A68845:464
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. That is most true. For, whereas humility is not, there cannot be a teachable, and well disposed heart to receive doctrine and discipline: Which thing Saint Augustine confesseth to have found in him self by experience,1 saying in this manner. I then determined to apply my mind to the study of the holy Scriptures, that I might see what they were. And behold,2 I saw a thing that was never known to the proud, nor opened to children, but was lowly in his going, and very high in his arraigning, & which brought great profit, and hidden secretes. And as for my self, I was even such a one, ⟨image 95⟩as that I was not able to make any entrance into it, or yet stoop so low, as once to be able to put my head into the intres thereof. For I was not then of the opinion whereof I now speak, when I looked upon this piece of Scripture, but thought it unworthy to be compared to Tullies dignity. For, my great pride could no• away with the baseness thereof, and therefore it fled from me: Neither was my wit so sharp, as that it was once able to pierce into it, and yet it was such, as grew up amongest the basest and meanest. Howbeit, I might have vouchsafed to have been lowly. And because I was high minded, I thought my self to be a great Clerk. Here we see how Saint Augustine confesseth, that whiles he flattered himself, and esteemed so much of his own knowledge, and of the pride of his mind, as that he continually disdained and contemned the holy Scriptures. And although he had a mind oftentimes to give him self to the study of them, it was so far of that he found any taste or savour in them, as that he found▪ less savour in them at that time, then he did at the first. ⟨image 95⟩For, he thought them to be nothing in respect of the eloquence, and knowledge which he found in the Books of Tully and of the rest of the heathen Philosophers. But, after that this his pride was come down and abased, and the opinion which he had of him self and of his knowledge, he was of an opinion, clean contrary to his first: And then, he right well perceived, all humane eloquence, and Philosophy, to be no better then bladders stuffed full of wind, and of no substance in respect of the holy Scriptures: although to the outward appearance they made a far gallanter muster and show.