means deciphered? And if you note the words well, you shall ••••••ceive the phrase not to come out of a spiritual mouth of a devil; but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a lying corporall tongue of a cosener, that careth neither for God no•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 devill: from whence issueth such advice and communication, as greatly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greeth from Satans nature and purpose. For thus (I say) the said 〈◊〉〈◊〉 speaketh: Wherefore doest thou aske me, seeing the Lord is gone 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thee, and is thine enemy? Even the Lord hath done unto him as he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by my hand: for the Lord will rent thy kingdome out of thine hand, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 give it to thy neighbour David; because thou obeyedst the voice of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord, &c. This (I say) is no phrase of a devil, but of a cosener, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knew before what Samuel had prophesied concerning Sauls destru••••••••••. For it is the devils condition, to allure the people unto wickednesse, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not in this sort to admonish•• warne, and rebuke them for evil. An•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 popish writers confesse, that the devil would have been gone at the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 naming of God. If it be said, that it was at Gods special commande•••••••• and will, that Samuel or the devil should be raised, to propound ••••••monition, to the profit of all posterity: I answer, that then he 〈…〉〈…〉 have done it by some of his living prophets, and that Satan 〈◊〉〈◊〉 been so fit an instrument for that purpose. After this falleth the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (I would say Samuel) into the vein of prophecying, and speake•••• Saul on this wise: The Lord will rent thy kingdome out of thine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and give it to thy neighbour David; because th••u obeyedst not the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon the Amalekitesi 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fore hath the Lord done this unto thee this day. Moreover, the Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉 deliver thee into the hands of the Philistines, and to morrow shalt tho•• thy sonnes be with me, and the Lord shall give the host of Israel in••o 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hands of the Philistines. What could Samuel have said more?
Me thinks the devil would have used another order, encouragin•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 rather than rebuking him for his evil. The devil is craftier than 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such an admonition to all posterities, as should be prejudici•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his kingdome, and also be void of all impiety. But so divine a sense maketh much for the maintenance of the witches credit, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••vancement of her gaines. Howbeit, concerning the verity of this ••••••••phesie, there be many disputable questions: first, whether the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were fought the next day? secondly, whether all his sonnes were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with him? item, whether they went to heaven or hell together, a•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with Samuel, they must be in heaven, and being with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they must be in hell. But although every part of this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were false, as that all his sonnes were not slain (Ishhosheth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and reigning in Israel two years after Sauls death) and that the 〈…〉〈…〉 not on the morrow, and that wicked Saul, after that he had killed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 selfe, was not with good Samuel; yet this witch did give a shrewd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the sequel. Which whether it were true or false, pertains 〈…〉〈…〉 purpose; and therefore I will 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it. But as ••ouching the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them that say it was the devil, because that such things came to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 would ••ain know of them where they learn that devils foreknow 〈…〉〈…〉 come? If they say, he guesse••h onely upon probabilities, the wit•••• may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 do the like. But here I may not forget the decrees, which conclude▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Samuel appeared not unto Saul; but that the historiographer set fo••