Part 18
In the moneth of May, there was holden a feast in the night time, which at the beginning they called _Remuria_, and afterwardes _Lemuria_. This did not differ much from the feaste called _Feralia_, whiche was instituted to pacifie soules. Touching the originall of them, and the rytes belonging therto, looke =Ouid= in his _Lib._5. _Fastorum_. One who tooke on him to pacifie the soules, arose in the night verie late, he went barefooted, and washed himselfe ouer with fresh springing water, and then taking beanes whiche he had rolled in his mouth, he threw them behinde his backe, and said, that with them he did redéeme himselfe, and after beating on a péece of brasse, he prayed the soules to depart from thence: which thing if they had done nine times, they thought they had ended their holy seruice. These were celebrated by the space of thrée dayes. The sacrifices which are done for the infernall gods, are called _Inferiæ_.
We reade in =Lucan=, of the soules of =Sylla= and =Marius=, which were purged by sacrifice. We shewed before how =Athanagoras= commanded the bones which were digged vp in the entrie of his house at _Athens_, to bee orderly buried againe. &c.
[Sidenote: Touching the Iewes behauiour.]
The auncient Iewes had an expresse commandement of God, not to bee any thing moued with the miracles of false Prophets, and God in plaine words forbad them, not to séeke counsel of dead bodies. =Saule= in the beginning of his raigne, while he yet gaue himselfe vnto godlinesse, vtterly destroyed all Coniurers and Witches. I doo not remember that I haue euer heard or read, how the Iewes behaued themselues when any spirits appeared vnto them: yet I doubt not but that they are superstitious as well in these things, as in all others.
CHAP. V.
How Christian men ought to behaue themselues when they see Spirites, and first that they ought to haue a good courage, and to be stedfast in faith.
Howe Christian menne oughte to behaue themselues in this behalfe, it is fully and amply declared in the holie Scriptures, in like manner as all other things are, whiche appertaine vnto our saluation. To wit, that first we ought to be of good courage without feare, being assured and constante in true faith.
For if they be good Angels which shew themselues vnto vs, then are they sent vnto vs from God, to a good ende and purpose. But if they be wicked and euill, they can do vs no harme be they neuer so desirous, excepte God giue them leaue thereto. If it be nothing but a vaine imagination that we haue, or an idle sight obiected vnto our eies, surely it is great follie to be any thing afraid. In déed it is naturall vnto vs, to be amazed with feare when we sée suche things: for very godly menne, as we read both in the olde and newe Testament, were stricken with excéeding feare when they sawe good Angels, but yet a man must pull vp his heart againe. When Christes Disciples sawe their Maister walking vpon the water, and approching neare the shippe, they thought they sawe a spirite, and they were astonished, and cried out through feare. But the Lorde saide vnto them, be of good comforte, it is I, be not afraide.
[Sidenote: _Luke_ .24.]
[Sidenote: _Matth._ 10.]
The like is reade in the foure and twentie Chapter of Saint Luke, when he appeared vnto them after his resurrection, and sawe that they were maruellously afraid. Matthew the 10. Feare not saithe Christ, those whiche slay the bodie, but cannot kill the soule, but rather stande in awe of him, who can cast both bodie and soule into hell fire. The Diuell would like it well, if we would alwaies stand in feare of him.
Be not dismaide, although thou heare some spirit stir and make a noise, for in case hee rumble onely to make thée afraide, care not for him, but lette him rumble so long as he will, for if he sée thée without feare, hée will soone depart from thée. And if thou thinke good, thou maiest boldly say vnto him, get thée hence with a mischiefe thou wicked Diuell, thou hast nothing to do with me, who haue sette my onely beléefe in Christ Iesu my Sauiour.
I am owner of this house, and not thou, vnto whome there is an other place appointed. &c. If he perceiue yͭ there is no feare or dreade of him, and that his bustling is not estéemed, he will not continue long time. I will make this matter manifest with a similitude, which is well knowne. There be certaine men, which if they thinke other men stande in feare of them, they make wise to drawe their sworde, and sometimes two they draw it, and strike the stones therewith, chafing and swearing lustily: But if they knowe their aduersaries haue a good courage, and that (if néede require) they will fight it out stoutly, they will quickly put vp their sworde into their scabberde. In like manner, if the Diuill sée thou art of a good stomacke, and well armed with Gods worde, he will soone séeke after others whome he may mocke with feare.
But if it please God to exercise thée by the Deuill for a certaine time, as he did sometime =Iob=, thou must patiently suffer all things which he laieth vppon thée, and that willingly for Gods commaundement sake. And knowe thou well, that he cannot thus much hurt, neither thy goods, nor bodie, nor soule, without the permissiō and sufferance of Almightie God: if God giue him leaue to plague thy bodie, thinke with thy selfe howe so euer it be done, that God hath so doone for thy profitte and commoditie, who also sendeth gréeuous sicknesses vppon other men, by other meanes & instruments, or else doth exercise them with other kindes of calamities. Be therefore strong and constant in faith, yet lette euery one beware of boldnesse, temeritie, and headdie rashnesse.
[Sidenote: Christ hath conquered the diuel.]
[Sidenote: _Luke_ 11.]
[Sidenote: _Iohn_.12.16.]
Let it comforte thée, that thou knowest Christe hath conquired the Deuill, as he himselfe teacheth in the eleuenth chapter of Luke, by the example of a strong man at armes. In the 12.&.16. of Iohn he saith: the Prince of this worlde shalbe cast out of the doores, that is to say, out of the hearts of them which cleaue to the worde of God, and are not in loue with the world, whereof he is prince and ruler. For he hath power ouer such, which do gréedily loue the world.
[Sidenote: 1. _Iohn_ .3.]
In the first of =Iohn= the third chapter, it is saide: The sonne of man appeared, that is, came into the world for that cause, that he might destroy the workes of the diuel. There are many miracles in the Gospell which shewe that Christ cast out diuels. Albeit God for a time do suffer the diuel in many things, yet hath he appointed him his bounds, which he may not passe. And he doth not suffer the faithfull to be tempted any more of him than they are able to endure. He giueth his grace plentuously vnto them, vpon whome he laieth great afflictions.
[Sidenote: The diuel is conuersant among men.]
We ought not to maruel if spirits sometimes be séen or heard. For as Saint =Peter= saith: Sathan raungeth euery where, in houses, fieldes, water and fire: and yet he is not alwayes espied of men, neither can he so bee, except God giue him leaue to shewe himselfe. In that that we doe alwayes sée him (for he being of an inuisible nature, taketh on him diuers shapes) or heare him, we haue to thanke the goodnesse of almightie God: for otherwise we should not be in rest one moment of time. But if sometime wicked spirits méete with vs in a visible forme by the will of God, or do otherwise trouble and disquiet our houses, we must not think therfore that they were neuer in house before.
CHAP. VI.
It behoueth them which are vexed with spirites, to pray especially, and to giue themselues to fasting, sobrietie, watching, and vpright and godly liuing.
Now because good Angelles appeare vnto vs more sildome in this oure time (for there is a verie greate difference of men liuing vnder the newe Testament, from them that liue vnder the olde, vnto whom God many and oftentimes sent his Angels) and that euill angels very often appeare, we ought the rather to commit our selues more diligently to the tuition of almightie God, both when we go to bed, and also when we arise againe.
Our Sauiour amongst all other things, taught vs to pray to this purpose: =Deliuer vs from euill=. And moreouer he saith in the 17. Chapter of =Matthew=, that some kinde of diuels are not driuen away by any other kinde of meanes than fasting and praying. As touching those which suppose that diuels ought to be cast out with coniurations, and execrable cursings, I will intreat in the end of this my booke. Watch and pray, least ye fall into temptation. =Matthew= 26. And in the 22. of =Luke=, Christ saith vnto =Peter=, Sathan hath desired to sift you euen as corne, but I haue praied that thy faith faile not. And euen at this present also he maketh intercession for vs sitting at the right hand of his heauenly father.
The auncient Fathers in olde time, call vppon God in all their daungers and troubles, whereof it were a néedlesse matter to auouch many examples. It is also very profitable and good to craue the prayers of the whole congregation, whensoeuer we are vexed with euill spirites and vaine fantasies. For we know right well that the prayers of the Church haue bene very profitable and effectuall vnto others, and that the godly in their distresses haue euermore desired them.
It is Gods pleasure, that the faithfull should succour one an other with their good prayers. Howbeit that the Saintes after their departure from hence, should pray for vs, that we should in any wise desire their prayers, surely there is no commandement of God, or any example thereof in the holy scriptures.
[Sidenote: _Ephe._6.]
[Sidenote: 1. _Pet._5.]
Moreouer, the Apostles teach vs to withstand the craft and subtiltie of the diuell by this meanes. Saint =Paule= to the Ephesians the 6. Chapter, and =Peter= on his first Epistle and fifth Chapter saith: Be ye sober and watche, for your aduersary the diuel, as a roaring lyon walketh about, séeking whom he may deuoure: whome resist stedfast in faith, &c.
[Sidenote: We must fight against the diuel with good life.]
When men are secure and negligent, wholly giuen vnto pleasures and as it were drowned in surfetting, couetousnesse, adulterie, and such other wickednesse, then hath the diuel place to shewe himselfe. Wherefore we ought to giue our selues to watching, praying, fasting, and godly liuing: we must heare the word of God often and gladly, we must desire to reade and talke of him continually, that we may thereby put from vs those diuellishe illusions and sightes.
If thou haue any publike office or charge, do it faithfully: restore thy goods euil gotten, either vnto their true owners, or else imploy them to some good and godly ende. If men care neither for God, nor his word, it is no maruell if vaine sightes appeare vnto them. For God suffereth such things to happen vnto them, to humble them and to make them know themselues.
It is an horrible thing, that there are some which giue ouer themselues to the diuel, because he should not torment them: they ought rather to weigh with themselues, that if they so do, they shall be perpetually tormented of euil spirits, except they truly repent and turne againe to God.
CHAP. VII.
That spirits which vse to appeare, ought to be iustly suspected: and that we may not talke with them, nor enquire any thing of them.
[Sidenote: _Matth._ 1.]
We ought not without great cause to suspecte all Spirites, and other apparitions. For albeit God doth vse the helpe and seruice of good Angels, for the preseruation of his elect, yet notwithstanding in these our dayes they appeare vnto vs very sildome. For things are nowe farre otherwise since Christes comming into the worlde, than they were before in auncient time. Although perchaunce thou thinke thou haste séene a good Angell, yet doo not easily and vnaduisedly giue him credite. If the euent of the matter declare afterward, that it was a good Angell, which gaue thée notable warning of some matter, or deliuered thée out of some great dangers: giue God thankes that he hath dealt so fatherly and mercifully with thée, and hath suche care ouer thée, and endeuour to frame thy selfe to his wil and pleasure. But if thou sée an Angell which flattereth and speaketh thée faire, suche a one of those are whiche craue thy helpe, (as thou hast heard before) in no wise credite their wordes. Men which blaunche and flatter with vs, are alwayes suspitious, why then should not such spirites be suspected? Enter into no communication with such spirites, neither aske them what thou must giue, or what thou must doo, or what shall happen hereafter. Aske them not who they are, or why they haue presented themselues to bee séene or heard. For it they be good, they will like it well, that thou wilt heare nothing but the world of God: but if they be wicked, they will endeuour to deceiue thée with lying. When the Angell in the first Chapter of =Matthew=, instructed =Ioseph= in a dreame, he by and by alleaged testimony out of the prophet. If it be so, that we must not beléeue an Angell comming from heauen, who can iustly blame vs, if we giue no credite to spirits and suspitious dreames? Although Christ and his Apostles had the full power to shew miracles, yet did they establish and confirme their doctrine by the holie scriptures.
When Almightie God himselfe had enquired of =Adam= in Paradice, touching the breaking of his Commaundement, and that he had layde the fault vpon his wife =Eue=, and she had put it ouer to the Serpent, which caused her to eate of the forbidden frute, God woulde not demaund of the Serpent, that is, of the Diuell, (whiche had vsed him as an instrument) why he had so done, for he knewe right well that he was a lyer. Except =Eue= had talked with the Serpent, she had neuer transgressed Gods Commandement.
If Spirites of their owne accorde woulde gladly tell vs many thinges: yet wée must not giue eare vnto them, much lesse ought we to coniure them to tell vs the truthe. God commaunded in his lawe, (as wée haue oftentimes said before) that no man should enquire any thing of the dead.
[Sidenote: God hath alwayes giuen vs teachers.]
God himselfe sent his faithfull seruants, the Prophets, Apostles, Euangelists, and especially his onely begotten sonne Christ Iesu our Lord and Sauiour into the worlde, by whome he truly and plentifully taught his faithfull seruants what they ought to beléeue, to do, to leaue vndon, and what kinde of worshipping did best please him, with many other such things. By them he enformed vs concerning great and waightie affaires, which should happen in his Churche, and in kingdomes, euen vnto that blessed day wherein Christ shall iudge the world, and shall call togither his generall Councell, and shall pronounce finall sentence vppon them who haue done well or ill, and wherein he shall make a diuision and separation betwéene the good and euil.
Christ himselfe after his Resurrection did not immediately ascend into heauen, but aboade a while on earth, appearing vnto his Disciples and others, least we should at any time say: Who euer came again to tell vs what estate is to be looked for in the other world?
[Sidenote: God hath preserued the scriptures.]
Moreouer, God among suche great and long persecutions, wherein many profitable bookes haue perished, hath miraculously preserued the holy Scriptures for our profite, euen vnto this day, and hereafter will preserue them in despite of all impious and wicked men.
[Sidenote: God hath instituted the holy ministerie.]
[Sidenote: _Psalme._119.]
[Sidenote: _Iohn_.8.]
He hath also ordeyned the ministerie of the worde, that vnto the ende of the worlde, there shoulde be some men, whiche bothe by liuely voyce, and also by their writings, shoulde interprete his worde, and enfourme others of his will and pleasure. His woord is a shining lanterne, which shineth in this darke worlde, which is full of errours, as we reade Psalm.119. And our sauiour saith in the eight chapter of Saint _Iohn_, that he is the light of the world, whome if any man follow, he walketh not in darkenesse.
This standeth as a sure grounde: wherefore no other reuelations are to be looked for, neither by myracles from Heauen, nor by wandring spirites or soules, as the common people misterme them. But lette vs imagine, that they are the wandring spirites of deade bodies, then is it necessarie, that they be the soules, either of faithfull men, or of infidels. If they be the soules of the faithfull, they wil say with God the father concerning his sonne Christe Iesus, _Heare him_. But if they be the soules of Infidels and of wicked men, who I pray you, will vouchsafe to heare them, or beléeue any thing they say? Moreouer those things whiche these counterfeite soules doo speake, eyther agrée with the holy Scriptures, or else are contrary vnto them. If they are agréeable, then are they to be receiued, not because spirits speake them, but because they are comprysed in the word of God. But in case they are repugnant to the woorde of God, they ought in no wise to be receiued, albeit an Angell from Heauen vtter them. Thou wilt not beléeue a man of thy familiar acquaintaunce, otherwise worthy of credite, who sounde of bodie and soule, nowe liueth togither with thée, if hée affirme any thing which thou knowest to be contrary to the holy Scriptures: why them wouldest thou beléeue a spirite which thou doest not knowe? In ciuill causes the euidence or witnesse or dead men is reiected, why then in causes of religion shuld we giue care to the testimonie of runagate and wandring spirites.
It is no harde or difficulte matter for the Lorde oure God to sende his Angels vnto vs, whome otherwise hée vseth for our profite, and by them to instructe vs in the faith: but it hath pleased him to appoint the matter otherwise.
[Sidenote: _Acts_ .10.]
Wée reade in the tenth chapter of the Actes, that by an Angell he commaunded =Cornelius= to sende for =Peter=, that he might instruct him in the faith. He mighte haue commaunded the Angell to teache =Cornelius=, but he followed an orderly meanes. It shal be best for vs therfore to stand to the holy Scriptures simply, and that all appearing of spirites, as also all dreames and reuelations be tried by the holy Scriptures, as vpon a touchstone, and so to admit nothing but that which is set foorth in the holy Scriptures: for except we go thus warely to worke, there is greate daunger least wee bée deceiued. If the auncient Fathers had so doone, they had not estrayed so farre from the Apostles simplicitie.
[Sidenote: S. Augustines counsell.]
[Sidenote: Scripture to be only beloued.]
S. =Augustine= in his third booke and .6. chapter, writing againste the letters of =Petilianus= saieth thus: If concerning Christe, or any other thing, whiche appartayneth to faith and euerlasting life, (I will not say, we: for comparing with him that said: Albeit that wée) but simply, whereas he going on, sayd: If an Angell from Heauen shall teache you any thing besides that whiche you haue receiued in Scriptures conteining the law and the Gospel, bée he accursed.
[Sidenote: Chrisostomes aduise.]
S. =Chrisostom= vnto the Epistle to the Galathians the firste chapter: =Abraham= (saith he) when he was desired to send Lazarus, said: They haue =Moises= and the prophets, if they will not heare them, they will not giue care vnto them which rise vp from the dead. And when he bring in Christ vttering these words, he sheweth howe he woulde haue the holy scriptures more worthy of credite than any raised from the dead. S. =Paule= (when I name =Paule=, I name likewise Christ, for he stirred vp his mind) preferreth the Scriptures before Angels descending from Heauen, and that for very iust cause. For albeit Angels are great, yet are they seruants and ministers. For all holy scriptures were not commaunded to be written and sent vnto vs by seruants, but by almightie God yͤ Lord of all things. Thus write these two holy fathers.
[Sidenote: All things necessarie to saluation are cōteined in the scriptures.]
What things soeuer are necessarie for vs to know, are conteined in the holy scriptures: those things which are not expressed in them, we must not curiously enquire of, as things profitable for our saluation. Who will therefore say against the commaundement of God, that these things are to be sought and learned of dead men, and by diuellish visions? These things which are secret and hidden, we shall throughly sée when we come to eternall life. May not God, if we be not content with his holy word, say that vnto vs, which sometimes he spake by the mouth of =Helias= vnto the messengers of king =Ochosias=. Is there no God in _Israell_, that you now go to =Accaron= to aske counsell of Belzebub? Yea =Thomas Aquinas= denieth that diuels are to be heard, whiche deceiue simple menne, feyning themselues to be the soules of dead men: and by that coloure especially terrifie menne, whiche sometimes also happened vnto the Gentiles.
[Sidenote: Hierom.]
If it were certaine and sure that the Diuell coulde not appeare and deceiue menne, and also shewe greate and straunge miracles, then perchaunce some men would thinke that we shoulde giue care vnto such Spirites: but nowe we sée the contrary happen. An euill spirite cloaketh his erroures vnder the coloure of diuine seruice, and vnder the pretence of religiō, he endeuoureth to ouerthrow religion. For as S. =Hierome= saith, the diuell sheweth not himselfe with all his deceits, that he may be knowne what he is. And therefore it behoueth vs to be very circumspect and warie.
[Sidenote: Miracles are seales of the word.]
Moreouer, miracles are onely testimonies and seales of the word, neither may any thing be approued by them, which is repugnant to the word of God. All miracles which lead vs away from our Creator vnto creatures, and do attribute that vnto our workes, which is onely due vnto the merites of Christ: and to be short, all those which induce vs any wayes into errour, are to be eschued. If we must néeds beléeue these appearing soules, no man can be assured of his estate: for new things should be continually deuised, as we sée plainly it happened in the olde time. Therefore we must let passe all maner of spirits, and embrace true religion, and therein constantly abide.
CHAP. VIII.
Testimonies out of holie Scripture, and one example whereby it is prooued, that such kinde of apparitions are not to be credited, and that we ought to bee verie circumspect in them.
That wee ought not by and by to beléeue all thinges which we heare, not onely experience and many common Prouerbes, but also the holy Scriptures teach vs, especially in cases concerning our saluation, touching the which thing, we will alledge only a fewe places and examples.
[Sidenote: _Mat._10.]
[Sidenote: _Mat._24.]
[Sidenote: 1._Tim._4.]
[Sidenote: 2._Thess._2.]
[Sidenote: 1. _Iohn_ .4.]
[Sidenote: The holy virgin did not by & by beleeue the appearing of the Angell.]