[Sidenote: VVhether the diuel forknow of thinges to come.] [Sidenote: _Iohn_ 8.] An other reason they vse, that =Samuel= foreshewed vnto =Saule= suche thinges as afterwardes should come to passe: as that the Philistians should in battayle ouerthrowe his Armie, and he and his sonnes togither be slaine. And all these thinges came to passe according to his Prophesie. And say they, the Diuel knoweth not, neither can he foretell of things to come, sith it is onely in Gods power so to doo: But as Christ in the eight of =Iohn= saith, he is a lyar, and the father of lies. Hereunto a man may easily answere: The Diuell knewe howe things stoode with the Iewes, and the Philistines, he vnderstood euen the very secret consultations, priuie practises, and warlike preparation on both sides. He sawe that the Israelites were slenderly addressed vnto battaile, and vtterly daunted of courage. Besides this, =Samuel= had a little before threatned =Saule= with Gods heauie wrath and vengeance, and that =Dauid= should be aduaunced to the kingly throne, whereby he might easily gather what would ensue, and that =Saule= must néedes giue place to =Dauid=. And if the euent had bene otherwise, yet he knew that =Saule= with this prophesie would be quite dismaied, and driuen to dispaire: which thing must néedes well content and please Sathan, who laieth his baites day and night to intrappe men. [Sidenote: Which being doubtfully spoken, may be vnderstood either of subuerting other kingdomes, or loosing his owne.] The Diuell dooth not presently vnderstand things to come, and therefore he giueth doubtfull answeres to such as séeke oracles of him: As when he said, =Crœsus perdet Halin transgressus plurima regna=.