serue for our vse to strengthen vs they doe corrupt Wherefore I thought it worth my labour to shew by what meanes these miserable men may comfortablie winde themselues out of those Labirinthes wherein they feele themselues intangled and stayed For the discommodities and hurtes wherewith they are greeued cannot bee referred to any naturall cause neither can they bee remedied with such remedies as the common diseases are If a man falsick of too much surfeting venerie wearinesse cold heate fulnesse or emptinesse euery one of these may bee cured with their proper remedies but those diseases which the euil spirite doth bring vpon vs doe not altogither require naturall remedies but heauenlie and supernaturall There are diuers that woonder how so great power should be in the diuell and his ministers that they should so vex and torment men but God doth partly winke at those dāmages the wicked ones do bring vpon mortal men suffering them to be tormented and therein the reason of his counsell and prouidence is onelie knowne to himselfe and partlie he doeth prouoke the Diuell and his ministers to rage ouer some that haue deserued no lesse abusing their malice to chastice the wicked ones for so was the euill spirite sent into the mouthes of the prophetes 3 Reg. 22. whereby king Ahab was seduced to the battell wherein present destruction was prepared for him And oftentimes hee permitteth these harmes to bee inflicted on manie to the ende he might trie their faith and constancy so did he suffer Iob not onelie to be spoiled of all his goodes Iob. 2. Iames 4. and stript of his wealth but hee suffered his bodie also to be torne with potsheards the which God suffered partlie to trie his constancie and to excite others to beare such euils patientlie least they being cast downe with calamitie should fal awaie from God partlie to shew his power wherewith he comforteth and supporteth all such as trust in him raising such as are brought to nothing and restoring them againe to their former estate Now there must be a diuers regarde hadde of those that are commonlie possessed with euil spirites and who are beset of the diuell or tormented in anye part of their bodies by him because many of them are without sence and farre from the knowledge of God ouer whome the Diuell as a fit instrument prepared for him doth exercise his tyrannie So doth Satan set vpon such as are altogither idle idolatrous and superstitious in whose mindes he doth rather settle himself then in those that are indued with the knowledge of GOD and support themselues with faith in Christe whom he is afraide of and dareth not vvorke his feats on them because his indeuours and practises shoulde be altogether in vaine and without effect in those that keep good watch against him and trusting to the help of God care nothing for him For as Towers and cities that are not walled about nor defended with ditch and rampire nor strengthened with anye garrison of souldiors are easilie conquered and wonne so those sluggish and slothfull mindes that are not strengthened with wholsome and heauenlie doctrine nor fortified with faith in God lie open to the subtletie of the Diuell and are soone brought to ruine And seeing Satan dooth most of all couet to abolish the glorie of God that he might withdravve man from saluation and stirre him vppe to rebellion hee ceaseth not inwardlie and outwardlie to besiege him and nowe to intend the death of the bodie now of the foule and laste of all of both their strength to bring them to destruction Genes 4 1 Reg 31. Besides Caine and king Saule Iudas Iscariot may serue for an example whose mind when hee had brought to distrust and desperation then hee forced him being wearie of his life to hang himselfe to his shame and confusion Math. 29 But albeit Satan the enimy of mankind be furnished with a thousand practises to infect and hurt vs yet is there one onely thing able of present force to ouercome and oppresse him and that is faith and a sure and stedfast trust in GOD the Father through Christ vvhich the Dutchman calleth Een vaste gheloue ende een goedt betrovven op godt By whose ayde the Apostle Peter counselleth vs to resist the ambushmentes trappes iuglinges deceipts subtleties rage and crueltie with sobrietie and watchfulnesse supported and propped by faith for thus hee waketh them that are idle Be yee sober and vvatche 1 Pet. 5 because your aduersarie the Diuell goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuour whom resist yee being strong in Faith For this as Iohn saith 1 Iohn 5 is the victorie that ouercommeth the worlde euen our Faith for faith vvhereby vvee leane to Christ and commit our selues wholie to such a defender getteth vs the victorie ouer the diuell the prince of this world so that we shall carrie awaie rich spoiles from our conquered and ouerthrown enemy When therfore it seemeth good vnto vs to attempt anie thinge againste this aduersarie and to resiste inchauntmentes and witchcraftes vvhich the Dutchmen call Touerie or to driue euill spirites out of mens mindes it muste bee doone by faith in Iesus Christe Hebru 5 contemning the vanitie of the Gentiles old wiues superstitions and all other magicall execrations For God by his sonne who is the brightnesse of his glorye and the verie image of his substance dooeth all in al and gouerneth all thinges with the vvorde of his power This prerogatiue did he obtaine for his singular obedience humilitie and modesty towards his father For vvhen he was in the form of God that is like and equall with him he thought it no robberie to be equal with God Phil. 2. and yet he submitted himselfe and took the shape of a seruant and humbled himselfe and was obedient to the shamefull and execrable death of the Crosse wherefore God lifted him vppe into the highest heauens and glorified him with a name the excelled al other names that in the name of Iesus euerie knee should bowe both in heauen and earth and of thinges vnder the earth and euerie tongue shall confesse and acknowledge that Iesus is the Lorde and the glorie of God the father to whom all the glorie of the sonne is referred and giuen And contrariwise If therfore any man doe attempt to doe anie thing if to ease the afflicted in minde if to cast out diuels out of the body let him indeuour to doe it by calling on God the father by faith in the name of Christ and so shall he obtaine all thinges and shall not be frustrate of his desire For by the force of this wonderfull and blessed name so vvee doubt not nor distrust the promises of God diseases are healed Marke 16 afflictions and troubles of minde quieted tempestes and rages of the sea mitigated diuelles as Christ promiseth ascending vppe into heauen driuen out poison denied his operation serpentes are made slovve and cannot hurt ignorance
al thy actions by knowledge of thy selfe gouerned I shal not onelie say with thy selfe that thou liuest wel but that thou shalt also die well and at the day of iudgement with Christe farewell Yours so long as you are in subiection to your Husbands I. T. The Hauen of pleasure very profitable and pleasant for all sorts of People We must carefullie fixe our eies and lift vp our mindes to God the Father thorough our Lord Iesus Christ Chapter 1. WHosoeuer is desirous of his owne saluation and coueteth to prouide vvell for himselfe and whosoeuer in this life affecteth with diligent watch and warde boldly and confidentlie to withstand such imminent casualties and discommodities as doe violentlie assaile vs euerie moment let him fasten his eies vpon God our heauenlie father thorough Christ and let his mind be alwaies erected towards him from whom as from a most plentifull fountaine it was first deriued and let him not elsewhere looke for or followe after anie other helpe of his saluation but lette him trust and leane to this God alone let him worship reuereÌ„ce and loue him and let him in confidence and faithe of his Sauiour require from him all things that appertaine to his saluation Afterward let him earnestly sifte and attentiuelie meditate with himselfe vvhat liberalitie God hath vsed tovvards mankind with vvhat ornamentes and guiftes of Nature hee hath adorned him vvith vvhat dignitie and authoritie he hath set him out and to vvhat honour and glorie he hath exalted him that was formed but out of the earth What great thinges God the Creator of all things hath bestowed on man Chapter 2. AS the form and external shape of mans bodie being lostie and boult vpright tovvardes heauen whereby hee may learne to lifte vp his eies to that place from vvhence he had his beginning is more notable and more artificiallie and comelie made then anie other liuing creature whatsoeuer so his invvarde shape doeth so vvonderfullie adorne him that hee is conformed and made like to the verie Image of God himselfe that is hee doeth represent and resemble the verie essence of his maker yea and approcheth verie neere the Nature of his Creator Which excellent and infused povver from aboue consisteth vvholie in his minde and soule which vvas dravvne out of his first patterne euen the treasurie of Goddes ovvne Diuinitie By vvhich heauenlie guift man obtained to bee indued with reason 1 Cor. 3 iudgement and vnderstanding vvas made capeable of heauenlie doctrine and was vniâ—ed vnto him by the knowledge of him and faith in him and so is wholie transformed into him And this chiefly aboue all other notable prerogatiues hath man obtained that seeing God hath made all other creatures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is altogither dumbe and destitute of speech and vtterance God hath giuen vnto man the guift of speaking vvhereby to communicate with others the thoughtes of his minde and to be able to shevv the conceiptes of his heart And which is chiefe of all and moste acceptable to God with his voice to magnifie his Creator and to honour him whose knovvledge hee hath conceiued by faith in his heart with al praise laude and glorie For by this meanes not onelie the Maiestie and glorie of Gods name is extolled but also as farre as mannes wit is able to stretch he rendâ—â—th all thankes for benefites receiued shewing a testimonie of a thankfull and readie minde tovvarde so liberall and louing a father Psal 15. For seeing God hathe no need at all of our goods he requireth nothing of vs but loue and thankefulnes That there is nothing more deare vnto God then man and that all thinges were made for his vse Chap. 3. BVt as God is not onelie especiallie affected tovvards manne and hath adorned his soule mind in which his Diuinitie shineth with manye and notable Ornamentes but also furnished and garnished it aboundantlie vvith externall guiftes and large possessions of those things that nature as the minister of god doth plentifullie poure vppon him and hath giuen vnto him power and authoritie ouer the whole earth Cenes 1 yea euen to the poorest Cobler and meanest man in the world vvho doth no lesse enioye the liberalitie of his Creator and the visible pleasure of the vvhole vvorlde then any King abounding in wealth and riches so that hee is not conuersant in the large Theater of this worlde as a stranger or tenant that is alienated from the possession of vvorldlie goods Cosmopolites but as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a Citizen and free holder of this world and lord of all things that the earth bringeth forth For to his vse profit and obedience were al things created vnder the Cope of heauen or vvithin the compasse of Sea lande Which Dauid wondring at confesseth the vvorkes of God in these verses Psal 8. O Lord our God how wonderfull is thy name through all the vvorlde because thy glorie is exalted aboue the heauens What is man that thou art so mindfull of him and the sonne of man that thou so carest for him Thou hast made him but a little lovver then God or his Angels thou hast crovvned him with glory and honor and hast made him ruler ouer the workes of thy hands thou hast brought all things vnder his feete Wherby he shevveth vvhat estimation God hath of man nexte after Christ and hovv he regardeth him to vvhom all the vvorlde is seruiceable and obedient Rom. 8 so that not onlie all thinges created were made for his vse and commoditie but also Christe vvas subiect to death for his sake by vvhose grace and merites the father giueth vs all things abundantlie What great thankfulnesse man oweth to Godward Chap. 4. BVt aboue all other thinges this ought to stir vp the mind of man to giue vnto god a more then ordinary loue reuerence that when he vvas estranged from GOD and through breach of his commandement cast into eternall death our heauenlie father through the singular fauour and merits of Iesus Christ receiued him againe into grace For Christ pitying mannes destruction hath reconciled him to his father by purging him vvith his bloud and ouercomming death and shaking of the tyranny of his most deadlie enimie to whom he was bound and as it vvere tied with an earnest penie set him at libertie by his resurrection and restored him againe to his inheritance of the kingdome of heauen So that as Paule vvitnesseth vve are no more the alians or strangers of God but citizens and heires yea and friends and houshold seruants with him that is built vpon the foundation of the Prophetes and Apostles Ephes 2 euen Christ Iesus the head corner stone by whome vvee haue accesse and entrance by one spirit vnto the father Wherefore Titus 3 vvhen any one by the helpe of found doctrine thorough faith and the vvashing of our redemption is ingrafted into Christe and as Paule saith by the renevving of the holy Ghoste 2
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