THE TRVE DIFFERENCE BETWEENE CHRISTIAN SVBIECTION AND VNCHRISTIAN REBELLION : WHEREIN THE PRINCES LAWFVLL power to commaund for trueth , and indepriuable right to beare the sword are defended against the Popes censures and the Iesuits sophismes vttered in their APOLOGIE and DEFENCE OF ENGLISH CATHOLIKES : With a demonstration that the thinges refourmed in the Church of England by the Lawes of this Realme are truely Catholike , notwithstanding the vaine shew made to the contrary in their late Rhemish Testament : by THOMAS BILSON Warden of Winchester . Perused and allowed by publike authoritie .

AT OXFORD , Printed by Ioseph Barnes Printer to the Vniuersitie , MDXXCV .

The like order I would haue followed in their Apologie , but that , as I first protested , I found nothing in it worthy to bee refuted , vnlesse I should haue banded their idle and emptie termes backe againe to them with others of the same making , and so brought the cause of Christ and trueth of Religion to a warfare of woordes : which I neither ought , nor would . If any man thinke me no indifferent iudge of their paines , it may please him to cast his eye on the second sheete , and hee shall find all the proofes and places of their Apologie aunswered in three leanes : and of those fewe and weake quotations to haue made a conquest in open writing had beene incke and paper ill imployed . I would therefore not take that course , which seemed to me neither needeful nor profitable : but to benefite the poore deceiued subiectes of this Realme and bring the Iesuites cause to the touch-stone in deede , I haue chosen the principall intentes of their Apologie , on which their whole foundation standeth ; and after mine owne course debated them more exactly and largely than the confutation of their Apology would haue suffered me .

The chiefest matters of the Apologie . For where they pretend they departed for lacke of the Catholike Sacrifice , Sacramentes and Seruice , which want in this Realme ; Cap. 1. and because they were forced by oth to confesse an vnnaturall and impossible power in the Prince to be supreme Gouernour of all persons and causes as well ecclesiasticall as temporall : Cap. 4. and in their absence they resort for reliefe to none but to him that is the head of their catholike communion , Cap. 2. the chiefe Pastour and Bishoppe of their soules in earth , and the vicar generall of Christ , to whose predecessors all the famous Fathers called for aide , comfort and counsell in their like distresses : and traine vppe such as come vnto them in obedience to the churches Lawes , Cap. 5. Apostolike Traditions both written and vnwritten , and to the precepts of Ancients & Superiours , who haue the promised spirit of trueth : and are sent backe againe into this Land to execute spirituall offices , and to absolue in foro conscientiae the penitent people from their sinnes , of what sort soeuer , schisme and heresie not excepted : Cap. 6. who seeth not that these assertions being the seueral branches of their Apologie , depend either on religion , that is in strife betwixt vs : or on the Princes power , which they impugne : or on the Popes claime to bee head of the church , which we deny ? And therefore the proofe or disproofe of their particular actions , must be fet and deriued from those chiefe and capitall springs .

The consideration whereof first induced mee to neglect the rouing discourses , and vaunting florishes of their Apologie no lesse voide of trueth than of proofe , and to betake my selfe to a stricter and directer kinde of examining the most materiall pointes on which the rest did hang : as first their running to Rome , & siding themselues with the Pope as Christs Vicar generall against their Prince , for which they haue no president in the primatiue Church . The next is the princes power to commaund for trueth , and right to beare the sword within her owne Realme ouer all persons for thinges and causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall , without any subiection or relation to the Popes tribunall , which I prooue is agreeable to the Lawes of God and practise of Christes church : and therefore the oth importing the same to be good and godlie . Thirdly the Popes censuring and depriuing princes of their crownes , I shew to be nothing else but a wicked & vnchristian pride & contumelie not long since deuised by Antichrist to frustrate the word and ordinance of almighty God , and to make himselfe great : and so of force the subiects , which be partakers with him in that hainous conspiracie , by perswading , assisting , executing , or defending the same in worde or deede against their princes , to bee traytours and not martyrs , if they die for that quarell : Lastly the publique reformation of diuine Sacramentes and Seruice made by her Maiestie , I declare to be Christian and Catholike : and the partes of poperie repealed and abolished by the lawes of this Realme , to be repugnant , ( I speak for the substance of them , and not for certain indifferent ceremonies in them ) to the sacred scriptures and ancient fathers .

Other incident and adiacent matters I haue handled , and those not a fewe , as the generall and speciall contentes before and after will better insinuate : but these foure bee the pointes that beare the burden both of their first Apologie for their Seminaries , and last Defence of English Catholikes . By these shal we soone discerne the truth or falshood of their pretences & clamors against the Princes Lawes and such as are authorized by her highnesse : & therefore from the sober & sad discussing hereof , if they get them , as they haue done to outragious and tragicall exclamations , we must leaue them as men wilfully diuerting from the right way , & crying as loude as they can for life , to drowne the voices of such as woulde recall them .

If they looke that all the parts of their Defence should haue bin answered in like sort as the fifth chapter is , that labour I say for a man of my calling wold haue bin as fruitles , as it is needles : the proofs that are not here discussed , may ●afely be despised , the rest of their rolling rhetorik , a diuine neither need regard , nor should repeate . As much as is inforcing , & to their purpose , is here comprised : their politik obseruations , as they be for the most part fals & passing slanderous : so to their defence are they idle & altogether superfluous ; and argue rather mindes loaden with malice , and tongues fraighted with poyson against the present state euen for very temporall and ciuill affaires : than anie religious or dutifull respect of authoritie and submission to the Magistrate . But such is the doctrine and education of their Romish seminaries : they fell first to flattering , and because that tooke no place , in a rage they be now run to leude and open slaundering . An example whereof , to him that hath the booke , and may read it , appeareth , as through the the whole , so in fewe lines pag. 177. more spitefull wordes than which the rankest caterpiller in Rome could not haue vttered against the state and kingdom where wee liue : not touching the persecution which they suffer , but obiecting in plaine wordes to the whole body of her Maiesties most honorable & most christian Counsel , ignominious practises , & plaguie iniustice : The 8 chapter of their Defence , page 177. yea euen piracies , proditions , spi●ries , & soule artes to afflict and coosen the world round about vs , with many such disloyall , vnnaturall , vntrue and vnhonest both surmises and reproches , whereof that fardle is full .

This is one of the reasons why I neither might nor would at large refell their Iesuiticall Defence of English Catholikes , as they terme it : in deede an artificiall inuectiue defacing and slaundering the publike Gouernment of this realme to the vttermost of their powers . The other is for that the summe and effect of those chapters which I haue omitted , and might not without offence to the state be published , are wholy reduced to those principal questions which I haue handled .

The summe of the Defence . In their first , second , and fourth chapters their chiefe scopes are these , that a a 1 cap. Manie Priests & catholike in England haue bin condemned & executed for meere matter of religion : that b b 2 cap. Campian & the rest of the Priests condemned & executed vpon pretence of treason , were neuer yet guiltie of any such crimes : but c c 4 cap. behaued themselues verie discreetly , and nothing seditiously in their answeres to the questions of the Bull of Pius Quintus . In these the wise Reader soone perceiueth the whole contention toucheth the Popes iurisdiction and claime denied him by the Lawes of this Realme , and his power to depriue the Prince of her crowne and scepter , which was the sole respect the Bull of Pius Quintus had . The iustifying then of these two foundations with cleare and pregnant proofes had beene requisite for the Iesuites , if they had purposed to manifest the innocencie of their brethren : where nowe by their rhetoricall vagaries inucighing at the partes and circumstances of their inditementes , conuictions and executions , they storme at the course , which the Iudges obserued , but saie nothing to the crime wherewith the guiltie were burdened .

The Popes power to depriue Princes , they will say , they haue fully proued : and so their brethren in trueth and equitie to be cleared . If that were so , they sayde somewhat : but as I haue shewed they profferre it often , they neuer proue it . And therefore on the contrarie part , as I neede not strengthen the publike iudgements of this Realme with the particular reportes , behauiors , hopes and enterprises of the Iesuites hauing their triall in Courtes of Recorde and places of vsuall and open iustice : neither is that incident to my calling or requisite in these cases : so for the maine and generall ground of the crime there fastned on them , and after punished in them ; which was , that to aide , assist , persuade or defend the Popes Bull depriuing the Prince of her crowne and throne , to incourage her Subiectes or enimies on that pretence to rebellion or inuasion , was high and hainous treason , the trueth , I say of this illation , is euident by the third part of this my booke , where that point of their Defence is refuted .

So for the rest , which would needes venter their liues in the like quarell : I meane for inuesting the Pope with the princes sworde : the Iesuites should haue brought sound and sufficient proofe that the Pope by Gods lawe hath a Soueraigne and supreme power ouer this Realme , to make Lawes , to appoint penalties , to dispose the goods , landes , and bodies of Clerkes and others , for such causes and crimes as they count spirituall . For this is the power which the Pope lately vsurped in this Realme ; and from which hee is now rightly and orderly repelled by the Lawes of the same . It is no treason with vs to make him chiefe Pastour of your soules , nor to giue him an Episcopall or Apostolicall authoritie ouer the whole Church , though that also bee a wicked and frantike Heresie : but to giue him an externall dominion , and coerciue iurisdiction ouer this Realme aboue and against the Prince , which the Apostles of Christ neither had , nor could haue without apparent iniurie to the Magistrate : this is it the Execution of iustice doeth duelie respect , and this is farre from any matter of faith or religion . Right to commaunde , and power to compell belong properly to the sworde by the Lawe of God : which they can not attribute to the Pope , but they must make him a Superiour Magistrate to the prince in guiding and prescribing the vse of the sworde , and consequently the prince to holde her sword and scepter at his pleasure : and if she refuse , to be streightway displaced .

This wilie conueiaunce to tie Princes swordes fast to the Popes side , and to spoyle them of their Crownes , if they doe not execute his rage , is the chiefest plotte that Iesuites haue at this instant to resettle the kingdome of Antichrist , for which they haue not so much as the paring of anie Scripture or Councell , or Father in the Church of Christ for a thowsande yeares : and yet in our dayes it must bee a meere matter of Religion : and the forefront of their brethrens defence . But no maruell if they , which make open rebellion a point of their faith , so soone consent to haue the Popes presumption holden , as the surest key of their Religion .

To their thirde chapter , that they haue great cause to complaine of iniust persecution , intollerable seueritie and crueltie towardes Catholikes in Englande : and wee no reason to doe the like for the iustice ( as thy call it ) doone on vs in Queene Maries and other Princes dayes , I neede not replie . To this conceite of the Iesuites , that they may consume whome they will with fire and faggotte , and no man must stoppe them of their passage , or hinder their pastimes without iniustice and crueltie : what shoulde I saie , but that I thin●e the Scribe was skant waking , whiles hee was penning this drowsie Diuinitie ? What learning , I will not aske what witte , was in this , to make such definitiue resolutions that no Prince may amerce or imprison their adherentes without intollerable seueritie and crueltie ? forsooth , they might hang and burne olde and young , men and women , for doubting of their Decretalles , and all this with prayse , though it neuer pleased anie good man in the Catholike Church that Heretikes should be put to death for onely religion as S. Augustine verie earnestly auoucheth ?

Their sixt chapter is a maruelous profound Rhetorication , that it is much to the benefite and stabilitie of Common wealthes and specially of Kinges Scepters , See pa. 19. cap. 6. that the differences betwixt them and their people for Religion or any other cause for which them may seeme to deserue depriuation , may rather be decided , by ( the Pope as the Iesuits would haue it , and so they shall be on the surest side ) than by Popular mutinie and phantasie of priuate men as ( wee ) desire and practise , or else they bely vs , which is no wonder in such Seminists . To these trifling and tedious discourses of men trusting wholie to their tongues , and seeking with deintie speach and couched termes to hoodwinck Princes eyes , and delight subiects eares , that all the world may daunce in a string , after the pope and his nourceries , what other aunswer should we giue , then , that , if there were not a God to be serued and honoured , who hath committed the sword to Princes , and will exact at their hands the well vsing of the same for the publike maintenance of his will and worship , surely Princes should doe more safely to followe that aduise of the Iesuits . For their holie father will neuer leaue practising by all the meanes hee possibly may to subuert their states , and shorten their liues , except they receiue his keyes and busse his shoes .

The warres of Ireland and dangers of England , which this roming man so much bableth of , as matters of State , I referre to such as be Common-wealth men , The defence cap. 7. fol. 140. I will not passe the bounds of my profession ; the Pope may continue his olde worme-eaten claime to the Soueraigntie of Ireland , which these louing subiects pleade in open writing against the Crowne of England : and God no doubt hath meanes enow to visite our sinnes , vnlesse it please him to be mercifull and gracious to this Realme ; but as we from the bottome of our harts , submit our selues to his holy will , and wisdome , as well to tast of his chastisement , whereof all his children are partakers , as to enioy his blessings : so let these prophane Rouers and Vaunters vnderstand , that the arme of God is long enough to reach euen them and their holy father at Rome , and to take from him his desired vsurpation of the kingdomes of England , Scotland , Fraunce and Spaine , &c. though he shuffle neuer so shamefully to keepe them in his obeysaunce .

For the matters handled , this may suffice : for the manner , I haue not many thinges , good Christian Reader , to warne thee of . By forme of Dialogues I thought best to lay open the whole before thine eyes , as well for auoiding of tedious repetitions , as for adding of perspicuitie , to the pointes , which I would haue knowen to the simpler sort , as farre as the nature and weight of the thinges them-selues permit . And being to refute no certaine text , I was constrained to take this course , that I might in the aduersaries person obiect not only what they had said , if it were worth the hearing , but I am sure what they could say , that the matter might be more manifest . If any thinke I fauour my selfe in opposing : I catch not after cauils nor vse to seek for nouelties , as hauing to doe with carping & quicke eyed aduersaries , besides that in euery part I bring the very choice of their strongest and latest proofs , as in the first and second part , their Apologie : in the third , their Defence of Catholikes : in the fourth , their Rhemish Testament : whether I spare to presse and persue the same to the vttermost , let the Christian Reader in Gods name be my iudge . It may be the aduersarie would haue often replied in hotter and larger manner : but my intent was to discusse the thinges , and not to holde on a brable in wordes : and of that which to any purpose might bee saide I haue omitted nothing .

And yet somtimes though seeldom where the place so forceth , I stick a little at a letter , and shew howe greate a chaunge it maketh in the sense , which is soone missed in the printe : Part. 4. pag. 583. Part. 1. pag. 53. Chrysost. epi. 1. ad Innocen . As where in Sainct Augustine they printe Esset , I thinke it should bee Esse : And so likewise in Chrysostome , ( whose Greeke exemplar I then hadde not when I first mistrusted the Latine ) the worde is printed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Suffer thy selfe to bee intreated to write . Which the verbes precedent & consequent import should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Suffer your selues to be intreated to write , & so the other parte of the sentence doth plainly conuince where hee saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and graunt vs to enioy your letters still , & your loue , and all other things as before . for is easily ouerseene : and yet in the matter the difference is much , though not so much that it shoulde either helpe them , or hurte vs : as they perhaps will imagine . In these and such like corrections of words or printes I leaue the learned reader to his iudgement when he considereth the sentence : and yet I see no reason why the aduersarie should builde himselfe on such suspected places .