After what sort we ought to behaue our selues, when we
heare straunge crackes, or when other forewarnings
happen.

BUt nowe as concerning other matters, as in case any straunge crackes and noyses be heard, or any rare and maruellous things happen before the alteration of kingdomes (which we speake of before) what shall we then doo? Surely we must not attribute too much vnto such things, for they sometimes, yea and most commonly chaunce by the deceit of the diuell, who hath a great pleasure to haue men muse night and day on such matters, and to imagine before their eyes and mindes many horrible things, that thereby they may fall into some grÉeuous sicknesse, and neuer be at rest. When such things happen indÉed, they ought to put vs in minde, that we casting from vs all these things which displease God, should wholly consecrate our selues vnto God, and so frame our selues, that at what houre soeuer he come, and please to call vs out of this life, we should be readie for him euen as he himselfe teacheth vs, and also endure patiently all vnfortunate chances, how many soeuer happen vnto vs, knowing that they come not by chance, but by the prouidence of God.

Plutarch, albeit he be an Heathen writer, is of a sounde iudgement (as me sÉemeth) concerning Monsters and wonders. For writing of Alexander the great, in his booke De vitis, he saith; that there happened certaine prognostications before his death, which sometimes Alexander cared not for, but contemned them, and contrariwise, sometimes he tooke smal and trifling things, as signes of euil lucke.

He addeth further, how dangerous a thing it is, to despise tokens and signes sent from God vnto men, and on the other side, how pernitious and hurtfull it is to be afraid of euery trifle, for as in all other things, so is there a measure to be obserued herein. The same opinion is he of, touching other wonders and miracles. For ye may reade in the life of Camillus, that when he being Captain, had taken and destroyed the Veians, he made a solemne vow, to translate the Image of Iuno vnto Rome. And therefore he commaunded certain men to take vp the Image: he offered sacrifice vnto the Goddesse, and besought her that she would vouchsafe to follow him, and to be fauourable vnto the Romanes, as other Goddes were which now dwelt at Rome. The Image made him answere that she would goe with him. He also writeth, that those men which noted and recorded these things, report other such straunge matters, as that Images did sweate, that they gaue great grones, that they turned away their faces, or hanged down their heads: he saieth, that men whiche liued before his time, gathered many suche examples togither, and that he himselfe hath heard many maruellous things of men liuing in his time, which were not by and by to be neglected and contemned: and yet mans infirmitie is such, that it cannot attribute either too much or too little, vnto those things without great daunger, for men obserue no measure, but are either too superstitious and attribute ouer much to such matters, or else do vtterly reiect and contemne them. And therefore the safest way is, to be aduised, and to kÉepe a meane in suche affaires. Valerius Maximus. Valerius Maximus confesseth in his first booke, that the very Gentils themselues had many miracles and wonders happening among them in great suspition, and that not without iust cause. True wonders ought to stir vs vp from slÉepe. A couragious horse goeth well inough of his owne accorde, and yet if you do but make signe vnto him with a wande, or put spurre vnto him, he will be more readier and quicker. Euen so must we go in the way that leadeth vnto heauen so long as we liue, but in case we sÉe any foretokens, or some great alteration sÉeme to hang ouer vs, we ought to bee the more stirred vp, to giue our selues to praier, and to exercise godlinesse. The Gentiles if at any time such forewarnings were shewed vnto them from heauen, did institute certaine solemne praiers and processions to pacifie their Gods: how much rather ought all Christian Princes and Magistrates, Doctors and Preachers of our time, to bend themselues wholly herein, when so euer plagues hang ouer our heads, that all men generally and particularly shewe forth true repentance?

Hitherto (I trust) we haue sufficiently shewed what we may thinke, concerning visions and appearing of spirites, and other straunge things which haue great affinitie and likenesse vnto them. And that in times past, Doctors wrote and taught farre otherwise concerning them, than the very truth it selfe was, we haue also shewed the causes thereof. It might be also declared in many words, that the like hath happened in other pointes of Christian doctrine, yea and many excellent learned and godly men, haue at large opened the same in their bookes which are now extant concerning such matters.

And that I may conclude this my booke, I shall besÉech all those, for the glorie of God, that shall happen to reade it, that in case they thinke I haue straied from the rule of the word of God, they would frÉely and friendly admonish me thereof, but if they know it be agrÉeable to the word of God (as I trust it is) that then they suffer not themselues to be ruled and mocked of iugling Monkes and Priests, but rather giue God thankes for that great and vnspeakable benefit, whereby he doth daily deliuer them out of great errors and feares, and doth continually more and more bring his truth to light: let them not so lose the raignes to their affections, that they reiect the truth which they haue once acknowledged.

The Senat and people of Rome as stories witnesse, granted libertie to the people of Cappadocia, when the stocke and issue of their kings was vtterly extinct, to be frÉe, and Lords of themselues for euer after. But the Nobilitie consulting on the matter, refusing libertie which they coulde in no wise disgest, desired to haue a King. The Romaines wondring hÉereat, gaue them leaue to choose whome they would to be their King. Let not vs bÉe such fooles, but rather let vs imbrace the libertie of our soules, whiche God doth daily offer vnto vs by his word.

Many Noble nations fighting couragiously, haue put themselues in present daunger of life, to obtaine and kÉepe this swÉete eternall libertie. How muche more ought the Christians to fight against the subtiltie and deceit of the Deuill, least the libertie of our soules, whiche is much more precious than the other, shoulde be opressed by diuers errors and supersticions.

Men sitting in darkenesse, desire the light very earnestly. Let not vs therefore cast away light frÉely offered vnto vs by God in this Scriptures. We haue nothing here in earth more deare vnto vs, than the libertie of our soules and consciences. Let vs not then (as Paule saith,) withhold truth in vnrighteousnesse, let euery man of what age soeuer he be, weigh with himself how fraile and brittle this life is whiche God hath giuen vnto vs, and that wee must depart from hence, sooner then we thinke for, and render an account to the iust Iudge, of our faith, wordes, and dÉeds.

Glorie and praise be vnto Almightie God for euer and
euer, and I besÉech him to vouchsafe to stretch foorth his
hande, to deliuer all suche as are still entangled in
superstition and errours, and to graunt those
whome he hath deliuered his heauenly
grace, that they be alwaies thankfull
for so great a benefit, least
they be wrapped againe
in the same
mischiefe.

F I N I S.

LONDON
Printed by Thomas
Creede. 1596.