Wel, I haue told you now all my doubts, and ye haue satisfied me therein,
concerning the first of these two kindes of spirites that ye haue
conjoyned. Now I am to inquire onely two thinges at you concerning the
last kinde, I meane the Dæmoniackes. The first is, whereby shal these
possessed folks be discerned fra them that ar trubled with a natural
Phrensie or Manie. The next is, how can it be that they can be remedied by
the Papistes Church, whome wee counting as Hereticques, (M29) it should
appeare that one Deuil should not cast out an other, for then would _his
kingdome be diuided in it selfe_, as CHRIST said.
EPI. As to your first question; there are diuers symptomes, whereby that
heauie trouble may be discerned from a naturall sickenesse, and speciallie
three, omitting the diuers vaine signes that the _Papistes_ attributes
vnto it: Such as the raging at holie water, their fleeing a back from the
Croce, their not abiding the hearing of God named, and innumerable such
like vaine thinges that were alike fashious and feckles to recite. But to
come to these three symptomes then, whereof I spake, I account the one of
them to be the incredible strength of the possessed creature, which will
farre exceede the strength of six of the wightest and wodest of any other
men that are not so troubled. The next is the boldning vp so far of the
patients breast and bellie, with such an vnnaturall sturring and vehement
agitation within them: And such an ironie hardnes of his sinnowes so
stiffelie bended out, that it were not possible to prick out as it were
the skinne of anie other person so far: so mightely works the Deuil in all
the members and senses of his body, he being locallie within the same,
suppose of his soule and affectiones thereof, hee haue no more power then
of any other mans. The last is, the speaking of sundrie languages, which
the patient is knowen by them that were acquainte with him neuer to haue
learned, and that with an vncouth and hollowe voice, and al the time of
his speaking, a greater motion being in his breast then in his mouth. But
fra this last symptome is excepted such, as are altogether in the time of
their possessing bereft of al their senses being possessed with a dumme
and blynde spirite, whereof Christ releiued one, in the 12. of _Mathew_.
And as to your next demande, it is first to be doubted if the _Papistes_
or anie not professing the the onelie true Religion, can relieue anie of
that trouble. And next, in-case they can, vpon what respectes it is
possible vnto them. As to the former vpon two reasons, it is grounded:
first that it is knowen so manie of them to bee counterfite, which wyle
the Clergie inuentes for confirming of their rotten Religion. The next is,
that by experience we finde that few, who are possessed indeede, are
fullie cured by them: but rather the Deuill is content to release the
bodelie hurting of them, for a shorte space, thereby to obteine the
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