Sith we know these things, let vs in no wise beléeue the diuel, nay rather if he say any thing that is truth, let vs flée from him and shunne him. For it is not lawfull exactly to learne sounde and wholesome doctrine of diuels, but out of the holy scriptures.
That you may therfore know that it can in no wise be, that a soule once departed out of the bodie can come vnder the tyrannie of the diuell, heare what S. =Paule= saith: For he that is dead is iustified from sinne, that is, he sinneth no more. For if the diuil can do no hurt vnto the soule while it is in the bodie, it is euident, he cannot hurt it when it is departed out of the bodie. &c. By all these things it is plaine, what manner of things those are which are heard and séene.
The third parte of this Booke, in which is shewed, why, or to what ende God suffereth Spirits to appeare, and other straunge thinges to happen: as also howe men ought to _behaue themselues when they meete with any suche things_.
God by the appearing of Spirits doth exercise the faithfull, and punish the vnbeleeuers.
It foloweth now hereafter to be intreated of, why God suffreth spirits, ghosts, and horrible sightes to appeare, &c. And also why he doth permit other straunge and miraculous things to happen: And furthermore, how men ought to behaue themselues when they sée anye suche things.
[Sidenote: Causes why God suffereth spirites to appeare.]
God doth suffer spirits to appeare vnto his elect, vnto a good ende, but vnto the reprobate they appeare as a punishment. And as all other things turne to the best vnto yͤ faithfull, euen so doo these also: for if they be good spirits, which appeare vnto men, warning, and defending them, therby do they gather the care, prouidence, and fatherly affection of God towardes them. But in case they bee euill spirites, (as for the most part they are) the faithfull are moued by occasion of them vnto true repentance. They looke diligently vnto themselues so long as they liue, least the enimie of mankinde, who is readie at all assaies, and lieth alwaies in waight, should bring them into mischiefe, and take further vauntage to vexe and hurt them. God also by these meanes doeth exercise and trie their faith and pacience, to the end they continue in his word, and receiue nothing contrary to the same, haue it neuer so faire a shewe, nor do any manner of thing against his worde, although those spirites do not straightwayes cease to vexe them.