perpetual hurt of the soules of so many that by these false miracles may
be induced or confirmed in the profession of that erroneous Religion: euen
as I told you before that he doth in the false cures, or casting off of
diseases by Witches. As to the other part of the argument in-case they
can, which rather (with reuerence of the learned thinking otherwaies) I am
induced to beleeue, by reason of the faithfull report that men sound of
religion, haue made according to their sight thereof, I think if so be, I
say these may be the respectes, whereupon the _Papistes_ may haue that
power. CHRIST gaue a commission and power to his Apostles to cast out
Deuilles, which they according thereunto put in execution: The rules he
bad them obserue in that action, was fasting and praier: & the action it
selfe to be done in his name. This power of theirs proceeded not then of
anie vertue in them, but onely in him who directed them. As was clearly
proued by _Iudas_ his hauing as greate power in that commission, as anie
of the reste. It is easie then to be vnderstand that the casting out of
Deuilles, is by the vertue of fasting and prayer, and in-calling of the
name of God, suppose manie imperfectiones be in the person that is the
instrumente,(M30) as CHRIST him selfe teacheth vs of the power that false
Prophets sall haue to caste out Devils. It is no wounder then, these
respects of this action being considered, that it may be possible to the
_Papistes_, though erring in sundrie points of Religion to accomplish
this, if they vse the right forme prescribed by CHRIST herein. For what
the worse is that action that they erre in other thinges, more then their
Baptisme is the worse that they erre in the other Sacrament, and haue
eiked many vaine freittes to the Baptisme it selfe.
PHI. Surelie it is no little wonder that God should permit the bodies of
anie of the faithfull to be so dishonoured, as to be a dwelling place to
that vncleane spirite.
EPI. There is it which I told right now, would prooue and strengthen my
argument of the deuils entring in the dead bodies of the faithfull. For if
he is permitted to enter in their liuing bodies, euen when they are ioyned
with the soule: how much more will God permit him to enter in their dead
carions, which is no more man, but the filthie and corruptible caise of
man. For as CHRIST sayth, (M31) _It is not any thing that enters within
man that defiles him, but onely that which proccedes and commeth out of
him_.
Chap. V.
ARGVMENT.
_The description of the fourth kinde of Spirites called the_ Phairie:
_What is possible therein, and what is but illusiones. How far this
Dialogue entreates of all these thinges, and to what end._
PHILOMATHES.
Now I pray you come on to that fourth kinde of spirites.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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