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
and Impartial Judges turn their Snares laid against us upon themselves The Fourth Reason A Weighty Query there was in the Infancy of the Church concerning Lawful Ceremonies which has distracted the minds of a great many which now by the Congregated Council of Apostles and Elders is solved the Sons believed their Fathers the Sheep their Pastors commanding them in these words It hath pleased the Holy Ghost and Us. The Four General Councils which were of so great Authority that before a Thousand years a singular Honour was paid to them as to the Scriptures were followed for the rooting out of Heresie which in divers places sprung up in those ages I will not wander any farther for even at home the same Councils have their respect and value in the Parliaments of this Kingdom I will cite these things and call thee to witness O my dear Country England as thou dost reverence those four General Councils so do thou pay Supremacy to the Bishop of Rome Successor of St. Peter Scan the bloody Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ on the Altar beseech the blessed Martyrs and all the Heavenly Saints that they may pray to Christ for thee Restrain the feminine Apostates from Whoring and publick Incest Moreover I do espouse the Councils of other times and namely that of Trent as equally authentick with the Gospels and when occasion serves I will prove it Being fortified therefore with the strong and exquisite safeguard of Councils why should not I enter the Field when I see where my adversary will incommode himself Moreover I will produce most evident demonstrations that cannot be wrested and axiomes that cannot be deny'd perhaps they 'll endeavour to prolong the day with a circumlocution of words but by ingemous men if I knew them well neither Eyes nor Ears would be prepared for them which if any one shall be so mad as to oppose himself against the Senators of the whole World those great beyond exception Holy Learned and Ancient I will willingly behold his Face who when I shall demonstrate things to you will leave the rest to your judgment In the mean while I 'll admonish you He that in a full Council rightly and duely Summoned abrogates any thing of weight or moment seems to me to be a man of no Conduct no Wit and not only unskilful in Divinity but Policy If ever the Spirit of God illuminated the Church that was the time of sending down the Deity when the Religion Maturity Knowledge Wisdom and Dignity of all the Churches in the World concentred in that City and all means used both Divine and Humane to search out the truth when they might implore the Spirit to Establish it wholesomely and prudently But now there appears some head of an Heretical Faction he steels his Forehead bears the Nose of a Rhinoceros and scurrilously treats his Judges what Sports what Pranks will he show up starts Luther who could say he preferr'd himself before the Councils The Suffrages of two good and Learned men viz. his and Philips were enough in case they agreed in the name of Christ O Circles Kemnitius is found out who examin'd the Council of Trent according to the approbation of his own giddy Brain what did he gain by it Disgrace whereas he unless he had been cautious had been Buried with Arrius The Council of Trent by how much the older it grows so much the more it daily and yearly flourishes Good God! What variety of Nations what choice of Bishops in the whole World What Splendour of Kingdoms and Common-wealths What Marrow of Divines What Sanctity What Tears What Fastings What Academical Flowers What Tongues How great Subtilty How great Labour What Infinite Reading What fruitfulness of Virtues and Riches adorn'd the Sacred Tabernacles I heard the High Priests rejoycing and amongst them Anthony Arch-bishop of Prague by whom I was ordain'd Priest the most Eminent and Prudent men that have been in that School this many years so that they could receive no better a kindness of Ferdinand Caesar to whom they were much obliged than that they came Legats out of Pannonia and return'd with this gratuity Aluimus vos in Schola optima being invited hither for the Publick Faith Why did not our Adversaries come and contradict them against which they Croaked like Frogs out of their holes They say to Huss and Jerome that they broke their promise Who did The Members of the Council of Constance 't is false for they made none neither had Huss been burn'd in the Hand but that he was a man perfidious and turbulent recalled from banishment which Sigismund the Emperour published an Edict for when he was condemned to dye but the Articles being violated he lost all hopes of his pardon Head-long Malice deceived Huss for being commanded when he had dispersed his Tragedy in Bohemia to reside at Constance he despised the Prerogative of the Council and demanded security of Caesar. Caesar signed it the Christian World re-signed it which was greater than Caesar. The beginning of Heresie could not taint the mind it perished but Jerome of Prague came privately to Constance protected by no body appear'd before them submitted and was received graciously he went freely where he would he was pardon'd he abjured Heresie relaps'd and was burn'd Why do they so often agitate one example of six hundred Let them read well the Annals Did not Martin Luther himself that scandal of God and Man prefer Augusta before Cardinal Caietan and often counterfeit the Letters of Maximilian And again in the case of Wormatius when he had offended Caesar and many other Princes of the Empire was not he safe by Caesars word at last did not the heads of the Lutherans and Zuinglians Charles the Fifth being present an Enemy to Hereticks Lord and Conqueror did not these a treaty being made Exhibit their Penitent Confessions to the Synod and they went away safe No other ways had the Trent Summons provided very ample Proposals to our Adversaries but they would not make use of them notwithstanding 't is boasted of in Corners that I seemed wise when I could pronounce 3 Greek words he leaves the most faithful way of Interpretation who puts a linguist in the place of a faithful Judge since they so love the Salvation of Souls as to grant the like liberty to the Catholicks We do not do what Huss did we fly unto Court at the word of a Prince But where I began there I 'll end mine are general first last and intermediate Councils with these I 'll fight my Adversaries may expect a Dart from my Bow which they can never pull out Let Satan be overthrown let Christ live The Fifth Reason AT Antioch in which the noble Sirname of Christian was first assumed did the Doctors Eminent Divines Prophets and renowned Preachers flourish Of this sort God beheld posterity the Scribes and Magi the Learned in the Kingdom of God