For if they be good Angels which shew themselues vnto vs, then are they sent vnto vs from God, to a good ende and purpose. But if they be wicked and euill, they can do vs no harme be they neuer so desirous, excepte God giue them leaue thereto. If it be nothing but a vaine imagination that we haue, or an idle sight obiected vnto our eies, surely it is great follie to be any thing afraid. In déed it is naturall vnto vs, to be amazed with feare when we sée suche things: for very godly menne, as we read both in the olde and newe Testament, were stricken with excéeding feare when they sawe good Angels, but yet a man must pull vp his heart againe. When Christes Disciples sawe their Maister walking vpon the water, and approching neare the shippe, they thought they sawe a spirite, and they were astonished, and cried out through feare. But the Lorde saide vnto them, be of good comforte, it is I, be not afraide.
Luke .24.
The like is reade in the foure and twentie Chapter of Saint Luke, when he appeared vnto them after his resurrection, and sawe that they were maruellously afraid. Matth. 10. Matthew the 10. Feare not saithe Christ, those whiche slay the bodie, but cannot kill the soule, but rather stande in awe of him, who can cast both bodie and soule into hell fire. The Diuell would like it well, if we would alwaies stand in feare of him.
Be not dismaide, although thou heare some spirit stir and make a noise, for in case hee rumble onely to make thée afraide, care not for him, but lette him rumble so long as he will, for if he sée thée without feare, hée will soone depart from thée. And if thou thinke good, thou maiest boldly say vnto him, get thée hence with a mischiefe thou wicked Diuell, thou hast nothing to do with me, who haue sette my onely beléefe in Christ Iesu my Sauiour.
I am owner of this house, and not thou, vnto whome there is an other place appointed. &c. If he perceiue yͭ there is no feare or dreade of him, and that his bustling is not estéemed, he will not continue long time. I will make this matter manifest with a similitude, which is well knowne. There be certaine men, which if they thinke other men stande in feare of them, they make wise to drawe their sworde, and sometimes two they draw it, and strike the stones therewith, chafing and swearing lustily: But if they knowe their aduersaries haue a good courage, and that (if néede require) they will fight it out stoutly, they will quickly put vp their sworde into their scabberde. In like manner, if the Diuill sée thou art of a good stomacke, and well armed with Gods worde, he will soone séeke after others whome he may mocke with feare.
But if it please God to exercise thée by the Deuill for a certaine time, as he did sometime Iob, thou must patiently suffer all things which he laieth vppon thée, and that willingly for Gods commaundement sake. And knowe thou well, that he cannot thus much hurt, neither thy goods, nor bodie, nor soule, without the permissiō and sufferance of Almightie God: if God giue him leaue to plague thy bodie, thinke with thy selfe howe so euer it be done, that God hath so doone for thy profitte and commoditie, who also sendeth gréeuous sicknesses vppon other men, by other meanes & instruments, or else doth exercise them with other kindes of calamities. Be therefore strong and constant in faith, yet lette euery one beware of boldnesse, temeritie, and headdie rashnesse.
Christ hath conquered the diuel.
Luke 11.
Iohn.12.16.