The hauen of pleasure containing a freemans felicitie, and a true direction how to liue well : profitable and del[i]ghtfull to all, hurtfull and displeasing to none, except it bee to such pecuish dames as do either foolishlie reiect, or carelesly neglect the dutie of chast matron[e]s / gathered out of the best approued authors.

Of the greatnesse of the name of Iesus Christ, his maiestie and power, wherewith we must only resist magicall in∣chantments, and ouercome the illusions of the Diuel or any other hurt that shall happen to body and mind. Chap. 57.

SEeing that a little before I haue shewed in∣chantmentes and magicall artes are to be roo∣ted vppe, and no man should vse sorcery and witchcraft: It remaineth that I shewe by the way with what force and power, with what wordes and praiers minds assailed, afflicted, and intangled in the iuglings of the Diuel, may bee cured. Then by what meanes wichcraft may be taken away, which the ministers of the Diuell do bring vpon men, and vexe their mindes and bodies. They enter secretly into mans bodie, and do violently assaile his nature, and spoile the same of power or at least wise weaken it. These euill spirits do enter into our meate and drinke, and breath which we take from the aire, and into such thinges as we receiue into our bodies, and wherewith we liue, and all other things that serue for our vse to strengthen vs, they doe corrupt. Wherefore I thought it worth my labour to shew by what meanes these miserable men, may com∣fortablie winde themselues out of those Labirinthes wherein they feele themselues intangled and stayed. For the discommodities and hurtes wherewith they are greeued, cannot bee referred to any naturall cause, neither can they bee remedied with such remedies as the common diseases are. If a man falsick of too much

surfeting, venerie, wearinesse, cold, heate, fulnesse, or emptinesse; euery one of these may bee cured with their proper remedies: but those diseases which the euil spirite doth bring vpon vs, doe not altogither re∣quire naturall remedies, but heauenlie and supernatu∣rall. There are diuers that woonder how so great po∣wer should be in the diuell and his ministers, that they should so vex and torment men: but God doth partly winke at those dāmages the wicked ones do bring vp∣on mortal men, suffering them to be tormented, and therein the reason of his counsell and prouidence is onelie knowne to himselfe: and partlie he doeth pro∣uoke the Diuell and his ministers to rage ouer some that haue deserued no lesse, abusing their malice to chastice the wicked ones, for so was the euill spirite sent into the mouthes of the prophetes, whereby king Ahab was seduced to the battell, wherein present de∣struction was prepared for him. And oftentimes hee permitteth these harmes to bee inflicted on manie, to the ende he might trie their faith and constancy: so did he suffer Iob not onelie to be spoiled of all his goodes, and stript of his wealth, but hee suffered his bodie also to be torne with potsheards: the which God suffered partlie to trie his constancie, and to excite others to beare such euils patientlie, least they being cast downe with calamitie should fal awaie from God; & partlie to shew his power wherewith he comforteth and suppor¦teth all such as trust in him, raising such as are brought to nothing, and restoring them againe to their former estate. Now there must be a diuers regarde hadde of those that are commonlie possessed with euil spirites, and who are beset of the diuell, or tormented in anye part of their bodies by him, because many of them are without sence and farre from the knowledge of God,

ouer whome the Diuell (as a fit instrument prepared for him) doth exercise his tyrannie. So doth Satan set vpon such as are altogither idle, idolatrous, and super∣stitious, in whose mindes he doth rather settle himself then in those that are indued with the knowledge of GOD, and support themselues with faith in Christe, whom he is afraide of, and dareth not vvorke his feats on them, because his indeuours and practises shoulde be altogether in vaine and without effect, in those that keep good watch against him, and trusting to the help of God, care nothing for him. For as Towers and ci∣ties that are not walled about, nor defended with ditch and rampire, nor strengthened with anye garrison of souldiors, are easilie conquered and wonne, so those sluggish and slothfull mindes, that are not strengthe∣ned with wholsome and heauenlie doctrine, nor for∣tified with faith in God, lie open to the subtletie of the Diuell, and are soone brought to ruine. And seeing Satan dooth most of all couet to abolish the glorie of God, that he might withdravve man from saluation, and stirre him vppe to rebellion: hee ceaseth not in∣wardlie and outwardlie to besiege him, and nowe to intend the death of the bodie, now of the foule, and laste of all, of both their strength to bring them to de∣struction. Besides Caine and king Saule, Iudas Iscari∣ot may serue for an example: whose mind when hee had brought to distrust and desperation, then hee for∣ced him being wearie of his life, to hang himselfe, to his shame and confusion. But albeit Satan the enimy of mankind be furnished with a thousand practises to infect and hurt vs: yet is there one onely thing able & of present force, to ouercome and oppresse him, and that is faith, and a sure and stedfast trust in GOD the Father through Christ, vvhich the Dutchman calleth

Een vaste gheloue, ende een goedt betrovven op godt. By whose ayde the Apostle Peter counselleth vs to resist the ambushmentes, trappes, iuglinges, deceipts, sub∣tleties, rage and crueltie, with sobrietie and watchful∣nesse, supported and propped by faith: for thus hee waketh them that are idle: Be yee sober and vvatche, because your aduersarie the Diuell goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may deuour, whom resist yee being strong in Faith. For this, as Iohn saith, is the victorie that ouercommeth the worlde, euen our Faith: for faith vvhereby vvee leane to Christ and commit our selues wholie to such a defender, getteth vs the victorie ouer the diuell the prince of this world: so that we shall carrie awaie rich spoiles from our con¦quered and ouerthrown enemy.

When therfore it seemeth good vnto vs to attempt anie thinge againste this aduersarie, and to resiste in∣chauntmentes and witchcraftes (vvhich the Dutch∣men call Touerie) or to driue euill spirites out of mens mindes: it muste bee doone by faith in Iesus Christe, contemning the vanitie of the Gentiles, old wiues su∣perstitions, and all other magicall execrations. For God by his sonne, who is the brightnesse of his glorye and the verie image of his substance, dooeth all in al, and gouerneth all thinges with the vvorde of his po∣wer. This prerogatiue did he obtaine for his singular obedience, humilitie, and modesty towards his father. For vvhen he was in the form of God, that is, like and equall with him, he thought it no robberie to be equal with God, and yet he submitted himselfe and took the shape of a seruant, and humbled himselfe, and was o∣bedient to the shamefull and execrable death of the Crosse, wherefore God lifted him vppe into the high∣est heauens, and glorified him with a name y^e excelled

al other names, that in the name of Iesus euerie knee should bowe both in heauen and earth and of thinges vnder the earth, and euerie tongue shall confesse and acknowledge, that Iesus is the Lorde and the glorie of God the father, to whom all the glorie of the sonne is referred and giuen. And contrariwise. If therfore any man doe attempt to doe anie thing, if to ease the affli∣cted in minde, if to cast out diuels out of the body, let him indeuour to doe it by calling on God the father by faith in the name of Christ, and so shall he obtaine all thinges, and shall not be frustrate of his desire. For by the force of this wonderfull and blessed name (so vvee doubt not nor distrust the promises of God) diseases are healed, afflictions and troubles of minde quieted, tempestes and rages of the sea mitigated, diuelles (as Christ promiseth ascending vppe into heauen) driuen out, poison denied his operation, serpentes are made slovve and cannot hurt, ignorance, terror, and feare driuen from the minde, the feare of death shaken off, hurtful thoughtes dispearsed and made to vanish, and the minde getteth tranquillitie and peace of consci∣ence: so that nothing can happen vnto vs to make vs afraide if God the father through Iesus Christ vphold vs by his spirite. Wherefore our soules must be lifted vppe to the liuing God thorough the guide of his son, and whatsoeuer we determine to take in hande, wee must remember to doe it in the power of that wonder∣full name Iesus: for to him is giuen all power bothe in heauen and earth: neither is there any other name vn∣der the sunne that bringeth saluation, the which is ter∣rible to the wicked, fearefull to the diuels, but to those that trust in him power, vvisedome, saluation, life and resurrection: who is appointed of God to be the iudge both of the quicke and dead, euen Christe Iesus the

faithfull witnesse, the prince of the kings of the earth, whoe loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes by his bloud. To him, as Peter saith in the Actes of the Apo∣stles, do al the prophetes beare vvitnesse, because who soeuer beleeueth in him shall receiue remission of his sinnes in his name. This is the life eternall (which te∣stimonie Christe giueth to his Father) that they may knovve thee to be the onelie true God and him whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ, in vvhome is all the povver of the Godhead, and whatsoeuer wisdome may be as∣cribed and giuen to God.

Seeing therefore that this name is so renowmed & holie, and of such maiestie and power: wee muste dili∣gentlie take heede vvee vse it not vnreuerentlie and in vaine, as those ridiculous exorcistes do, who with cer∣taine ceremonies and conceiued wordes, assaying by the abuse of the name of Iesus to caste out the euill spi∣rite to their owne profite and ostentation (by vvhich name Paule wrought miracles) haue caste themselues into great peril, and their adiuration or rather mocke∣rie, was hurtfull to themselues, for the possessed of the Diuell ranne on them and cruellie rente them, so that they were glad to betake thē to flight. There haue bin also massepriests in our daies, whoindued with no faith in y^e name of Christe, nor with any good maners, haue attempted the like, but haue beene so mocked and shamed by the Diuel, that leauing their businesse alto∣gither vndoone, trembling with greatfeare haue been constrained to depart. But if any now wil go about to bring such a thing to passe, and to cast euill spirites our of the bodies of men: let him follovve the example of Peter and Iohn, who vsing no ambitious words raised the lame after this sorte. In the name of Iesus Christe of Nazareth rise vppe and vvalke, and hee presentlie

his feete and legges vvaxing strong, leaped vppe and walked, and entred with them into the Temple, lea∣ping, and walking, and praising God. Seeing then that Iesus the onely sonne of God, coequall and of like power with the father, in vvhom are hidde al the trea∣sures of vvisedome and knowledge, dooeth guide all thinges by the worde of his power: it is meet wee put and place all our trust in God, thorough Iesus Christ, and that by the power and strength of him wee resist Sathan, sinne, hell, and al things whatsoeuer are hurt∣full to man.

But excellent is the greatnesse, strength, povver and fortitude, which God according to his power shewed in Christ, as Paule saith, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the hea∣uen aboue all power, principalitie, and rule, & aboue all that is named not onely in this worlde, but also in the worlde to come, and hath put all things vnder his feete, and giuen him to bee chiefe of all thinges in his Church, which is his bodie, and is the fulfilling & ac∣complishment of all thinges: that is, it is Christe by whome God dooeth fill vppe, absolue, and perfect all thinges in all men; especiallie in them that beleeue in him: And as Paule saith, are sealed with the holie spi∣rite of promise, vvhich is the pledge and earneste of our inheritance, into the redemption of that purcha∣sed and gotten possession, to the praise of his glorie. Wherefore Paule vvho was accustomed to many con¦flictes, and constrained to beare many proud bragges, doth counsell euerie one, if dangers at any time hang ouer them, if Death be at hande to kill them, if Satan laie siege to their mindes: to striue vvith and resist him with a bolde and valiant courage, for so dooth hee en∣courage & exhort the Ephesians: saying, That which

remaineth brethren, be of good courage, and shevve your selues valiant in the Lorde, and by the power of his strength, put on all the armour of GOD, that you may resiste the assaultes of the Diuell: because wee must not striue against flesh and bloud, that is againste weake and mortall men (albeit they sometimes trou∣ble vs) but against the Princes of the Worlde, the ru∣lers of the darkenesse of this worlde, against the spiri∣tual crafte of those that flie in the ayre.

In vvhich plentie of wordes and varietie of senten∣ces, and that elegant Metaphor taken from a conflict and skirmishe with the enemie, he sheweth y^t the euill spirites with their attendantes and ministers, doe goe about with great crafte and vvarlike policie to beguile those that haue addicted themselues, and giuen theyr names to Christ. Wherefore seeing our enemies are so much to be feared, and so furnished with spirituall crafte: he shevveth by the waie with vvhat vveapons vve are to resist him. Take saith he, the whole armor of God (an example taken from those that go well ar∣med into the battaile and stande on their guarde) that you may resist the aduersarie and stande to him stout∣lie and effectuallie, like those that shrinke not, nor are compelled to flie: stande therefore with your loynes girte with the svvorde of truth, putting on the breast∣plate of righteousnesse, and shooes on your feet, that ye may be ready and prepared to the Gospel of peace: but aboue all thinges take vnto you the shield of faith, whereby you may quench all those fierie dartes of that wicked one. Take vnto you the helmet of healthe, and the svvord of the spirit, which is the word of God, to vvhich he addeth (as substituted aides) petitions & dailie prayers, who doe so execute their office, y^t they

obtaine the victorie: And God (as Peter saith arguing on the same matter) in so vncertaine a conflict, and (as it often proues) in so doubtfull euent of the battaile, re∣fresheth, establisheth, strengtheneth and supporteth those that are readie to bee ouercome, and as it vvere brought to ruine. Now seeing in times paste there was such authoritie of Pythagoras amongst his schol∣lers, and his doctrine was of such estimation, that they helde it as an Oracle, or as it vvere spoken by the vvi∣fest man in the world, insomuch that when they wold confirme any thinge without anie long delaie, they woulde obiect to him that doubted their argumentes to be true, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, he hath spoken, as though it had beene then a great offence to speake against it: so is it meete the like reason be had of our religion, gi∣uing the same reuerence to Iesus Christ, that in allea∣ging his doctrine to confirme the profession of our faith, we crie vnto the deafe and dul hearers 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, beleeue, for our Sauior hath spo¦ken it: for his doctrine is not humaine, vanishing, and colde, but liuelie, sauing, forcible and diuine, and which bringeth blessednesse to man: which onelie we ought to desire of Christ whoe is the fountaine of all wisedome and goodnesse, and in whome dwelleth all fulnesse of God corporallie: by whome wee are made perfect: by whom as Paule saith, God the father hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenesse, and hath translated vs to the kingdome of his beloued sonne: by whom vve haue redemption in his bloud and remissi∣on of our sins: vvho is the image of the inuisible god, and the first begotten before all creatures, and by whō all thinges were made both in heauen and earth, visi∣ble and inuisible, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers. All things were made by him & through

him, and he is before all things, and by him all things haue their beginnings. He is the head of his body the Church, the beginning and first begotten from the dead, that he might be chiefe in al thinges, and obtain the souerainty, because it pleased the father to dwel in him, being the fulnesse of all thinges, and to reconcile al things vnto himselfe being appeased in the bloud of his crosse. Seeing then that GOD the Father hath so plentifully and aboundantly bestowed all things on vs by Christ, let vs striue to come to that plentifull and e∣uerflowing fountain, and let vs presume through faith to aske and hope for all things from, and in him assaie to doe all thinges. If it seeme good vnto vs to cast out Diuels, to heale diseases, to deliuer from perils, to kill venemous beastes, to purge away poison, and make it ha••melesse, and to remoue mountains out of their pla∣ces: let vs remember to do all these things by the ver∣tue and power of Christ & by faith in him. For Christ promiseth to the faithfull, that all things shall be plain, open, and easie for them to doe, if they haue faith, which in his last sermon, before hee ascended vp into heauen, he witnesseth to the world, when he saith: Go yee ouer all the world and preach the Gospell to al na∣tions, he that beleeueth and is baptised shall be saued, but whosoeuer beleeueth not, shall bee condemned. Tell them that beleeue that these thinges shall followe their faith: In my name, they shall caste out Diuels, speake with newe tongues, kill Serpentes, and if they drinke any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them, they shall lay their handes on the sicke, and they shall bee whole, that is at the present touch they shall bee hea∣led: these thinges shall bee alwaies ready with them, where the increase and profit of the Gospell requireth a myracle. But these things can by no meanes be per∣formed

in the mindes of them that nowe professe the Gospell, vntill they haue clensed their hearts from all vices, and through the force of the spirit and doctrine of saluation haue healed their mindes of their faultes, and that their heartes are freed from auarice, hatred, anger, lust, deceite, backbiting, and other daungerous affections, and endue themselues with giftes from aboue.

Notes

• 3 Reg. 22.
• Iob. 2. Iames 4.
• Genes. 4 1 Reg 31.
• Math. 29
• 1 Pet. 5
• 1 Iohn. 5
• Hebru. 5
• Phil. 2.
• Marke. 16
• Math. 28 Mark. 16 Actes 2
• Acts 4 1 Cor. 1
• Apoc. 1 Acts 10.
• Iohn. 1••
• Actes 19
• Actes.
• Col. 1 Hebru. 1
• Ephes. 1
• Ephes 6
• Ephes. 6
• 1 Pet. 5.
• Marke. 6