plague us by his creatures, sun, moon, and stars, which he useth as his instruments, as a husbandman (saith Zanchius) doth a hatchet:  hail, snow, winds, &c. [1112]_Et conjurati veniunt in classica venti_:  as in Joshua’s time, as in Pharaoh’s reign in Egypt; they are but as so many executioners of his justice.  He can make the proudest spirits stoop, and cry out with Julian the Apostate, Vicisti Galilaee:  or with Apollo’s priest in [1113]Chrysostom, O coelum! o terra! unde hostis hic?  What an enemy is this?  And pray with David, acknowledging his power, “I am weakened and sore broken, I roar for the grief of mine heart, mine heart panteth,” &c.  Psalm xxxviii. 8.  “O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chastise me in thy wrath,” Psalm xxxviii. 1.  “Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice,” Psalm li. 8. and verse 12.  “Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and stablish me with thy free spirit.”  For these causes belike [1114]Hippocrates would have a physician take special notice whether the disease come not from a divine supernatural cause, or whether it follow the course of nature.  But this is farther discussed by Fran.  Valesius, de sacr. philos. cap. 8. [1115] Fernelius, and [1116]J.  Caesar Claudinus, to whom I refer you, how this place of Hippocrates is to be understood.  Paracelsus is of opinion, that such spiritual diseases (for so he calls them) are spiritually to be cured, and not otherwise.  Ordinary means in such cases will not avail:  Non est reluctandum cum Deo (we must not struggle with God.) When that monster-taming Hercules overcame all in the Olympics, Jupiter at last in an unknown shape wrestled with him; the victory was uncertain, till at length Jupiter descried himself, and Hercules yielded.  No striving with supreme powers. Nil juvat immensos Cratero promittere montes, physicians and physic can do no good, [1117]"we must submit ourselves unto the mighty hand of God,” acknowledge our offences, call to him for mercy.  If he strike us una eademque manus vulnus opemque feret, as it is with them that are wounded with the spear of Achilles, he alone must help; otherwise our diseases are incurable, and we not to be relieved.

SUBSECT.  II.—­A Digression of the nature of Spirits, bad Angels, or Devils, and how they cause Melancholy.

How far the power of spirits and devils doth extend, and whether they can cause this, or any other disease, is a serious question, and worthy to be considered:  for the better understanding of which, I will make a brief digression of the nature of spirits.  And although the question be very obscure, according to [1118]Postellus, “full of controversy and ambiguity,” beyond the reach of human capacity, fateor excedere vires intentionis meae, saith [1119]Austin, I confess I am not able to understand it, finitum de infinito non potest statuere, we can sooner determine with Tully, de nat. deorum,