and thereupon the Lord granted it to the devils.
Then they [entered] into the swine, and they all became mad,
and ran to the sea, and forthwith were drowned.
The devil cannot hurt men without God's permission,
nor mar their property, since he could not go
even into the swine, unless the Saviour permitted him.
If the devil vexeth us or destroyeth our property,
then it so betideth us for [one of] two reasons;
either God so punisheth our perverse deeds,
or He proveth us through the peril,
and the fiend shall vanish away from us,
if we be steadfast in our faith,
and Christ shall drive him away that he shall not harm us,
if we humbly endure the persecution,
and ever thank God without murmuring.
Nevertheless it will all happen to us for good,
if we be patient and thank our Lord,
and in the trial pray for His assistance,
who can always easily deliver us
from all perils of fiendish temptations.
Medicine is granted for bodily infirmity,
and holy prayers, with God's blessing;
and all other aids are hateful to God,
even as Paul wrote, saying these words,
'Ye cannot drink both our Lord's chalice
and the devil's cup to the death of your souls;'
and our Lord said, that ' a man cannot please
two masters at once, lest be should despise one;'
neither can we please both Christ and the devil.
Now some men say that it must happen to them
