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The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of GodWilliam Gouge, 1619

§. 16. Of Satans power in miracles.

pp. 66–689 passages

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.

:396p. 66

§. 16. Of Satan's power in miracles.

§. 16. Of Satans power in miracles.

:397p. 66–67

1 Concerning miracles, ¹the Devil cannot work any. For Christ by the miracles which he wrought, manifested himself to be the Son of God, endued with divine power. The Prophets and Apostles were declared to be the servants God, and assisted with divine power; yea God was manifested to work in and by them, by the miracles which they wrought. If the Devil had power to work miracles, miracles had not been so evident a demonstration of the power of God. The⟨p. 67⟩ very Sorcerers could say of the miracles which were wrought by the ministry of Moses, ^aThis is the finger of God.

1 COncerning miracles, ¹the Diuell cannot worke any. For Christ by the miracles which hee wrought, manifested himselfe to be the Son of God, indued with diuine power. The Prophets and Apostles were declared to bee the seruants God, and assisted with diuine power; yea God was manifested to worke in and by them, by the miracles which they wrought. If the Diuell had power to worke miracles, miracles had not been so euident a demonstration of the power of God. The⟨p. 67⟩ very Sorcerers could say of the miracles which were wrought by the ministery of Moses, ^aThis is the finger of God.

1Nor work miracles.Nor worke miracles.

:399p. 67

Ans. ¹Though there were some outward likeness and resemblance betwixt some of those things which Moses and the Sorcerers did, as turning rods into Serpents, water into blood, and bringing abundance of frogs; yet in truth there was a very great and main difference betwixt them. There is no doubt but the things which Moses did, were truly and properly miracles: as for the things which the Sorcerers did, either they might be done by natural means, as the Devil might secretly convey Serpents, and blood, and frogs from other places to Egypt: or else the things which they did might be mere illusions, only appearances of things which were not so: and so the Egyptians made to think they saw Serpents, blood, and frogs, when in truth there were no such things: this latter is the more likely, as may be gathered by the circumstances noted in those histories. First for the Serpents, it is said that^a Aaron's rod devoured their rods: Evident therefore it is, that Aaron's rod was turned into a true living Serpent, and likely that the Sorcerers rods were not so, because they made no resistance, but were devoured.

Ans. ¹Though there were some outward likenesse and resemblance betwixt some of those things which Moses and the Sorcerers did, as turning rods into Serpents, water into blood, and bringing abundance of frogs; yet in truth there was a very great and maine difference betwixt them. There is no doubt but the things which Moses did, were truly and properly miracles: as for the things which the Sorcerers did, either they might be done by naturall meanes, as the Diuell might secretly conueigh Serpents, and blood, and frogs from other places to Egypt: or else the things which they did might be meere illusions, onely appearances of things which were not so: and so the Egyptians made to thinke they saw Serpents, blood, and frogs, when in truth there were no such things: this latter is the more likely, as may be gathered by the circumstances noted in those histories. First for the Serpents, it is said that^a Aarons rod deuoured their rods: Euident therefore it is, that Aarons rod was turned into a true liuing Serpent, and likely that the Sorcerers roddes were not so, because they made no resistance, but were deuoured.

1The works done by the Sorcerers in Egypt were counterfeit.The workes done by the Sorcerers in Egypt were counterfeit.
aExod. 7. 12.