Anwick his meditations vpon Gods monarchie and the deuill his kingdome And of the knowledge that man in this life may obtaine of the almightie, eternal, and most glorious godhed: with other thinges not only worth the reading but also the marking and the retayning.

CONCERNING THE VARIETY of Spirites that woorke diuers effectes in mankinde. CAP. 13.

IT shall eskape mee very much a∣gaynst my will, if I put downe any thing that is not to be found in ho∣ly Scriptures, or gathered of the same by tru interpretation or soūd argument, grounded on the holy text, Genesis, chapter 41. verse. 14 Ioseph had the Spirite of inter∣pretation of Dreames. Daniell 2, 19. the interpretation of Nabuchadnezers dreame was o∣pened vnto Daniell in a vision. Exodus 28. 31. 2. 6. God fil∣leth men with the suirites of conning in artes, sciences, handy occupations and all worldly wisedome. Nombers, 5. 14. 15 the spirite of Ielousy, 27. 18. eod. libro the spirit of gouern∣ment in Iosua. Iudges 6. 34. the spirit of boldnes and hardi∣nes in Gedion. Iudges 9. 23. God sent an euil spirite between the King and his Subiectes. And 11. 29. The Spirite of hardines in Iephta. and 13. 25. the Spirite of strength in Sampson. 1 Samuel 10. 6. Spirites of prophecie. and 16. 13. a good Spirite came vppon Dauid. 14. the good Spirite departed from Saul, and the Lord sent an euill spirit to vexe him. 1 Kinges 22. 21. to 28. Spirites of enticementes and lying.

In Esai 19. 3 Spirites of diuination 28. 6. 29. 10. Spirits of slumber and amasednes. Ecclesiastious 39. 28. Spi∣rites created for vengeance &c. Math. 10. 1. vncleane spirits & 12. blind & dumbe spirits. Mar. 9. 17. to 29 dumbe and deafe Spirites.

Actes 23. 8. 9. Spirits, and Angels haue some time spoken vnto men. The Saduces say, there is no resur rection, nor Angell, nor Spirite: the Pharisies confesse both. 1 Tim 4 1. Spirites of error and Deuilish doctrine. 2 Tim. 1. 7. Spi∣rites of feare and loue.

And as there are dreamers of dreames, and seers of visions: so are there spirites both good and euill, to moue dreames, to shew visions, and stirre vp phantasies in folks myndes, some to good and some to euill.

* One man as wee reade, had a legion of Deuils in him, (which by some mens accompt is 12500. and by other some 6000. footmen. 732. horsmen) what an infinite nomber of le∣gions, (let euery man thinke) are among so many mad men, as presently liue in the world of all degrees, high and lowe, rich and poore: I grant many are worldly wise, but few haue right wittes in Godlines. * For many are called but few are chosen. Another reason, they esteeme not of Gods woord, they haue no desire to obay it nor to refrayne their couetous desires and wicked lustes, they haue no wil to praye, to fast, nor geue almes to shew their loue and obedience to God who hath ordayned those thinges to exercise all such as wil bee his.

Our Sauiour Christ sayth, it is the spirite that quicken∣neth, the flesh profiteth nothing: who knoweth not, that the body without the spirite is deade, and can doe neyther good nor euill. But while the Spirite of lyfe, the mynde and y•• immortall sowle are ioyned with the body, the man is conti∣nually woorking, speaking, or thinking good or euill.

So that it is the Spirite that quickeneth both wayes, yet not one and the same spirite, but a good or euill spirite.

Among the diuersity of Spirites, there are none more pe∣rillous then the spirites of hipocrisy, dissimulation and flat∣tery. For by the allurementes of those pestiferous & subtl•• spirites: Satan who by those meanes (* doth seem an angel of light) can so finely frame his worldly ministers by whom hee woorketh: as Gods elect: euen they that walke most se∣uerely, can not make a fayrer shew of Godlines then they:

And all to disceaue such as will not warely walke in the fear of God.

Yea such pernitious & wicked spirites shall worke in some that shall auouch falshed for truth: * And therfore called false Christes and false Prophets, which shall shew signes & won∣ders to disceaue, if it were possible the very elect, of their sal∣uation. Therefore wee must wat••h and pray, & take heed because wee know not the moment of the Lordes comming, nor the day of our death.

Certayne creatures on earth haue the Spirites of life, the minde and bodily sences, as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting feeling, knowledge, memory, and agility of bodie common with mankinde. If man had receaued no more, hee had dif∣fered but in shape onely, from other seemly beastes: but vn∣to vn∣to man onely was giuen a reasonable, and an immortal Spi∣rite, euen a reasonable soule, whereby hee exceedeth all o∣ther earthly creatures. Therefore to mankinde onely it is sayd: * Bee not lyke horse and mule, which haue no vnder∣standing, whose mouthes must be holden with bit & bridle.

Therefore most happy & for euer blessed are they, to whom God hath geuen true vnderstanding, godly wisedome, right iudgement, and grace to follow the motions of God his most holy spirite, by whose assistance wee are made able to eschew euill and doe good to seeke peace and keepe our soules in pa∣••ience, walking in holines and righteousnes till wee receaue the reward of our fayth euen the saluation of our soules and bodies for euer.

Notes

• Marc. 5. 9.
• Mat. 20. 16.
• Iohn. 6. 63.
• 2 Cor 11. 14
• Mar. 13. 22
• Psal. 32. 9.