And the Fathers themselues deny, that a man should subscribe vnto their opinion in ought that they doo maintaine and auouche without the warrant of Gods word. The Popes out of =Augustine= written in their Decrées, =Quest. 9. ca. Noli=, that a man should credit none of the Fathers except he proued his saying out of holy Scriptures. But in these dayes many cull nothing out of their bookes but errours, and whatsoeuer they maintaine by good testimony of the holy scriptures, that they reiect and disanull: in which point they do fitly resemble those children, who only in things wicked and euil, imitate their good parents: for good men also haue their faultes. CHAP. IX. Whether the Diuell haue power to appeare vnder the shape of a faithfull man? [Sidenote: 2. _Cor._ 11.] [Sidenote: 2. _Reg._ 22.] But thou doest demand whether the Diuill can represent the likenesse of some faithfull man deceased? Hereof we néed not doubt at all. For in the =2.Cor.11.= S. =Paul= witnesseth, that sathan transformeth himselfe into the shape & fashion of an Angell of light. Sathan by nature is a spirit, and is therefore tearmed an Angel, because God vseth to send him to bring that thing to passe which he thinketh best. So in the second of =Kings= .22. Chapter, an euil angell was sent foorth to =Ahabs= destruction, to be a lying spirit in the mouth of 400. false prophets. This was an angell of errour and darkenesse: who yet in outwarde shewe could resemble a good Angell, that he might so guide the counsell of =Baalls= worshippers, who no doubt vaunted themselues, as if they had bene gathered togither by Gods holy spirit. If sathan be then so skilfull, can he not counterfait and faine himselfe to be some holy man, by resembling his words, voyce, iesture, and such other things? Amongst the Gentiles he hath done miraculous Actes, perswading them to thinke, that soules by Arte Magicke were called vp, and compelled to giue answere of secrete and hidden things that were to come. And therefore not only in publike, but also priuate affaires, if they séemed to be any thing hard vnto them, they consulted with Magitians and Sorcerers, and had moreouer recourse sometimes vnto Oracles. [Sidenote: Tertullian.]