The boy of Bilson: or, A true discouery of the late notorious impostures of certaine Romish priests in their pretended exorcisme, or expulsion of the Diuell out of a young boy, named William Perry, sonne of Thomas Perry of Bilson, in the county of Stafford, yeoman Vpon which occasion, hereunto is premitted a briefe theologicall discourse, by way of caution, for the more easie discerning of such Romish spirits; and iudging of their false pretences, both in this and the like practices.

The second Aduertisement; Shewing the false Assumption of the Romanists, in challenging to themselues the power of Miracles, as a perpetuall gift peculiarly belonging to their Ro∣mane Church.

ALthough the Iesuit Turselline talketh and boa∣steth of many maruelous Miracles, daily done in Italy,* 1.1 Which (as he saith) are no lesse glorious than those miracles in the dayes of old: yet doubt we not to call this Assumption a meerely vaine presumpti∣on. For if wee require them to shew vs in their Church the power of Prophecie, they might take (I thinke) a Lanterne to seeke thorowout all Italy, and not find any one whom they can point out to

bee professedly a Prophet. If we inquire after the gift of Tongues, to speake strange languages, where can they shew this? Miracles (saith the Apostle) are for vnbeleeuers, or Infidels:* 1.2 and no Miracle more necessarie for the conuersion of Infidels in the Indies than to be able to speak the languages of those Na∣tions, because Faith commeth by hearing,* 1.3 and hea∣ring of a knowne language. Yet wee know that the Priests, who daily labour for the conuersion of those Infidels, confesse that they are glad to labour and studie Moneths and Yeares, to learne the lan∣guages of those Countries.

But, to speake more generally, How can this be said to be a perpetuall Badge of the Roman Church, whereof a famous Bishop (liuing but about foure∣score yeares since) being posed by Luther, to shew in all Europe where there was any that could pro∣fesse himself endowed with that Gift; answered plainly,* 1.4 and without any Parable (speaking of the power of Miracles) Cuius (saith he) effectum nunc nullum cernimus: Whereof wee see no effect in our dayes.

When wee further insist, and aske, concerning this great signe of the ordinarie worke of Miracles, where this Starre doth appeare? surely, not at their Ierusalem, the Citie of Rome; nor yet in Europe, their Iurie, for they send vs to seeke it in the new∣found World, in the conuersion of Pagans; pro∣fessing (as it may seeme) and that iustly with their Espencaeus,* 1.5 that Miracles are no where necessarie, but among Infidels. Here then, if any where, we are to seeke it, to wit, in the Indies; where behold Bel∣larmine,

and their other Magi doe see it rising (as it were) in the East-Indies, and setting in the West-Indies. No question therefore, but wee are like to find it in those Indies; that which is their ordinarie Assumption.

For confutation whereof we need not to trauell so farre, to trie this; two famous Iesuites, who haue beene most conuersant there, and taken (as is said) most paines for the conuerting of Infidels to the Faith of Christ, come vnto vs by their Bookes, and tell vs, the one, that this Assumption is false, the o∣ther, though auouched by them, yet not saying that it is true. For of the East Indies, their Iesuit Acosta saith asseuerantly;* 1.6 Prodigia nulla facimus, signa nulla edimus: We worke no Wonders, we shew no Miracles. In the West Indies, who more resident than their Iesuite Xauier, whom they report to haue beene their Thaumaturgus,* 1.7 and to haue bealed lame, dumbe, deafe, blind, yea and to haue raised the dead to life. Notwithstanding, when wee consult with Francis Xauier himselfe, in his Volume of E∣pislles, directed vnto the Fathers of his owne Socie∣tie, vnto Cardinals, and others of best esteeme; hee maketh no mention there of these miraculous works. Which wee doubt not but hee would haue done, if any such Acts had beene wrought. For we may not thinke that Iesuites would professe more modestie, in this kind, than the holy Apostles of Christ, who, to the glorie of God, and comfort of his Church, did professe to reueale and report (speaking of their Miracles) Magnalia Dei; The wondrous works of God.* 1.8 Therefore we take this his

not verifying the report of his Miracles, so com∣monly suggested, and so greedily intertayned by o∣thers, to amount to no lesse than the deniall of them to be true.

Let me adde vnto Francis Xauier their Francis de Victoria, Professor of Diuinitie in Spaine,* 1.9 who dis∣cussing this great point, whether that the Doctrine of Christ were so sufficiently reuealed vnto the Infi∣dels of these times, by Word, or Miracles, that they, which would not bee conuerted, mightiustly bee condemned of so vnpardonable obstinacie, as to deserue to bee persecuted by Sword; after his deli∣berate and earnest search to satisfie himselfe and o∣thers in this, answereth (concerning Miracles) Signa nulla audio: I heare of no Miracles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hist. Domus Lauret.
• * 1.2

  1. Cor. 14.22.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 10.17. 1. Cor. 14.
• * 1.4

  Roffens. in Luth. de Capt. Babyl. cap. 11.
• * 1.5

  Espen. in 2. Tim. 3
• * 1.6

  Acosta Ics. de salute Indor. l. 4.
• * 1.7

  Ballar. l. 4. de Not is Eccles. c. 14.
• * 1.8

  Act. 2.11.
• * 1.9

  Fra. de Vict. Re∣lect. 5. sect. 2.