spoken by the vvifest man in the world insomuch that when they wold confirme any thinge without anie long delaie they woulde obiect to him that doubted their argumentes to be true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is he hath spoken as though it had beene then a great offence to speake against it so is it meete the like reason be had of our religion giuing the same reuerence to Iesus Christ that in alleaging his doctrine to confirme the profession of our faith we crie vnto the deafe and dul hearers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is beleeue for our Sauior hath spoken it for his doctrine is not humaine vanishing and colde but liuelie sauing forcible and diuine and which bringeth blessednesse to man which onelie we ought to desire of Christ whoe is the fountaine of all wisedome and goodnesse and in whome dwelleth all fulnesse of God corporallie by whome wee are made perfect by whom as Paule saith God the father hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenesse and hath translated vs to the kingdome of his beloued sonne by whom vve haue redemption in his bloud and remission of our sins vvho is the image of the inuisible god and the first begotten before all creatures and by whoÌ„ all thinges were made both in heauen and earth visible and inuisible thrones dominions principalities and powers All things were made by him through him and he is before all things and by him all things haue their beginnings He is the head of his body the Church the beginning and first begotten from the dead that he might be chiefe in al thinges and obtain the souerainty because it pleased the father to dwel in him being the fulnesse of all thinges and to reconcile al things vnto himselfe being appeased in the bloud of his crosse Seeing then that GOD the Father hath so plentifully and aboundantly bestowed all things on vs by Christ let vs striue to come to that plentifull and euerflowing fountain and let vs presume through faith to aske and hope for all things from and in him assaie to doe all thinges If it seeme good vnto vs to cast out Diuels to heale diseases to deliuer from perils to kill venemous beastes to purge away poison and make it haâ—melesse and to remoue mountains out of their places let vs remember to do all these things by the vertue and power of Christ by faith in him For Christ promiseth to the faithfull that all things shall be plain open and easie for them to doe if they haue faith which in his last sermon before hee ascended vp into heauen he witnesseth to the world when he saith Marke 6 Go yee ouer all the world and preach the Gospell to al nations he that beleeueth and is baptised shall be saued but whosoeuer beleeueth not shall bee condemned Tell them that beleeue that these thinges shall followe their faith In my name they shall caste out Diuels speake with newe tongues kill Serpentes and if they drinke any deadly poison it shall not hurt them they shall lay their handes on the sicke and they shall bee whole that is at the present touch they shall bee healed these thinges shall bee alwaies ready with them where the increase and profit of the Gospell requireth a myracle But these things can by no meanes be performed in the mindes of them that nowe professe the Gospell vntill they haue clensed their hearts from all vices and through the force of the spirit and doctrine of saluation haue healed their mindes of their faultes and that their heartes are freed from auarice hatred anger lust deceite backbiting and other daungerous affections and endue themselues with giftes from aboue Whether hearbes and precious stones haue a power to cast out Deuils and expel noisome things Chap. 58. ALbeit that hearbes haue such especiall vse and excellent force giuen by the framer of Nature that they are applied to mans bodie for nourishment and medicines sake yet are there some roots commended by ancient writers which resist inchaunt ments and do beate backe and driue away sorcery and witchcraft of all sorts These are called Alexicaca or remedies against al mischiefes and Amuleta that is Amlettes or preseruatiues against witchcraft which doe driue awaie and remoue all thinges that are hurtfull and noysome to men This force also besides hearbes is attributed to Pearles and Precious stones vvhich haue gotten that power not by their first qualities that is the temprature of heate and colde drinesse and moisture but by a speciall strength hidden force and secret propertie whose cause cannot by any meanes be shewed So doth the Magnes and Loadstone draw Iron The Gagates or Agath stone and the Amber drawe strawes and moates The Saphire which is of a sâ—ie and gray colour defendeth chastitie The Iacincte and Chrysolite borne on the Ring finger resisteth the plague The Emerald and Prasius being stones of a green colour doe make the heart merrie The Iasper Saphire and blew stone called a Turcoise keepeth a man from sliding falling and stumbling or if any of these happen it keepeth the bodie from hurte Corall hanged about the necke driueth awaie troublesome dreames and keepeth children from feares in the night The Carbuncle or Sardine stone commonlie called the Cornel stone taking that name of a redde berrie the Cornell tree beareth spreadeth the bloud in the bodie and maketh men merrie and of an excellent color There are also diuers other stones of moste excellent vertue to remooue and driue awaie Hobgoblins Witches Hags and anie ayrie Spirits if wee may credit auncient writers There are also hearbes which resist those diseases that are verie neare kinne to the vexations and tortures of the Diuell as melancholy phrensie madnesse the falling sickenesse and other greeuous diseases that happen to young maides and olde widowes through the motion and affection of their wombe or when their monethlie diseases haue not their course or vvhen they are kept longer from marrying then they would be because from the fumes that disease bringeth and thorow blacke and thicke fogges their mindes are so troubled that a man woulde thinke they were tormented of some euill Spiritte yea they themselues doe perswade themselues that some euill Spiritte doth possesse their mindes which bringeth them into manie absurde and filthie imaginations to which disease after the incision or cutting of some vayne in the feete such wholsome hearbes are applied vnto them that deliuer them of these accidentes and of this sorte are these Mugworte Sauory wild Betony Maieram Penirioall Origane and Clarie But amongst herbes that are an ease to an afflicted minde or doe safely keepe a man from euill spirites or from thinking of them or from those venemous fumes which do hurt the braine these are reckoned to be of force Rue the sea onion of whose iuice and sirrop a vineger is made masterwort which wee commonly call Pelitory of Spaine Angelica or Lungwort a kind of Fenel giant or Lascrpice Alisson or Rubia the lesse
terror and feare driuen from the minde the feare of death shaken off hurtful thoughtes dispearsed and made to vanish and the minde getteth tranquillitie and peace of conscience so that nothing can happen vnto vs to make vs afraide if God the father through Iesus Christ vphold vs by his spirite Wherefore our soules must be lifted vppe to the liuing God thorough the guide of his son and whatsoeuer we determine to take in hande wee must remember to doe it in the power of that wonderfull name Iesus Math. 28 Mark 16 Actes 2 for to him is giuen all power bothe in heauen and earth neither is there any other name vnder the sunne that bringeth saluation the which is terrible to the wicked fearefull to the diuels but to those that trust in him power Acts 4 1 Cor. 1 vvisedome saluation life and resurrection who is appointed of God to be the iudge both of the quicke and dead euen Christe Iesus the faithfull witnesse the prince of the kings of the earth Apoc. 1 Acts 10. whoe loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes by his bloud To him as Peter saith in the Actes of the Apostles do al the prophetes beare vvitnesse because who soeuer beleeueth in him shall receiue remission of his sinnes in his name Iohn 1◠This is the life eternall which testimonie Christe giueth to his Father that they may knovve thee to be the onelie true God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ in vvhome is all the povver of the Godhead and whatsoeuer wisdome may be ascribed and giuen to God Seeing therefore that this name is so renowmed holie and of such maiestie and power wee muste diligentlie take heede vvee vse it not vnreuerentlie and in vaine as those ridiculous exorcistes do who with certaine ceremonies and conceiued wordes assaying by the abuse of the name of Iesus to caste out the euill spirite to their owne profite and ostentation by vvhich name Paule wrought miracles haue caste themselues into great peril Actes 19 and their adiuration or rather mockerie was hurtfull to themselues for the possessed of the Diuell ranne on them and cruellie rente them so that they were glad to betake thē to flight There haue bin also massepriests in our daies whoindued with no faith in the name of Christe nor with any good maners haue attempted the like but haue beene so mocked and shamed by the Diuel that leauing their businesse altogither vndoone trembling with greatfeare haue been constrained to depart But if any now wil go about to bring such a thing to passe and to cast euill spirites our of the bodies of men let him follovve the example of Peter and Iohn who vsing no ambitious words raised the lame after this sorte In the name of Iesus Christe of Nazareth rise vppe and vvalke Actes and hee presentlie his feete and legges vvaxing strong leaped vppe and walked and entred with them into the Temple leaping and walking and praising God Seeing then that Iesus the onely sonne of God Col. 1 Hebru 1 coequall and of like power with the father in vvhom are hidde al the treasures of vvisedome and knowledge dooeth guide all thinges by the worde of his power it is meet wee put and place all our trust in God thorough Iesus Christ and that by the power and strength of him wee resist Sathan sinne hell and al things whatsoeuer are hurtfull to man But excellent is the greatnesse strength povver and fortitude which God according to his power shewed in Christ as Paule saith when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heauen aboue all power principalitie and rule aboue all that is named not onely in this worlde but also in the worlde to come and hath put all things vnder his feete and giuen him to bee chiefe of all thinges in his Church which is his bodie and is the fulfilling accomplishment of all thinges that is it is Christe by whome God dooeth fill vppe Ephes 1 absolue and perfect all thinges in all men especiallie in them that beleeue in him And as Paule saith are sealed with the holie spirite of promise vvhich is the pledge and earneste of our inheritance into the redemption of that purchased and gotten possession to the praise of his glorie Wherefore Paule vvho was accustomed to many conflictes and constrained to beare many proud bragges doth counsell euerie one if dangers at any time hang ouer them if Death be at hande to kill them if Satan laie siege to their mindes to striue vvith and resist him with a bolde and valiant courage for so dooth hee encourage exhort the Ephesians Ephes 6 saying That which remaineth brethren be of good courage and shevve your selues valiant in the Lorde and by the power of his strength put on all the armour of GOD that you may resiste the assaultes of the Diuell because wee must not striue against flesh and bloud that is againste weake and mortall men albeit they sometimes trouble vs but against the Princes of the Worlde the rulers of the darkenesse of this worlde against the spiritual crafte of those that flie in the ayre In vvhich plentie of wordes and varietie of sentences and that elegant Metaphor taken from a conflict and skirmishe with the enemie he sheweth that the euill spirites with their attendantes and ministers doe goe about with great crafte and vvarlike policie to beguile those that haue addicted themselues and giuen theyr names to Christ Wherefore seeing our enemies are so much to be feared and so furnished with spirituall crafte he shevveth by the waie with vvhat vveapons vve are to resist him Take saith he the whole armor of God an example taken from those that go well armed into the battaile and stande on their guarde that you may resist the aduersarie and stande to him stoutlie and effectuallie like those that shrinke not Ephes 6 nor are compelled to flie stande therefore with your loynes girte with the svvorde of truth putting on the breast-plate of righteousnesse and shooes on your feet that ye may be ready and prepared to the Gospel of peace but aboue all thinges take vnto you the shield of faith whereby you may quench all those fierie dartes of that wicked one Take vnto you the helmet of healthe and the svvord of the spirit which is the word of God to vvhich he addeth as substituted aides petitions dailie prayers who doe so execute their office that they obtaine the victorie 1 Pet. 5. And God as Peter saith arguing on the same matter in so vncertaine a conflict and as it often proues in so doubtfull euent of the battaile refresheth establisheth strengtheneth and supporteth those that are readie to bee ouercome and as it vvere brought to ruine Now seeing in times paste there was such authoritie of Pythagoras amongst his schollers and his doctrine was of such estimation that they helde it as an Oracle or as it vvere
death nor life neither Angels nor the inuisible creatures neither principalities nor powers neither thinges present nor things to come nor any other creature can seperate mee from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord so that Paule boldly pronounceth Psal 50 that he which is grafted into God though Christ will boldly withstande all terrors whatsoeuer happen vnto him against the rage and fury of the enemy against the horrour of death whether it bee procured by the enemy or by sicknesse or whether it come by the course of nature Seeing then there is nothing of more force to take away the feare and terrour of death out of mens mindes then by a firme faith in GOD through Christ by which wee haue a certaine hope of our resurrection and an expectation of euerlasting happinesse hither should all men hasten and desire to come euerie one should embrace and followe this wholesome doctrine imprinte it in their mindes and strengthen themselues in all daungers when they are brought to extremities herewith shoulde they quiet their consciences and by thinking on this remooue all griefe of heart shaking off all sorrowe and lamentation which commeth to them by the death of their parentes and friendes Hitherto tendeth that liuely comfort of Paule Thes 4. wherewith hee incourageth the Thessalonians with the expectation of the resurrection and a certaine hope of eternitie willing them to staye their teares and not to mourne for their friendes departed out of this life after the manner of the Gentiles saying I woulde not haue you ignoraunt brethren concerning them that are a sleepe as it were but fallen a sleepe and not dead that you greeue not at them as those that haue no hope of the resurrection For if wee beleeue that Iesus is dead and risen againe so also can God raise them with him that are fallen a sleepe and bring them to their former estate Our conuersation saith he is in heauen from whence vvee looke for our Lorde Iesus Christ who vvil transforme our vile bodies Phil. 4 and make theÌ„ like to his glorious bodie according to his power wherewith hee subdueth all thinges In which wordes Paule vvarneth all men that they comforte and strenthen then themselues in afflictions with the loue and desire of immortalitie and that they feare nothing in the whole course of this life that may withdrawe them from a better life to which Christ hath opened vs the waie by the power of his resurrection Wherefore vvhen wee come to the last daie of our life and death presseth vppon vs vvhich is fearefull to al men vnlesse Christ doe holde them vppe or where there commeth any thought of death to them that are founde and in perfecte health or if pouertie oppresse vs or any disease or any other discommodities of this life trouble vs let vs cast all our hope desire and prayers on Christ who hath payed the punishment due vnto vs by his death who hath pardoned all our offences who is the propitiation for our sinnes who is our aduocate as Iohn saieth and mediatour vvith GOD the Father Colos 3 1. Iohn 2. 1. Tim. 2 Esay 50 Ephet 2 Colol 1. Iohn 1 who is the reconciler of GOD and man and who as Paule saieth hath giuen himselfe to bee a redemption and sacrifice for vs. In him standeth our saluation and the resurrection of life by him wee haue accesse and entraunce in one Spirit to GOD the Father by his bloudshedding wee haue obtayned redemption and remission of sinnes because it pleased the father that al fulnesse should dwel in him and make all thinges pleasing vnto him by his bloudsheading Seeing therefore wee haue an high prieste as the Authour saieth to the Hebrewes Heb. 4 who hath pearsed the heauens euen Iesus Christ the Sonne of GOD who tempted in all things and yet without sinne was affected with the feeling of our infirmities Let vs come with saith to that throne of grace that wee may obtaine mercie of him that will helpe vs in due season beeing sustained with the helpe of so greate a guide and attended on with so sure a guard we shall be able to resist the monsters of the Diuell who so soone as the light of the Gospell appeared vanished awaie yea wee shall preuaile against sinne Death and Hell and shall bee carryed out of the vncertaine state of this life to the desired hauen and to a blessed habitation And if it fallout in the course of this life that anie discommoditie or misfortune happen vnto thee if it chaunce thou fall into any incombraunces of this life if oppressed with pouertie greeued with diseases troubled with thy enemies if oppression and calamitie come vppon thee if wickednesse abound if the innocent bee iniured and their liues taken awaie from them if sounde and wholesome doctrine bee contemned if heresies and wicked opinions doe bud forth and naughtie errours are sowne abroade in such a confusion of thinges wee must go vnto Christ and require of him the helpes of our saluation let vs rest wholie on him let vs as it were with an Anchor take fast holde on him And to bee shorte let vs haue that saying of Dauid in our mindes Psal 15 I will alwaies sette the Lorde before mine eyes because hee is on my right hande that I cannot bee remooued In which wordes hee sheweth hee had his eyes alwaies fastened on GOD and trusted to his helpe not doubting nor carryed awaie with euerie blast of doctrine but was stable and constant Ephe. 4. Hebru 1 Psal â—â— and coulde not bee remooued from the faith he had in God and that onelie for this cause that hee hadde tryed GOD to bee his propitiation and to assist him in all thinges so that hee boldelie brake out into these speeches Beholde the Lorde is my helpe my heart hoped in him and he helped me my flesh reioiced in him and I wil willingly confesse him Of the greatnesse of the name of Iesus Christ his maiestie and power wherewith we must only resist magicall inchantments and ouercome the illusions of the Diuel or any other hurt that shall happen to body and mind Chap. 57. SEeing that a little before I haue shewed inchantmentes and magicall artes are to be rooted vppe and no man should vse sorcery and witchcraft It remaineth that I shewe by the way with what force and power with what wordes and praiers minds assailed afflicted and intangled in the iuglings of the Diuel may bee cured Then by what meanes wichcraft may be taken away which the ministers of the Diuell do bring vpon men and vexe their mindes and bodies They enter secretly into mans bodie and do violently assaile his nature and spoile the same of power or at least wise weaken it These euill spirits do enter into our meate and drinke and breath which we take from the aire and into such thinges as we receiue into our bodies and wherewith we liue and all other things that
the minde Also froÌ„ his pietie and Fatherlie loue wherewith he embraceth his children prouiding for their profit and health and therefore is called Father So saieth GOD by Ieremie thou shalt call mee Father and shalt not cease to goe in after mee Ietem 5. Malâ—ch 1 Esay 63 And againe I am become the Father of Israell and Ephraim my firste begotten I will bring them thorough the Riuers of waters into the right waie and they shall not dashe their foote against a stone that is they shall followe my steppes accompanie mee and doe after my will and I will keepe them safe in all their waies that no hurte shall happen or come vnto them no wronge destruction nor calamitie shall light vpon them Moreouer â—say 6 Esaie recordeth honourable and triumphant titles which GOD the Father giueth to Christ to the ende euerie one shoulde knowe what profit our Sauiour Christ hath brought vnto vs by his natiuitie death resurrection and assension into heauen for thus doeth the Prophet declare the magnificence honour glorie renowme power and greatnesse of Christe of vvhich there is none but redowndeth greatlie to our vse and profit where he is called Emanuell that is God with vs. Ierem. 5 Esay 7 â—say 9 A child is born vnto vs a son is giuen vnto vs who is the chiefe of all whose name shall bee called wonderfull Counsailour the mightie God the father of the Worlde to come and the prince of peace Innumerable and infinite are the thinges that may be applied to his great maiestie nay rather which hee attributeth to himselfe Math. 9 Esay 40 Iohn 10 Psal 78 1 Pet. 2 Iohn 15 For he calleth himselfe a phisition because he healeth mens mindes and bodies cureth both the invvard and outward vices Hee also calleth himselfe a shephearde because with great care and watchfulnesse he ouerseeth his flocke and gathereth togither the lost sheepe and feedeth and nourisheth them with the wholsome food of his worde So Christ calleth himselfe a fruitefull vine his father the Husbandman and vvee the branches cleauing to the vine whom he pruneth and cutteth awaie the vnpro fitable branches that is he cutteth off our vain lustes to the end vve might bring forth more fruit but those that he findeth vnfruitful and yeelding no yearelie increase by which metaphor hee meaneth those that bring forth no fruites of faith as vnprofitable and dry branches hauing no sap he casteth into the fire Paule vseth the like metaphor taken from tilling the ground and building a house 1 Cor. 3 for taking awaie and quenching the discordes vvherein the Corinthians were intangled and waxed proud with the names of their teachers enuying one another as wee see the like in this our age he warneth them all that if they had learned anie sound doctrine they should not attribute it to the ministers but confesse they receiue it from God the author of all good thinges We saith he are fellowhelpers and as it were laborers hired to doe the worke of the Lorde let vs approue our labour to him and lette our paines appeare vnto him Yee are the husbandrie and ground of the Lord which we make fruitfull vvith the seede of sound doctrine yee are the edifice building which ariseth to his glorie Moreouer that vvee may speake more of that which belongeth to the greatnesse maiestie of God there can nothing be thoght vpon or conceiued in minde so high mightie famous excellent notable and reuerend and to bee short nothing for nuÌ„ber or any other vertue so perfect which may not deseruedlie be applied to God His wisdome whereby he ruleth all thinges in this vvorlde Psal 31 32 103 146 Ephâ—â— 2 Esay 25 Prou. 1 preseruing and keeping it by his vnsearchable counsell and prouidence is incomprehensible not to be expressed infinite so that the order and course of so great things doth rauish al men with an admiration and loue of the maker His fortitude strength and power wherewith he ouerthroweth the enimie and vpholdeth the godlie is vnconquerable and cannot be ouercome For there is nothing but yeeldeth to his power there are neither castles bulvvarkes and fortresses be they neuer so strong but yeelde to his power Psal 18.47 84 16 22 144. His iudgement and iustice wherevvith hee distributeth to euerie one his owne and according to his vvorthinesse deserts revvardeth him is right lavvfull holie syncere laudable and of great equitie so that he deserueth blame of none vnlesse it be of such as are of a corrupt iudgement His mercie clemencie and gentlenesse which is largelie declared by all the prophetes Psal 32 56 Col. 1 is endelesse and excelleth all his other vertues For all those that feare his iustice flie to his mercie as to a sanctuarie and desire his ayde it taketh desperation from their fearefull mindes by it the spirite the comforter dooth make glad and vphold them that are readie to fall and planting in them a hope and faith to obtain saluation driueth them to the throne of grace where they finde mercie and as the Dutchman saith Remis ende quiit scheldinghe van misdaet that is Remission and forgiuenesse of sinnes Hebru 4 so that nothing can bee imputed to them nor accuse them to death Which when Paul did pro oue in himselfe being made of a persecutor an apostle he thus strengthneth the wauering and doubtfull mindes of men prouoking them by his example to the mercie of God When first saith hee I was a persecutor 1 Tim. 1 Iohn 16 blasphemer and outragious I obtained mercie for that which I did ignoranthe through vnbeliefe that is vvanting faith and not knowing the vvil of God For he thoght he did God good seruice in persecuting the christians But to the ende almenne might knovve the reason of their faith and that euerie one might bee assured all sinnes are satisfied by the bloud of Christe to them that beleeue Paule constantlie and firmelie pronounceth This is a true saying and vvorthie of all menne to bee embraced that Christe Iesus came into the vvorlde to saue sinners whereof I am the chiefe But therefore didde I obtaine mercie that in me firste hee might shevv his clemencie to make me an example to those that shoulde after beleeue in him to eternall life that is in hope and expectation of the kingdome of heauen Which benefite seeing it ought wholie to bee attributed to our Heauenlie Father vvee ought not to defraude him of his due praise and commendations To the king sayeth hee immortall of this worlde inuisible and to the onely vvise GOD bee all honour praise and glorie world without ende Amen 1 Pet. 1. Peter also giueth the like praise to god the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ for the mysterie of our saluation who according to his abundant mercy hath regenerated vs into a liuely hope by this the Ie. Chr. is risen again froÌ„ the dead into an imortal inheritaÌ„ce vndefiled vncorrupt and laid vppe in the