A68845:630
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. It might seem that Jesus Christ came thither,1 to give the Devil greater power, to the end he might finish that work which he so long before travelled about, which was, to kill this poor miserable child. For, every man thought the child to be dead, when the Devil left him. Howbeit, it fell out clean contrary. For, when it was thought, that he was stark dead, he was quite and clean delivered of the Devil, and made through whole. Now, we see that the like of this falleth out daily, we see how the Devil troubleth and tormenteth the world, especially in those places, out of which he knoweth he shall be caste. For, he then falleth into such a rage, as that a man would think that the Gospel, by which mean Jesus Christ will cast him out, had set open all the gates of hell, to let out all the Legions of Devils that were in it. For, then he fretteth and fumeth, and maketh as many as he hath power over, to fret and fume. ⟨image 130⟩To be short, he so terrifieth the whole world, yea, the valiancest and most constant, as that a man would think it should be utterly consumed and come to naught. But even then, when we think it should be clean wasted and destroyed, our Saviour Jesus Christ, showeth himself to be far stronger then he. And therefore, we must not stand in a maze when we see the troubles and persecutions, which the Devil and his retinue stir up in the world, when as they feel Jesus Christ come near them, to cast them out through the power of his gospel. We have none other thing to do but to remain steadfast and constant, and do that duty that appertaineth unto every of us: and so leave the charge of all the rest of the things unto our Lord Jesus Christ, who will never forsake us, nor yet suffer the devil to reign amongst us.
Theo. It might seeme that Iesus Christe came thyther,1 to giue the Diuell greater power, to the end hee might finish that worke which hee so long before trauelled about, which was, to kill this poore miserable childe. For, euery man thought the childe to bee dead, when the Diuell leaft him. Howbeit, it fell out cleane contrary. For, when it was thought, that hee was starke dead, hee was quite and cleane deliuered of the Diuell, and made through whole. Nowe, wee see that the like of this falleth out dayly, we see how the Diuel troubleth and tormenteth the worlde, especially in those places, out of which hee knoweth he shall be caste. For, he then falleth into such a rage, as that a man woulde thinke that the Gospell, by which meane Iesus Christe will cast him out, had set open all the gates of hell, to let out all the Legions of Diuels that were in it. For, then hee fretteth and fumeth, and maketh as manie as he hath power ouer, to fret and fume.