The diuel sometimes vttereth the truth, that his words may haue the more credit, and that he may the more easily beguile them. He that would vtter euil wares, doth not only set them foorth in words, but doth also so trim and decke them, that they séeme excellent good, whereby they are the more saleable: this Art also the diuel knoweth, for he painteth out his stuffe that he may obtrude it vnto other men in the stéede of good ware. S. =Ambrose= writeth in his Commentaries vpon the first Epistle to the Thessalonians, and fift chapter, expounding these words: =Quench not the spirit. Despise not prophecying. Examine all things, and keepe that which is good.= Euill spirites are wont to speake good things craftily, as it were by imitation, and amongst those they priuily insinuate wicked thinges, that by meanes of those things which are good, euil things may be admitted, and because they are supposed the words of one spirit, they may not be discerned asunder, but by that which is lawfull an vnlawfull thing may bee commended by authoritie of the name, and not by reason of vertue, &c. [Sidenote: Why the diuel doth somtimes tel truth.] [Sidenote: _Acts_16.] [Sidenote: _Marke_.1.] [Sidenote: _Luke_.4.] Hereunto appertaine those words which we reade in =S. Chrysostomes= second sermon =De Lazara=. There he sheweth that many simple men haue bene in this erroure, that they haue thought the soules of those which were slaine by some violent death, did become Diuels. He saith further, that the Diuell hath perswaded many Witches, and such as serue him being in this erroure, that they should kill the tender bodies of many yong men, hoping they shuld become Diuels, and doo them seruice. And by and by he addeth: But these things are not true, no, I say, they are not. What is it then that Diuels say? I am the soule of such a Monke? Verily I beléeue it not, euen for this, that Diuels doo auouche it: for they deceiue their auditours. Wherefore =Paule= also commaundeth them to silence, albeit they speake truth, lest taking occasion by truth, they mingle lyes therewith, and so purchase themselues credit. For when they had said: These men are the seruants of the most high God, shewing vnto you the way of saluation: The Apostle not content herewith, commaunded the prophecying spirite vnto silence, and to come foorth of the mayd. And yet what harme speake they? These men are the seruantes of the most high God. But because the most parte of simple men haue not vnderstanding alwayes to iudge of those things which are vttered by diuels, he at once excludeth them from all credit. Thou art (saith he) of the number of infamous spirites, it belongeth not to thée to speake fréely, hold thy peace, kéepe silence, it is not thy office to preach. This is the authoritie of the Apostles: why takest thou vppon thée that which appertaineth not vnto thée, hold thy peace, be thou infamous. So also did Christ sharply rebuke the diuels saying vnto him: We know thée