nor add thereunto except we will draw upon us all the curses mentioned in the Holy Scripture Revel 22. v. 18. wherefore we will conclude with Saint Paul Gal. 1. ver 8. That if an Angel of Heaven would preach another Gospel than Christ and his Apostles have preached let him be an Anathem Upon the Premises I cannot judge but that this apparition hath been a Phantasm or illusion and all the admonition that simple young man had had a Phantasie There is enough written of Phantasms in several Treatises and they are of many sorts 1. Phantasms or Illusions that happen in the Air and are called by Naturalists Phoenomena's being several Visions that are seen in the Air namely strange Suns Armies Ships and such other things 2. Phantasms that seems to be and are not as when the Apostles believed Christ to be an apparition or spirit when he in a strange manner did walk upon the Sea and after his Resurrection came in to them the doors being shut 3. Phantasms that by natural causes namely the temperature and sickness of a man or what they think much upon do appear in dreams In this manner the Emperor Nero did no sooner fall asleep but he had strange dreams having killed his own Mother his Tutor and many other Citizens innocently Thus cholerick and melancholy folks are troubled with Visions according to the predominant humour whereof Physitians and Naturalists write at large St. Austin de Civit Dei l. 18. writes that one had related him that before he went to bed in his house he saw a certain Philosopher come to him expounding him the Books of Plato which he had desired of him before but he would not do 〈◊〉 and having afterwarks ask'd the same Philosopher wherefore he came and expounded in his house whereas he was before unwilling to do it in his own he said I did it not but I dream'd I did so In this Example the one saw in a dream what the other saw waking 4. Phantasms in themselves as they are and appear to men when they are awake that have properly no bodies but assume one for a time to delude mankind such commonly announce men punishment and universal calamities or bring them a despairing horror for their sins It was such a one that appeared to Saul in the likeness of Samuel and announced him his death Plutarch relates that there appeared a spirit to Marcus Brutus as he was awake and Brutus asking him who he was he told him he was an evil spirit and that he should soon see him in the Philippian Fields It is written of a Duke of the Athenians called Polyzelus that he in the fields of Marathon saw a spirit bigger than a man whereupon he grew blind and yet having lost his sight won a great Battle upon the Enemy such spirits do vex men and either hereby strengthen them in their old errors or will bring them into new ones as the adoration of strange gods and superstitious works which happened but too much in the times of Popery All Learned Divines tell us what we must believe of such apparitions namely that they are evil spirits In the relation of this simple man there is made mention of two sorts of apparitions the one seen in the air namely an u usual Sun that was nothing but an illusion of Satan whereby he endeavoured to introduce a strange adorat on of God and superstitious acts which God does not require from us that so he might by these Visions seduce them from the true word of God to believe deceitful errors Satan that brought down fire from Heaven upon the Cattle of Job Job 1. ver 16. could easily cause to shine a bright fire in the sky evil spirits reigning in the air Ephes 6. ver 12. The other was properly a Phantasm or spirit I am in doubt whether one may refer apparitions in dreams to Specters it being first come to him in his sleep when he was sick which might indeed cause such a fancie but since it hath oftner appeared to him afterwards when he was in perfect health and awake and I often diligently asked the party whether this was really seen by him which he ever constantly affirm'd we must conclude that it was a spirit and apparition and though it had not such terrible aspect as the former Examples yet we know that Satan can transform himself into an Angel of light that evil spirit knowing very well that he could have promoted his Kingdom but little if he had appeared in his terrible figure and put the black-side outward wherefore he cloathed himself in a white shining Garment and a Priests Habit which is not his first Master piece for Sulpitius Severus in the life of Martin the Bishop writeth that Satan appeared once unto him when he was in bed and prayed having a golden Crown on his head and a white shining Garment on with gilt shooes who spoke to him saying I am Jesus who being come down on the earth would first appear unto thee Martin having look'd upon him and bethought himself said Jesus did not go in this manner on earth depart from me Satan Whereupon he presently vanished with a great stink Plinius Secundus Novocamensis Hist 7. Epist relates that there lay a Boy and slept amongst other Children in the Chamber when two spirits in white Clothes were seen to come therein that cut the Boys hair as he lay asleep going so away and in the morning the Boy was found with his hair cut and spread about in the bed There are Examples enough of Ghosts that have appeared in Priests clothes during the time of Popery which we will omit because of their prolixity Thus the white cloathes and holy Garments of this evil spirit cannot avail him for he discovers himself not only by his erroneous Service of God but also by pretending to be the Person of St. John that lay in Christs bosome at the Lords Supper For having not been constant in truth neither can he always speak truth And we know that God sends his Angels for their sake that are to inherit Salvation and not the Souls of the dead for they are in the hand of God where they rest from all their labours And if any of them appeared unto us they should either do it of their own Authority which they cannot in the condition they are now or by the command of God which happeneth not for men have Moses and the Prophets unto whom they should hearken during this life Luke 16. ver 26. and it were in vain for them to appear since none must believe them under great punishment of God Deut. 18 ver 11. yea the Soul of dead Saints have left all thoughts and care of earthly things for Abraham knoweth nothing of us and Israel remembreth us not Esa 64. v. 16. Finally we read no where either in the Old or New Testament that God hath any time converst with the living by means of the dead God spoke indeed many
shut with Locks and bars and the Keys east into the River so that none could tell exactly when they expired If the one Brother as is related lived so long he must have sustained himself with the body of his dead brother Whence followeth also that this maid could not naturally be kept alive without meat In the same Harvest a man of Suderoe was also carried away as the Parish Priest there Mr. Jacob Christianson writ me and afterwards further related me by word of mouthâ— He was absent several days but by the prayers of the Priest and Congregation he return'd shortly after being then dumb during a fortnight at last by their general Prayers having recovered his speech he spoke blasphemous words against God and his holy Scripture but by the Grace of God came again to his right sense and afterwards related that whilest he was away he perceived nothing but when he should return he saw a great many of that sort of Spirits that push'd and thrust him away from them and then he returned without hinderance Doubtless the Devil by the Commandment of God upon the prayers of the Congregation durst not keep him longer In the year 1669. Satan did here torment two Children of a man of Saxan in Stremoe the Parish Priest of the North Church Corporation whereof Mr. Gregory Hanson vaard writ also unto me the mans name is Christopher Absolonson His Son was first troubled by him but by the assistance of God the boy overcame him so that the evil spirit fled when ever he saw him and the boy could also plainly see when he came but as soon as he begun to pray or sing the Spirit vanished He afterwards troubled his Sister from the beginning of August to Christmas the Maids name is Mary when the spirit came to her she grew very sick and hath almost continually been sick and weak of understanding everâ— since he begun to trouble her But that I might have certain information thereof I have sent for the Boy from whose mouth I received the following relation He told me that he saw him first about St. Olaus day in the evening before the house in the Figure of a great man in grey cloaths The next time he saw him was on Christmas Eve when he came into the house and took out his Sister wherefore the Boy pursued him and found him neer the River standing over the Maid which lay on the Earth near the water but at the Boys coming he went away wherefore the Boy carried his Sister into the house she being sick and weak but the Spirit followed him softly to the house and when the boy came out again he stood yet before it The next day in the evening he came again in the room and the boy saw him leaning against a Post but they being awake in Prayer and invocation he did not tarry long and when he went out the boy followed him out of doors wherefore he spoke to the boy and ask'd wherefote he followed him so the boy ask'd him again what he had to do there whereunto he answered that he should get what he came for And the boy replyed that he should not get it at all Whereupon he went away as another man but came nevertheless again several times in the night when they were watching over the Girle being in the mean time in continual Prayers and Singing of Psalms but he did them no harm except that he put out the light and the boy grew some thing sick the Girle not being able to speak as long as he was there the 23 th day being Christmas Eve the Boy being absent the spirit came in as she sate by the Table and was playing at Cards with her other brothers and sisters and struck her on the one side as she sate so that she spit blood afterward Since came the Parish Priest to them and sent her over to Gote in Ostereo from which time they have perceived nothing of the spirit In the aforesaid Examples there are many things considerable which ought not to be passed by in silence For the first that they let themselves be seen in outward and corporeal shape is not only proved by Profane and Church Writers specially Sulpitius Severus in vita Martini Episcopi Turonensis but also by the Holy Scripture in the Divels tempting of Jesus Christ in the wilderness Matth. 4th Secondly that they have their habitation within Mountains in Caverns and Holes vacant and dry places our famous Divine Doctor Jasper Brockeman teaching us also in his Systeme of Divinity that they inhabit in those places that are polluted with any crying sin as effusion of blood or where unbelief or superstition hath gotten the upper-hand But it seems they go into the mountains where the eye of man can perceive no entrance the possibility whereof Stephanus Johannis Stephanius in his Notes upon Saxo Grammaticus teacheth us to be by the cunning power of Satan but in what manner it happeneth is an Art the Devil keeps for himself Thirdly that they will abuse the body of men to luxury was well known to the Heathens who called them therefore Incâ—bus and Succubus as also to the holy Fathers wherefore Hieronymus by reason of their great luxury called them sicarius's yea many witches confessions of the seduction of Satan do plainly witness it whereof many examples are found in Theatrâ— de veneficis and other writings Fourthly that they cannot easily carry men away as they please happeneth by the Almightiness of God whose power is greater than the Divels and assisteth those poor men for else it would be as easie for them to carry away men in their infirmities as it was for the tempter to carry Christ through the Air upon the Pinacle of the Temple Fifthly That they cannot do men more harm than God permitteth them which is plainly perceived in the Book of Job That they may be seen by some men and not by all might be proved by more Examples here in Feroe that being a meer endowment of their nature and that people grow much altered when they see such Apparitions The curious Reader may perhaps be desirous to know what they may be There have been many before now and are yet that will not believe such Apparations esteeming them to be only the meer fancies of melancholly people but it is as great errour to deny them for the many examples both here and elsewhere not only amongst common people that do easily deceive others or are deceived but also amongst many understanding men as is read in History together with the Holy Scripture sufficiently prove their existencie notwithstanding that the eyes and ears of men in many sights and Apparitions by an errour of the sence are deceived And as the Disciples took Jesus Christ when he walked upon the Sea and when he appeared to them the doors being shut to be a Phantasm or a Spirit so many simple people pretending they have seen or heard spirits which were not so maketh that
the most part contemn the opinion there should be any We call such Apparitions Specters because they present themselves to the eyes of men appearing as if they were real bodies whereas they are spirits that take upon them an external figure and in respect to a right created body are to be considered but as shadows Wherefore Christ says to his Apostles that took him to be such a spirit Why are you so afraid and why come such thoughts into your hearts look upon my hands and feet it is my self feel and see for a spirit hath neither flesh nor bones as you see I have that is though a spirit appears with the outward figure of a body By which words Christ doth not refute the Apostles opinion of spirits as vain and erroneous but agrees with them that there are Phantasms that they are spirits and that the figure they take hath not the propriety of a natural body Secondly Christ grants that they had cause to have been afraid if he had been a Phantasm Whereby we are taught that our own nature proveth their existencie since we are afraid when they appear by reason of the innate emnity which is between men and such spirits Wherefore when Eliphas of Theman saw a spirit going before him and there stood an image before his eyes whereof he did not know the figure but heard a voice the hair of his body stood upon end In Latin they call them Spectra that is such spirits as are seen so that the invisible good Angels when they appear in visible forms for as much as they are seen may also be called Spectra but we according to the Holy Scriptures and the explication of all Learned men understanding only by Specters spirits who in several visible Figures and likenesses appear unto men either to hurt or frighten them of which sort was the figure that appeared to King Saul in the likeness of Samuel 1 Sam. 28. as also the Divels outward shape that spoke with Christ and tempted him in the wilderness Mat. 4. The Heathens in their writings call some of those Specters Eaunes Satyrs and Panes which we call in Danish Skow and Bierge-Trold that is Wood and Mountain spirits those of Feroe call them under-ground people hollow men and Foddenskemand The Holy Scripture calls them Gods of the Woods Esaiah 13 th and also field Gods Deut. 32. which really are none but unclean spirits I have read in the writings of a godly man who pretended that besides the good and bad Angels there were also external spirits of the world which were not eternal and took their natural origine of the worlds visible spirit and finished also naturally which if it were they should then be some other Creatures then the eternal spirits or the visible shap'd Creatures Though there be much whereof our eyes cannot see the essence our reason comprehending no further then what is discovered in the outward corporal nature which yet it harldly comprehends as the wise man complaineth nevertheless one ought not to affirm such things as have no ground in the word of God though it were so in nature and therefore we will only contemplate these Apparitions by the clear light of Gods word and thereby together with understanding Learned mens writings see what one may conclude and judge of them One would think it might be worth a particular Speculation that the Holy Scripture speaks of Phantasms together with Zijm Jim and Ochim Esa 13. 21. cap. 34. 14. Jer. 50. 39. for the Lord threatning Babylon with its last destruction saith by the Prophet Esaias Babylon shall be changed as Sodom and Gomorrha and no man shall inhabit there any more neither live there for ever but Zijm shall there pitch their Tents and their houses shall be full of Ochim Ostridges shall live there and wood divels leap thereabouts Owls shall sing in their Palaces and Dragons dwell in their pleasure-houses The Prophets calling them Zihim and Ohim is not expounded by Luther in his Bible by any other word but he writes in the Margin that he taketh them to be all sorts of wild Beasts understanding without doubt such wilde Beasts as the wise man describes in this manner Wis 11. ver 19 c. The Lord saith he sent over them because of their sins new shaped cruel unkown Beasts that either breathed out flame or blew out cruel smoke or darted sparks terribly from their eyes which not only could bruise them to pieces with terror but murther them with the terribleness of their sights The wise man reckoneth also up these unknown Beasts Chap. 17. ver 3. 9. among spirits wherewith the Egyptians were terrified Maldonatus in his Scholia upon Esaiah esteems this kind of cruel unknown wild Beasts to be a sort of Divels That excellent Philosopher and Divine Johannes Henricus Vrsinus in the sixth Book Chap. 27. of his Analâ—ecta sacra writes that these names can signifie both cruel wild Beasts and men but more properly Devils for Zijm from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 driness are properly those that inhabit dry and desart places Jijm from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Island those that live in Islands Ochim from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a funeral Bird those that cry out with a terrible voice but in the Prophet he understands Divels to be so called first because seirim or Wooddivel is also mentioned there secondly because Saint John doth so expound it in the Book of the Revelations Chap. 18. ver 2. when he saith she is fallen she is fallen Babylon the great and is become the habitation of Divels and the domicil of all unclean spirits and the repair of all unclean birds Thirdly because it is plain both by holy and profane writings and experience teacheth actually that Divels have their habitations in desart places My poor conclusion is this that the examples and clear words of the Holy Scripture do agree both with other Histories as also with the above-mentioned of the apparition of spirits that they were not fancies but were real and indeed and those Images not being substantial bodies they must be spirits in external figure and appearing to hurt men that they are not good but bad spirits that is very Divels And such as are mentioned in the abovesaid true Histories whether they appeared in the Figure of man or of any Beast are doubtless that sort of Divels which the Holy Scripture particularly calls Field-gods in the fifth Book of Moses Chap. 32. ver 17. 2 Chron. Chap. 9. ver 15. For Divels can far easier turn themselves in several such forms than in that of Angels of light it being all one what name one gives such Apparitions if one but knows their Chief who as the deadly enemy of all mankind that walketh in every Element to hurt man Sinesius teaching that there are six sorts of spirits that are all bad appearing to men specially to hurt them namely those that are in the air in the fire in the water upon the earth under
in the afternoon and that when they rowed out they should sing the Psalm My Shepherd is the living Lord c. and as the Lad going about to wake his Stepfather that lay in the bed with him he departed as before going out through the Roof-hole The next night Jan. 28 th he appeared unto him the fourth time as he was awake as before the young man asked him then who he was He answered that he was Saint John that lay in the bosom of Jesus at the Lords Supper and spake no more but vanished away as formerly He came to him the fifth time in the night presently after the Parish-Priest Mr. Peter Hellison Wiberg was gone to visit his Congregation and asked the Lad if he had declared to the Priest what he had commanded him the young man answered yes adding thereunto that the Priest found very strange that he should appear unto him who was so great a sinner Whereunto the pretended Saint John answered that the Lord had given many signes and giveth yet many signes that are not manifest These apparitions became publike in the Country and many of the simple hearers did put great faith therein Whereupon I did send for the said person examined him and earnestly admonished him that he should not have any thing to do with any such invented figments but the young man persisted in the same affirmation that the said matter was past in the foresaid manner wherefore I have written the matter of fact word by word as he told me But the fire being once kindled would not go out of its self but kindled it self further round about for his fame was spread over all the Islands and in all Congregations the common people giving great credit thereunto specially servants for holydays sake and begun in many places to keep Saturday holy believing really that it was just the person to whom this vision did appear being esteemed by all to be very Godly so that one had never heard a vain word or oath from his mouth Wherefore many observed dilligently their new holyday but they could not desist from cursing swearing besids this they invented themselves many other visions and spread them over the Country the people being much enclined thereunto yea these superstitious people out of their own foolish imagination framed themselves many arguments giving out that as God had illuminated some poor fishers he could also illuminate this simple man that God would make Apostles of Angels and spirits to preach unto men That the Devil cannot take the shape of an Angel can do no good and cannot speak a true or good word concluding thereby that the sanctification of the Saturday was commanded by God and pleasant unto him as a pious action in it self and therefore ought to be observed for the world coming near to its end which the Lord will shorten so ought the last day of the weeks work to be shortened and the day sanctified betimes Whereupon some did rise up against their teachers as it happened unto me by one of my Congregation who stood fast thereupon that to pray and keep holy was a good act and no sin and therefore none could blame or forbid it Thus the common people is easily deceived and deceiveth others Satan having thus suddenly seduced many simple persons from the true Prophetical word and their plainness in Christ I sent to every Priest in the Country a copy of the parties confession about his Visions and therewith added my censure thereof that they might read it in the Pulpit and the hearers know how much thereof babling people had invented and added to these visions and illusions of the Devil and they at the same time teach and mildly admonish their hearers that they should persist in the constant word of God and not seek another way of worshipping him then is contained therein or is injoyned by the Supream Magistrate to his honor how seeming holy soever it might be Having also in the explication of the Catechisme in my visitation according to the spirit and grace which God hath given me done my best to bring them out of that superstition and cunning error At last it happened that the said as was thought Godly person the following year by the induction of that unclean spirit fell into the sin of Fornication wherefore I did in writing refer the great scandal and disturbance he gave in the Congregations to the most Reverend Father in God Dr. John Swanning Archbishop of Zealand from whom I received orders according to the Kings Ordinance that I should publickly admonish the said Jacob Oleson out of the word of God as alâ—o absolve him of his sin and represent to the Inhabitants their great errour in the Church of Thors-haven when the Sessions should be kept and most of the people be present which was done accordingly in the year 1668 on Sâ— Iohn the Baptist day whereby God be praised all this emotion was supprest so that nothing at all hath since been perceived of it That the Canded Reader may not yet frame himself strange imaginations or be so credulous as to believe any such illusions figments and cunning deceptions if Satan either here or elsewhere in the like or other manner practise any this example not being the first nor the last it being more difficult to be aware of the white devil then of the black I have thought fit to add hereunto a plain explication that one may the better know Satan though he change himself in the holyest and most beautiful Angel of Light It is no strange thing that such deceitful apparitions should happen to bring a man into superstition specially in this Country since the Prophecy of Christ must also be fulfill'd here amongst us saying Mat. 24 9 that in the later times there shall arise many false Christs and say here is Christ and there c. so that even the â—lect should be in danger of being seduc'd wherefore he also giveth a very earnest admonition thereupon saying do not go out to them and believe them not God permits such things to prove men and try whether they love him out of all their hearts and souls Deut 1â—â—3 But that none may suffer himself to be seduc'd by every bubble of temptation we will consider and ponderate all h â— circumstances of this deceitful vision As for the person that appeared in a white shining Garment and afterwards 〈◊〉 the Habit of a Priest and spoke pious words and admonitions we know that Satan can change himself into an Angel of light 2 Cor. Chap. 11. ver 14. yet the Divel cannot so disguise himself as to hide his Claws which is here perfectly seen by his giving himself out for Saint John that lay on the bosom of Christ at the Lords Supper and besides would teach men a particular Holiday and thereby draw them from the pure revealed word from which no body might swerve-either to the right hand or to the left from which one must neither take
times and in several manners to the antient by his Prophets but now he hath spoken to us by his Son and his Son withdrawing from us his visible presence sent to us his Apostles and Disciples Matth. 28. ver 19. therefore saith Paul we are Messengers in the place of Christ for God admonisheth by us so we pray now in the name of Christ we reconcile our selves unto God 2 Cor. 5. ver 20. We may perceive by the premises that the spirit of lies was not the person whom he pretended to be being much less sent of God as he gave out but was the unclean spirit himself This salutation also gives no little suspition of him when he used an earnest salutation and worship which agreeth little with that of holy Angels but is rather like that of Apollo the Idol of Delphos which always contained some hidden Mystery Neither ought it to be an occasion of error to any that he healed him It may be the young man was cured of himself on the fourteenth day but if it be so as the party solemly protesteth it is easie for the Divel to heal and do good for a bad end that he might thereby confirm men in their errors God hath ratified his word by Miracles that he might thereby strengthen men in the true vivifying faith and besides we have a constant prophetical word which alone we ought to believe 2 Pet. ver 19. But Satan is the ape of God doing often the like things that he may seduce men from faith and the word to superstition and thus be powerful in them Ephes 2 ver 2. The Apostles shewing great signes and miracles by healing the sick and making the blind to see that they might bring blind Heathens from darkness to light and from Belial to Christ Simon the Magician is presently ready to doe the same by the help of Satan as powerfully and masterly to the eyes of all Samaria so that many stuck to him and said this is the great power and vertue of God Acts 8. 9 10. It is needless to add more examples but we must consider that the devil does not do this for a pastime for Christ says of him that he was a Murtherer and a lyer from the beginning John 8. 44. and it is his own nature to speak lyes and as the Father of lies disperse them amongst the Children of men Therefore Paul says plainly to the Thessalonians 2 Thes 2. 7. what he seeks by his siâ—â—â— which is thereby to induce man to believe lies wherefore he calls those signs lying wonders not but that they doe sometimes happen amongst men as this example witnesseth but because he seeks thereby to strenthen his lyes against the truth of God his false worship against Gods true adoration his superstition against the true justifying saith for God is truth and his word is truth his will being that all men come to the confession of truth and be saved 2 Tim. 2. 4. But Satan is the Father of lies all his words being nothing but lies and therefore would seduce men from truth to falshord and thereby to damnation with him and what he cannot do with his false words he seeks to execute by his false miracles and signs The prayer which he taught that young man is at the end of Mr. John Thomason's Psalter and hath been continually us'd in houses in the same Town where that young man lived and I do in a manner believe there is some falshood in this relation he having continually heard it said in that place But if it be so that Satan hath taught him it he hath himself found it in the said Book or been present when it was read and therefore could 〈…〉 the young man which is not 〈…〉 â—e being present in the 〈…〉 Lord and rooting the word out 〈◊〉 hearts of many Luke 8. 12. neithâ—◠〈◊〉 it a new thing for him to speak the wâ—rd of God for he knew excellently to make use of the word of God out of Davids Psalms against Gods own son Mat. 4. 6. but it is a wonderful thing that he cannot make use thereof without falsifying it He therefore commanded the party to say it lying upon the threshold of the Church door with his head outwards which this simple man did accordingly till he was converted from his Errors Which foolish and false command of Satan is more worthy to be mocked and laughed at then refuted only hereby is perceived his power of seducing wherewith as in a net he would have taken that poor people The Psalm which he commanded to be Sung when they Rowed out was wholly needless the Inhabitants never going to Sea but they sing that and other Godly Psalms The Prayer which he commands them to pray is most imperfect in many sorts of occasions for which and all other we have a perfect one which the Son of God hath taught us himself Mat 6. 9. c. That he commands Godly exercises and reprehends sins worthy in themselves of reprehension and are alas but too many amongst the children of men threatning thereupon imminent plagues and punishments is his old Sanctity when he will give himself out for an Angel of Light and though all that be good in iâ— self yet he knoweth to extract his own evill out of that good which he also doth by his signs and miracles only endeavouring thereby to draw and seduce the children of God from the fast Prophetical word from the plain Preaching of the word to believe visions and certain apparitions And when he hath brought them thus far he knoweth himself powerful in their superstition and can lead them captive according to his will from one error into another and at last make them believe manifest lyes It was already come so far with this poor people that some cared but little for their Teachers as appeareth by what we have already said which God in his mercy forgive them for they knew no better This is the most dangerous means whereby Satan can seduce men whereby he steals the word out of their hearts which is the only sword wherewith they could put them to flight By what is already said the foolish and erronious arguments of the common people fall of themselves and are reduced to nothing whereby one may see how easie it is to lead such poor Sheep into errors from whence they cannot come out except their Shepherd and Archbishop of their souls recall them by his servants O Christian Reader thou that hast perused the premises and their explication I admonish and warn thee out of a brotherly charity to take occasion from thence in spirit and truth to call dayly upon the Lord thy God to leave off thy great sins and thy bloody oaths not because Satan puts thee in mind thereof but because the Lord commands it thee least Satan who is the continual accuser be not only a perfect accuser but also a true witness of thy disobedience Remember to keep the Saboth holy according to Gods own institution learning thereby to rest from thy sins not only on Holydays but all the days of thy life that thou maiest become worthy to keep the ever lasting Sabath before the throue and the Lamb eternally Ho y Father sanctifie us in thy outh for thy word is truth Amen FINIS