A68845:390
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. I doubt not but the Devil would be glad to do as much as you have spoken touching this matter, in those places where the spiritual Pope is beaten down.1 He hath heaved up his spiritual Pope, under the title of Minister of the Church, and hath taken occasion to give unto himself many goodly titles, and such authority as the spirit of God giveth to the true Ministers of his word, and their Ministry: But if the Devil and his false Prophets and pastors have abused the name of this holy ministry and the true ministers of the Lord, to usurp tyranny over the Church of Jesus Christ under this colour: it followeth not therefore that the authority of the true Ministry of the church, and the true ministers of the Lord, (which is given them of God and not of men) ought to be diminished.2 For whosoever useth such mean to correct the fault that the Pope and his have committed in this behalf, doth not reform the Church, but deform it more than it was before. And therefore when the true Ministers of the Gospel preached in the beginning against the Pope and other false Shepherds which have abused the ministry of the Church, and wholly overthrown ⟨image 76⟩it: and when they have admonished Princes and Magistrates to set to hand, that the abuse which was in the Church might be corrected and reformed according to the word of God: they preached not that the Magistrates should take any tyranny over the Church, which they condemned, and that they should tread the ministry thereof under their feet: but that they ought to bestow their whole power in restoring of it to such perfectness, as it ought to be according to Gods word. And to the end that the Magistrates should not stick at it,3 and think that it belonged not to them, they showed them what was their duty, and how much God had honoured them in calling them thereto. They likewise declared unto them, the honour that the spirit of God showeth to that holy state in the sacred Scriptures: and what dishonour and injury the Pope and his prophets have done unto it. Wherein they did not amiss, but faithfully executed their charge. If there be any that have passed their bounds therein, I will not excuse their fault.