¶ Of peruerse Angells. Chap. 20.
EUill Angells consenting to the will of Lucifer, that fell downe, he clo∣sed in this darke ayre, as it were in pri∣son without recouerie. They fell out of light into darknesse, out of loue into hate and enuie, out of most high health into wretchednesse, as saith Gregorye. Also fiends, as they haue more perseue∣rance or lesse, some be souereignes ouer fiends, & some be subiects to other fiends, as saith Ambrose vppon Luke. For though fiends be obstinate in euill, yet they are not spoiled vtterly of sharp wit. For as Isidore saith, they haue thrée mā∣ner of sharpnesse. For some things they knowe by the subtiltie of kinde, & some by experience and during of times, and some things they know by reuealation, and shewing of holy spirits. Also ye fiends as Austen saith, by sharpnesse of witte know vertues seruiall of things, that we knowe not. The which séedes they sowe by couenable and temporate commixti∣ons of Elements, and so they bring forth things of diuerse kinde. For what that kinde may do by it selfe in due time, the same the diuell may do sodeinly by swift hasting of the worke of kinde. So by craft of fiends Pharaos witches made so∣deinly serpents and frogs, as sayth the Glose, super Exod.
Also all the intent of fiends is to do euill, and to molest & disquiet good men. And therefore oft they trouble the Ele∣ments, and make tempests in the Sea, & in the aire. They corrupt and destroy the fruit of the earth, as appereth Apoc. 7. And much more harme wold they do, wer it not the good Angels ye withstand their mallice: and therefore because they trespasse continuallye wheresoeuer they goe, they beare alwaie with them their pain, as saith Gregorie. Also Gregory. li. Mo. 32. saith, Fiends desire alway ye wo & sorrow of good men. But if they haue no power of God, they be not* 1.1 sufficient to the article of temptation. Therfore when they haue done one hurt or euill, they sodeinly make them ready to doe a∣nother.