though some part of France and Ireland, Great Britain, half the cantons in Switzerland, and the Low Countries, be Calvinists, more defecate than the rest, yet at odds amongst themselves, not free from superstition.  And which [6365]Brochard, the monk, in his description of the Holy Land, after he had censured the Greek church, and showed their errors, concluded at last, Faxit Deus ne Latinis multa irrepserint stultifies, I say God grant there be no fopperies in our church.  As a dam of water stopped in one place breaks out into another, so doth superstition.  I say nothing of Anabaptists, Socinians, Brownists, Familists, &c.  There is superstition in our prayers, often in our hearing of sermons, bitter contentions, invectives, persecutions, strange conceits, besides diversity of opinions, schisms, factions, &c.  But as the Lord (Job xlii. cap. 7. v.) said to Eliphaz, the Temanite, and his two friends, “his wrath was kindled against them, for they had not spoken of him things that were right:”  we may justly of these schismatics and heretics, how wise soever in their own conceits, non recte loquuntur de Deo, they speak not, they think not, they write not well of God, and as they ought.  And therefore, Quid quaeso mi Dorpi, as Erasmus concludes to Dorpius, hisce Theologis faciamus, aut quid preceris, nisi forte fidelem medicum, qui cerebro medeatur?  What shall we wish them, but sanam mentem, and a good physician?  But more of their differences, paradoxes, opinions, mad pranks, in the symptoms:  I now hasten to the causes.

SUBSECT.  II.—­Causes of Religious melancholy.  From the Devil by miracles, apparitions, oracles.  His instruments or factors, politicians, Priests, Impostors, Heretics, blind guides.  In them simplicity, fear, blind zeal, ignorance, solitariness, curiosity, pride, vainglory, presumption, &c. his engines, fasting, solitariness, hope, fear, &c.

We are taught in Holy Scripture, that the “Devil rangeth abroad like a roaring lion, still seeking whom he may devour:”  and as in several shapes, so by several engines and devices he goeth about to seduce us; sometimes he transforms himself into an angel of light; and is so cunning that he is able, if it were possible, to deceive the very elect.  He will be worshipped as [6366]God himself, and is so adored by the heathen, and esteemed.  And in imitation of that divine power, as [6367]Eusebius observes, [6368]to abuse or emulate God’s glory, as Dandinus adds, he will have all homage, sacrifices, oblations, and whatsoever else belongs to the worship of God, to be done likewise unto him, similis erit altissimo, and by this means infatuates the world, deludes, entraps, and destroys many a thousand souls.  Sometimes by dreams, visions (as God to Moses by familiar conference), the devil in several shapes talks with them:  in the [6369]Indies it is common, and in China nothing so familiar as apparitions, inspirations, oracles,