hin them: And such an ironie hardnes of his sinnowes so
stiffelie bended out, that it were not possible to prick out as it were
the skinne of anie other person so far: so mightely works the Deuil in all
the members and senses of his body, he being locallie within the same,
suppose of his soule and affectiones thereof, hee haue no more power then
of any other mans. The last is, the speaking of sundrie languages, which
the patient is knowen by them that were acquainte with him neuer to haue
learned, and that with an vncouth and hollowe voice, and al the time of
his speaking, a greater motion being in his breast then in his mouth. But
fra this last symptome is excepted such, as are altogether in the time of
their possessing bereft of al their senses being possessed with a dumme
and blynde spirite, whereof Christ releiued one, in the 12. of _Mathew_.
And as to your next demande, it is first to be doubted if the _Papistes_
or anie not professing the the onelie true Religion, can relieue anie of
that trouble. And next, in-case they can, vpon what respectes it is
possible vnto them. As to the former vpon two reasons, it is grounded:
first that it is knowen so manie of them to bee counterfite, which wyle
the Clergie inuentes for confirming of their rotten Religion. The next is,
that by experience we finde that few, who are possessed indeede, are
fullie cured by them: but rather the Deuill is content to release the
bodelie hurting of them, for a shorte space, thereby to obteine the
perpetual hurt of the soules of so many that by these false miracles may
be induced or confirmed in the profession of that erroneous Religion: euen
as I told you before that he doth in the false cures, or casting off of
diseases by Witches. As to the other part of the argument in-case they
can, which rather (with reuerence of the learned thinking otherwaies) I am
induced to beleeue, by reason of the faithfull report that men sound of
religion, haue made according to their sight thereof, I think if so be, I
say these may be the respectes, whereupon the _Papistes_ may haue that
power. CHRIST gaue a commission and power to his Apostles to cast out
Deuilles, which they according thereunto put in execution: The rules he
bad them obserue in that action, was fasting and praier: & the action it
selfe to be done in his name. This power of theirs proceeded not then of
anie vertue in them, but onely in him who directed them. As was clearly
proued by _Iudas_ his hau