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 eight Perswasion.

* 1.11 I Defend not a religion &c. which separateth man from his God and creator by so many sinnes and iniquities, and yet hath no grace,* 1.2 no sacrament for men of reason and actuall offences,* 1.3 no meanes or preseruatiue to preuēt them &c. for that instrument of iustifying faith, which be no benefite vnto them,* 1.4 which by their owne grounds haue no faith at all.

2 But a religion, that hath in euery state a remedie for those that haue offended, for the state of all, till they come to such discretion and iudgement, as may be cause of sinne, the sacrament of baptisme, both taking originall offence away, and arming the soule against new and actuall infections.

* 1.53 To confirme the former grace &c. the sacrament of confirmation.

4 To feede and foster all estates, the sacrament of the most holie bodie and bloud of Christ.

5 The sacrament of penance for the cure and comfort of all offenders.

6 The sacrament of extreame vnction to auoide the relikes of sinne, and giue strength in that extremitie.

7 For particular helpes and assistance to particular states, particular sacraments: the sacrament of Orders and of Ma∣trimonie, &c.

The disswasion.

1. ANd wee defend a religion, which doth not sepa∣rate man from God (as this Libeller belieth it) but teacheth faith in Christ whereby wee are reconciled vnto God, and are at peace with him, Rom. 5.1. Not that re∣ligion, which separateth from God in destroying faith,* 1.6 which ioyneth vs to God, in teaching iustification by workes, whereby faith is euacuated: as the Apostle saith, Ye are euacuated from Christ, whosoeuer are iustified by the law, Galath. 5.4. But that religion, which preacheth faith in Iesus Christ, which is both a remedie for sinnes past in the remission of them: We are sanctified, and iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus, 1. Cor. 6.11. And a preseruatiue also from further offending: for the grace of God teacheth vs to denie vngodlines and worldly lusts, Tit. 2.12. Which faith for the remission of sinnes is sealed and confirmed in the most holie Communion;* 1.7 which the Popish sort denieth properly to be ordained for remission of sinnes: contra∣rie to the words of our Sauiour, who in the institution of this Sacrament, saith directly: this is the bloud of the new Testament, that is shed for many for remission of sinnes, Mat. 26.28. This faith is both preached and practised in this re∣ligion: which they vndoubtedly haue attained vnto, which haue beleeued, and are carefull to shew good workes, Ti∣tus 3.8. But this iustifying faith by the grounds of Popish religion cannot be had, seeing they teach, that for a man to be sure of his saluation by faith, is a faithlesse perswasion, and the faith of diuels: and yet such was S. Pauls faith,* 1.8 whereby he was perswaded, that nothing could separate him from the loue of God in Christ.

2. I maintaine a religion, which leaueth not infants

dying before baptisme,* 1.9 without remedie, and condem∣neth them to hell for the want thereof without their fault, as the Church of Rome doth: but euen comprehendeth such infants, being the seede of the faithfull, vnder the couenant of Gods grace, who hath promised; I will be thy God,* 1.10 and the God of thy seede: which maketh not Baptisme vnperfect, onely to serue for sinnes going before Bap∣tisme;* 1.11 but extendeth the efficacie thereof, as well to sins following after, as past before. For as Circumcision was a seale of the righteousnes of faith, Rom. 4.11. so likewise is Baptisme, by which through faith in the bloud of Christ, both our sinnes before and after Baptisme are forgiuen.

* 1.12Which doth not allow women▪ lay men, Turkes, Iewes and Infidels to baptize, as the Romanists doe: whereas Christ gaue this power onely to Ministers and teachers, Goe teach all nations,* 1.13 &c. baptizing them &c.

Which doth not prophane this Sacrament in bapti∣zing of Bels,* 1.14 as they doe: neither doth contaminate it with the humane additions of spittle, salt, oyle: Can any man forbid water (saith S. Peter) that these should not be bap∣tized?* 1.15 then they onely vsed water.

3. Which doth not bring in new Sacraments, not in∣stituted by Christ and his Apostles, as are those of Con∣firmation, Penance, extreame Vnction, Orders, Matrimo∣nie; but onely contenteth it selfe with two Sacraments of Christs ordaining, Baptisme and the Lords Supper, be∣cause we finde no more of Christs institution: which doth not adde more strength against the diuell, to their deuised sacrament of Confirmation,* 1.16 then to Baptisme a Sacra∣ment of Christs institution: neither giueth vertue to Chrisme,* 1.17 tempered of oyle and balme, with the signe of the crosse, which are but terrene and externall things, a∣gainst spirituall tentations, as they doe: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnall, 2. Corinth. 10.4. but exhorteth Christians to put on the whole armour of God, the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit, the word of God with the rest,* 1.18 whereby they may bee able to resist in the euill day: By this meanes is a faithfull man armed and confir∣med

against spirituall tentations.

4. That religion which mangleth not the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of Christ,* 1.19 robbing the faithfull communicants of the cup, the one part thereof: nor yet teacheth that wicked men doe eate the bodie of Christ: neither forceth the glorious bodie of Christ from heauen into the forme of a piece of bread: neither saith, that this sacrament was not ordained properly for remission of sinnes: neither that it is auaileable without the faith of the receiuer, by the action and worke it selfe done: all which positions the profession of the Romane sect main∣taineth: But which according to Christs institution ex∣hibiteth the holie Sacrament in both kindes of bread and wine, according to the first institution, Matth. 26.28. and teacheth onely the faithfull to be partakers by faith of Christs bodie and bloud: as our Sauiour saith:* 1.20 He that eateth me, shall liue by me, Ioh. 6.57. which affirmeth that Christs bodie is not in earth, but in heauen, Act. 3.21. And that the speciall vse of this Sacrament is to confirme our faith in Christ for the remission of sinnes, Matth. 26.28. and that (least men should be secure) it profiteth no man, vnlesse hee examine himselfe, whether he be in the faith, 1. Cor. 11.28.

5. That religion, which doth not enioyne men of ne∣cessitie to make confession of all their secret sinnes into the eares of the Priest, with an opinion to merit by it:* 1.21 nor yet imposeth vpon them penall workes,* 1.22 thereby to satis∣fie the iustice of God for the punishment due vnto their sinne: But which teacheth men to confesse vnto God: I acknowledge my sinne vnto thee,* 1.23 &c. and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne, Psal. 32.5. to challenge Gods mer∣cie, not our merits: According to the multitude of thy mer∣cies put away mine offences, Psal. 51.1. and to hope for satis∣faction to Godward onely in the death of Christ: He was wounded for our transgression, &c. with his stripes are we hea∣led, Isay. 53.5.

6. Which doth not imitate without ground the Apo∣stles annoynting of the sick with oyle, which was a signe

for that time of the miraculous gift of healing: for whom they anoynted, they healed, Mark. 6.13. Neither thinketh to cure spirituall maladies, with bodily bathings, as though the suppling of the bodie,* 1.24 were a supplie to the soule: neither doth it leaue the sicke remedilesse or com∣fortlesse, but prescribeth prayers to be vsed by the Elders and Ministers to be sent: for the prayer of faith shall saue the sicke, Iam. 5.15. and spirituall instruction and consola∣tion to be ministred, if there be a messenger with him to de∣clare vnto man his righteousnes, Iob. 34.23.

7. Which doth not appoint orders, to consecrate men to a blasphemous seruice to make the body of Christ, and to install them Priests of the order of Melchisedech (as that corporation doth) of which order of Priesthood is none but Christ,* 1.25 Psal. 110.4. Nor which maketh it no es∣sentiall part of their ministrie to bee able to teach and in∣struct the people:* 1.26 but especially requireth, that Ministers should be apt to teach, 1. Timot. 3.2. that they should be pastors and teachers, &c. for the edification of the bodie of Christ, E∣phes. 4.11.12. Neither doth it teach, that the grace of the spirit is actually conferred by orders: but that men set apart to this calling,* 1.27 not relying vpon their ordination, should take heed to themselues and vnto learning, there∣by both to saue themselues and their hearers. Which doth not denie the remedie of mariage to any condition of men,* 1.28 as the Romane seignorie doth to their Clergie, see∣ing the Apostle saith, Mariage is honourable among all men, Heb. 13.4. Neither doth it tie the grace of mariage, to the matrimoniall solemnitie (as this contradictor saith it giueth grace against the cares and difficulties of that con∣dition, pag. 27.7.) but teacheth that the maried parties not relying vpon the ceremonie or solemnitie, should giue themselues to fasting and prayer, 1. Cor. 7.5. no doubt, to obtaine among other, matrimoniall graces.

Thus it is euident, that not the Protestants faith, but the Papists beleefe, leaueth many without helpe and re∣medie: As infants dying without baptisme, are in their iudgement damned: Priests not hauing the gift of con∣tinencie,

are denyed mariage: Sick men haue no true com∣fort, but a little greazing of the eyes and eares: Sinfull men are by their popish penance made hypocrites: their ordered Clerks are depriued of the principall part, which is the preaching of the word.

Thus this cauiller for his false accusation, shall haue Damasus fee, Calumniator si in accusatione defecerit,* 1.29 talio∣nem accipiat, A false accuser, if he faile in his accusation, shall receiue the law Talionis, himself to incurre the same: for it is in deed the popish irreligion, that affoordeth no true comfort, stay or remedie to their miserable disciples; that a man may say to them,* 1.30 as Iob to his deceitfull friends, yee are physicians of no value. And whereas they thinke to cure spirituall maladies with corporall mede∣cines, as with oyle, chrisme, salt, holie water, crossing, to be defended against temptation, it is, as Ambrose saith,* 1.31 vt qui latere laterem lauat, as if a man should clense clay with clay, magis se oblinebat luto, such an one should defile himselfe more. And as Diogenes said,* 1.32 that Patacion the thiefe was no better then Epaminondas, because he was profes∣sed, or entred into religion: no more is an euill man made better by such popish ceremonies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pag. 25.
• * 1.2

  Vntruth. 62.
• * 1.3

  Vntruth. 63.
• * 1.4

  Vntruth. 64.
• * 1.5

  Pag. 26.
• * 1.6

  Popish religiō separateth from God, the Gospell ioy∣neth and re∣concileth to God.
• * 1.7

  Tridentin. sess. 13. c. 5.
• * 1.8

  Rhemist. 1. Cor. 9. sect. 9. Rom. 8.38.39.
• * 1.9

  The Sacramēt of Baptisme corrupted in Poperie.
• * 1.10

  Genes. 17.7.
• * 1.11

  Rhemist. Heb. 10. sect. 4.
• * 1.12

  Bellar. lib. 1. de bapt. cap. 7.
• * 1.13

  Matth. 28.20.
• * 1.14

  Fox pag. 865. col. 1. edit. 4.
• * 1.15

  Act. 10.47.
• * 1.16

  Bellar. lib. 2. de confir. c. 11.
• * 1.17

  How a Chri∣stian is truly confirmed a∣gainst tenta∣tion.
• * 1.18

  Ephes. 6.13.
• * 1.19

  Rhem. Ioh. 6. sect. 11. Rhemist. 1. Cor. 11. sect. 16. Rhem. Matth. 26. sect. 4. Trid. sess. 13. c. 5. Trid. sess. 22. c. 3.
• * 1.20

  The right vse of the Lords Supper.
• * 1.21

  Bellarm. lib. 2. de poenit. c. 12.
• * 1.22

  Rhem. Mat. 11· sect. 21.
• * 1.23

  No true re∣pentance in the Papall schisme.
• * 1.24

  The true comforts of the sicke.
• * 1.25

  Trident. sess. 23 c. 1.

  Abuse of or∣ders in pope∣rie.
• * 1.26

  Jbid.
• * 1.27

  Jbid. c. 4.
• * 1.28

  1. Timot. 14.16 Abuse of ma∣trimonie.
• * 1.29

  1. Decret. Da∣mas.
• * 1.30

  Iob. 13.4.
• * 1.31

  Lib. 3. de vir∣ginib.
• * 1.32

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