How Christian men ought to behaue themselues when
they see Spirites, and first that they ought to haue a
good courage, and to be stedfast in faith.

HOwe Christian menne oughte to behaue themselues in this behalfe, it is fully and amply declared in the holie Scriptures, in like manner as all other things are, whiche appertaine vnto our saluation. To wit, that first we ought to be of good courage without feare, being assured and constante in true faith.

For if they be good Angels which shew themselues vnto vs, then are they sent vnto vs from God, to a good ende and purpose. But if they be wicked and euill, they can do vs no harme be they neuer so desirous, excepte God giue them leaue thereto. If it be nothing but a vaine imagination that we haue, or an idle sight obiected vnto our eies, surely it is great follie to be any thing afraid. In dÉed it is naturall vnto vs, to be amazed with feare when we sÉe suche things: for very godly menne, as we read both in the olde and newe Testament, were stricken with excÉeding feare when they sawe good Angels, but yet a man must pull vp his heart againe. When Christes Disciples sawe their Maister walking vpon the water, and approching neare the shippe, they thought they sawe a spirite, and they were astonished, and cried out through feare. But the Lorde saide vnto them, be of good comforte, it is I, be not afraide.

The like is reade in the foure and twentie Chapter of Saint Luke, when he appeared vnto them after his resurrection, and sawe that they were maruellously afraid. Matth. 10. Matthew the 10. Feare not saithe Christ, those whiche slay the bodie, but cannot kill the soule, but rather stande in awe of him, who can cast both bodie and soule into hell fire. The Diuell would like it well, if we would alwaies stand in feare of him.

Be not dismaide, although thou heare some spirit stir and make a noise, for in case hee rumble onely to make thÉe afraide, care not for him, but lette him rumble so long as he will, for if he sÉe thÉe without feare, hÉe will soone depart from thÉe. And if thou thinke good, thou maiest boldly say vnto him, get thÉe hence with a mischiefe thou wicked Diuell, thou hast nothing to do with me, who haue sette my onely belÉefe in Christ Iesu my Sauiour.

I am owner of this house, and not thou, vnto whome there is an other place appointed. &c. If he perceiue y? there is no feare or dreade of him, and that his bustling is not estÉemed, he will not continue long time. I will make this matter manifest with a similitude, which is well knowne. There be certaine men, which if they thinke other men stande in feare of them, they make wise to drawe their sworde, and sometimes two they draw it, and strike the stones therewith, chafing and swearing lustily: But if they knowe their aduersaries haue a good courage, and that (if nÉede require) they will fight it out stoutly, they will quickly put vp their sworde into their scabberde. In like manner, if the Diuill sÉe thou art of a good stomacke, and well armed with Gods worde, he will soone sÉeke after others whome he may mocke with feare.

But if it please God to exercise thÉe by the Deuill for a certaine time, as he did sometime Iob, thou must patiently suffer all things which he laieth vppon thÉe, and that willingly for Gods commaundement sake. And knowe thou well, that he cannot thus much hurt, neither thy goods, nor bodie, nor soule, without the permissio and sufferance of Almightie God: if God giue him leaue to plague thy bodie, thinke with thy selfe howe so euer it be done, that God hath so doone for thy profitte and commoditie, who also sendeth grÉeuous sicknesses vppon other men, by other meanes & instruments, or else doth exercise them with other kindes of calamities. Be therefore strong and constant in faith, yet lette euery one beware of boldnesse, temeritie, and headdie rashnesse.

Let it comforte thÉe, that thou knowest Christe hath conquired the Deuill, as he himselfe teacheth in the eleuenth chapter of Luke, by the example of a strong man at armes. In the 12.&.16. of Iohn he saith: the Prince of this worlde shalbe cast out of the doores, that is to say, out of the hearts of them which cleaue to the worde of God, and are not in loue with the world, whereof he is prince and ruler. For he hath power ouer such, which do grÉedily loue the world.

In the first of Iohn the third chapter, it is saide: The sonne of man appeared, that is, came into the world for that cause, that he might destroy the workes of the diuel. There are many miracles in the Gospell which shewe that Christ cast out diuels. Albeit God for a time do suffer the diuel in many things, yet hath he appointed him his bounds, which he may not passe. And he doth not suffer the faithfull to be tempted any more of him than they are able to endure. He giueth his grace plentuously vnto them, vpon whome he laieth great afflictions.

We ought not to maruel if spirits sometimes be sÉen or heard. For as Saint Peter saith: Sathan raungeth euery where, in houses, fieldes, water and fire: and yet he is not alwayes espied of men, neither can he so bee, except God giue him leaue to shewe himselfe. In that that we doe alwayes sÉe him (for he being of an inuisible nature, taketh on him diuers shapes) or heare him, we haue to thanke the goodnesse of almightie God: for otherwise we should not be in rest one moment of time. But if sometime wicked spirits mÉete with vs in a visible forme by the will of God, or do otherwise trouble and disquiet our houses, we must not think therfore that they were neuer in house before.

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