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.…

Tob. Thou hast hitherto spoken of Libertine Atheists, who dissemble their Atheism, under the colour of having some Religion in them, so far forth as it tendeth either to their commodity or discommodity. But there are some others, who be cause they cannot find any such occasion, become ⟨image 99⟩as it were neuters,¹ being of neither side, as thou hast oftentimes said. And the chief men which march under this Ensign, and that are of this Band, are they which are puffed up with eloquence, & knowledge, and are drunken in their own wit and understanding: As Saint Augustine confessed him self to be, before such time as GOD had touched his heart with his holy spirit, which is the spirit of humility. But, although Saint Augustine presumed thus of him self, by reason he was of so fine and quick witted a spirit, and of so very a sharp understanding, and excellent knowledge in humanity, as any man that ever lived in his time and age: yet was there always in him, some good seed of religion. But because he was an heathen man borne, and therefore had not from his youth been brought up in the word of God: but only in humanity and Paganism, and in the Religion wherein he was borne, he could not rightly judge of the true Religion, which he knew not. And the opinion which he had of himself, did so hinder him, as that he could not search after it, as he ought to have ⟨image 99⟩done. And after that divers, but especially his mother Monica, who was a widow, and became a Christian before him, a very good woman, and one that feared GOD, had exhorted and solicited him, to search after the holy Scriptures: those their exhortations stirred him up to the reading of the Bible. Howbeit, he read it not so reverently as he should have done, but rather for fashions sake, by reason he came not appointed with that humility and modesty, which afterward he knew was meet for the disciples of the holy Ghost to come. But when God had rebated this his pride, with the spirit of modesty and humility, then found he that in it, which before he knew not how to find in it: And by that mean, he was so much the more humbled. Howbeit, these glorious arrogant men, of whom we now speak, who thus glory of their knowledge, and skill, are even the very scorners and contemners of God:

Tob. Thou hast hitherto spoken of Libertine Atheistes, who dissemble their Atheisme, vnder the colour of hauinge some Religion in them, so farre foorth as it tendeth either to their commodity or discō modity. But there are some others, who be cause they cānot find any such occasiō, becō