Chapter XXVI.

Why may not those who go into the temptations of the show become accessible also to evil spirits? We have the case of the woman—the Lord Himself is witness—who went to the theatre, and came back possessed. In the outcasting,23    [The exorcism. For the exorcism in Baptism, see Bunsen, Hippol. iii. 19.] accordingly, when the unclean creature was upbraided with having dared to attack a believer, he firmly replied,24    See Neander’s explanation in Kaye, p. xxiii. But, let us observe the entire simplicity with which our author narrates a sort of incident known to the apostles. Acts xvi. 16.] “And in truth I did it most righteously, for I found her in my domain.” Another case, too, is well known, in which a woman had been hearing a tragedian, and on the very night she saw in her sleep a linen cloth—the actor’s name being mentioned at the same time with strong disapproval—and five days after that woman was no more. How many other undoubted proofs we have had in the case of persons who, by keeping company with the devil in the shows, have fallen from the Lord! For no one can serve two masters.25    Matt. vi. 24. What fellowship has light with darkness, life with death?26    2 Cor. iv. 14.

CAPUT XXVI.

Cur ergo non ejusmodi etiam daemoniis penetrabiles fiant? Nam et exemplum accidit, Domino 0657B teste, ejus mulieris quae theatrum adiit, et inde cum daemonio rediit. Itaque in exorcismo cum oneraretur immundus spiritus, quod ausus esset fidelem aggredi: constanter et justissime quidem (inquit) feci, in meo eam inveni. Constat et alii linteum in somnis ostensum ejus diei nocte, qua tragoedum audierat, cum exprobratione nominato tragoedo, nec ultra quintum diem eam mulierem in saeculo fuisse. Quot utique et alia documenta cesserunt de his qui cum diabolo apud spectacula communicando a Domino exciderunt. Nemo enim potest duobus 0658Adominis servire (Matt., VI; II Cor. VI; Eccl., XXXIII). Quid luci cum tenebris? quid vitae et morti?