Answer to Campian the Jesuit, Reasons · Reason 10
EDMVND CAMPIAN. The tenth Reaſon, which is all manner of Witneſſes.
THis ſhall be to you a direct path, ſo that the ſimpleſt that bee, neede not wander out of it. For who is,Eſay. 35. though he be but of the meaner ſort of common people, ſo ſenſeleſſe (ſo that he hauehave an eye vntounto his ſoules health) that cannot ſee, (if he looke but a little about him) the path of the Church ſo plainely trodden, that cannot keepe it, if he diſlike of by-wayes that lead him through brambles and ragged roches, and places that cannot be paſſed? Theſe things ſhall be well knowne euen of thoſe that be ignorant as Eſay hath prophecied, and therefore moſt manifeſt vntounto you. If you will,*Campian bringeth nothing in this place, but a continuall begging of the queſtion. let vsus take a view of all things that are any where to be ſeene: let vsus trauerſe ouer eueryevery thing whereſoeuer it be. All things do miniſter matter fit for our purpoſe. Let vsus aſcend into heauen by imagination, there may we finde ſuch as through martyrdome,Coelites. are as ruddie as the redaAugust. Serm. 37. de Sanct. roſe, and alſo ſuch as for their innocencie while they liued do glister as beautifully as the white Lilly. There may we ſee (I ſay) thoſe*Of which, not one was a Papiſt. three and thirty Biſhops ofbDam. in vit. Po…. Rom. Rome, which for their faith were immediatlie murthered one after another. There may we ſee ſuch Pastors as throughout all nations vponupon the earth ſhed their blood for the teſtimony of Chriſts name. There may we ſee the ſtock of faithfull people that tread the ſteps of their Pastors. There may wee ſee all thecHiero. in cat. ſcript. ſaincts of heauen that through their pure and vertuous conuerſation vponupon the earth, gaue a rare example vntounto all ſorts of men. Thou ſhalt finde that they both liued here, and died members of our Catholick Church. And that we may take a taſt of ſome few by namedIn Epist. ad Smyr. on our ſide was Ignatius, that ſo earneſtly thirſted after martyrdome, who in eccleſiasticall matters aduanced a*And we in thoſe thing… which are proper to a Biſhop, make none equall to a Biſhop. Biſhop euen aboue a King, who penned alſo certaine traditions of the Apostles, whereof he himſelfe was a witneſſe, leaſt they ſhould be quite forgotten.eEuſeb. lib. 3. cap. 30. Dam. in vit. Teleſp. To. 1. con. c. ſtat. d. 5. On our ſide was that Anchorete Teleſphorus, who commanded that the faſt of Lent which was before instituted by the Apostles ſhouldbe kept more ſtrictlie. On our ſide was S. Ireneus, fLib. 3. c. 3.who proued that the Apostolike faith deſcended vntounto vsus by the ſucceſſion and ſea of Rome. On our ſide alſo was that high BiſhopgEuſeb. 5. hist. 24. Victor, who by a generall Proclamation*This is falſe, for he could not ſubdue it. kept the whole Countrie of Aſia in due obedience, which Proclamation, though to ſome it ſeemed ſomewhat hard, but ſpecially vntounto this moſt bleſſed man S. Ireneus, no man yet attempted to deface as*This is falſe, for many Biſhops hauehave bitterly inueyed againſt Victor for this cauſe. forraigne authoritie. Polycarpus hEuſeb. 4. hiſt. 14. Suidas.was on our ſide that about the question of the keeping of Eaſter day, went and conferred with the ſea of Rome, whoſe reliques after he was burned, the faithfull Christians at Smyrna gathered together, and gaue due honor vntounto their Biſhop, by obſeruing yearely the day of his death, as an high and ſolemne feaſt. On our ſide wereiEuſeb. 7. Hiſt. 2. S. Cornelius, and S. Cyprian, thoſe golden paire of Martyrs, which were both very worthy Prelates, but the former was the greater, who when he was Biſhop of Rome, aboliſhed the Affrican errors. The latter alſo got great commendations through his loyall obedience which he ſhewed to his ſuperior, and deareſt friend he had in the world. On our ſide was Sixtus, who when he ſong Maſſe at the Altar was ſolemnely ſerued with ſeauen men of the Cleargie. On our ſide was S. Laurence, this mans Archdeacon, whom the aduerſaries cancell out of their Calenders. To whomkPrud. in Hym. de. S. Laur. vi. Aug. ſer. de S. I aur. Ambroſ. lib. 1. off. cap. 4. lib. 2. off 28. Leo ſerm. in die S. Laur. Prudentius, a man that had been Conſull in Rome about 1200. yeares ago prayed in this wiſe: O moſt glorious ſeruant of Chriſt, what power is giuen thee, and what authoritie is graunted vntounto thee in heauen, the great ioy of the Romanes doe ſufficiently ſhew vponupon the obteining of ſuch requeſts as they make vntounto thee. Amongst the which number, I beſeech thee mercifullie giuegive eare to me thy rude Poet that doth confeſſe vntounto thee my ſinfull thoughts, & alſo diſcloſe my wicked actions, heare benignly, I pray thee, me thy humble ſuppliant Prudentius, that hath highly offended Chriſt my Sauiour. On our ſidelMetaph. Ambroſ. ſer. 90. tom. 3. & lib. 1. de Virg. Ado. Tae. in martyr. Euſeb. 8. Hiſt. 27. were thoſe moſt bleſſed virgins, S. Cecilia, S. Agatha, S. Anaſtaſia, S. Barbara, S. Agnes, S. Lucia, S. Dorethy, and S. Katherine, who conſtantly kept their vowed chastitie againſt the tyrannie both of men and diuels. S. Helen was on our ſide, who was moſt famous for the finding of the croſſe of Chriſt. S. Monocha the mother of S. Auguſtine was on our ſide, who when ſhe lay on her death-bed moſt deuoutlie deſired to be praid for after her death,Ruff. lib. 1. cap. 8. Ex Aug. lib. 9. con. cap. 7. vſque ad 1…. Hiero…. in Epiſt. Paul. Hiero…. in cap. Semp. Athanaſ. Ambroſ. in orat. fut. de Satyro Ioan. Diacon. Seu. S…lp. Metaph. Grae. lib. 2. Dial. and to hauehave the*This was not the ſacrifice of the Maſſe: reade the anſwere. ſacrifice of the maſſe offred for her at Chriſts altar. S. Paula was on our ſide, who forſaking her faire pallace ſituated within the citie of Rome, and her goodly farmes abroade in the Countrie, went on pilgrimage by long iourneys euen vntounto to the caue of Bethelem, where Chriſt lay crying in his cradle, there in ſolitarineſſe to ſpend the reſidue of her time. On our ſide was S. Paulus, S. Hilarion, S. Antony, who liued in ſolitarineſſe till they were old men. On our ſide was Satyrus, that was brother germain vntounto S. Ambroſe, who carrying about him in a ſtole that dreadfull hoaſt, and being in preſent danger of ſhipwrack, hoping aſſuredlie that he would protect him, lept into the raging ſea and ſ…ome to land. On our ſide were S. Nicholas and S. Martin, who were both Biſhops much exerciſed in watchings, cloathed altogether in haire-cloth, and fed with fasting. On our ſide was S. Benet, who was father vntounto a great number of Monks. Ten yeares were not long ynough for me to recite this infinite number of Saints, neither do I heere make mention of them, whom before I placed among the Doctors of the Church. I do not forget my promiſe, that I would paſſe ouer things as briefly as I could conuenientlie: let him that would know more hereof peruſe not only the large histories of auncient writers, but alſo much more rather the graue authors, which hauehave almoſt eueryevery one of them written ſpeciall bookes of the liues of the Saincts, for a remembrance to their posteritie:*And you of al thoſe, name me one Ieſuit. then let him tell me what his opinion is of thoſe moſt auncient Christians,Vide. 12. tom. Surij. and moſt bleſſed, of whether religion were they, of the Catholikes religion, or of the Lutherans religion?*After this manner Campian vſeth to diſpute. I call to witnes the throne of God, and that his tribunall ſeate, before which I ſhall ſtand to render an accompt of theſe my ten reaſons, and of my ſaid act in making my challenge, that either there is no heauen at all, which I and my adherents do deteſt, or that it belongeth properlie to ſuch only as are of our religion, which thing we for our parts hold for ſound doctrine. Now on the contrary ſide, if you thinke good let vsus looke downe into hell,Damnati. where lye ſome burning in euerlasting fire. Who? the Iewes: what Church are they againſt? ours. Who elſe? the heathen: What Church hauehave they moſt cruellie perſecuted? ours, who beſides theſe? the Turks: What Churches hauehave the pulled downe? ours, who yet? the hereticks: to what Church were they enemies? to ours.*The Catholike Church, of which your Church is no part. Forwhat Church I pray you hath alwaies withſtood the gates of hell,Matth. 16. Judai. Euſch. 4. Hist. 5. Hieron. in Epiſt. ad Paul. & in Epiſt. …d Marcel. & paſſim in Epiſt. but ours? When after the expulſion of the Iewes vnderunder Veſpatian, and Titus his ſonne, Chriſtians increaſed at Hieruſalem, O immortall God what comming of good people was there to the holie places that were there! What wonderfull deuotion was there among all ſorts of people to ſee that Citie of Hieruſalem! What zeale to ſee Chriſts Sepulcher, what deſire to ſee the manger wherein Chriſt lay, what thurſting after the ſight of the croſſe whereon Chriſt was nailed, what longing to behold all ſorts of monuments there, in which the holie Church taketh as much delight, as doth a ſpouſe in the garments laid off by her husband! VponUpon this began that mortall hatred and implacable of the Iewes againſt vsus; for euen at this day they*But they complaine without cauſe, for they hauehave. no reaſon why they ſhould be angrie with our anceſtors. complaine, that our Ancestors were the cauſe of their Ancestors ouerthrow: as for Simon Magus, and the Lutherans,Ethnici. they receiued neuer ablow at their hands. Among the heathen there were many tyrants, who during their raigne for the ſpace of 300. yeares, by fits at diuers times, inuented moſt bitter torments againſt Christians. Againſt what manner of Christians I pray you?Leo ſerm. de D. Laurent. Truly against the Fathers of our faith and their Children. Marke well with your ſelues the ſpeeches of this tirant, that broiled S. Laurēce on a Gridyron: It now well appeares,Prud. in hym. de S. Laur. that this is the order and faſhion in your ſacrifice. This doctrine you all agree to, that Biſhops muſt offer vp their ſacrifice in plate of gold, and the people ſay, that the ſacred blood ſmoketh out of your cups of ſiluer, and that ye hauehave tapers burning on golden candleſticks, during all the time of your night ſacrifices. Alſo as common fame doth testifie, your brethren hauehave a ſpeciall care to offer vp thouſands of pounds, though they ſell their lands to get the ſame, the lawfull heire being thus diſinherited and brought to beggery, though his holie parents greatly complaineth for ſuch ſhamefull ſale of lands, as ſhould by right diſcend to him from his grandfathers. This wealth lieth hid in ſome ſecret corners of your Churches, and you thinke it a great godlie deed to make your ſweet babes goe naked: fetch out theſe treaſures which thou hoordeſt vp by thy craftie perſwaſions, and wicked witchcraft, the which I ſay thou haddeſt in one darke hole or other: the commonweale, the Kings Eſchecker, and the common treaſure hauehave need thereof. That mony being imployed for ſouldiers wages, the generall lieutenant may be fully fraughted with ſouldiers. I vnderstand that this is an vſuall doctrine amongst you. Restore to eueryevery man his owne, behold the Emperour acknowledgeth his owne phyſnomie ſtamped vponupon his owne coine. GiueGive to Caeſar that which thou knoweſt to be Caeſars. Truly I demaund nothing but that which is iuſt. Thy God (except I be deceiued) cometh no money, neither brought he with him at his comming into the earth any golden gilderds, but ministred his commandements by word of mouth, being purſleſſe himſelfe. Performe faith fullie that his doctrine which you openly preach abroad, restore your money willingly, content your ſelfe to be rich in words.*Campian demonſtrates his Church by the wealth and riches of it. A note of the Popiſh Church. What manner of man ſeemeth this to be? againſt whom doth he thus rage? Whoſe Churches, ſacrifices, lights, ceremonies, and ornaments hath he gone about to aboliſh? What Churches, golden goblets, and chalices of ſiluer and costlie gifts and rich ſtuffe enuied he at? This man vndoubtedly doth hold on Luthers part.Gen. 10. For what other colour hauehave our mighty*The Pope of Rome is that Nimrod. the mighty hunter of the Church. Nimrods pretended to couer their theft withall, when they robbed 1441 0536 V 3 Gods houſes, and made hanock of Chriſts inheritance? On the cōtrary part, what Church was it that Conſtantine the great, the very terror of Christs enemies, hath brought to quietnes, euen that ſelfe-ſame Church, ouer which the high … Biſhop Silueſter was gouernour,Dam. in Syl. Zonaras. whom the ſaid Emperour called out of the mount Soract, where he lay ſecretly for feare of perſecution, that by the helpe of the ſaid Silueſter he might be*This is falſe, for Silueſter was dead many yeares before Conſtantine was baptiſed. baptiſed with our Baptiſme: vnderunder what banner fought he, that he became ſo great a cōqueror? euen vnderunder the banner of thenEuſeb. lib. 2. de vita Con. c. 7.8.9 …ozom. lib. 1. cap. 9. Croſſe: who was his mother, that he attained …o ſo great honor? euen that bleſſed woman Saim Helen: what fathers took he part with? with the Fathers for ſooth of the Nicene Councell: what manner of men were they? namely they were S. Siueſter, S. Iulius, S. Athanaſius, S. Nicholas: to whoſe prayers did he commend himſelfe? to the prayers ofoAthan. in vita S. Aut. S. Antony: what roome exacted he in the Councell?*This is falſe, for it was the chiefeſt and of beaten gold. the very lowest of all. Oh how much more Princelike was he; when he ſate in this ſeate then they, that ſince that time ambitionſly hauehave made ſale for a l…ttle, that is far vnfit for a King! It were too long to declare eueryevery matter in particular; but by theſe two Emperors, wherof the one was our deadly enemie, the other was our most faith full friend, one may eaſilie coniecture of eueryevery other circumstance, which are like to theſe afore ſpoken of. For as vnderunder the Tyrant our Catholike Chriſtians, had a trouble ſome encreaſe, ſo vnderunder this Emperor through Gods great merciemercy, they were brought to a moſt happie end. Let vsus looke a little into the Turkes affaires:*It is manifeſt that the Turkes hauehave no leſſe in creaſed by the helpe of the Pope, then by their ovvne ſtrength. Mahomet and Sergius the Monke, that fell from his religion, by howling in the deepe pit of hell, oppreſſed both with their owne ſinnes, and the ſinnes of their posteritie. This monſtrous and outragious beast,Vide Volat. Jouium. Aemil. lib. 8 Blond. lib. 9. de. 1. I meane the Saracens and Turkes, if they had not bin quailed and driuen backe heretofore by the orders of Knights, in our holy warfare and by the Princes and people that take our part: as for Luther, *Hee hath good cauſe to be thankfull to the Pope of Rome.to whom it is reported, that Solyman the great Turke, for this cauſe gaue great thankes by his letters, yea and as for the Lutheran Princes, to whom the fortunate ſucceſſe of the Turkes is but a laughing matter, as for them, I ſay, this …aging furie, and moſt miſchieuous to mortallmen, had before this time deſtroyed and ouerthrowne all Europe, and would hauehave occupied himſelfe, as buſily in pulling downe of Altars and ſignes of Chriſts Croſſe, as euer Caluin was himſelfe. Wherefore they are our peculiar enemies. Seeing that by our mens industrie, hitherto, they hauehave been kept backe from off Christian mens throates.
Let vsus take a view of heretikes,Haretici. Clem. lib. 1. recog. Iren. lib. 1. cap. 2. Cyp. Epiſt. ad Iubatam. & l. 4. Epiſt. 2. Theodo…o de fab. haeret. & Aug. her 46. Epiph. haere 75. Socrat. lib. 2. c. 35. Hier. in Iou. & Vigil. Aug. her. 82. which are the verie dregges and bellowes, and fit food for hell fire. The first that commeth into my mind is Symon Magus: what did he?*This is falſe, reade the anſwere. he tooke from man freewill, he was ſtill prating of faith only. The next that I remember was Nouatian. What of him? he oppoſed himſelfe to Cornelius the Pope of Rome. He was an enemy to the Sacramets of Perance, and holy Vnction. Thirdly, I thinke of Manes the Perſian, who taught that*He taught that Baptiſme did auaile nothing at all. Baptiſme was not a ſufficient meane to worke our ſaluation. After him there ſtarted vp Aerius and Arian, who condemned prayers for the only, and was therefore forenamed the*This was Aetius not Aetius. Atheist as well as Lucian was. Then followed Vigilantius, which would not permit men to pray vntounto Saints, and Iouinian, who maintained marriage to be as excellent as virginitie: Finally there came after all the whole rable of heretikes, as Macedonius, Pelagius, Neſtorius, Eutyches, Monothelites, Image breakers, and others; to which number our posteritie will adde alſo Luther and Caluin: what of all theſe? EueryEvery one of them like carion Crowes, hatched al of one kind of egge, rebelled againſt the chiefe rulers of our Church, and by them were confounded and brought to naught. Let vsus now leaue ſpeaking of hell, to returne to the earth againe.Terrae. Sedes Apoſtolica. Ep. 162. Whither ſoeuer I ſhall caſt mine eies, and incline my cogitation, whether I behold the Patriarkes, and Seas Apostolike, or the Biſhops of other countries, or renowmed Princes and Emperours, or the first entrance of Christian religion, into eueryevery nation, or any monuments of antiquitie, or the light of reaſon, or the comely ſight of honestie.Vide Tert. de praeſ… Aug. lib. 2. de Doct. Chriſt. cap. 8. I find that all of them doe dutiful ſeruice, and ſpeake fauourably for our religion: witnes hereof the Romane ſucceſſion. In whoſe Church (that I may ſay as doth S. Auguſtine)*While Augustine liued, the principaline of the Apoſtles chaire flouriſhed in that Church. But that apoſtolike chaire is long agoe ouerthrowne. the principality of the Apostolike chaire, hath euer been in force: witneſſes alſo hereunto, are the ſeas of the reſt of the Apoſtles, to whom the name Apostolike most excellently agreeth. Becauſe they were first erected by the Apostles themſelues, or by thoſe that heard them preach. Witneſſes alſo are the Paſtors of eueryevery Church throughout the wide world, who,Terra diſiunctiſſima. Hieron. in cat. ſcrip. eccl. & alij. though their abode was in diuers places, yet our religion was common to them alſo. As S. Ignatius, and S. Chryſoſtome liued at Antioch: S. Peter, Alexander, Athanaſius and Theophilus at Alexandria; Macarius and Cyril at Hieruſalem, Proculus at Conſtantinople. Gregorie & Baſil at Capadocia, Gregorie ſirnamed Tha… maturgus in Pontus: Polycarpus at Smyrna: Iuſtinus at Athens, Dionyſius at Corinth. Another Gregorie at Niſſa: Methodius at Tyrus, Ephreenus in Syria, Cyprian, Optatus, Auguſtine in Africke. Epiphanius in Cyprus, Andrew in Creet, Ambroſe, Paulinus, Gaudentius, Proſper, Fauſtus, Vigilius in Italie, I…encus, Martyrus, Hilarius, Eucherius, Gregorie of Toures, and Siluianus in France, Vincentius, Oroſins, Heldefonſus, Leander and Iſidorus in Spaine: Fugatius, Damanus, Iuſtus Mellitus and Bede in England. Finallie, lest I ſhould ſeeme ambitious in reckoning ſo many names, what treatiſes or fragments of treatiſes ſo euer be extant, of thoſe as in the Primitiue Church preached the Gospell, though in countries farre aſunder, yet all of them doe deliuer vntounto vsus, one and the ſelfe-ſame faith*This is moſt falſe. which we Catholikes doe at this preſent profeſſe; what cauſe (good Chriſt) could I alleadge, before thee for my example, but that thou mightest iustly exclude me altogether frō thy bleſſed company, if I ſhould prefer a number of hedge-creepers, both few in account, and alſo vnlearned, diuided amongſt themſelues in opinions, & of a …ſo lo… befor… ſ…y*You ought not to hang your ſoule vponupon men. light …pes of the Church? Witneſſes alſo are all Pri…s,Principes. Kings, Emperours and all their C…-weales, the godlineſſe of which Princes themſelues,Vide C…p. To…. …. de ſ…ctis. and alſo the people vnderunder their iuriſdiction and their good gouernment, both in times of peace and of marres, hauehave at the first grounded themſelues vponupon this ſound rocke of our Catholik doctrine. What famous men out of the East might I heere recite vntounto you that beare the name of Theodoſius? what worthy men out of the West, of the name of Charles? what Edwards out of England, what Leweſſes out of France, what Hermingildes out of Spaine, what Henries out of Saxony, what Winceſlaes out of Bohemia, what Leopaldes out of Austria? What Steuens out of Hungarie, what Ioſephats out of Indie? And finally what noble gouernours of many Empires, and Rulers of particular Countries, throughout the whole world, who by their good example, by their force, by their lawes, by their continuall care, by their charges, hauehave maintained our Church? For ſo hath Eſay propheſied,Eſay. 48. Kings ſhall be thy foſter Fathers, and Queenes ſhall be thy nurſes. GiueGive eare, O Queene Elizabeth moſt mightie Princes, to your Maieſtie this great Prophet telleth this tale, he teacheth you preciſely, what you hauehave to doe. And I tell you plaine that one heauen cannot containe*You tell vsus this thing moſt fooliſhly. Caluine and theſe Peeres. Let your Maieſtie therefore take part with theſe honorable Princes, that you may ſhew your ſelfe a condigne heire vntounto your noble auncesters, anſwerable vntounto your excellent wit, correſpōdent to your profound knowledge, worthie of high commendations, and finallie fit for your royall dignitie. OnelyOnly this I indeuour as touching your Maiestie, and will indeuour whatſoeuer become of me, againſt whom, as though I were your deadly enemie, theſe fellowes do ſo often threaten hanging on the gallowes: ô welcome ſweet croſſe to me, ô welcome, I ſay, ten thouſand times ſweet croſſe of mine! the day will come (moſt ſoueraigne Lady and Queene Elizabeth) euen that day I ſay will come, which ſhall …dently ſ…t before your Maiesties eyes whether of the two hauehave more ſincerely loued you, the*Shee hath long agoe and very ſufficiently perceiued, yt how greatly your ſociety hath loued her. Fie away varlates! ſocietie of Ieſuites or Luthers progenie.Nationes ad Chri… tra…. I go forward, there will witneſſe with vsus all coaſts and quarters of the world, wherein the …angelicall trumpet hath beene ſounded euer ſince Chriſts natiuity. Was this, thinke you, an eaſie matter to ſhut the mouthes of idols, and to tranſlate the kingdome of God vntounto the Gentiles. Luther ſpeaketh of Chriſt, and we Catholicks ſpeake alſo of Chriſt. Is Chriſt then*He is diuided by you. diuided?1. Cor. 1. no ſurely, but either we preach a wrong Chriſt, or elſe he. How then ſhall we know who preacheth Chriſt aright? I will tell thee. Let him be true Chriſt, and on their ſide by whoſe bringing in Dagons necks were broken.1. Reg. 5. That Chriſt which is on our ſide was well content to vſe the ſeruice of men of our Church, when hee expelled out of the harts of ſo many people, ſuch a number of Iupiters, Mercuries, Dianes, Phebades, and an horrible darke rabble and lamentable helliſhnes wherewith many in former time were oppreſſed. I hauehave not reſpit to fetch matter out of farre Countries. Let vsus then conſider of ſuch as either border vponupon vsus, or elſe are familiar with vsus at home. All theſe that follow ſucked into their breaſts either no faith at all, or the ſelfe ſame faith vndoubtedly which we profeſſe, that is, the Catholick faith; namely the Iriſh men from S. Patrick, the Scots from Palladius, and the Engliſh men from S. Auſten, who were all conſecrated Biſhops at Rome, ſent from Rome, and alwaies vſed great reuerence towards Rome.Cumulus testium. The matter is manifeſt; I run forward: witneſſes hereof are all Vniuerſities, witneſſes all written lawes, witneſſes are the common manners of all people eueryevery where in their owne countries, witneſſes are the faſhions of chuſing Emperours, and the ſolemne ceremonies vſed in their Coronation, witneſſe are the auncient rites exerciſed in the annointing of Kings, witneſſes are the orders practiſed in dubbing of Knights, and their very*Cloakes, cloakes. Alſo witneſſes … the Church windowes,Church windowes, gates of Cities, houſes, all manner of things great and ſmall, are wonderfull teſtimonies. witneſſes are the peeces of money, witneſſes are the gates & houſes of eueryevery Citie, witneſſes are the worthie workes and vertuous liues of our au…ſt…rs; finally, witneſſes are all māner of things both great & ſmall, & all kind of orders, that neuer any other religiō but our catholick religion that euer took any deep roote vponupon the face of the earth. When I ſaw my ſelfe guarded with all theſe helps, and felt my ſelfe comforted with the conſideration thereof, I thought it a point of inſolent folly, to forſake the great companie of all theſe good Christians, and to ioyne fellowſhip with the verieſt ra…hels that liue: therefore I confeſſe that I was greatly animated and vrged vntounto this ſcholasticall combate; wherein, vnleſſe the ſaints be driuen out of heauen, and proud Lucifer recouer heauen againe, I cannot take the faile. Wherfore I truſt, M. Chark, who hath conceiued ſo euill opiuiō of me heretofore, will yet now ſhew me a more fauorable countenance, in that I had rather commit in truſt this ſinfull ſoule of mine, which Chriſt hath ſo dearely bought, to a ſafe and certaine way, and vntounto the Kings high way, then hang it vponupon the rocks and buſhes of Caluines diuelliſh doctrine.
The Concluſion.
HEere hauehave you (moſt flouriſhing men of both the Vniuerſities) this my ſlender gift, compoſed at vacant times as I trauelled: I minded herein both to acquit my ſelfe before you of arrogancie, and to anſwere your expectatiō, why I had ſo great a truſt in this cauſe, and in the meane while to giuegive you a taſte of ſome reaſons to find you eccupied vntil you may be inuited to take my part in the Schooles, and to forſake the aduerſaries. If you iudge it to be right and reaſon, if you thinke it a ſafe thing for you, if you thinke it to be an honeſt point that*It is as ment that Luther and Caluin ſhould be ſo accounted of, as the Pope. Luther and Caluine ſhould be taken for the true Canon of Scripture, for the true meaning of the holie ghoſt, for the rule of the Church, for a Schoolemaſter ouer all Councels and Fathers, and laſtly for a God, and therefore to be beleeued before all witneſſes and ag…. There is no cauſe then at all why I ſhould conceiue any good hope of your indifferēcie, either in peruſing of theſe my ten reaſons, or elſe in giuing eare vntounto me if I might be allowed to diſpute. But if you be ſuch men as I hauehave alwaies perſwaded my ſelfe that you were, I means wiſe Philoſophers, very circumſpect, and embracers of truth, ſimplicitie and modeſtie, enemies to raſhnes, fables, and ſophiſtical cauilling; then I doubt not but you which now ſpie a little light at a narrow chinek, will quicklie ſee the day light in an open place: freely and franckly I will let you vnderſtand of that which the louelove I beare you, the danger you ſtand in, and the weightineſſe of the cauſe requireth. It is well knowne to the diuell that you ſhall ſee the truth of this cauſe, if euer you begin to caſt vp your eyes. For what a ſenſeleſſe part were it to preferre ſuch as Hanmer and Charke before the antiquitie of all Chriſtendome?*As though Poperie had no baites by which it intangleth the profeſſors of it. But there be certaine pleaſant baits in Luthers doctrine, wherewith he inlargeth his kingdome, with which baites he being firſt caught himſelfe, hath intangled as many of your coat, as bite at the ſame baits. For what are theſe baits? forſooth gold, vaineglory, delicate fare, and Venus games. Deſpiſe them; for what are they elſe but the very off-ſcumme of the earth, a loude blaſt of wind, delicate wormes meate, and faire dunghils▪ I ſay regard them not, for Chriſt is rich, who will not faile, but finde you all things neceſſary. Chriſt is a King, and will adorne you. Chriſt is well ſtored with daintie fare, and will ſatisfie your appetites. Chriſt is moſt beautifull, and will plentifully beſtow vponupon you great ſtore of all felicities: adioyne your ſelues as ſouldiers vntounto this Captaine, that ſo gallantly goeth on warfare, that like moſt learned men indeed, and of moſt valure, with him at the laſt day you may triumph for the victorie which you hauehave obtained. Fare you well. From the large Citie of the wide word.