And when they finde this Impostor failing in the performance of his vowed promises, then he wanteth not his shifts: as that these defects are not to be imputed to him, or the weakenesse of the Art, but their owne negligence or ignorance, who haue not exactly obserued such directions, and in that manner they were deliuered: or mistooke his meaning, which is commonly deliuered in[l] ambiguous tearmes, such as will admit a double construction: and herein appeareth the lamentable and woefull blindnesse of man, who is contented to swallow vp, and excuse many of his lies by one truth fore-told; which hath casually come to passe, whereas in other matters they make light account of, yea cõtemne infinit truths, if they shall finde by long search and diligent inquiry, but one falshood. Wherefore it behooueth vs to be carefull Centinels ouer our selues, for that our grand[m] aduersary, proud, enuious, and not standing in the truth, reposeth all his possibility of victory in lies, and out of this poysoned sinke, deuiseth all kinde of deceits, that so hee might depriue man of that happy and blessed estate which he lost by pride, and draw him into the society of his owne damnation: therefore it is a needfull caueat giuen by one of the ancient Fathers: Our enemy is old against whom wee fight, sixe [n]thousand yeares fully compleat are passed since he began to oppose himself against vs; but if wee obserue the commandements of God, and continue steadfast in faith, apprehending Iesus Christ, then shall we be able to withstand all his violent assaults, and ouer-come him because Christ in whom we trust, is inuincible. [Footnote l: As that to Pope _Siluester_ the second, his demand; who asked how long he should liue and enioy the _Popedome_? answered, vntil hee should say masse in _Ierusalem_; and not long after, celebrating the same in a _Chappell_ of the Church dedicated to the holy Crosse in _Rome_, called _Ierusalem_, knew how he was ouer-reached, for there hee dyed. And an other paralell to this, may be that of a certaine Bishop, much addicted to these vanities, hauing many enemies, and fearing them, asked the Diuell whether he should fly or not: who answered, _Non, sta secure, venient inimici tui suauiter, & subdentur tibi._ But being surprized, and taken by his aduersaries, and his castle set on fire, expostulating with him that hee had deceiued him in his distresse, returned answere, that he said true, if his speech had been rightly vnderstood: for he aduised, _Non sta secure_ [id est _fugias_] _venient inimici tui suauiter, & subdentur_, [id est _ignem tibi_]. Such were the Oracles which he gaue, and whereof all histories do testifie. _Holcot_ vpon the booke of Wisedome, and the rest before mentioned with him.] [Footnote m: _Leo de collectis Serm. 40. & natiuitate Domini, Serm. 7._] [Footnote n: _In proemio, lib de exhortaions ad Martyrium Cyprianus._]