A68845:467
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. Thou touchest now a disease, which at this day reigneth more then ever it did, yea, and that amongst such as bear ⟨image 96⟩the name of Christians, which is the cause that we have so many Libertine Atheists,1 who scorn and laugh at all Religions. And although they are not in trueth, settled in any Religion, yet forsooth they would not he thought to be utterly void of Religion. And therefore, because they are of no religion, they are nevertheless of all Religions, in what Countries soever they come unto. For, they shoot at none other mark, but temporizing, or serving of times, with every man, a Papist amongst Papists, an Epicure with Epicures, an Atheist, with Atheists, and to be short, a Devil amongst Devils, for they will not be disquieted either in body or mind neither yet hazard either body or goods. And therefore, they will not greatly frame them selves neither after Jesus Christ, nor after the Pope, neither after the Gospel, nor after the Mass, nor yet after any controversy that is at this day for Religion amongst Christians, without perhaps some of them sustain some particular loss thereby. For, if either gain, or loss fall out unto them on either side, they will counterfeit zeal in that Religion which they think ⟨image 97⟩will be most for their profit, and which they suppose will best agree with that, which they desire to have here in this life, as we have a manifest example, chiefly, in the Prelates and Beneficed men of the Popish Church. For, if they did believe that there were a GOD in heaven, and any true religion, whereby their life and conversation ought to be governed, and that they should render an account thereof in the day of Judgement, they would surely, be other manner of men, then in deed they are. Howbeit, they right well show, as well by their doctrine, as also by their life and conversation, that they have as much mind of God, as have brute beasts, and do as much esteem of the immortality of their souls, as of the souls of their horses and mules. And therefore, all the zeal which they have to their Religion, proceedeth not from any love which they bear thereunto, but only to the honours, and great wealth which cometh unto them thereby.
Theo. Thou touchest now a disease, which at this day raygneth more then euer it did, yea, and that amongst such as beare