An antilogie or counterplea to An apologicall (he should haue said) apologeticall epistle published by a fauorite of the Romane separation, and (as is supposed) one of the Ignatian faction wherein two hundred vntruths and slaunders are discouered, and many politicke obiections of the Romaines answered. Dedicated to the Kings most excellent Maiestie by Andrevv Willet, Professor of Diuinitie.

The Reiection.

1. THe Protestants denie not, but that the lawes of Magistrates as touching external rites and obser∣uations doe binde in conscience, but not in regard of the things commaunded, which are of themselues indiffe∣rent, and touch not the conscience, as the prohibiting of eating of flesh, wearing of apparell, but in regard onely of our obedience due vnto the Magistrate in lawfull things. But concerning Princes lawes of things necessa∣rily appertaining to Gods seruice and the keeping of the commaundements, such doe simply binde in conscience, enioyning the same, and none other things which God commaundeth in his word. And this is that which is af∣firmed in Synopsis, which doctrine the aduersarie shall neuer bee able to disproue: and therefore he seeketh to obscure this truth by lying; being not ashamed to vtter here two great vntruths, as though it were affirmed, that Magistrates lawes doe not at all binde in conscience and secret, and as though the question were of all lawes, and not onely of externall rites and vsages, which are in their owne nature indifferent: for treasons and treacheries are directly contrarie to the law of God, and doe pollute the conscience: and such lawes doe binde absolutely in con∣science, both in respect of the particular thing comman∣ded, and of the generall rule of obedience.

2. Though Protestants teach, that onely faith doth iu∣stifie, yet they affirme not onely faith to be necessarie. And our opinion is, that iustifying faith cannot be with∣out fruites: that whereas there are no good workes there is no faith: neither was that euer a right faith, which ne∣uer brought foorth good workes. It is therefore a foolish consequent brought in by him: Protestants are iustified onely by faith: Ergo, felons, murthers, treasons may be

safely practised among them: for where these things are maintained there is no faith perceiued. Good fruits make not a tree good, but onely declare it to be good: doth it therefore follow, that it is no matter whether a good tree bring foorth fruite or not? nay, if it doe not, it is found to be no good tree. We say therefore with S. Paul, that they which haue beleeued should be carefull to shew forth good workes; these things are good and profitable to men. But this shall cleere our doctrine of iustification by faith onely from all suspition of treasons, treacheries, that these cur∣sed attempts are not to be found among the solifidian Protestants, but among the nullifidian Papists, who stan∣ding vpon the merite of their workes, make no consci∣ence (a great sort of them) to practise against their Prince and countrie, as it hath been more then twentie times in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth, attempted by Romish Priests, and Iudasites and their sectaries, and by Gods great mercie and watchfull prouidence discouered.

3. That law of reuersing precontracts by mariage con∣summate, was made in the Popish Church, and as yet the whole bodie of Popish religion remained in England, onely the Popes supremacie excepted, anno 32. Henric. 8. But it was reuersed vnder a Protestant Prince King Ed∣ward the 6. This exception tendeth rather to the disgrace of Poperie, then Protestancie. It is further a most impu∣dent forgerie, that the statute against precontracts was reuiued anno 1. Elizabeth: onely so much is reuiued, as was repealed by Queene Marie, as touching other pro∣hibitions of mariage, not that which was reuoked by King Edward. The practise also of the Church sheweth the same, where a sound and lawfull precontract is ad∣mitted, against an vsurped mariage though consummate. As for mariage after diuorce for fornication, where Christ hath giuen a libertie againe to marrie, it ought not to be restrained for feare of any ensuing inconuenience, least man should seeme to be wiser then God. And yet grea∣ter daunger is feared, and more mischiefe like to be in∣tended,

where mariage vpon diuorce is denied, then where it is admitted: for there, one partie being a conti∣nuall offence to another, they shall be constrained to liue vnchastly and incontinently, or tempted to practise one against the life of another, that the yoke may be loosed: whereas when a second mariage, where the iustnes of the cause to the Magistrate is approued, is graunted, the fore∣said daungers, are the one helped, the other preuented. Augustine thus resolueth: Potius vxore viuente aliam ducat quis, quam humanum sanguinem fundat: It were better for a man to marrie another, his first wife liuing, then to shed blood. And Ambrose concludeth perempto∣rily: Viro licet vxorem ducere si dimiserit vxorem peccan∣tem: It is lawfull for the man to marrie a wife, hauing dis∣missed the first for her offence against mariage.

Thus it is apparant, with what weapons our aduersa∣ries fight, with slaunders, wrestings, misreports. But as the law is, Testi non iurato non credendum: A man is not to be credited, not speaking vpon his oth: So this fellow is not to be trusted, who I am sure, would hardly sweare, vnlesse his conscience bee cauterised, these things to bee true, which here he hath obiected. I remember Augustine wri∣ting to Hierome, commendeth the faithfulnes of one Ci∣prianus, that caried his letters: Non illi diligentia deerit in custodiendis rescriptis, alacritas in perferendis, nec fides in reddendis: He wanteth not neither diligence in keeping my rescripts, nor cheerefulnes in carying them, nor trust in deliuering them. But this talebearer in reporting of Protestants opinions wanteth all these: he is neither di∣ligent in vnderstanding them, nor willing to remember them, nor faithfull in rehearsing them. Where he would foyle others, he sheweth his owne follie; where he would blame vs, he shameth himselfe: he pretendeth to accuse others, and had more neede himselfe to be excused: much like to the souldier, that Cato so much misliketh, which in walking vseth his hands, and in fighting his feete: when he should in walking stirre his feete he vseth his hands, and when in fighting he should exercise his hands

he runneth away with his feete: So playeth this freshwa∣ter souldier, when he should lay on sound stroakes in tel∣ling the truth, he runneth on with fables, thinking so to carrie all before him.

Notes

• How Magi∣strates lawes bind in con∣science.
• Synops. cont. 4. qu. 7. part. 1.
• Faith iustifieth▪ alone, but must not be▪ alone.
• Tit. 3.8.
• The law of precontracts whether in force.

  A great vn∣truth.
• Matth. 5.32. except for for∣nication: and Matth. 19.9.
• Whether ma∣riage after di∣uorce for for∣nication be lawfull.
• Caus. 33. qu. 2. c. 9.
• Ambros. in 1. Cor. c. 7.
• Cod. lib. 4. tit. 20. leg. 8. Con∣stantin.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.