A68845:259
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. When he saw, that by all the means that he could devise, he could not abolish the Christian Religion, and establish and augment the Heathen Religion, but that contrariwise it increased more and more, he was marvellous angry, and in such rage, as he could not forbear, but in the end manifestly to open it. And here upon he forbade the Christians, the reading of the Heathen Poets, Orators, and Philosophers: to the end that they might not allege them for authority against the Heathens. For, he used to say: the Christians do prick us and thrust us through, with our own Fathers, because they did confound the Heathens with their own books: And whipped them with their own Rods, as the faithful at this day do whip the Papists. For, if we had none other books but their own, we should have sufficient to condemn them all of false religion ⟨image 53⟩and abuse. Wherefore if they would do well, they should rather forbid the faithful to read their books, then the holy scripture. For, the dishonour is the greater unto them, if they be condemned by their own writings, & by such books as they make of greater authority, then the scripture it self, for that they will rule y• doctrine thereof according to the contents of the same books.
Theo. Whē he saw, that by all the meanes that he could deuise, he could not abolishe the Christian Religion, and establish and augument the Heathen Religion, but that contrariwise it increased more and more, he was merueilous angrie, and in suche rage, as he could not forbeare, but in the ende manifestly to open it. And here vpon he forbad the Christians, the reading of the Heathen Poetes, Orators, and Philosophers: to the ende that thei might not alledge thelm for aucthoritie againste the Heathens. For, he vsed to saie: the Christians dooe pricke vs and thruste vs through, with our owne Fathers, because thei did confounde the Heathens with their owne bookes: And whipped thē with their owne Roddes, as the faithfull at this daie dooe whipp the Papistes. For, if we had none other bookes but their own, we should haue sufficient to condemne them all of false religion ⟨image 53⟩and abuse. Wherefore if thei would doe well, thei should rather forbid the faithful to read their bookes, then the holy scripture. For, the dishonor is the greater vnto them, if thei bee condemned by their owne writinges, & by suche bookes as thei make of greater aucthoritie, then the scripture it self, for that thei will rule y doctrine therof according to ye contētes of thesame bokes.