even so when we see that by prayer and fastynge and prayer Sathan is cast out of some and they therby deliuered from all theire vexations and torments which before from him they had indured and that not som fewe but sundry at this time and many heretofore in former ages as in Turtullian Criprian Chrisostome there times we may hence gather and assure our selues that God hath appoynted prayer and fastynge and prayer as meanes and that ordinarye to cast out the diuill of the bodyes of men when he is in them and as a supernaturall meadicine to heale this supernaturall disease whervnto the bodye of man is subiect as well as to othere diseases although ther were in holy scripture no mention of any such ordinance The thing it selfe then although there were nothing said as concerninge this matter in the holy scriptures I meane the deliuerance of persones thus affected by Sathan which in experience we see performed before our eyes and others before vs manifesteth and proclamed to all men this to be the ordinaÌ„ce of God in his secret counsell even as it doth in naturall diseases and in infinite other cases And what letteth that we should not be perswaded hereof and receiue it for a truth if this that we read not in the word of God of this ordinaÌ„ce besids that we haue hard it is otherwise that hindereth not because many yea infinit things are decreed in the secret and eternall counsell of God and knowne so to be man which are not set downe in his reueiled will If this that Christ and his Apostls when they cast out Diuils wrought miracles and that miracles are ceased we may remember that soe likwise they healed feauers palsies other diseases and infirmitie of mans body by miracle and yet notwithstanding together with the diseases meanes remaine for the curing of them And why it may not likwise be so in this our case in the healinge of this bodily disease supernaturall by this supernaturall medicine I desier him that is contrarye minded to shew That common obiection therfore taken from the ceasing of miracles maketh no more indeed against the eiection of Sathan and healynge of the 10. possessed persons wee speake of done by an ordinary meanes then it doth against they healing of other diseases which diseases were somtyme cured by myracle The different manner of curinge is wislye to be considered off As all curinge of naturall diseases is not miraculous although some be or rather was even so all healing of this supernaturall disease or eiection of Sathan is not by miracle all be it some be but of this more hereafter and here for the further confirmatioÌ„ both of the general point I now intreat of which is that men in these last daies may be dispossessed of Diuills which to sundrie amonge vs seemeth very straunge and in credible as also to shew the meanes which since miracles ceased haue by the most learned godly in the church of god from time to tim bene vsed for the expellynge of Sathan out of such as be possessed and is by theire example parctise and counssell commended vnto us in the like case to be used to this end and purpose I saye I will in this place set downe certaine testimonies of some wryters both in aunâ—ient and lattet times testifinge the same Origen writinge vpon the 17 of Math 1 21 howbe it this kinde goeth not out but by praier and fasting hath these wordes si aliquando nos oportuerit circa curationem if at any time it shall behoue vs to deal a bout the curinge of them who suffer such a matter uz are possessed we may not adiure them nor aske them questions nor speake any such thinges as to the vncleane spirit hearinge vs. but conti nuing in prayer and fastinge we may obtaine helpe from god for the afflicted and shall driue forth the wicked spirits by fastinge and praier Tertullian saieth Daemones de hominibus expellimus sicut plurimis notum est wee expell Diuils out of men as is knowen to many Cyprian writing vnto Domitian vseth these words O si audire velles et videre vz. oh that thou wo uldest heare and see when the diuills are adiuâ—ed by vs. and tormented by spirituall scourges and by torments of wordes are cast out of bodyes possessed come and know that these thinges be true which we affirme Now how soeuer I do not iustifie Ciprian as touchynge his adiuringe of euill spi rits yet hereby it is manifest and this vse we may make of this speach of his that men were not only possest and dispossest of di ils in those dayes when miracles were ceased but that the same was common vsuall then for otherwise he would neuer haue vsed these words come and knowe these thinges to be true which we speak therbye prouokinge Demetrian Proconsell of Africk to make trial of that he saide the same is also manyfest by Turtullian his wordes saying we daily expell Divels out of men but most excellentlye doth this appeare by Chrisostom who lived about 200 yeares after them his words be these hinc ita que ad solitam veniamus admonitionem therfore let vs come to our accustomed ad monitian and what is that accustomed admonition that we frequent the worthy praier with a sober and watchful mind for when I spake of this ma ter of lat I saw all of you willingly obaying wherfore in truth I shold deale very ill if I should not blame you when you are necligent or not comend you wheÌ„ you do well accordiÌ„g to your deuti this day therfor I will prais you and thank you for that your obedience but I wil then giue you thanks when I shall first hauc taught you why that praier before al other was wont to be made and why the Deacon doth commaund the men that are vexed with the Diuill and moued with most cruell furie to be brought in at that time and bowe downe their heads for what cause it is done I will thus de clare the vexing of Diuills are bonds most wycked and greiuous for they are bonds more strong then iron therfore as at the very instant when the Iudgge is wont to come forth and to sit vpon the iudgment seat the iaylor brings forth all the prisoners and set them at the barre before the seat of iudgment loathsome filthie ouer growen with heaire al too tuttred with rages so the fathers hanc appoynted that when Christ was presently to sit as it weare vpon his tribunal and to appeare in the sacraments those men that were vexed with the diuill as being fettered with certain bonds should be brought forth not to be examined for the things which they ha ue done after the manner of prysoners nor yet that they sholde be punnished but that the people and all the citie being present publigue praiers might be made for them that al with one accorde might intreat the lord of
withal he remember that to cast out deuils is of miracles the greatest as appeareth by that speach of the 70 Disciples Lorde euen the De uills are subdued vnto vs through thy name as if they had saide Lord by vertue of that power which thou hast giuen vs wee haue not onlye healed the sicke made the blinde to see raised vp the deade and done other great workes but that also which is aboue and surpasseth them all wee haue cast the Deuills out of men whereby we see that they are subiect vnto vs. This consydered who seeth not that forasmuch as ne ther their exorcists preists nor any other in the popish church haue the same power with the Apostles by their anoyntinge to make the sicke whole to make the halt to goe the blinde to see the deafe to heare the dumbe to speake to raise vp they dead c that therfore also they haue not the same power with them to cast out Deuils And where the Iesuite affirmeth that al beleuers haue the same power ouer wicked spirits with the Apostles yf it be so why doe not euery one of ther beleuers exercis that power wheÌ„ occasioÌ„ is offred but only ther exor cistes agayn were this so all the faithful shold haue power also to work othere miracls as appeareth by the premises Now I thinke Thyreus will not saye that euery beleuer hath power to worke miracles considering that of S Paule are all doers of miracle haue all the giftes of heal inge The which if he graunt then must he lykwise confesse that all beleeuers haue not the same power to cast out deuills with the Apostles But saith he sacrae litera docent omnibus fidelibus tâ— the holy scrip turs teach this for it is written Signa eos qui crediderint haec sequen tur ct these signes shal follow them which beleue in my name they shall cast outdeuils If this scripture comprehend al beleuers and the power here giuen shal continve as long as there shal be any to professe the faith of christ as the Iesuit affirmeth then shall euery beleuer haue likwise the gifte of tongues and be able without studie to vnderstand speake any language and power also to worke miracles for it is not only said of these beleuers that in Christes name they shal cast out Deuills but besides that they shal speake with newe tongus and shal take away serpents and if they shal drincke any deadly thinge it shal not hurt them they shall laye there handes on the sicke and they shall recouer but this latter is false as the Iesuit himselfe must needs confesse and is euidentalso by the a foresaid place of scripture doe al speake with tongus and therfore the first also wee are not then to take those wordes them that beleue so ge nerally and to vnderstand therby al them which haue fayth in Christ as this Doctor doth but more strightly of those only which were indewed with the miraculous faith which gift number of beleuers coÌ„ tinued in the church but for a time vntill the gospell and doctrine of Christ crucified which was to the Gentils both a new and foolish doctrine had got among them intertainment But to returne to the Rhemists former glosse It is there to be obser ued also that they accounte there castinge forth of deuills for a miracle and why so I praye you seeinge by their own confession their Exâ—rcists cast them out by the meane of fasting praier besides sundrie toyes fooleries of their own coyning they add therunto Are you that stand so much vpon your miracles building as it were your faith and religion thereon ignorante herein that it is no miracle be the worke neuer so wonderfull which is done by an ordinarie meanes ap pointed of God therto If hetherto you haue bene ignorant hereof disdaine not to learne it nowe at the length out of that hath bene said before in this behalfe Yf it should be granted that to dispossesse deuills by the meanes of praier and fastinge is a miracle and that you only haue power as to worke other miracles so to cast forth deuils yet why affirme you so confidently that hereticks can neuer doe any miracle you meane I am sure such as yours are to confirme there false faith is it not plain by the 13 of Deut. that false Prophets may and shal worke miracles and that to the ende to bringe men from the true worshipe of God to Idolatrie and therfore to confirme there false faith and religion If there arise among you saith Moses a Prophet or a dreamer of dreams and giue thee a signe or wonder 2 and the sign and the wonder which he hath told thee com to passe saing let vs go after other Gods which thou hast not know on let vs serue them 3 thou shalt not harken vnto the wordes of the Prophet but that prophet or that dremer of dreams shal be slaine because he hath spoken and giuen his signes and wonders to turne you awaye from the Lord your God to thrust thee out of the way wherin the Lord thy God commannded thee to walke And Christ doth foretell vs that before his comming to iudgment their shal arise false Christs false prophets and shal shew signes and wonders or as Mathew saith great signs wonders And that they should worke these miracles to cofirme ther false antichrstian saith appeareth by the wordes following to deceiue saith Christ yf it were possible the very elect As it he had said great miracles shal false Christs and false prophets worke before the last day that so they maye confirme their false and antichristian doctrine and make semblance that they are true of God therby to perswad men to be leue the same so deceiue them euen the very electe if it could be Yea in the 2 epistle to the ThessaloniaÌ„s it is sett downe for a marke to knowe discerne Antichrist by that his comminge is with all power and signes and lying wonders and that this he should doe to confirme his false faith appeareth by the wordes followinge where it is sayde that he should doe these miracles in al deceiuablenes of vnrighteousnes and againe God shal send them strong delusions that they should beleue lies that is lying false doctrine the very same with this we reade in the 13 of the reuel where the beast which came out of the earth meaninge antichrist is said to do great wonders so that he made fier to come downe from heauen on the earth in the sight of men deceiued them that dwel on the earth by the signs which were permitted him to doe How then say â—he Romanists and with what truth that hereticks to confirme their false faith can neuer doe any miracle that false prophets false Christs are heriticks that I knowe you wil not denye that Moses in the law and Christ in the gospell speaketh of such true miracles
commoÌ„ly everi night it sat as she though on her head very heavi laying as it semed to her 4. great figers on her browes that she was not able to opeÌ„ her eies otfeÌ„ times she cried to her mother that the should sit from of her Head asking who it was that held her â—oe straight though she could not ster her head it hir kerchefe was pulled of her head thrice commoÌ„ly she notwithstandiÌ„g lying still as a stocke from 9 to 3 in the morning about which time it departed in departing somtimes gaue her a great thumpe on the hinder parte of her head that it was verye sore for 2 Dayes after Sixe times within those 6. weekes the sperit would not suffer her to eate or drincke it tooke awaye also her stomake if shee offered to drincke at the earnest motion of others it cast her and the drincke downe to gether At other tymes shee did eate greedily slossinge vp her meate like a greedy dogge or hogge that her mother and her freindes weare ashamed of her styll shee was hungrye and cryed for more saying shee had nothing though she spared no kinde of meate allwas fish that cam to nett After abundance of meate her belly semed neuer the fuller that she marueiled which waye it went The 10 of febuari it pulled her as she thought in an hundred peeces ther came out of her mouth such a stincking smoke and breath that shee could not endure it her selfe her voyce and crying were quite altered and so continued till night But her breath stank soe yll a day and a nyght after that her neighboures could not enduer to come neare her Often her sences were taken a way and she maid as styfe as iron and oft as dead even breathlesse it made her speake sharplye hastely and by snatches somtimes it made a loud noyse in her bellye like that in the bellye of a great troting horse The two next nights before the day of her examination concerning Hartlay appeared the deuill in the liknesse of Hartlay requesting her to take heed what she sayd and to speake the truth for the time was come promissing her siiluer and gould she answered thinking it to be Hartlay that the truth she had spoken already that she would not favour him neither for siluer nor gold the 2 night he departed saying doe as thou wilt the day before Hartlay his execution was a sore day vnto her after which euery day she went to morning prayer was neuer troubled in the Church save the 1 day wheron it took her about the middest of the sermon in heaving vp her shoulders depriuing her of her sences after the recouery of her sences it tooke away the vse of her leggs and thus it molested her in the Church to the admvration of the people about an hower and halfe At the aâ—â—ices at Lancaster was Hartlay condemned and hanged the making of his circle was chefly his ouerthrowe which he denyed but breaking the rope he after confessed it After this time she had more ease in the day then she was wont but in the night she lay stif and stark quaking and trembling till the day she came to Cleworth It going thus with the. 6. at Cleworth and the. 7 at Salford M. Starchye according to the counsel before giuen him procured first one preacher then an other to see them but they knew not well what to say to their affliction After hauing intelligence by D. Dee his butler of the like greuous affliction of Thomas Darling his vncles son an recouery vpon the aduice giuen by my self he requested D. Dee his letter vnto me though vnacquainted and obteyned it wherwith he sent his owne also which preuayled not with me Thervppon he procured other letters wherof one was from a Iustice of peace therby and sent the second time vnto me Then I crauinge first the aduice of many of my brethren in the ministery met togither at an exercise yealded to M. Starchyes request about 3. wekes after went thither On the 16. of March 96. M. George More pastor of Cawlke in Dar byshire and my self came to Cleworth VVhither when we were come M Starchy tould vs that his sonn had bene well about a fortnight and his daughter 4. dayes and surely to se to they were at that instant as well and free from any possession by Sathan as any other which we suspected to procede from the subtilty of the diuel so it proued Shortly after our comming as we sat at dinner came in Margaret Hardman and hir sister El Holland on after another like players to bid vs welcom forasmuch as no body sent for me said one of them I am come of my owne accord And hauing thus spoken shee was throwen backward on a forme and so all 3. were frangely greuosly tormented Their faces as I remember were disâ—igured their bodyes I am sure greatly swelled such a sensible stiring rumbling within their bodyes as to ones sight and feling they had some quick thing within each of them and not only so but such a violent mouing there was also in their inward parts especially in M. Hardman as was easily harde of vs that were present I remember also among the manifold pleasant speaches they vsed one or moe of spake iocondly conscerning Edmond Hartlayes hanging who was theÌ„ newly executed and it was to this effect Do they thinke they coulde hang the diuel I wis no they might hang Ed but they conlde not hang the diuel no maruel though the rope brake for they were two Ed and the diuel By that which I hard of his fits wherof wee haue partly hard before I for my part then thought doe so still that in the end he who had so sweetly by kisses forsooth sent the diuel into so many had by the iust iudgment of god the diuell sent into him Then harde we Iane Ashton howling and perceiueing it was supernaturall and hearing also other strang things concerning her especiall ye that which was new fallen out of the swelliÌ„g of her belly wherof you shall heare we affirmed that we thought that she also was possessed which neither the family nor the mayd her selfe mistrusted or feared and it ther was cause for besides her first taking with the hoke and the wordes Hartly vsed thervpon and kisses before with promis of mariag which all were perhaps forgotteÌ„ she was takeÌ„ with barkiÌ„g as the rest were when M Hopwoode cam to examine them againe the children said no lesse in their fits for when she cam in their sight they would say come and helpe vs for thou art one of our company And though they neither knew nor speake to any other yet Iane they knewe and speake to her onlye in these wordes thou wilt shortlye come in amongst vs. And she her selfe acknowledged that som times as shecarien vp hot Ianoks she thought that she could ihaue eateÌ„ vp a Ianoke often did eat much by stealth being passyng hungry
maye as in a glasse bebold the mallice rage cruelty vnsatiable desire of the diuell as a roaring lyon to deuoure and destroye maÌ„ in his restraint from hurting or not performing it notwithstanding his great and manifold offers that way we may se as the power of god ouer thes principalities and powers I meaine the diuils and the awe and subiection they are in vnto the Lord as well as the least or weakest of hys creatures so lhe greate mercye of god towards man remembring mercy euen 〈◊〉 And here this is worthy the obseruing that howsoeuer they which are possessed receiue no hurt at all by that which the spirit doth though it be neuer so much and neuer so fearfull to behold but are as well notwithstanding the same after their fits as before yet if any man doe but wrest or strayne their little finger which is as nothinge in respect of that is done by the spirit though for the present they complayne not thereof as being then without feeling yet after the fit they â—oe this was often seene in Somers Herevnto we may add for the 18. signe of possession extraordinary and supernaturall strength This is euident by the 5. of Marke where it is sayd of one possessed that no man could bynde him noe not with chaynes that being often bound withfetters and chaynes he plucked the chaynes asunder and brake the fetters in peeces neither could anye man â—ame hâ—m And by the 19. of the Actes where the man possessed ouer came and wounded 7. men After this manner it was with these wee speake of their strength was extraordinary and supernaturall insomuch as two or three strong men could scarcely hould one chyld of the age of 10. or 11. yeares but speciallye this was seene in Sommers who in sundry of his fits did shewe such strength as somtime 3. 4. or 5. sometimes 6. or 7. men though they had greate aduantage of hiÌ„ as bound to a chair or lying vpon a bed could scarcely rule him though they labored hard that they swet therewith yet he was not perceyued to pant or blowe no more then if he had not strayned his strength nor strugled at all as is deposed The like strength was perceyued to be in Darling as is noted in the printed booke who being a boy of 13. yeares of age was of that strength that 2. stronge men could not hould him downe or rule him Of such extraordinary and supernaturall strength also was Kath Wright True it is that there is greate difference betwixt his strength mentioned Marke 5. and the strength these shewed and noe maruaile For the man there mentioned was possessed with a legion of diuils these each of them with one onlye as I suppose no maruell then though his strength and his rage and furye exceeded theirs And hence I take it to be that of all those mentioned in the gospell to haue bene possessed we reade not of on that was of like strength and rage with him or them possest with a legion For besides that already hath bene saide of their exceeding greate strength vnrulynes it is recorded by S. Mathew that they were very feirce that no man might go by that way The last signe of possession that in the holy scriptures I obserue is ex traordinary and supernaturall knowledge which appeareth by the 5. of S. Marke where one that was possessed as sone as he sawe Iesus a farr off said of him that he was the sonne of the most high God Now if we consider that this man had neither heard of Iesus his doctrin miracles nor seene hys person at any tyme before as may appeare by this that he was not onlye a Gadaren but had besides his abidinge among the graues and in the mountaines and not amongste men and consider also that he was not in his right minde and 3. that he had * had deuils a long time as St. Luke noteth we can not but see and confese that this knowledge or acknowledgment of our blessed Sauiour was supernaturall This is further confirmed by the 16. of the Acts wher it is not only said of a certaine mayd of Philippi which was possesed that she followed Paul and Silas crying and sayiug these men are the seruants of the most high God which shew vnto us the way of saluation but that which for this purpose is much more that she had a sperit of diuination so as she could divine and foretell some thinges to come whereby she got her master much vantage Such supernaturall knowledge as well as strength haue all those had whom I affirme to haue bene possesed with vncleane spirites For hence it came to passe that those in Lancashire foretold there fits the number manner and continuance of them Iohn star could tell whether it was cleane water they brought him and two other of them hauinge their eyes closed and ther faces from the glase tould directly when the sand in the hower glasse was rune out thus hower after hower as for Th. Darling his supernaturall knowledg plainlye appeared by the booke written of him and touching Kath. Wright I saye this as in the presence of God that she tould me of diuers thinges which no earthlye creature knewe besids my selfe Also I sent Th. Wright her brother 2 miles of to one M. Iohn Beresford and she declared what he said to the said messenger before he returned and the daye after I going from her with the said gentleman and leauing her with many about her at my returne she tould some of the speaches which had secretlye in the feildes passed betwene vs. But this supernaturall knowledge was most manifest in Somers who tould of sundrye thinges which were done and spoken diuers miles of him and that at or about the same instant they fell out to diueres strangers comming vnto him he made knowne such secrets as therat both they and others vpon the acknowledgment of the truth the of wondred greatly From hence likwise it came that divinlike saue that he intermingled one or two errors he continued his speach in expounding the Creed for an howere together and sometimes also speake of other misteris Hence also it was that he did divine and foretel things to come For shortly after his repossession in a traunce he vttered these words I must goe to St. Iones at St. Iones Darrell must not come nor neuer ablacke coate of them all it is as I would haue it they are myne enimyes At sâ—es I must be before the iudges the iudges must * see Somers 3. or 4. dayes after he spake these thinges among many more whereof some are set downe before which all were written from his mouth in the presence of diuers credible persons was accordingly * carryed from his fathers house where then he was to S. Ioanes whither neither my selfe nor yet any in the ministery who wold haue rebuked him sharply when once that was perceiued might be
sonne vnto thee which hath a dumbe spirit yea not only the men but the simple weomen also were acquainted with this disease haue mercy on mee Lord said a poore Canaanitish woman vnto Christ my daughter is miserably vexed by the diuell And least we should ymagine either that this child was not possest or that the mother knew not somuch Mark saith plainly this child had an vncleane spirit and that this woman besought Christ that he would cast the diuel out of her daughter whereby it appeareth that she knew or at least tooke it and that rightly that the diuel was in her child Seing then I say that the common people were so well acquainted with this disease and could so truly discerne the same it must needes be that both many were possest and had soe bene of long time for otherwise the vulgar sort as we all in reason experience know could not possibly haue attayned to that knowledg Hence it followeth that many were possessed vnder the lawe befor Christ was manifested in the flesh into whome it cannot be that god sent vncleane spirits to the end that the diuinity of Christ might appeare in their myracalous eiection but for some other cause or causes best knowne vnto his maiesty and namely to chastice them for their sinnes as is manifest by that wee haue alleadged before out of Deut 28. and 29. which is the cause of all iudgments though god alwayes respect not that principally but sometimes besides his owne glory Iohn 9. 3. some other thing best knowne to himself as we see in the example of Abraham Iob with others and by sundry testimonyes of holy scripture To returne therefore againe to speake of those parties we intreate of Yf any obiect against this possession that in all these thinges we were deluded by sathan by whom our sences were deceyued so that wee semed to see that which we did not see indeede To such I answer that if any such thing were then not our sight alone but all our sences were deceiued our tasting only excepted for we did not only see looke vpon with our eyes strange and impossible accidents but heard also with our eares and handled with our handes yea sundry smells there were some times moste swéete and delectable at other tymes most noysome stinking no man knowiÌ„g from whence they came as is to be deposed by many Now it is hard that so many sences shold be deceaued But what is more against sence then to ymagine and obiect that here He fomed as white as the snowe as thike as that which commeth from the horse or boare About 150. of vs beheld this offt and many times and somtime for an hower together ropinge downe along on his breast It was to be felt It was wiped awaye the cloth wett therwith in the sight of vs all shall we now saye he seemed to fome but did not fome he was of that strength that diuers times 4. or 5. though they had great advantag of him could not rule him what is there more against common sence then to affirme that he seemed onlye to be of such strength but was not so which of their sences I praye you how manye of theire sences were deceaued which tried their strenght with his whither was there not somthing els deceiued besids ther outward sences If herein my sences were deceiued I will trust them the worsse whylst I haue them yea I assure you yf the case were so I could not tell when or wherin to trust them lest they shold deceiue me as they did then all the witneses herof yf they will speake according to their knowledge and consiene and I doubt not but are of the same Iudgment with me Againe thus one might haue obiected against the possession of those which had euill spirits in them wheÌ„ Christ and his Apostles were vpon earth as well with as good colour apparance of truth as against the possession of such as we speake off But if one should haue done so had he not spurned against the truth and by consequence bene in great fault yes verilye so suerlye doe they and are no lesse faultie which obiect this against vs and the possession we striue for Take heed therfore good christian reader I beseech thee lest whilest thou stand for the delusion of sathan he delude and deceaue thee And thus much for proofe of the possession of they persones aboue named The end of the First Parte HERE FOLLOVVETH THE SECOND PARTE The 2. part That they were verily dispossessed and of the meanes wherby the same was wrought Hauinge sufficiently proued euen by the testimony of holy scriptures those persons we treate of were verily possessed with the diuell with such vnanswerable reasons as may suffice any indifferent man that is not ouercarried with preiudice or partiallity againste the cause so as it is altogither needelesse to speake any thinge further for proofe therof now it followeth that we proue likewise with such inuincible arguments the dispossession of them in handlinge of which point we must remember that whatsoeuer shall make for proofe of their dispossession the same also confirmeth further their possession for how can a man be dispossessed of the dyuell if he was neuer possessed thereof That this may the better appeare let vs looke into the dispossession of those mentioned in the gospell and therewithall see what thence may be gathered for confirmation of their dispossession we speake of In the aforenamed place of Marke it is said that Iesus hauing charged the vncleane spirit to come out of the childe then the spirit cryed c. that is ymediatly after the charge or commaundement giuen to the spirit and therevpon the spirit cryed rent him sore came out and he was as one dead insomuch that many said he is dead Nowe after this very manner it went with the aforesayde Doemonyakes at the instant of their deliuerance or amendment First it is said the spirit rent him sore and came out whereby is insinuated the greatnes and extremity of the childes torments ymediatly before the egresse of the spirit aboue that which is ordinary for before it is said he tare him here that he tare or rent him sore notinge by this addition an increase of paine The like we reade Luke 4. where Christ commaunding the diuell to come out of a man it followeth imediatly then the diuell throwing him in the midst of them came out of him and hurâ— him nothing at all whereby it appeareth that the possessed some little time before the egresse or going out of the spirit are excedingly tormented As Danaeus noteth vpon this place of Marke when Christ commeth and approcheth neere vs saith he then doth the diuell teare and torment vs more eagerly as he did that child at that time Fâ—r as Isodorus writeth then the diuell doth more cruelly rage agaynst him whâ—me he possesseth when
as you doe such it is cleare you by these wordes meane it is most sure And here by the waye what cause hath the church of Rome thus to vaunt of the miracles wrought in her aledging the same as a migh tie confirmation of the truth of her doctrine and some singuler priui ledge bestowed vpon her surelv no more then the roge hath cause to bragg of the hole in his eare or the theife of his burnt hande For as these be certaine and infallible signes of a rogue and thefe so miracles wrought by satan and such are the papists miracles are a most certame and infallible marke of the aduersarie to Christ whom wee call Antichrist As he then is rather out of his witts theÌ„ in his right mind that beinge for his theft burnt in the hande will boast therof so had not Sathan bewytched that whore of Rome and depriued her of her iudgmente and vnderstandinge shee woulde neuer boast of her miracles considering they make much against her euen to wytnese that their Pope is that Antichrist which shoulde come and their religion false and Antichristian And where you intimate here and els where affirme that howsoeuer hereticks may happely be able to worke mira cles to some other ende as to confirme some article of the faith or truth of God wherin they agree with you yet not to confirme their false faith therby that you see will not availe you consideringe that the former testimonies of scripture directlye in expresse wordes as wee haue heard affirme and teach the contrarye Howsoeuer then heritickes can not proue their false and erronious doctrines by the scriptures yet they may worke miracles to confirme the same wherby it is euident that whilest they papistes stand and contend for the priuiledg of dispossessing of vncleane spirits the which they arrogate to themselues as pecularly belonging vnto them and denye to all others they shewe themselues in the meane season to be possessed with a foule spirit of error And how soeuer Thyerus hath likwise this aforsaide addition saying nunquam ab hominum corporibus â—t heriticks shall neuer be able to expell diuils out of the bodies of men whensoeuer and as often as euer they shall assay it to confirme their doctrine which they professe yet by the argument he presently addeth he seemeth to proue the generall without any such restraint For first saith he Signa cos qui crediderint ct These signs shall followe them which beleue In my name they shall cast out diuiles But heriticks are not in the number of beleuers therfore they are not able to driue awaye deuills by any power of Christ communicated vnto them a second argument is we neuer read them to haue expelled deuils And a third is It is reported in histories that they haue often bene deluded when they haue gone about to caste out deuills wherby it is cleare that they denye to vs all expulsion of deuils to what end soeuer and meane that if at any time in our church spirites be cast out of some it is by the power of Sathan as appeareth in the end of the saide chapter These thinges well considered who seeth not that they mighttilye freind the papistes and strengthen them in this grosse error and brage of theirs which contend for the counterfeitinge of Somers Dar ling K. Wright confidently deny the 7. in Lancashire to haue bene eyther dispossest or yet possest with deuils doe not such doe them as great apleasure theirin as posible men can and giue them occasion to sport themselues about our dispossession of deuils as Thyreus doth full swetly concerning Luthers dipossessing may not they with some face of honestie and truth publishe in their writings that our former possessed persons did meerlie counterfeite apossession and were not possessed much lesse dispossessed seeing the same is openlye mayntained amonge Vs euen in our Courts and that by great Prelats one of the persones possessed I meane Th. Darling imprâ—â—oned and such as god vsed in the dispossessing of them suspended imprisoned along time theere also vsed more strightlye then other priâ—oners then felons murtherers trators in a worde so handled and dealt with as no table deceiuers and malefactors wheras on the other side had wee acknowledged this worke of God wrought diuers times and vpon sundrie persons amonge vs and laboured withall to haue manifested the truth therof insteade of obscuring it as in deutye we ought then would vndoubtedlie the papistes haue herein bene ashamed and confounded in themselues for the greate vauntes and arrogant bragges they haue here about in many oâ— their books giuen out scatteâ—ed But seeinge the Romanists glory so much in the dispossessing of deuils let us a litle examine the same and see whether it be altogether with them as they beare the world in hand it is wher they must first knowe that it is not denied or doubted off by vs but graunted that by their exorcists exorcising the possessed among them haue ease and deliuerance from the evill spirits formerlie vexing and possessing them but the doubt and question is whether the cast and driue out Sathan For my owne parte I will not denye but that a true deliuerance of the possessed may in the papacie For wheÌ„ I consider that possession with Deuiles is a temporall Iudgment And that the humiliation of Ahab an Idolater a man also that had sould himselfe to worke wickednes preuailed so farr with the Lord to spare him and his sonne concerninge the temporall Iudgment which the Lord had be fore threatned and pronounced by his prophet to bringe vpon him and his posteristie I cannot see why the like humiliation performed by a papistes an Idolater may not obtaine the like I meane a corporall blessinge of the Lord or the remouing of a temporall Iudgment Yet notwithstanding when on the other side I turne my eve to the meanes they vse I cannot but thinke that when their possessed are helped they spirites are not cast out but of themselues goe forth as seruinge greatly for their owne advantage and vpholdinge of there kingdome of darknes amongst them But what are the meanes they vse in the dispossessinge of euill spirites even these as appeareth by Thyreus First the Inuâ—cation of the name of Iesus wherby he doth not meaine Inuocation or praâ—er but the often mentioninge of the name Christ specially Iesus which bare name is greuious to the diuil and hath great power in it saith he 2. the vse of holy râ—licks 3. vsing the signe of the crosse 4. the vse of consecrat things as holy water hallowed salt bread drinke ct 5. exorcismes Now how can one imagine that these or any of them should be of force to expell Sathan seeinge they are not onlye such as weare not appoynted of God theirvnto but also in his worde condemned as offensiue to his maiestie and vnlawfull at all to be vsed and are besides in themselues most vaine and such as in the
vsinge wherof the deuill cannot but take pleasure As touchinge the 4. First meaines here specified I doubt not but that all men of found Iudgment will with one consent and voice saye with me that they cannot possible be effectuall to driue out Sathan howsoeuer they may peraduenture serue to intise him out The question then is of the Fyste their exorcismes which is also the cheife that which they most trust vnto and relye vpon To passe by the vnlawfulnes of their adiuringe the spirits in that they haue no such giufte nor authoritie ouer vncleane spirites giuen them as the Apostles had from whom they fetch it as hath bene shewed and also the vnlawfulnes of the continual speach or communication which with the diuils they haue when they exorcize contrarie to the practise of the * holy Apostle yea of Christ Iesus himselfe who when the diuill speake bad him * hold his peace and com out of him To passe by these I say and not to alledg them aginst their exorcizinge I affirme that there exorcismes are so palpable impious vaine foolish and ridiculous that it cannot be imagined that theirby the diuils are or cannot be compelled to goe out of men And that euerye on may be the better assured hereof I will sett downe the titles of sundrie of their adiurations in there Exorcismes euery of which conteineth the summe or effect of the whole adiuration following and therfore must nedes be sutable to these yea nothing but the same set downe at large and in more wordes Hic Exorcista ponat manum sacram super caput vexati ect Hic aspergatur aqua benedicta super obsessum etc. Here let the exorcist lay his holy hand of the head of the posssseed and when he hath tied the stole to the necke of the possessed with 3. knottes say etc. Here let holy water be sprinkled vpon the possessed Here let him say certaine gospelles with his handes vpon the head of the possessed Here let the exorcist commaund the diuils that with their knees bowed head they worshipe the holy trinitie thrice smiting the footstoole or ground with their head without hurting the possessed which beinge done let him begine to adiure them And whersoeuer in the exorcismes he shall find the signe of the crosse he must alwayes signe the possessd in the forhead Here let him aske their proper names ct yf he will nor answere or refuse to obay let the exorcist with very sharpe wordes commaundâ—ments and adiurations iterated require obedience threatninge to thrust him downe into hell presently vpon his goeing forth of the body Here must the exorcist anger the diuils as much as he can with reproches iniuries all which with greife the indure Here let the Exor compell the diuils to goe out but if they will not obay let him write their names and their fellowes in alike scroule of paper burne them in fier that is blessed For these things are very greuous vnto them because the are to their shame and to put them in mind of hell fier Here yf the spirit will not obay take fier brimstone being both blessed halowed and cause the possessed will he nil he to beheld in the smoake ouer the said fire brimstonc vntil he tell you the truth in all things which are nedfull for the deliuerance of the possessed Here let the Exor goe about to knowe their names and the properties of the diuils which are in the body possessed Here why or for what cause they doe not depart Here demaund for what cause the did enter in Here if they will not goeout put rue into the nostrels of the possessed Here let the Exor indeuour to get out the truth from the diuill possessing as well by an oath as by seuere threats Here let the Exor learne of them with what words they are most tormented that so he may the better knowe to apply fit remedies against them Here let the Exor aske the proper names of the diuils yf so be that he can not know them let him giue them scornfull names which are most greuous to the diuils Here mocke them with reuilinges Iniuries and the remembrance of thire saluation Here demaund how the diuils may thence be expelled by the power of God and if they will not tell the truth make a * smoake of stinking thinges Here let him put salt into water in the forme of a crosse sayinge He that thinketh that by the aforesaid rites and ceremonies satan can be expelled as by burning thir names in hallowed fier by houlding the possessed in the smok ouer fyer and brimston bâ—ing blessed the rest of those we haue hearde and such others He I say that thus thinketh and is so ignorante and sottishe or brutish in his vnderstandinge lett him be so still neither will any thinge auaile with him and to the rest who see the vnspeakable follye and vanitie of them it is needlesse to say any thinge more I will therfore leaue the Papists and proceed to some other vse For a seconde vse we haue here to informe our iudgment in the discerning of the possessed If we desier to knowe whether such a on whom we suspecte to be possessed be so or not we haue before in the reporte and handlinge of this worke to satsfie vs therin For giue me a man of whose possession you doubt and if it be so with him that he is greuosly vexed and often times and that on the sudden by fits or at certain times and yet not hurt therby thoughe he offer much violence vnto himselfe and doe that which in reason and nature should greatly hurt him but is as wel presently after as before the fitt speaking in his said fytts yf he vse any speache at all he knoweth not what nor can after wards cal to minde and vtteringe some times such speaches as sauour not of the spirit of man but excellently sute and agre with the nature of a wicked spirite who gnasheth also sometimes with his teeth walloweth fometh is oft cast into fier and water and sheweth in some of his fits extraordinarie and supernatural strength and knowledg then in such case you haue not so much man as the scriptur God him self who can not deceiue you resoluinge your doubte and pronouncinge him possessed with an vnclean spirit But if it go not thus for the most parte though not altogether with your suspected partie then iudge you otherwise and free him of the suspition therof Besids if the parttie be troubled with strange sightes and visions yf in his fits he haue in his belly very strange and supernaturall swellings yfsom times his armes and legs be as stiffe inflexible heauie as iron his body as heauie as so much leade his mouth drawen awrye to his eareth is tounge thrust strangly out or retorted backward speakinge so or at least without that instrument of speache or lippes with his mouth wide open yf his eyes stare fearefully his face
for the younge man denyeth that he was possest yea affirmeth that he counterfeited and the world also saith the same and thus lyes falshood are imbraced for truth almost of all men and the truth indeede reiected and the louers thereof hated scorned despised slandered and some of them worse intreated It going thus it is not against but according to the scriptures yea herein the scripture is fulfilled in that Somers is quyet and free from all molestation by sathan notwithstandinge he is in him because the strong man armed saith the scripture keepinge the house without resistance there is peace but let Christ Iesus the stronger come vpon him in the meanes he hath sanctified for the recouery of this house to himselfe the right owner and the expellinge of the vsurper then vndoubtedly there will be an end of this vniuste peace and therein likewise we shall see the scripture fulfilled In the holy scriptures it is written that if we resist the diuell he will flye vnderstand this not only of sathans temptations but also of his person and then affirme I that this scripture hath bene fulfilled In lyke manner the scriptures tell vs that the way to resist Sathan so as wee may put him to flight and ouercome is to vse prayer and the word of god which is the sworde of the spirit Vnderstand this as the former herein this scripture also hath bene verifyed The holy scriptures shewe how that greate thinges euen incredible hath bene brought to passe by prayer and fastinge more particulerly that euen diuels thereby haue bene and are to be caste ovt of men herein the scripture likewise hath bene fulfilled In the scriptures it is recorded that when the deuil goeth out of the man whome he possesseth he renteth him sore câ—yeth aloude the possessed after lying as dead nowe many of vs euen hundreds haue seene with our eyes and hearde with our eares this scripture fulfilled In the holy scriptures we reade that when the vucleane spirit is gon out of a man he will retorne seeking to reenter Besides the reports of all and euery of the parties possessed the sudden vnspeakeable frights and terrors which many of vs haue often beheld in the spirits assaites to reenter doe greatly confirme this retorne vpon our Demoniackes all which was donne that the scripture herein might be fulfilled The scripture saith that if the diuels fynde the house empty swept and garnished that is the partye out of whom he is come prepared to receaue him which is when he is empty or voyd of the graces of the spirit and garnished or replenished with iniquities for the furniture must be sutable to the ghest the vncleane spirit must be interteyned in all vncleannes that then he reentreth and recouereth his pray as otherwise although he would fayne yet he cannot Nowe who seeth not the case to be so with W. Somers for were he not empty swepte and garnished he would neuer deny the work of god which hath benshewed on him and giue forth to the great dishonor of god hurte of many and danger of his owne soule that he had counterfeyted not to speake anything of his open and notorious lyinge and doublinge with that false tongue of his nor of his charging mee with the instructing of him neither of his fearefull periury somtimes betaking himself bodye and soule to the diuell if he counterfeyted at other times protesting as depely that he did counterfeyt In the repossession then of Somers it is euident that this scripture is fulfilled as on the other side this scripture considered and his present estate condition I meane that he is empty howe can it otherwise be but that he is reposessed further the scripture saith that the vncleane spirit retorning and reentering he doth it with 7. other worse then himselfe Now this hath bene found true in Kath Wrights repossession I doubt not but that the truth thereof will one day appeare also in Somers wheÌ„ he shall come againe to be dispossessed if so be at any time it will be graunted that the meanes for the discouery of sathan and after for the casting of him out may be vsed Finally in the holy scripture it is said that if the vncleane spirit retorning finde the party out of whome he came empty swept and garnished that he will not only enter in and take vp his lodging there as it were for a night as a stranger doth in an other mans house and away in the morninge as he doth as I may say in his first possession but will nowe as hauinge further interest there then he had before make scriptures speake truelye in and concerning the matter of possession dispossession and repossession and not accordinge to the truth in other things wiâ— any be so absurde as to thinke and confesse that the holy scriptures speake most truely as touchinge the tormenting here on eardâ—e of the bodyes of those men the diuels enter into and will they not as well beleue the same writinges tellinge them that after death and in an other world the diuels shall torment the workes of iniquity in hell fyre which neuer shall pe quenched and of which tormentes there will neuer be an ende And seinge the substance of this booke I meane the holy byble is spent in reportinge thinges incredible to flesh and bloud such as the reason of man reâ—ecteth scorneth among which these concerning diuels their nature power entrance into men c. are some and that this is it which letteth man from imbracing it as a word of truth and that sundry of these incredible impossible thinges to reason we euidently see with our eyes and our selues of our owne knowledge knowe to be most true why should we not be fullye perswaded or the deuine and certaine trueth of the other incredible thiugs there reported and that all those also in theire time we shall as certainely see fulfilled as we haue alredy in part senee these Thus me thinketh the fulfillinge of many sayinges in the scriptures in this worke of god should be a moâ—ue and inducement to many to giue that credit vnto them which percase beâ—ore they did not yea surely if man will but giue eaâ—e to â—is reason wherewith god hath indued him and discusse or debate hereof after this sayde manner it will perswade him herevnto I do not saye that this is effectuall or of Power and sent of god to that ende to worke sauinge faith in man ffor I knowe faith cometh by hereinge and how shall they beleeue in him of whome they haue not hearde But this I meane that he which before thought basely and ga ue no regarde or credit to the holy worde of god by this rare work of his and serious â—meditation thereof may well be brought to thinke more reuerently of the worde and to be perswaded of the truth therof where before he doubted and so brought to the historicall faithe as we call it where beinge
happely he will not reste but there by be drawen to giue eare vnto the worde preached and so be brought to that faith the end whereof will be the saluation of his soule whereof if this worke of god be an occasion to any oh howe will such bless God for the same and ioye in this that the sounde there of came to his eare Thus we plainely see howe this worke of god sarueth to confirme the authority and truth of the holy scriptures I meane howe it som what helpeth to perswade vs incredulous men to beleue or more stedfastly to beleue that the are deuine and certainly true in that we see many thinges spoken of in them and very incredible to flesh and blud as well as others there mentioned fulfilled before our eyes and to be most true Seinge then no hurte but mnch good as we haue heard cometh by this worke why shoulde any be offended with vs for bearinge witnesse to this work and why doe any stand vp and sett them selues against this worke indeuoringe to annihilat the same Certainly in fo doing they are not only iniurious to man hindring him of the good fruite he might reape thereby but also aduersaries to god and his glory prophaninge and not hallowinge or sanctifiinge this his name Christ Iesus to such as he cured was wont to say be it vnto thee as thou beleuest thy faith hath made thee whole goe in peace thysinns are forgiuen thee synne no more least a worse thinge come vnto thee and to many see thou tell no man of this I haue donne vnto thee yea somtimes he straightly charged others that they should tell no man what was doune But to him out of whome he had cast out the dyuell he saide goeshewe what greate thinges the Lorde hath donne vnto thee and howe hee hath compassion on thee It is also to be obserued that we reade not the same or like speach to this vsed to any besides of all those that Iesus healed whereby it may seeme that the Lorde Iesus woulde not haue this worke in any case smothered and kept close no not for a time but rather set as a candle in a candlestick vpon the table that it may giue such light vnto men as we haue already seene and no maruaile considering the wordes followinge of our Sauiour goe slew saith he what great thinges the Lorde hath donne vnto thee Are there greate thinges to be looked vpon in this worke we speake of euen by the testimony of Christ himselfe whoe then and where is he if Somers the 7. in Lancashire and the rest were possessed and dispossessed that dare stand vp to darken and obscure the saide worke whereby the people of god be kept from behouldinge the greate thinges of the lord and so hindred from the greate good they might reape thereof and god from his glory If it be euident that vpon these persons this worke of god hath bene wrought who seeth not how contrary minded such are vnto Christ Of the 70 desciple whom Iesus sent forth by there preachinge miracles to prepare and make awaye for him selfe and his ministrie it is sayde that when they had accomplished this worke they returned againe with ioye sayinge Lorde euen the deuils are subdued to vs through thy name In this subiection of the spirits vnto them aboue all the greate workes and miracles they wrought they reioyced wherein how so euer they exceeded wherevpon Christ reproueth them sayinge In this reioyce not that the spirits are subdued vnto you but rather reioyce be cause your names are written in heauen yet marke that he doth it so as that he denyeth not but that they might reioyce there in but rather indede aloweth and commendeth the same so that we keepe a measure and make it not our cheife ioye the which shoulde be that our names are written in heauen wherof the other giueth no assurance for asmuch as it may fall into a reprobate And truely how can they which heare of the aforesayde worke of God but reioyce when they see the Lorde Iesus subduinge Satan vnto men when we see by praier and fastinge deuylls cast out of men whe we see God perfourming his promise the scripture before our eyes fulfilled and our christian brethren also delyuered from the torments of Satan If wee turne our eye eyther to God or man can wee chuse but reioyce and blesse God for such a worke greatly then are they to blame and farre from that affection they shoulde haue who are disquieted and offended here with and most faultie of all shall they be who when the worke shall be made manefest to there conciences as I trust by this treatise it is shall yet notwithstanding lift vp there hee le agaynst it Through the want both of a corrector and of the authour their be very many faultes in the printing among which these following be some 〈◊〉 with I desire the reader with patience to beare pag. 6 chaire open for chaiâ—e open p. 7. departed in for departed 8 〈…〉 for stâ—e caned p. 10 fleamthicke for fleâ—n c lhiere p 13. 〈…〉 for her p 1 2 pence read 3 Pence p 33 the diuers for diuers ib wherwith 〈…〉 p 22 derelinquisti for derellquistr ibi fortaken for forgotten p. â—5 〈…〉 p 49 learne for leave p 51. continancy for continuance he had in p 57 〈…〉 for with all possible p 60 who indued for who was induâ—â— p 91. the 〈◊〉 prayer for the fasting and prayer they vsed verse 1. Lohn 9. math 11. 24. math 28. 12. 2. Cor. 13. 8. â—s 4. 20. â—â— 2. 11. â—th 9. 33. 34 12. 22. 〈◊〉 11. 14. act 20 27. â—al 111. 2. ver 8. 15. 21. 31 v. 11. psal 143 5. ps 111. 4 ps 91 4 psal 105 â— math 12. 30. this sheweth that the deuill transformed himselfe and appeared vnto them like an angell of â—ight in like sort William Somers had asore throat after the departur of the spirit Luke 11. 26. by the manner of meeting the 2 time and wordes vttered to him the 2 time it should seme rather to be the deuill in the liknes of an old woman This Kath Wright is a yong woman dwelling at a place called Bridgway lane not far distant from Blackwel more who about 14 yeres past being possesed was by prayet deliuered but is since repossesed 〈◊〉 like in my owne hearingâ— did Kat. VVright â—eing possessed Math. 21 43. who because he was an aduersari was made a comâ—issioneâ— with him 2 other Pet. Clerk Maâ—or Mâ—es Leigh officiall say I counter feited Such effects ac haue bine down by these parties possessed cannot proceed from the nature or skile of man how spirits being with out man do vexe him Iob. 2. 7. It is impossible for Satan being without man to haue the whole rule and disposition of the body math 15. 2 2. mark 9. 22. verse 17. 18. 22. Against the filie shift of pretended counterfeiting 14 ther