A68845:59
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.
Toby. These words signify not only that the older the world waxeth,1 the more the stature and age of man diminisheth, and the natural strength weakeneth: but also that all virtues decay in him, and all vices increase.
Tobie. These wordes signifie not onely that the older the worlde waxeth,1 the more the stature and age of man deminisheth, and the naturall strength weakeneth: but also that all vertues decaie in hym, and al vices increase.
- 1The decrease of virtue and increase of vice.The decrease of vertue and increase of vice.
Theo. If virtue fail, necessarily vice which is the contrary must reign, sith vice is want of virtue, as sickness is want of health, so that the more that health decreaseth,1 the more sickness increaseth. And therefore our saviour Christ, speaking of those last days, and of this age of the world, said not without cause. Thinkest thou that when the son of man shall come he shall find any faith or uprightness on the earth.2 For,3 because that the wickedness shall abound,4 all charity shall be cold.5 Hear also what S. Paul writeth: Now the spirit speaketh evidently, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, and shall give heed unto spirits of error, and doctrines of Devils, which speak lies through hypocrisy, & have their consciences burned with an hot iron. And again: This know also that in the last