The Theater of Gods Judgments, Book 1 · Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX. Of those that by cursing and denying God give themselves to the Devill.
AS concerning those that are addicted to much cursing, and as if their throats were Hell it selfe, to despightings and reviling against God (that is blessed for ever) and are so mad as to renounce him, and give themselves to the Devill: truely they worthily deserve to be forsaken of God, and given over to the Devill indeed, to go with him into everlasting perdition: which hath been visibly experienced in our time upon certaine wretched persons, which have been carried away by that wicked spirit to whom they gave themselves.
There was upon a time in Germany, a certain naughty packe of a most Luther upon the' 15. chap. of the 1 Ep. to the Corinth.wicked life, and so evill brought up, that at every word he spake almost, the Devill was at one end; if walking he chanced to tread awry, or to stumble, presently the Devill was in his mouth: whereof albeit he was many times reproved by his neighbors, and exhorted to correct and amend so vile and detestable a vice, yet all was in vaine: continuing therefore this evill and damnable custome, it happened, that as he was upon a time passing over a bridge, he fell downe, and in his fall gave these speeches, Hoist up with an hundred Devils: which he had no sooner spoken, bat the Devill whom he called for so oft, was at his elbow to strangle him, and carry him away with him.
A certain souldier travelling through Marchia, a country of Almaigne, Wirius 3 Book chap. 17. of the delusion of spirits.and finding himselfe evill at ease in his journey, abode in an Inne till hee might recover his health, and committed to the hostesses custody certaine money which he had about him. Now a while after being recovered of his sicknesse, required his money againe; but she having consulted with her husband, denied the receit, and therefore the returne thereof; and accused him of wrong, in demanding that which she never received: The souldier on the other side fretted amaine, and accused her of cousenage: Which stir when the goodman of the house understood (though privy to all before) yet dissembling, tooke his wives part, and thrust the souldier out of doors: who being throughly cha…ed with that indignity, drew his sword, and ran at the doore with the point hereof: whereat the host began to cry, Theeves, theeves, saying that he would have entred his house by force: so that the poore souldier was taken and cast into prison, and by processe of law ready to be condemned to death: but the very day wherein this hard sentence was to be pronounced and executed, the Devill entred into the prison, and told the souldier that he was condemned to die; howbeit neverthelesse if hee would giuegive himselfe bodie and soule unto him, he would promise to deliuer him out of their hands: the prisoner answering, said, That he had rather die being innocent, and without cause, than to be delivered by that meanes: againe the divell replied, and propounded unto him the great danger wherein he was, yea and used all cunning meanes possible to perswade him: but seeing that he lost his labour, he at length left his suit, and promised him both helpe, and revenge upon his enemies, and that for nothing: advising him moreover when he came to judgement, to plead not guiltie, and to declare his innocencie and their wrong, and to intreat the Iudge to grant him one in a blew cap that stood by to be his advocate: (now this one in a blew cap was the Divell himselfe) the souldier accepting his offer, being called to the barre, and indicted there of Felonie, presently desired to have his Atturney, who was there present to plead his cause: then began the fine and craftie Doctor of the lawes to plead, and defend his client verie cunningly, affirming him to be falsly accused, and consequently unjustly condemned, and that his host did withhold his mony and had offered him violence, and to prove his assertion he reckoned up every circumstance in the action, yea the verie place were they had hidden the mony. The host on the other side stood in deniall very impudently, wishing the divell might take him if he had it: then the subtill lawyer in the blew cap, looking for no other vantage, left pleading, and fell to lay hold of the host, and carrying him out of the Sessions house, hoisted him into the ayre so high, that he was never after seen nor heard of. And thus was the souldier delivered from the execution of the law most strangely, to the astonishment of all the beholders, that were eye witnesses of that which happened to the for sworne and cursing host.
In the yere of our Lord 1551, at Megalopole neer Voildstat, it happened Iohn Wierus.in the time of the celebration of the feast of Pentecost▪ the people being set on drikingng and carousing, that a woman in the company commonly named the Devill in her oathes; till that he being so often called on, came of a sudden, and carried her through the gate aloft into the ayre before them all, who ran out astonished to see whither he would transport her, and found her a while hanging in the ayre without the towne, and then falling downe upon the ground dead.
About the same time there lived in a City of Savoy one that was both a monstrous swearer, & also otherwise very vicious, who put many good men to much fruitlesse paines, that in regard of their charge employed themselves often to admonish and reprove his wicked behaviour, to the end he might amend it: but all in vaine, they might as well cast stones against the wind; for he would not so much as listen to their words, much lesse reforme his manners. Now it fell out that the Pestilence being in the City, he was infected with it, and therefore withdrew himselfe a part with his wife & another kinswoman into a garden which he had: neither yet in this extremity did the Ministers forsake him, but ceased not continually to exhort him to repentance, and to lay before his eyes his faults and offences to the end to bring him into the right way. But he was so farre from being touched or moved with these godly admonitions, that he strove rather to harden himselfe more and more in his sinnes. Therefore one day hasting forward his owne mishap, as hee was swearing and denying God, and giving himselfe to the Devill, and calling for him with vehehemency, behold even the Devill indeed snatched him up suddenly, and heaved him into the aire, his wife and kinswoman looking on, and seeing him fly over their heads. Being thus swiftly transported, his cap tumbled from his head, and was found at Rosne; but himselfe no man could ever after set eye on. The magistrate advertised hereof, came to the place where he was taken, to be better informed of the truth, taking the witnesse of the two women touching that which they had seene. Here may wee see the strange and terrible events of Gods just vengeance upon such vile caitifes; which doubtlesse are made manifest to strike a feare and terrour into the heart of every swearer and denier of God (the world being but too full at this day of such wretches) that are so inspired with Satan, that they cannot speake but they must name him, even him that is both an enemy to God and man, and like a roaring lion runneth and roveth too and fro to devoure them: not seeking any thing but mans destruction. And yet when any paine assaileth them, or any trouble disquieteth their minds, or any danger threateneth to oppresse their bodies, desperately they call upon him for aid, when indeed it were more needfull to commend themselves to God, and to pray for his grace and assistance, having both a commandement so to doe, and a promise adjoyned, that he will help us in our necessities, if we come unto him by true and hearty prayer. It is not therefore without just cause, that God hath propounded and laid open in this corrupt age, a Theatre of his Iudgements, that every man might be warned thereby.