Page:Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy, 1655.djvu/150

 126 A Difcourfe,

the evil Spirit Afmodem in the wildernefs of the furtheft parts of Egypt, that he might be the more fafe.

Cahor. Ic had been more fafe for every man to have been without the evil Spirits ; whac therefore was the will of che heavenly Father concerning them?

Pollux:. Thac by the affiftance of che good Spirits, we might couragioufly wage continual war againfi the evil Spirits ; but being clothed with the harnefs of righteoufnefs, like valiant fouldiers we may gird our loyns with truth, and wichthe (heild of faith reuft and fight againfi all his darts.

Cattor. If we condefcend nnto chis warfare of Spirits, ic

feemeth good to inquire whether the Devils have power of

doing hurt, granted unto them by God ; or whether of them-

felves they can hurt afmuch as they pleafe ?

The devils Pollux. If the laft were true, who could compare the end

are the of their hurting ? but it is very manifeft, that their authority

Princes of f rom on high is of fo great exigency, that John the Evange-

t c eauh. ]jft d ou bteth not to name the Devils the Princes of the

earth.

Caftor. In what manner therefore do they hurt? Pollux. Although they be moft mighty and powerful Spirits, yet they can do no hurt unlefs it be by permiffion ; or,as Da- mafcenm faithjZTy difpenfation.hnd ChryfoFtome faith,7Z?<y have a limited power ; for trucly without the will of God, they cannot touch a hair of any mans head. The Devil could not have de- ceived the Prophets of Ahab^ if he had not received power from God ; neither could he have brought any detriment uponjo^either unto his body or his goods^but by the power God had given him. In the 7 of EAWwthe Magicians made Frogs and Serpents by the power of the Devil permiffively; but Lice they could not bring forth,by reafon of the greater power of God prohibiting them. Neither in the Gofpel could the Devils hurt the Swine until Chrift had given them leave.

Caflor. Therefore the Devil is not fo much to be feared, but the Lord our God, that either he would not furfer him to rage againfi us ; or if at any time by his own determinate

counfel

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