Furthermore, by what signe it may be perfectly knowne that he is released, and for what cause he was first shut vp in Purgatorie. And yet they hold, yͭ no curious, vnprofitable, or superstitious questiōs shuld be demanded of yͤ spirit, except he wold of his own accord reueale and open thē. And yͭ it were best, yͭ sober persons shuld thus questiō with him, on som holiday before diner, or in yͤ night seasō, as is commōly accustomed. And if the spirite will shewe no signe at that time, the matter should be deferred vnto some other season, vntill the spirit would shewe himselfe againe: and yet that the crosse and holy water should bee left there, for that by the secret iudgement of God, it was ordeined, that they should appeare at certaine houres, and to certaine persons, and not vnto all men. And farther, they say that we néede not to feare, that the spirite would doo any bodily hurt vnto that person, vnto whome it doth appeare. For if such a spirit would hurt any, he might justly be suspected that he were no good spirit. [Sidenote: By what tokens good spirites may be discerned from euil.] [Sidenote: _Luke_ 1.] Moreouer, popish writers teach vs to discerne good spirits from euill, by foure meanes. First they say, that if he be a good spirit, he will at the beginning, somewhat terrifie men, but againe soone reuiue and comfort them. So =Gabriel= with comfortable words did lift vp the blessed Virgin which before was sore troubled by this salutation. They also alleage other examples. The second note is to discrie them by their outwarde and visible shape. For if they appeare vnder the forme of a Lyon, Beare, Dog, Toade, Serpent, Cat, or blacke ghoste, it may easily be gathered that it is an euil spirit. And that on the other side, good spirits doo appeare vnder the shape of a doue, a man, a lambe, or in the brightnesse, and cleare light of the Sunne. We must also consider whether the voyce whiche we heare be sweete, lowly, sober, sorrowfull, or otherwise terrible and full of reproach, for so they terme it. Thirdly we must note, whether the spirit teache ought that doth varie from the doctrine of the Apostles, and other Doctors approoued by the Churches censure: or whether he vtter any thing that doth dissent from the faith, good maners, and ceremonies of the Church, according to the Canonical rites or decrées of Councels, and against the lawes of the holy church of _Rome_. Fourthly, we must take diligent héede whether in his words, déeds, and iestures, he do shewe forth any humilitie, acknowledging or confessing of his sinnes & punishments, or whether we heare of him any groning, wéeping, complaint, boasting, threatning, slaunder or blasphemie. For as the beggar doth rehearse his owne miserie, so likewise doo good spirits that desire any helpe or deliueraunce. Other signes also they haue to trie the good Angels from the bad: but these are the chiefe. [Sidenote: How we may helpe and succoure soules.]