It is proued by testimonies of holy scripture, that spirites
are sometime seene and heard, and that other straunge
matters do often chaunce.

Y Et perchaunce it will be obiected vnto vs, that we bring no testimony out of holy scripture, touching this matter: especially to proue, that Spirits do oftentimes appeare vnto men. I answer, that truth it is, There are fewe things hereof in the scriptures, and yet notwithstanding somewhat is to be redde in them. It is read in S. Matthew his fourtÉenth Chapter, of Christs Disciples, that when in the night season, by reason of a contrary wind, they were in great danger of drowning in the lake of Genazareth, and that in the dawning of the day, the Lord walked on the water, they being afraide, cried out, supposing they sawe a Spirit. Hereof we gather, that they knew well inough, that Spirits appeared vnto men vpon sea and land.

Likewise when the Lord being risen from death, appeared vnto his Disciples, meaning to assure them of his resurrection, they thought at the first, that they sawe a Spirit. In the which place, Christ denieth not but there are Spirits and straunge sightes, and that they are sometimes sÉene, but he rather confirmeth the same by putting a difference betwÉene himselfe, and Spirits of vaine apparitions. But as touching these two testimonies, we wil speak more in another place.

It is a notable historie which we read in the seconde Booke of Samuel concerning Saule, who, at what time the Philistians warred vppon him, and that he was in verie great daunger of them, he came to a woman, who was a witch, and desired her to raise Samuel from death, that he might know his counsell touching the successe of the wars. She raised him vp one, whom Saule tooke to be Samuel indÉede, who also tolde him what euente shoulde come of the warres. But whether hÉe were a true Samuel or a counterfait, wÉe will dispute the matter more at large in his conuenient place.

As concerning other maruellous things, there is somewhat to be read in the Scriptures: In the seconde of Samuel & the fift chap. Also in the first of Paralipomenon, and the .xiiii. chap. we reade, that the Philistines went vp the seconde time into Iurie, to make warres on Dauid: HÉe went vnto the Lord, and shewed him the matter, who commaunded him, that he shoulde embushe himselfe behinde the wood with his armie, and when he heard a rustling or noise in the toppes of the trÉes, he should immediatly sette vppon them. This sounde they say was a strange and supernaturall sound.

It is written in the second booke of the Kings the .vi. and vii. chapters, that God deliuered the citie of Samaria from great famine, when it was fiercely besieged by Benhadad king of the Assirians, for in the night season their enemies did heare the noise of the chariots, the neighing of horsses, and shrÉeching of a huge armie, as it were in their owne pauillions and tentes, supposing therefore, that the kyng of Israel had gathered togither his footemen and horssemen, and had nowe sette vppon them, they soughte to saue themselues by flighte, leauing theyr victuall and other prouision behinde them in their tentes.

In the first of Samuel and the seuenth chapter, God caused a wonderfull greate noyse to sounde ouer the Philistians, and so destroyed them. I meane they were so affrighted with a kinde of straunge feare, that it was an easie matter to vanquish them.

In the fifth Chapter of Daniel ye may reade, that king Balthasar in his roysting banquet, espied right against the candle, a hand writing vpon the wall what his end should be.

It is redde in the third Chapter of the seconde of the Machabees, that there appeared a horsse vnto Heliodorus, seruant vnto Seleucus king of Asia, as he was about to destroy the temple of Hierusalem: and vpon the horsse sÉemed to sit a terrible man, which made towards him to ouerrun him. On eache side of him were two yoong men of excellent beautie, which with whippes scourged Heliodorus.

The second of the Machabees and tenth chapter, Iudas Machabeus encountred with his enemies, and when the battaile was hotte, there appeared vnto the enemy out of heauen, fiue men sitting on horses, rayned with notable bridles of gold, who ledde the Iewes hoste, and two of them defended Machabeus from all his enemies. 2. Mach. 11. And vnto Machabeus appeared a horsman in a shining garment, his armour all of gold, and shaking his speare. Whereby it was signified, that he should obtaine a notable and famous victorie. 2. Macha. 11.

I alleadge not these examples, for that I adiudge the bookes of Machabees, of as good authoritie as the Canonicall bookes of the new and old Testament: but only for that they are ioyned togither with them, and may be read of euery one: and they were alwaies read of the auncient people. For albeit they neuer went about to approue any doctrine by them, yet were they of great authoritie amogst them.

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