A68845:229
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.
London: 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.
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,