The Sinful Shameful Lying and Ridiculous Discourse of Samuel Harshnet, Treatise · Book 1 · Chapter 5
OF. CHAPTER 5.
How M. Darrell knewe Som. and the reſt, to be poſſeſſed.
M. Darrell affirmeth that Chriſt did not ordeyne any meanes to know who was poſſeſſed in the apoſtls time:pag. 2, 7. but left that to be diſcerned by the maner of theire ſitts, and ſo ſraming his iudgment accordingly, he ſaith: that the only meanes whereby now men are deſcerned to be poſſeſſed, are: the ſignes which are mentioned in the ſcriptures.
I neither doe nor did ſay that the Apoſtles did by no other way or meanes diſcerne who were poſſeſſed, then by the manner of their vexation by ſathan, which he calleth heere the manner of their fits, for it may be that ſome times they knewe ſomuch by ſome preſent and extraordinary guift,act…s 26, 26. and ſo it is likely that Paule knew the Pythoneſſe to be poſſeſſed, and therefore I ſaide that the only meanes whereby NOW men are diſcerned &c. but this is it I ſay, that Chriſt did not ordeyne any ſuch meanes, for then we ſhoulde hauehave it in the Scriptures, and ſuch ordinance there I dare be bould to ſay we hauehave none. Beſids what needs Chriſt to hauehave ordeyned any other meanes for the diſceerning of the poſſeſſed, ſeeing by their manner of handling in theyre fits it was ſo manifeſt, and a difeaſe ſo eaſy to be knowne, that the comon people, yea euen the ſimple women could diſcerne thereof, as hath before bene ſhewed?vers. 10. yea but ſaith the Diſ. there is ſuch an ordinance: for in the 1. to the Cor. Chap. 12. among other guifts, there is mention of one, called diſcretio ſpirituum, the diſcerning, of ſpirites: which ſaith the Diſ. was a meaſure of gods ſpirit to diſcerne betwixt counterfeyts, and ſuch as were indeede poſſeſſed. math. 7. 15. math. 24 24. & vers. 11.But we muſt knowe that the holy ghoſt meaneth hereby an other manner of guift. (u) Beware (ſaith Chriſt) of falſe prophets, which come to you inſheepes cloathing but inwardly are rau…ning wolu…s. … cor. 11. 13. chap. 4. 1.And againe * thore ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſtes, and falſe prophets, and ſhall ſhew greate ſignes and wonders, ſo that yf it were poſſible they ſhould deceaue the … elect, And S. Paule ſpeaketh of (v) falſe Apoſt les which were deceiptfull workers, tranſforming, themſelues into the Apoſtles of Chriſt: and of Sathan his miniſters, tranſforming themſelues as though they were the miniſters of righteouſnes. And S. Iohn ſaith thus: Dearly beloued, beleue not eueryevery ſpirit, but try the ſpirits whether they are of god: for many falſe prophets are gone out into this world. All theſe beare the world in hand that they hauehave the ſpirit of god, and teach the truth, or true and only way to ſaluation, whereby they deceaue many, and yet it is not ſo.1 T…. 4. 6. 1. Tim, 4. 1. He now that is in-abled of god to diſcerne the falſe prophets, and falſe Chriſts, from the true, and put difference betwene (v) the ſpirit of truth, and * the ſpirit of error: he I ſay and all they hauehave this guift, called the diſcerning of ſpirits: which is common to all the elect. But he that herein hath an excellency and ſharpnes to diſcerne the ſame aboue others, may fitly be ſaid, and I thinke moſt properly, to hauehave this guift, In this guift Peter (as it is probable.) excelled Philip in diſcerning of Symon Magus. This guift they alſo may be ſaid to hauehave, which can beſt diſcerne betwene thoſe who though they preach the truth,1 tim. 1. 4. & 4. 7, & 6. 20 2 tim. 2. 14, 16, 23. titus. 3. & 1. tim. 6, 3, 4. 5. yet they mingle the ſame with vayne and vnprofitable doctrines (which Paule calleth fables, prophane & ould wyues fables, prophane & vaine bablings, foliſh & vnlearned queſtion…c…. bidding vsus to ſtay ſuch doctrines, to put away ſuch, to auoyd ſuch, and to ſeperate our ſelues from ſuch teachers:) and thoſe which be good and profitable vntounto men, the wholeſome words of our, Lord Ieſus Chriſt, & the doctrines which be according to godlynes. This is it that the ſpirit of god meaneth by the diſcerning of ſpirits, and not a guift or meaſure of god's ſpirit, whoreby to diſcerne betwene counterfeyts, and ſuch as were inder depoſſeſſed, which neuer any dreamed of before the. Diſco…erer. And no maruaile. For there is no ſuch difficulty to diſcerne betwene counterfeyts and the poſſeſſed indeede. VVhoſoeuer looketh into the goſpell and conſidereth of the manner of their vexation by Sathan, who are there ſaide to hauehave bene poſſeſſed may eaſily knowe when one is poſſeſſed. No phiſitian can ſo eaſily and ſurely diſcerne the diſeaſe of his patient by pulſe, vryne, and other ſignes: as a chriſtian man of vnderſtanding, may by the ſignes of Sathan his poſſeſſing one, diſcerne of poſſeſſion. And reaſon will teach men to diſcerne of counterfeyting viz. whether. thoſe thinges they behould can poſſibly come … ther from nature, or arte.
It is alſo to be obſerued that the Diſ. ſpeaketh of the time: paſt, and not of the time preſent: I would be known… (ſaith …e) what that guift WAS, he doth not ſay, what that guift is, and againe, … to diſcerne betwixt counterfeyts, and ſuch as WERE poſſeſſed, he ſaith not ſuch as are poſſeſſed: whereby it is playne that in his opvnion th… guift whereof he ſpeaketh is gone, ſo that none is now able to diſcerne betwene a counterfeyt, and one poſſeſſed. Howe is it then that the Diſ. taketh it vponupon him to iudge that Somers and the reſt be coun…terfeyts. VVhat fooles doth the Diſ. make of men? and what a difficult thing is it forſooth to iudge in this caſe? Surely he thinketh th… none can be now poſſeſſed, and then no maruaile though his guift b… withered, for to ſay (men at this day being poſſeſſed) that none … deſcerne, whither they counterfeyte or no, it is too abſurd to ſpeak… of.