, and natural Philosophers write, that there are four principal winds that blow on the earth: ⟨image 23⟩besides them there are other, every one in his place, but none of them writeth commonly of more then of xii. in all, and the violent blustering of one or two of these, is sufficient to trouble both earth, sea, air, and to overthrow altogether. Let us not then marvel though the sea of this world, be wonderfully troubled, & we in great danger, considering that there are more then xii, yea, xii.C. or xii.M. contrary winds, that cease not daily to bluster and blow one against an other. What waves will they make? What tempests must they move? And yet we are in worse case.
Theo. The Geographers, and natural Philosophers write, that there are fower principal windes that blowe on the earth: ⟨image 23⟩besides them there are other, euery one in his place, but none of thē writeth commō ly of more then of xii. in all, and the violent blusteryng of one or twoo of these, is sufficient to trouble bothe yearth, sea, aire, and to ouerthrowe altogether. Let vs not then meruaile though the sea of this worlde, be wonderfully troubled, & we in great danger, consideryng that there are more then xii, yea, xii.C. or xii.M. contrary windes, that cease not daiely to bluster and blowe one against an other. What waues will thei make? What tempestes muste thei moue? And yet we are in worse case.
Theo. Thus, those men that sail on this sea, are all in one danger, and therefore they ought to lay hold on their tackling, and set hand to the ores, & so help the mariners and governors, to save themselves from danger, & to avoid present death: but they are so overthwart, and so hate one an other, that to be revenged the one of the other, they bore holes in the Ship, wherein they them selves are, to drown their fellows, who cannot be drowned without them.
Theo. Thus, those mē that saile on this sea, are all in one daūger, and therfore thei ought to laie holde on their tacklyng, and set hand to the ores, & so help the mariners and gouernors, to saue thēselues frō dannger, & to auoide present death: but thei are so ouerthwarte, and so hate one an other, that to be reuēged the one of the other, thei bore holes in the Ship, wherein thei them selues are, to droune their fellowes, who cannot be drouned without them.
Theo. Even the like is daily used among men. For we see that they do not only hinder themselves, in seeking to hinder other, but also undo them selves, in seeking to undo other. It is even as much, as though the brother, should go about to drown the brother, or one neighbour an other: so that they are not worthy to be called men, but rather sea monsters, whales, & such other great fish, as eat up the little fish. I would ask thee a question. If thou shouldest see a man tear his face, pull out his eyes, cut his nose and his ears, break his head against the walls, & thrust a knife in his own throat: wouldst thou think him in his right wits?
Theo. Euen the like is daily vsed emōg men. For we se that thei do not onely hinder themselues, in sekyng to hinder other, but also vndo thē selues, in seking to vndo other. It is euen as muche, as though the brother, should go about to droune the brother, or one neighbor an other: so that thei are not worthy to be called mē, but rather sea monsters, whales, & suche other greate fishe, as eate vp the little fish. I would aske thee a question. If thou shouldest se a man teare his face, pul out his eyes, cut his nose and his eares, breake his head against the walles, & thrust a knife in his own throte: wouldst thou think him in his right wits?
Theo. If we mark the trade of the world now adays, we can not but Judge ⟨image 24⟩him such a one. For, sith we are all one body, he that goeth about to hinder or undo his neighbour, doeth he not lay hands on him self? Doeth he not disfigure his own body, and like a mad man tear his own members? And so undo himself.
Theo. If wee marke the trade of the worlde now adaies, we can not but Iudge ⟨image 24⟩hym suche a one. For, sithe we are all one body, he that goeth aboute to hinder or vndoe his neighbor, doeth he not lay handes on hym self? Doeth he not disfigure his owne body, and like a madd man teare his owne members? And so vndoe hymself.
Toby. Do you then marvel though I complain, and that my wits be so troubled, that I wot not what to say: I see that Truth, Right, Justice, and Equity, are not to be found on the earth.
Tobie. Doe you then meruaile though I complaine, and that my wittes bee so troubled, that I wotte not what to saie: I see that Truth, Right, Iustice, and Equitie, are not to be founde on the yearth.
