at the Booksellers in vain were our Books prohibited in vain were the Sea-ports stopp'd in vain were our Houses Boxes Chests and Trunks searched in vain were so many Wars proclaimed at the Gates for there is no Sanders nor Allen nor Stapleton nor Bristow can prosecute these new Dreams better than these Fathers I have quoted taking a prospect of these things I was inflamed and desired the Field in which wheresoever our Adversaries turn themselves unless they yield the glory to God they shall be overthrown they admit of the Fathers taken vanish'd nothing It happen'd when we were Nâ—vices John Jewel Eminent amongst the Calvinists of England challenged with Vain-glorious Sarcasms the Catholicks at St. Pauls London crying out Show me the Fathers which flourish'd the first six hundred years Some worthy Persons embrac'd the propositions who were banish'd from Lavain and environ'd with dâ—fficulties by means of the vitiousness of the Times I dare to say he has done more good to the Catholicks by that disingenuity ignorance knavery and impudence which our writers have discover'd than any one in my mind ever did who took up the Cudgels for the Church of England An Edict was always on the Gates lest those Books which came out in a hurry could not be had They which manag'd this business were convinc'd that the Fathers were Catholicks viz. ours Lawrence Humphrys who had receiv'd a mortal wound to him and his Party notwithstanding he had supported Jewel in other things now aspers'd him with unadvisedness that he had admitted of the approbation of those Fathers whom he had nothing to do with nor should not have mention'd them without turning them over We ask Matthew Tobias who now domineers in the Puâ—pit whom we chose out for his good Learning and seeds of Virtue and well read in the Fathers whether they confirm'd these things or no he answer'd ingeniously they did not neither will any say so that read them This is very true for neither he nor Matthew Hutton although a man of a hundred is said to have consulted the Fathers nor I believe any of our Adversaries who say so So far I can go into the Field against those who do as 't were stop their Ears either they will be compell'd to bear the Eternal Reproach of their Cause or refuse the Fathers or appeal to them If one they fly if another they are gravell'd The Sixth Reason IF they had that Courage or care that chiefly ought to be in them and searched the Scriptures the Holy Fathers had Caesar like been Triumphant by whose labour and cost the Bible has been Translated into so many Languages and carried into so many Nations in their dangers and torments snatch'd out of the flames by their labours and watchings all things are reveal'd as clear as the Sun they have been day and night intent on the Holy Scriptures published it with the Opinions of all they have wrote large Volumes of Scripture they hunger'd and thirsted at length being expert in Holy writ they came to a decrepit Old Age Which if they frequently argue also from the authority of our Ancestors Practice of the Church Succession of Popes General Councils Apostolical Traditions Blood of Martyrs from the Edicts of Kings from Visions and Miraculous Aspects yet all these do contain Testimonies of Holy writ this they press for this they subsist in this Armour do their Couragious Captains use themselves to to defend the City of God against all Assaults How much more do I admire at my Adversaries who object against want of Scripture in full Scripture so far they say they adhere to the Fathers as they agree with the Holy Scripture do they speak according to their mind Then I 'll take care they shall go arm'd with Christ the Apostles Prophets and all Scripture the most famous Men most Holy Fathers and most Ancient Fathers viz. Dionysius Cyprian Athanasius Basil Nazianzen Ambrose Hierome Chrysostome Augustin and Gregory the Roman Let that Faith Reign in England which these courteous Fathers ground on the Scriptures of Scriptures what they bring we 'll bring whom they counsel we 'll counsel we 'll infer what they infer content Say let it be so but you say no unless they explain it right what is this right explanation According to our pleasure Are not you asham'd of this Labyrinth Therefore my hope is in the flourishing Universities where I shall be accompanied with those who won't inspect these Controversies with a gross judgment but an accute one and weighing these trifling answers will gladly wait this day at Camp while I show forth the Church against the forces of unarm'd Beggars The Seventh Reason ANcient History does discover the face of an Ancient Church This I dare do Certainly the most Ancient Historians which our Adversaries insist upon are in a manner numbred here Eusebius Damasus Hierome Ruffinus Orosius Socrates Sozomenus Theodoret Cassiodorus Gregory the Turonian Vsuardus Regino Marianus Sigebeâ—t Zonaras Cedrenus Nicephorus What do they say they tell our Progress our Praise our hard Fortune they speak of our Enemies yea truly that you may observe diligently those who separate from â—â— with a mortal hatred Phillip Pantaleon Funcâ—ias Magâ—â—â—â—…gici who when they apply'd themselves to write either the Chronology or History of the Church unless they could collect the actions of us or our Enemies let slip five hundred years without one Argument With these revolve the peculiar Historians of certain Nations who have search'd out the actions of all people very nicely and censoriously these having got what they aim'd at endeavour'd by all means to improve it and who are not silent truly in their dainties Coat-sleeves Dagger-hilts Goldenspurs or such toys if they are in the fashion and truly had any thing in Religion chang'd or degenerated from its first Principles there would certainly some one of them Commemorate it But no one at all either of a good or bad genius towards us hath discover'd the thing or so much as signify'd it For instance our Adversaries grant neither can they do otherwise that the Church of Rome was sometime Holy Catholick and Apostolick moreover it deserv'd this Encomium from St. Paul Your Faith is Preached in the whole World without intermission I make mention of you I know because coming to you I come to you in the abundance of the blessing of Christ they salute you all of the Church of Christ for your obedience is divulg'd unto every place And 't was then when Paul had the liberty of the Prison and did sow the Gospel Then when Peter did govern the Church at Rome Then when Clemens very commendable in the sight of the Apostle did fill the Chair Then when the profane Caesars Nero Domitian Trajan Antonine did torment the Popes of Rome then also as Calvin witnesseth when Damasus Syricius Anastasius Innocentius did fill the Apostolick Chair for in this Age they grant none but Rome hath deviated from the Evangelical Doctrine
REASONS OF A CHALLENGE SENT TO THE Universities of ENGLAND IN Matters of Religion By Edmund Campion Priest of the Society of Jesus Faithfully Translated into English Permissu Superiorum LONDON Printed for Mat. Turner at the Sign of the Holy Lamb in High-Holbourn MDCLXXXVII To the most Pregnant Wits of the two Famous Universities of Oxford and Cambridge LAst year being come in a Mission to this Isle according to my imployment Renowned Champions I found waves more Tempestuous a great deal on the English Shore than I left in the Britannick Ocean By and by when I had pressed farther into England I saw nothing more common than unaccustomed Tortures nothing more certain than unexpected Dangers I recollected my self as well as I could mindful of the Justice of my cause and not forgetful of the times and lest I should by chance be taken up before I was heard I reduced the intentions of my mind into writing I thought fit to declare to the World what I came for what I zealously endeavour'd for what kind of War I wag'd and against whom I Proclaimed it I had the Original Copy with me which I was resolv'd should be taken with me if I was taken I intrusted a friend with a Copy of it who contrary to my knowledge communicated it to a great many more my Adversaries Rudely seized the Book as soon as it was Published passing their most malicious Censures upon it That one man should Challenge them all in matters of Religion although I should not stand alone in the Field in case I was ingaged for the Publick Faith Hanmer and Charke answered my Challenges and what then disingenously all for they made no material answer but one which will never be approved of We embrace your Proposals the Queen Espouses them make your application to her In the interim they cry our your Society your Seditions your Arrogance a Traytor without doubt a Traytor O Ridiculous Why do Wise Men thus lose their labour and credit But of these two one for his fancies sake made Incursions into my Book the last did more maliciously weigh the whole cause The Book was published lately being very plain treating of our Society of the injuries we sustained and of the Province we now undertake what remains therefore since our Adversaries prepare Torments for me and not the Schools but to prove the matter of Fact to you which Created so much Confidence in me as to demonstratively show the sources of things I would also exhort you whom it concerns above all men to take that care which Christ the Church your Country and Salvation requires of you had I trusted in my Parts Learning Subtilty Reading Memory and Challeng'd such a croud of Adversaries I had been Vain and Arrogant but I never regarded my self nor them but considering the cause I deem'd my self sufficient to uncloud the Sun at Noon Day therefore pardon those heats of Zeal which the honour of Christ my King and the invincible Truth have occasioned Ye know M. Tullius when Roscius did promise him a Victory in case he would defend by dint of Argument that Seven Hundred Miles could not be run in two days did not only not fear the force and efficacy of Hortensius his Arguments but even of those that were his betters the Philippi the Cottae Antonii and Crassi who gain'd to themselves great honour in Rhetorick Indeed there is some Truth so Transparent that no Sophistry in words nor Jugling in things can Eclipse Moreover that is more manifest which we undertake than that supposition of Roscius for if I can prove that there is a Heaven that there are Saints that there is one true Faith that there is a Christ the Victory is mine May I not be then Couragious here They may Martyr me but they can never Baffle me for I insist on those Doctrines which the Spirit hath Taught which is never deceived nor overthrown I beseech you that you would use the means whereby you might obtain Salvation as for the rest I am not at all in suspence but that I shall receive from those I Petition it of if they will apply themselves to study call upon Christ and be diligent they will certainly find out the Truth to the Confusion of its Adversaries in the mean while it behoves us who are so firmly grounded to take the Field with a magnanimous Courage I draw the Curtain here because the rest which I have to say is Dedicated to you Farewel The Heads of the Reasons 1. HOly Scripture 2. The Sense of Holy Scripture 3. The Nature of the Church 4. Councils 5. Fathers 6. Decrees of the Fathers 7. History 8. Paradoxes 9. Sophisms 10. All sorts of Witnesses The Reasons of the Challenge sent to the Vniversities of England by Edmund Campion ALthough there are Innumerable Arguments to Demonstrate our Adversaries Diffidence in their Cause yet not any one so Material as their Violation of the Divine Majesty of the Holy Bible which is the Authority I draw my Sword for against Those who after they have contemned the Votes and Suffrages of all other Witnesses yet are reduced to that Non-plus that they cannot subsist unless they seize on SCRIPTURE and deprive Her of her Stings Indeed they do by their Actions insinuate unto the World as though they were driven into very dangerous Streights and were resolv'd in this so imminent danger of Shipwrack to make their most Audacious Efforts for their Religions and their last What induced the Manichees to reject the Gospel of St. Matthew and the Acts of the Apostles Distrust in their Cause For at these Volumes they were Thunder-struck who denied Christ Born of the Virgin Mary and who feigned that the Spirit descended from Heaven upon Christians when their Paracletus a Diabolical Persian started up Why did the Ebionites divorce the Epistles of St. Paul Distrust in their Cause for these retaining their pristin Grandeur their Ancient though Polite Imbellishments were antiquated which they forsooth had newly reformed What Instigated Luther that cursed Apostate to Censure the Epistle of St. James as Contentious bigg with Pride and Arrogance insipid empty and unworthy of an Apostolical Spirit Distrust in his Cause For with this Particle of Scripture the Fiend was Wounded and Stabbed to the Heart when he took up the Gauntlet for Justification by Faith only What made Luther's Hell-hounds strike out of the Authentick Canon Tobias Ecclesiasticus Maccabees and many others with the same disgust Distrust in their Cause For with these Oracles they were most Eloquently reprimanded as often as they disputed of Guardian Angels of the Liberty of free will of the Faithful departed this Life and the Intercession of the Saints But is it so Is there so great Infidelity so great Confidence when the Foot-steps of Antiquity and Authority are imprinted in the Church Councils Popes Fathers Martyrs Empires Peoples Laws Universities Histories by Scripture they are resolved to put an end to Controversies
Zuinglian because in that point he could be prejudicial to the Pope yet being taken and bound in the conclusion did yield and acknowledged Christ to be really present in the Holy Sacrament not less against his will than the Devils heretofore being overcome with Miracles called upon the Name of God Let it be so we treated of the Scripture before the Controversie now is on the Sense of Scripture we will search out this from the following words My Body which is given for you my Blood which shall be shed for you as yet Calvin's side is the hardest ours is easie and plain what would ye have more Search the Scriptures ye say well the Scriptures agree St. Paul is for us The Words Clauses and whole Connexion do reverently repeat the Bread and Wine a singular Miracle Heavenly Food Flesh Body and Blood There is nothing enigmatical nothing overclouded with obscurity of words yet our Adversaries persist neither do they make an end of Bantering what do we do Antiquity may be heard I think and Antiquity of time may bring forth that which we cannot see betwixt one another other they do not bring it they say they are betrayed they call the Scripture pure they are averse to mens Comments on it as treacherous and disingenious we urge the Word of God they obscure it we call Saints to witness as Interpreters they withstand them in fine so they order it that unless you will side with the guilty you must not give your judgment at all and so they behave themselves in every Controversie they undertake of infused Grace of inherent Justice of the visibility of the Church of necessity of Baptism of the Sacraments and Sacrifice of the Mass of the merits of the Just of Hope and Fear of the disparity of Sins according to their aggravations of the Authority of Peter of the Keys of Prayers of Evangelical Mysteries and so of other things And we Catholicks have cited a great many weighty Texts of Scripture and discussed them in Books Colloquies Churches they have eluded them we have hinted on the Commentaries of Greek and Latin Writers they have winked at them what then Dr. Martin Luther or certainly Phillippus or to be sure Zuinglius hath faithfully published it or without doubt Calvin or Beza Can I think any Bodys Nose so stopt as not to smell out this deceit wherefore I confess I ardently desire the University Schools that openly I may raise those accomplish'd Souldiers out of their Ambush not to charge them in the hundredth part with my force for alas what is mine but defeat them with the Prevalent and Invincible Truth The Third Reason WHen the name of a Church was heard the Enemy grew pale yet I have devised something which I would have you consider that you might know the ruine and decay of Falshood you are sensible that in the Scriptures both Prophetick and Apostolick there is an honourable mention made of the Church that 't is called the Holy City the Fruitful Vine the High Mountain the Direct Way the only Dove the Kingdom of Heaven the Spouse and Body of Christ the Firmament of Truth that Assembly in which Christ hath infused all things necessary to Salvation against which Catholick Church the Gates of Hell shall never prevail that which whosoever opposes although he Preaches Christ with his mouth does no more injoy him than the Publican or Gentile he dares not contradict me with his roaring he would not seem to resist the Church which the Scripture so often Commemorates he hath craftily retained the name he has carried the day by his definition of it for he hath delineated a Church with these Properties which may be hidden quite remov'd from the senses and Phoenix like may be expos'd to view at a certain time to a very small number and those supernaturally inspir'd they may comprehend her Body Air-like in their understanding and may discern the Members of her Society with the subtile Eye of the Intellect as they may Cuckows Persecuted and Destroyed by their Young ones Where is your Candour Where is your Sincerity What Scriptures What Interpretations what Fathers draw out such a Church with their Pencil There are Epistles of Christ to the Churches of Asia of Peter of Paul John and other Epistles to divers There are many Churches in the Acts of the Apostles begun and propagated what are these Are they visible to God alone and holy men or to Christians of all sorts but Necessity hath no Law For how is it after 15 Ages they find no Town Village or House hath imbibed their Doctrine until that Diabolical Monk had Debauch'd a Devoted Nun by Incestuous Matrimony or Zuinglius the Fencer had Plotted against his Country and the Stigmatiz'd Vagabond had settled at Geneva they are compell'd to expose a Church to view in Caves if they will have one and Adopt them Sons which they never knew nor ever any man saw unless they trace the Foot-steps of their Ancestors who are plainly demonstrated to have been Hereticks as as Aerius Jovenianus Vigilantius Helvidius Iconomachi Berengarius Waldenses Lolhard Wickliff Hass from which several Poysonous Fragments of Opinions went a begging don't you wonder if I did not fear those Meteors which if I can but come to the day-light I will easily dispel for this is our time for Disputation Tell me do you subscribe to the Church which flourished in Ages before Yes Let us then survey Nations Countrys and Times in our mind To what To the Congregation of the Faithful of whom their Names are not known but 't is evident there are a great many how is it evident by God Who promulgated it We who are divinely inspired They are Stories how can I believe them If you are fervent in Faith you should know this so as to live by it When you my Advocates behold these wiles Can you through modesty refrain from smiles That all Christians be enjoyn'd to incorporate themselves into this Church and beware lest they be killed with the Sword of the Spirit to Worship Peace in the House of God to trust to this Pillar of Truth and lay aside all Controversies about it and from henceforth to be cast out as Gentiles so many men to be bound in Chains wheresoever she is Who do these belong to that only thing is in suspence where where is their Church She is reserved for Saints only and those that are Predestinated for Salvation how is it That if any one will Lampoon the Government he may be absolved from the offence so that he fall into the Presbyterian Perswasion and Apostatize from the Church When I found my Adversaries to insinuate such things which was a Custom in no Age of the Church before I was an Orphan to the thing yet put in a word for need and comforted my self with your Wit and Judgment and promised my self so to do until by their own Concessions you would discern their Stratagems and then as Ingenious