The World Possessed with Devils Part 2, Title page – Summary
THE SECOND PART OF THE DEMONIACKE VVORLDE, or worlde possessed with Diuels, conteining three Dialogues:
1. Of Familiar Diuels.
2. Of Lunaticke Diuels.
3. Of the coniuring of Diuels.
Translated out of French into English by T. S. Gentleman.
❧ Imprinted at London for Iohn Perin, and are to bee solde in Paules Churchyard, at the signe of the Angel.
1583.
¶ To the right worshipful Sir Iohn Higham, Knight, increase of al heauenly and Spirituall giftes, to the aduauncing of the glorie of God, and the benefiting of his Church: together, increase of true worldly Worship here in this life, and in the world to come, perfect blisse and felicitie for euer.
HAuing once purposed with my selfe (Right Worshipfull) to hauehave put into our Englishe tongue, certeine French Dialogues of M. Peter Viret his setting forth, a man known to the world, to hauehave bin in his time singulerly wel learned, & very godly, and such a one, as hath published many other books, to the glory of God and benefit of his Church to all posterity to come: and being preuented of three of them, by reason they were gotten into their English liuery, before such time as I tooke them in hād: I was therfore eftsoones driuen to bee contented, with the finishing of these last three: the Dialogues are sixe in number, & by mine author intituled by a generall name, called The Demoniacke worlde: Or the world, possessed with Diuels: giuing besides, to eche Dialougue, his seuerall title also, as by the reading ouer of thē, maye well appeare. The Arguments are very pretie, and the handling of them (in my poore opinion) well worthy the reading, and both pleasant, and profible. Insomuch (Sir) as that when I hadde made an ende of these three, minding to make choyse of some sufficient Patrone whiche were of good worship, and of power able, in knowledge both in diuinity and humanitie wise, and in zeale and affection, willing and forwarde about the aduancing of the glory of God, especially in the cause of true and sounde religion, for the shielding of this my simple trauell: called to remembrance (amōgst the rest of such Gentlemen as I was acquainted withall) your worship, to whom I might addresse the same: hauing therwith this confidēce, that you will moste willingly patronize and defend it. And heereuppon, humbly crauing pardon for this my boldnesse, I cease to trouble you with ouer many wordes, committing you and al yours to the tuition of the most high.
Your VV. most humble in the Lord. Tho. Stocker. London the 25. of March. 1583.
The Title and Summe of the fourth Dialogue.
THis fourth Dialogue is intituled, Familiar Diuels, because it maketh mention of the subtleties wherby Sathan persecuteth the Gospel, vnderunder shewe of friendship and familiarity to the seruants of God. These Diuels are of the kind of those which before I called White Diuels, and therefore they may very well bee placed alike. And as for the matters here treated of in this Dialogue, there is mention made of the contradiction, that is in the Diuel, and the wicked: Of the commendation which they giuegive to the good to an euil end. And contrariwise, how they discommend and dishonour al such as praise and honour Christ, his seruants, and Gospel.
The manner howe the Papistes honour the Gospel, and of the true honour, or dishonour that may be done to the same.
The honour that the enimies of Christian discipline doe to the Gospel, whiche they professe only in the lippes.
The Sorceresses diuel of Philippi.
The praise and commendation which the Diuel giueth to the ministery and ministers of the Gospel.
The meanes wherewith the Diuel vseth to fight against the Gospel.
The Diuel transfigured into an Angell of light.
Of the troth which the Diuel may speake, and how we ought to iudge of the troth.
Of the feigned friendship that certeine shorne hypocritical Balamites shewe vntounto the gospel, that they might thereby hinder the course thereof.
What fauourable accusations the enemies of the Gospel are woonted to vse against the true seruants of God.
Of the diuers and sundry false shewes whiche the Diuel maketh.
What good affection the wicked beare vntounto God and good men.
Of the charitie of Iudas.
With what colour the mainteiners of Antichrist vse to colour their false religion.
What iolly shiftes they hauehave, that glory of the profession of the Gospel, and yet followe the old manner of Poperie.
How they condemne the Gospel, before they know any cause why.
The fayned friendship which the enemies of the truth vse towards Princes.
What fauour the wicked find among magistrates.
What regard Magistrates ought to hauehave to Backbiters & slaunderers.
What greate mischiefe is ordinarily done vntounto the seruantes of God.
What the causes are why men cannot abide nor away with the seruantes of God.
The iudgement of God for our vnthankfulnes of despising & hating of the troth: & of the power and force of illusion and errour.
What the causes are, why we rather follow lyes then trueth.
The lets that hinder vsus from the knowledge of the truth.
What kind of men they bee, vntounto whom, Iesus Christ is a teacher and a Schoolemaister.
The Preseruatiues against error and false doctrine.