ACcording to our former talke , of those which are contented with the shew of the gospel only , methinks that if we somwhat narrowly look into their behauiour , we shal find thē not much vnlike to that Demoniack , of whom S. Marke and S. Luke both make mention .

How behaued he himselfe ?

In his behauiour , he shewed himselfe cleane contrary to himselfe .

It is no greate maruayle if the Diuell be contrary to him selfe , but it were rather to be maruayled at , if hee The Diuel contrary to himselfe . should not be so : for that he is both a lyar , & also a deceiuer . But wherin doth he graynsay himselfe ?

Hee called our Sauiour Christ ●arke 3. ●ike 4. the holy one of God , if he be the holy one of God , than is he come to hallow vs : & if hee become to hallow vs , he must of necessitie ●sus Christ ● holy one of ●od . driue the Diuel from vs. For the Diuell is an vncleane and filthy spirite , and cleane contrary to all holinesse , and to the spirite of God , which is called holy , because it halloweth , ●ath . 12. yet the Diuel feareth nothing so much , as to be driuen from vs , for feare we should be sanctified of Iesus Christ , whiche is the holy one of the most holy .

The wicked spyrits did manifestly shewe that , by the petition whiche they made to Iesus Christ , that he woulde not dryue them out of the countrey .

We need to seeke for no further proofe hereof . For the Diuel desireth nothing so much as to entertayne vs in al filthinesse and vncleannesse , to the ende that God might not be sanctified nor glorified in vs , but be more and more dishonoured and blasphemed : And therefore doeth this wicked spirite flatter Christ , giuing hym the tytle that belongeth to him . Doubtlesse hee did this for two principall causes : The first , to bring Christ in suspition , and to diminish his glory in seeming to prayse him . The second to escape his hands by flattery , that he might thereby be accompted of him , as his friend .

Me thinkes this Deuill gainsayeth himselfe : for he desireth still to play his part , that is , to hynder vs , and yet acknowledgeth Iesus Christ to be the same , which shal let him , and is purposely come into the world to the same end .

Yea he flattereth Christ , thereby to let him from executing his office , whilest hee in the meane time might playe his prankes . There are alwayes manye suche Diuels among vs. For there are many that prayse the true ministers of GOD and good men before their faces , whom they knowe well enough to be enemyes to their vices : which they doe not , for any loue that they haue eyther to them or their vertues , ( for they hate nothing more ) but to get the more in fauour , and that good men should not punishe them as they deserue .

They call them honest men , because they would hinder them , from doing the duty of honest men , & praise their vertues , to the end they should not vse them .

Indeed , thou hast hit the nayle on the head . And therfore least the seruants of God and vertuous men , should make them lyars , which so prayse them , they cannot do better then faithfully execute their charge , and shewe the duety of good men , as well towardes them , as towardes all other : euen as Iesus Christ did towardes these Diuelles , which praysed him so much . For in casting out these Diueis , he shewed in effect , both to the Diuelles and to all other , that hee was verily the holy one of GOD , and the sonne of the moste high God .

Tush man , that is not it that the diuels and wicked ones would haue .

Why , we knowe this for certayne , ●f those kindes ●mē who giue ● Iesus Christ ● the Gospel , ●ch titles as ●elong vnto thē , ●cause they ●ould haue thē ●acke their duie . that they are contented to giue Iesus Christ and his faithfull seruants the titles that belong to them , whyle they see no remedy to gaynsay or resist . But they had rather that Iesus Christ & his , wold be content with the bare name alone ( as many other be ) & not execute the office which belongeth therto , & for which cause such names & titles are giuen them . For howe many are there in the world now a dayes : but chiefly in the Popish Churche , whiche are contented with the titles , and rentes whiche they possesse vnder colour of the sayd tytles : not caring for executing the office whiche they are bounde to , and whereof they beare the name ?

There are enow such of al sorts .

The Diuell was contented that Christ should be called the holy one of God , if he would not shew the office of the holye one of God against him . So are there many in these dayes , which are content to prayse the Gospell , and to honour it with their mouthes , and outward ceremonies : so that it be not looked on , & the doctrine therin contayned bee not published & practized . We haue euident proof therof in the Popish masse : for it is maruelous to see what honor the masse giueth to the book of the Gospell , when it is song , & specially in high masses . When the gospel is song , there is sensing , torchlight , Of the honour which the Papists giue to the Gospel . kissing of the book , standing vp : Alwaies prouided , that the Gospel be song or said to the people in an vnknowen tongue , and not in suche sorte to bee vttered , as that the vertue and efficacie thereof bee manifested vnto the heartes of the people . Is not this a great subtletie of Sathan , to shewe such honour to the Gospel , to the ende it might bee the more dishonoured ? For the ● the honour , ●ich the ene●es of the dis●line of the ●spel giue to ● Gospel . greatest honour that the Gospel can haue , is to be printed in the heart : & contrariwyse the greatest dishonour that may be done vnto it , is , not to receiue it with true faith , and to be carelesse of the vnderstanding , and effecting thereof .

This then I perceiue to be thy drift to proue , that we honour the Gospel in ●hat the true ●iour , and dis●our of the ●spel is . our Masse , as the Diuell honoured Iesus Christ , when he called him the holy one of God , meaning thereby to put him from doyng of that his duety which God his father had commaunded him to doe .

I wil not giue a poynt to choose . For , is not that which you doe , a very mockery vnto Iesus Christ and his Gospel ?

Thou commest very fast stil vppon vs. But I pray thee tell me , is there none amongst you that playeth the like diuels part ?

Yes I warrant thee , too too manie : But they playe it after an other sorte : For there are some , who are contented to suffer the minister of the Gospel preach the pure word of God , yea , and to haue ministers also , and to mainteyne them : so they enforce them not to the practise of the Gospell . Wee spake before of those that withstood the discipline of the Gospel . Of whiche there are two sortes : The first of them , are they , that cannot abyde , that any shoulde speake , preache , or write thereof : The seconde sort of them are they which are contented to heare with all that , so there bee no talke of the execution thereof . But the worst is , that among these , there are some , that do not only withstande the execution therof on themselues , but also hinder those that would be contented to receiue it , and wil not suffer them so to doe .

Why doe they so ? Me thinketh it inough , & in deed too much for themselues to be rebels against God & his word , although they hindred not the obedience of others .

I thinke they doe it , because they feare , least , after the others were brought to that discipline , they also might bee enforced thereunto . For there are many that would not greatly care though other men lyued neuer so vprightly , so that they themselues might be at liberty to do what them listed .

I wonder at those men . For if they think the doctrine good , that is preached vnto thē , why suffer they it not to be practized & put in execution : if they thinke it not good , why suffer they it to be preached , and specially , seeing they haue authority and power to stoppe the same ?

No doubt of it , there are too too many ( as we haue before said ) that woulde gladly stop it , if they durst : were it not for feare they shold be accompted tyrantes & open enemies to God . But because they see , that they cannot do it but to their great reproch & shame , they are like the diuel , who is contented to take Iesus Christ for the holy one of God , so he may be stil a diuel , & continue in the selfe same state , wherin Iesus Christ found him . And therfore when they are inforced , as Christe inforced this diuel , they crye out as he cried , & shew their secret hatred to the truth of God , & fal a threatning & persecuting of his true seruants , when as they perceiue that they can neither by fayre speeches , nor yet hypocrisy , obteine their desire .

And therefore it is naught euerye way , & waxeth stil worse & worse . You make a iest at vs , & say , that we on our side honor the gospel outwardly , but that we neither care for the vnderstanding therof , nor lyuing thereafter . And I beseech you , wherein is your side any whit better ? For they are contented the Gospel should be preached , and the sence thereof expounded , so they heare it not , or if they heare it , so they follow it not , no more than we . Thus we are both wel plesed with the name of Christian , and gospel , but we neither care either for the dutie of christianitie , or yet for the fruite that wee should receiue by the Gospell .

So say I to : For we are all contented that Iesus Christ should bee the holy one of GOD , so hee hallowe vs not .

Hereby we may easily perceiue , that the Diuell , which gaue this title to Christe , is not yet out of the world .

As much may be sayde of that other Diuel in the Sorceresse of Philippi , Acts. 16. The Deuill of Philippi . The commendation , whiche the deuill giueth to the mynisteri of the Gospell . of whome we spake before . For GOD knoweth howe little pleasure the Diuell which possessed her tooke , in the ministerie of Paule and Sylas , and yet hee praysed them and their ministerie , and extolled thē to the people of Philippi to the vttermost .

Surely , it is to be meruailed at , that the father of lyes woulde prayse and extoll before men , the trueth , which hee hateth aboue all other thinges .

Yea , but here is a further matter then all this . For , thou seest , that be doeth not onely forbeare to withstand , and openlye resist the seruauntes of God , but beeing also enemy to mans saluation , encourageth the people to hear the doctrine of saluation at the mouths of those , whom god hath appoynted to be the ouerthrow of his kingdome . To . Truely , herein ●e meruailoussy changeth and altereth his nature : for where before time , he was woont with might and maine , to withdraw men from the worde of God : here he stirreth and prouoketh them thereunto .

And yet that is not , his meaning was cleane contrary , how glorious & The meanes which the Deull vseth to fight against the Gospell . glittering a shew soeuer he made . And therfore hereby thou maist perceiue , that commonly , the Deuill hath two stringes to his bowe to resist the trueth .

Which be they ?

The one is , in that , that he is a tyrant and murtherer , he will , if it be possible resist the trueth by force : and so vse the string , beecause it agreeth iumpe with his nature : but if that string will not serue , hee putteth on the other . To . What maner a one is that ?

It is lying : for , he wil by the , if he can , practise to come in credit : for that is as natural to him , as the first . But when hee mindes to worke by lying , hee vseth not alwayes one way . To . How doth he than ?

First , if he haue to doe with ignoraunt men , in the word of God , and grosse headed people , he thē bestirreth him to ouerthrow the trueth by false doctrine , superstition , and idolatry , wherwith he disguiseth . the true religion . But , if that way wil not serue his turne , he seemeth by & by to allow of the doctrine of the trueth , and to be friend thervnto , to the end that vnder this colour , he maye the more subtillye and secretly bring his enterprise to passe . And , although this enemy is alwayes greatly to be feared , yet is he neuer so much to be feared , as when 2. Cor . 11. The deuil transfigureth him self into an Angel of light . he vseth thus to faigne and glose . For hee neuer hurteth so sore , as when he transfigureth himselfe into an Angell of light , which he can right well doe .

I thinke that was the cause , whie S. Paule put the Diuell of Philippi to silence , as also why Iesus Christe put those to silence , which praysed him .

That is out of all doubt . For although , that these Diuels spak the truth , in testifying that that was true , which both Iesus Christe and his Seruauntes hadde spoken and doone : yet is it not to be said properlye , that they spake the trueth , by reason of their intent , and the ende which they pretended . For , where they ●That trueth it ● that the deuil ● able to speak , ●nd to what end ● speaketh it . outwardly seemed to induce the people to followe Iesus Christe , by reason of the gloryous woordes , which they gaue out of him , they had a cleane contrary purpose , to withdrawe them from him .

How is that possible ?

Euen by this meane . For , when the Diuelles vse these kinds of woordes , they whiche heare them , eyther beleeue them , or not beleeue them . And if they beleeue them , they beleeue them not as if they were the Enemies of Iesus Christ , and of his Seruauntes : But doe rather thinke , that there is great friendship , and a friendlye agreement betwixt them .

Then I perceyue that the Deuill is alwayes readye to serue his own turne at a pynch .

Assure thyselfe of that . For , if hee and his Testimonie were reiected , they whom hee hadde commended , should also for the same cause , bee reiected with him for company : and yet hee him self in , the meane whyle , not bee reiected at all . For hee woulde still keepe his possession in those , who had forsaken Iesus Christe and his , vnder another colour . And therfore if they were entertayned , the Deuill would also be entertayned with them : and so by that meanes , hee should be in truth , and in deede , entertayned : and Iesus christ , his doctrine , and seruauntes , but in shewe , and for fashions sake . For , Iesus Christ and his aduersarye , are not to bee entertayned both at once , neyther hath hee any familyaritie and common abode and dwelling with him .

Heere is a meruailous subtill pollycie , and crooked nature of the Deuil , being therin so compounded with leasing and vntrueth , as that hee turneth the truth it selfe into lying , and maketh the trueth to bee no more trueth , when it once commeth out of his mouth . The trueth , not trueth .

You saye verye tru●lye . For , Trueth , to speake properly , consisteth not in the bare woordes spoken , but in the meaning , for which cause they are vttered . And therefore hee speaketh not the trueth , which sayeth not the trueth , but onely to lye , and deceyue .

And beesides , wee are not to take for trueth , the trueth that is myxed with lying . For , in this case , the trueth is nowe no more trueth , but onelye a false colour of trueth , and without any substance therof , for the colouring of a lye . And therfore , How wee oug● to iudge of th● trueth . when we are to iudge of the trueth , wee must not iudge only according to the woords which wee heare , nor yet take them by halfes , but receyue all the partes together , and so looke to what end and purpose they were spoken .

If this , that thou speakest off were well looked vnto , wee shoulde neuer haue so manye men seduced and leadde awaye from the trueth , as daylye wee see .

Why , I will tell thee , we neede The honour which the Papists do to Iesus Christ , is t● dishonour him . not seeke any further for examples , concerning this matter , thē to the Romish church . For , the Pope and his false Prophets haue vsed the selfe same cunning , which the Deuilles vsed at Philippi : besides others also , who haue made as glorious a confession of Iesus Christ . For the holy scripture attributeth nothing to Iesus Christ , and to his church , which they do not also attribute vnto him , in plain & bare words . For , ther is no praise nor commendation , which the Prophets , Apostles , and Martyres euer gaue vnto him , that they likewise giue not vnto him : And yet Iesus Christ and his church haue not more cruel enemies , that more villanously blaspheme , nor more cruelly persecute them , then these men , whiche fayne themselues to bee their greatest and deerest friendes .

They will giue al the prayse that a man woulde wishe them , both to Iesus Christ , to his Church , and to his Gospell , and yet in all the rest of their dealinges , they make no reckning of them : but onelye in faigning themselues to be their friends and defendours , and so by that meanes they deceyue the worlde , and aduaunce them selues farre aboue Iesus Christ , and his Church .

And in so dooing , they make warre with Iesus Christe , at his owne proper coaste and charge .

And this course also tooke Mahomet , Mahomet , and the Pope , the Deuille●●ollye counter●eitors . when he first began to deliuer his law . For if he had not spoken wel of Iesus Christ , of his Prophetes , and Apostles , he had neuer had such a traine following him as hee hath had . But he aduanced , and set foorth the prayses of Iesus Christe & of his , therby to ouerthrowe Christian religion , and say a foundation , whereon to builde his false religion with some apparance of truth .

What ? thinkest thou that there are not moe then those which thou hast spoken of , who haue put this matter in practise ?

Why ? a man shall hardly see any other thing practised at this day in the Shorne mon●sticall hypocri● feigne themselu● to be friends ● the gospell , th● they might the● by hinder the course thereof . worlde . For , to answere to the first poynt , we see that euer sithence that God hath caused at this day , the light of his holy Gospell to shine amongst vs , that there haue an exceeding pestilent number of Monkes and Fryers , and others of that rabble entred , who haue , and dayly doe , Iustily play theyr partes . For so soone as they sawe , that their beggerly wallet brought them not home , so notable a reuenue as in tunes past it did , and that they were not in such honor and reputation as before indeed they were , by preaching of their fables and lyes , they then baganne to counterfeite to bee Christian , and Gospellike Preachers . For , some of them , forsooke their cloysters , and became to serue in Churches , where they vnderstood they might liue with greater libertie , and so cleane cast off their cowle and weede when they were gotten out . And some of them continued amongst those people , who as yet had not the sincere ministerie of the gospel free amongest them . These men ware some part of their monasticall weedes , and cast some outward part of thē cleane off . And so by this their hypocritical dealing , they had recourse vnto many good houses and Churches , whereinto they had not been as yet receiued , if they had not made some shew to haue been friendes , and not enemies , and persecutors , as commonly they are , who vowe themselues to these damnable sects . Howbeit they had no sooner set in footing , but that they shewed a cast of their office , & what loue they bare to Iesus Christ and his gospel . For , then they shewed themselues whether they were shorne monasticals or not , and with what spirite they were guided . And there are at this day anexceeding shameles number , who both on the one side & the other , play their parts in this pageant , & such in deed , as trouble more the churches , then all the rest of the enemies , which they can possibly haue . Howbeit , I meane not here , to find fault with such good men , as with good tokens haue forsaken these damnable sects , & behaued themselues as the good seruants of God , of which , god be thanked for thē , there are a great number . And therefore , it is very needefull for all men to take good heed of these transfigured shorne monasticals , who haue thrust themselues into the church as Apostles & ministers of the gospel , to the end men by them bee not lightly deceiued .

I know not after what maner thou handelest these shorne monasticals , of whom thou speakest , & many others suche like , who dayly ioyne with you : but this I right wel know , that there are an exceeding shameles number of thē , who haue no great good liking of you , nor yet of your Churches , and namely of the most famous , vertuous , and learned among you .

Why man , they must needs make an end of playing out their whole pageant , which they haue begunne , & that the end of theyr sport iump with the beginning .

In very deede , I haue right well vnderstood , that there haue beene too too many of such , who after they had once made so iolly a shewe , haue well enough raked vp diuers Benefices , when as they might well rake them , and then haue quyte and cleane lea●t the Gospell , and kept themselues altogether occupied about them .

There is no doubt of it , but that suche hypocrites finde Benefices enough , to rake vp before such time as they woulde be founde . But heere is the worst matter of al the rest : that for as much as they are reuolted from the Gospel , they proue the greatest enemies that the gospel can possibly haue .

But to returne to this Diuell whereof thou earst spakest , that was at Philippi , hee was not yet carried away with such a furie , but that he right well coulde tell how to play the pageant , which he had enterprised to play . For he couered himself with a right fauourable colour towards al men . For , whereas before he had so greatly commended S. Paule & Sylas , together theyr doctrine & ministerie , he soone after accused them to be mutinous & seditious fellowes , who went about to ouerthrowe all politike and publike order & gouernment , & abolish ● fauourable ac●sation against ●e seruants of ●od . the lawes and state of life of the countrie , which had from time to time been receiued and allowed of all men , & besides , that they troubled the publike peace , & all the whole world .

Thou mayest thē perceiue by that with what affection he so greatly commended them before . For this is alwayes one and the selfe same diuel . For , he did but only The diuell hath ●iuers vizers . change his vizer , to play another part , in the person of the masters of that maide the ●orceresse , as he had before plaied in the person of the said maid . For , he had mastred both the one and the other . And because he feared that that should not com● to passe , whiche came to passe , he transfigured him selfe as thou hast heard . But when hee sawe , that he was put beside his hope , he stroue another way , against the seruants of God . And herein we see that , which before was spoken of the possessed , who are possessed with the diuel , by reason of theyr sins , althogh they seem nothing lesse , then to be possessed with Diuels . For , wee euidently see in this place , how the Diuel made these Philippians become men possessed with wicked spirites , by whom , he raysed vp all the whole Citie , but chiefly the magistrates , against the seruants of God . And in this dealing , hee had The wicked ● the euill which they themselue● do to the charg● of the godly . recourse vnto his auncient practises , wherof we haue heretofore spoken . For , he accuseth these holy men , of the self same thing which he himselfe did , by those wicked men whom he had possessed with Diuels . For , he accused the Apostles of sedition and mutente , and rayled on them , as though they had been the publique enemies of peace , and of all good order . For , ( quoth he ) who haue The notable affection , wherewith the wicked are mouth . beene the cause of this hurly burly in the citie , but these seditious fellowes ? And who hath stirred vp the people hereunto , but their couetousnesse ?

In very deed , hee that had heard them speak , would haue said , that they greatly loued the Romanes , who were their Lords and heads , and generally al the whole countrie , and that they mightily feared , that sone hurt might come vnto it , by the meane of Paule and Sylas .

As you say in deede , for when Iudas found fault with the losse which the The great cha●tie of Iud●s . Math . 20. Marke . 14. poore had , by reason of the oyntment that was spent vpon Iesus Christ , who woulde not haue greatly allowed and lyked of his reasons , if hee had but onely regarded his wordes ? Howbeit , Saint Iohn rightly ●ohn . 12. discouereth his hypocrisie , when as he saith , That Iudas spake not those words for any compassion that he had on the poore , neither yet of any desire that he had that the money which might haue been had for the ointment , shoulde haue been bestowed vpon them : but hee spake those wordes , because he himself was a theefe . And therefore , desired that this money might come thorow his hands , to the end he might purloyne some part of it to his owne vse . And euen so fared it with these Philippians , of whom we now spake . For , they cloaked themselues with a certaine care which they had of the full and whole preseruing and maintenance of the good lawes and policie of the Country : But Saint Luke setteth foorth the secresie Act. 16. of their disease , saying : That they did it , because they were angrie for the losse of so great a gaine which they receiued thereby .

By this may easily be perceiued what their affection was that they bare vnto the countrie .

In deed here was the loue which they had vnto the countrie , forsooth , it greeued thē that they could no longer abuse thē of the countrie , by robbing & spoiling it , by meane of the sorceres , & her familiar diuel , as heretofore they had done . Now , if I shold say vnto thee , I pray thee consider , whether the Pope & his supposts do not the like , I know thou wouldest answere me , & say , as heretofore thou hast oftentimes answered mee , I pray thee also consider , if your men who so greatly glory in the reformation of the Church , do not as much .

Thou sayest truly , and so I would in deede . The colour● which the suppostes of Antichrist vse , for the defence of their religion .

And yet thou canst not possibly denie it , but that the Pope & his , doe cloake their tyrannie , ambition , and couetousnesse , with such colours . It is well enough knowen , that the more part of thē , care no more for God , nor yet for any religion whatsoeuer , then the very Epicures : And yet when a man shal heare thē speake , a man woulde say that they were so feruent and zealous about the maintenance of the church , ancient lawes , councels , & canons of the ancient fathers , as it is possible for men to be . And yet there are none , who dare more boldly and shamelesly infringe & breake thē , then they which cal themselues the preseruers of the same . It seemeth , that they tremble with feare , for the destruction of Christendome , and yet there are none that go about to ouerthrow it sooner thē they , no , & if all the enemies of Christendome besides were gathered together , they could not all ( I say ) do more for the ouerthrowing thereof .

In very deede , I cannot gaine say that , which thou hast said : But yet I pray thee , say something also of your owne sort .

True it is , that this diuell who dealeth in this maner , amongest the fauourers & abbettors of the Romish Antichriste , transfigureth himselfe after another maner of sort amongest vs. For , it is out of all question , that the Popes , Cardinals , Bishops , priestes , friers , & al the rest of that rabble , do what they can , to make kings , princes , and potentates vnderstand and beleeue , that yf they take not some good order for the rooting out of those whom they condemne for heretiks , they are in great hazard of losing their kingdomes and dominions . Howbeit they fetch most of their colours from religion , and from the ancient councels & canons , and the desolation and destruction of the The Imitation that is betweene the papiste , and those which bra● of the gospel . church of Christ . But our people , who are led with the same spirite , dare not arme themselues with the name of the church , against the true ministers , but come armed with the lawes and ordinances of princes and gouernors , to make war against God . For , if a man lay the worde of God before , they will in no wise meddle with that . For , they dare not openly , once quetch against that , as before we haue said , but by and by alleadge theyr reformation , and disputations and ordenances . And so , vnder the shadowe thereof , they condemne the true Ministers of the Lorde , not for that they haue done any thyng agaynst God : But because they will not agree to the statutes & tradions of men , but would haue them to be tryed & ouer ruled by the word of God .

Why , thē they do euen as I heard thee once finde fault withal . For , there are some countries , wherein princes haue forbidden any man once to speake of this newe law , & that no man should bring in any new religion , vpon paine of loosing his life . Then soone after that these lawes were made , if it had so fallen out that any man had beene charged to haue byn hearde once speake of the word of God , as thou now speakest , and had done any thing , otherwise thē according to the old religion , the question was neuer asked , whether this man had either spoken or done wel or amisse . But it was enough if any man could haue said , he hath done against the law of the prince of the countrie .