Theo. Nevertheless, thou seest how God hath these possessed in such bonds, that notwithstanding the strength that the devils gave them, yet were they always so subject to Jesus Christ, as if he had had them in chains and bonds, and although they fled to the graves and deserts, yet when it pleased Jesus Christ, he brought them from thence, and constrained them to appear before him, as if a Judge should call a wicked doer out of prison: to appear before him, to give sentence against him. Now if our Saviour Christ, have showed such power on these possessed, and over the Devils which tormented them, we may not doubt, but that he hath as much power now as ever he had, to repress the ⟨image 43⟩cloaked possessed,1 that are now adays, and also these Devils, by whom they are conducted and governed. But especially we may be well assured, that he will not loose the bridle more to tyrants, then to these possessed, whom they resemble in many things. For, they are strong and mighty possessed, whom mans power can not easily resist: yea, and they be furious, like the lord and master that they serve. And therefore,2 it is written in the Apocalypse, that the red Dragon had seven heads, and on every head a crown, and he had also ten horns. For,3 the Devil hath at all times governed such tyrannous Kings and Princes, as persecuted the people of God. Furthermore, laws be given to men, as bonds and bridles to restrain them, from all kind of riot or beastly life: And therefore David admonisheth us,4 saying Be ye not like an Horse, or like a Mule, which understand not, whose mouths thou doest bind with Bit and Bridle, least they come near thee. But there is neither bit nor bridle, that can restrain the tyranny, and fury of tyrants, by reason of their power, and the practises that the Read Dragon, which is the Devil, worketh in them and ⟨image 44⟩by them. Wherefore, they may well be compared to those furious, violent, and wild possessed men. But our greatest con fort, is, that Jesus Christ which is their judge, is able enough to call them to judgement before him, either to bridle their rage, or to condemn them to the bottomless pit of hell to the Devil, whom they had rather obey then God. And therefore it is written in the book of Daniel,5 that the Son of God hath Judged and condemned all beasts:
Theo. Neuerthelesse, thou seest how God hath these possessed in suche bondes, that notwithstandyng the strēgth that the deuilles gaue them, yet were thei alwaies so subiect to Iesus Christ, as if he had had them in chaines and bondes, and although thei fledde to the graues and desertes, yet when it pleased Iesus Christe, he brought them from thence, and cōstrained them to appeare before hym, as if a Iudge should call a wicked doer out of prison: to appere before hym, to giue sentence against hym. Now if our Sauiour Christ, haue shewed suche power on these possessed, and ouer the Deuilles whiche tormented them, we maie not doubt, but that he hath as muche power now as euer he had, to represse the ⟨image 43⟩cloaked possessed,1 that are now adaies, and also these Deuilles, by whom thei are conducted and gouerned. But especially wee maie be well assured, that he will not loose the bridle more to tyrauntes, then to these possessed, whō thei resemble in many thinges. For, thei are strong and mightie possessed, whom mannes power can not easely resiste: yea, and thei bee furious, like the lorde and maister that thei serue. And therfore,2 it is written in the Apocalips, that the red Dragon had seuen heddes, and on euery hedde a croune, and he had also ten hornes. For,3 the Deuill hath at all tymes gouerned suche tyrānous Kynges and Princes, as persecuted the people of God. Furthermore, lawes be giuen to men, as bondes and bridles to restraine them, from all kinde of riot or beastly life: And therefore Dauid admonisheth vs,4 saiyng Be ye not like an Horse, or like a Mule, whiche vnderstande not, whose mouthes thou doest bind with Bit and Bridle, least thei come nere thee. But there is neither bit nor bridle, that can restraine the tyrannie, and furie of tyrauntes, by reason of their power, and the practises that the Redde Dragon, whiche is the Deuil, worketh in them and ⟨image 44⟩by theim. Wherefore, thei maie well bee compared to those furious, violente, and wilde possessed men. But our greatest cō fort, is, that Iesus Christe whiche is their iudge, is able inough to cal them to iudgemēt before him, either to bridle their rage, or to condemne theim to the bottomelesse pitte of helle to the Deuill, whom thei had rather obeye then God. And therefore it is written in the booke of Daniell,
- 1Tyrants possessed.Tyrauntes possessed.
- 2The crowne• and horns of the red Dragon.The crowne• and hornes of the redd Dragon.
- 3Apoc. 12.
- 4Psal. 32.
- 5Dan. 7.
