Answer to Campian the Jesuit, Reasons · Reason 5
EDMVND CAMPIAN. The fifth Reaſon, which is the Fathers.
AS that famous Sirname of Christians increaſed first inaAct. 1…. Antioch, ſob1. Cor. 12. Epheſ. 4.1. Cor. 14. Doctors, that is, very deepe Diuines, and Prophets, that is, most famous Preachers, first flouriſhed there. Our Lord himſelfe prouided for his flocke in time to come, ſuch a ſort ofcMatth. 13.23. Scribes and wiſe men, as were experienced in the kingdome of God, bringing forth both old & new things, that is, hauing God ſtill both in Chriſt and Moſes, in the new and old Testament. How miſchieuous an act is it to expel with rebuke theſe men, which were giuen vsus by God for a ſpeciall benefit? The Aduerſarie hath*This is falſe, for we neuer hiſſed out any learned ſcribe. expelled them. For what cauſe? for that if they had ſtood vpright, he of neceſſity had fallen downe. So ſoone, as I throughlie perceiued that, without any more adoo, I deſired to make, not that flouriſhing fight which the common ſort of people vſe, when they contend one with another in the open ſtreetes, but that ſeuere and ſharpe combate, by which we buckle▪ one with another in your Philoſophy ſchooles, foot by foot, & man by man, cloſe ioyned together. If we may once come to the Fathers, the field is fought, & the wager wonne, on our ſide. For they are all ours, asſure as Gregory the 13. is a most louing Father to all the Churches children. For todS. Dion. Areo pag. de quo vide Adon Treu. in Martyrel. Adon. Turon. Syng. Suid. Metap. omit diuers places, which here and there disperſed, being gathered together out of the auncient writings of the Fathers, do very fitly and plainelie fortifie our faith: we hauehave their whole bookes, which of ſet purpoſe do expreſly and copiouſly paint out liuely that ſelfe ſame Euangelicall religion which wee maintaine. What orders of heauenly powers, what ſacrifices, what ſolomne rites, doth that two-fold Hierarchy of the Martyr S. Denys, make knowne vntounto vsus? That matter touchedcComent. in 1.13 17. Deut. Item in cap. …ab. Luther ſo nigh the quicke, that he affirmed this bleſſed mans writings to be moſt like to dreames and moſt pernicious.fDial. 5. & 11. Cauſſaeus an obſcure vpſtart in Fraunce, following the ſteppes of his Father Luther, bluſhed not to tearme this Apoſtle S.*This Denys is counterfeice and forged. Denys borne in a noble countrie, an old dotard.gCent. 2. cap. 10. Inſt. lib. 1. cap. 13 num. 29. The Magdeburgeans which lately ſet forth the Eccleſiaſticall hiſtorie in Centuries, were greatly grieued at S. *This Ignatius is counterfeite.Ignatius, ſo was Caluin alſo. Inſomuch that theſe bench whiſtlers pried out certaine foule blemeſhes and vnſauorie ſpeeches in his Epistles. In theſe mens conceits alſo S. Ireneus writ one fooliſh toy; and S. Clement, who was author of the booke called Stromatum, yeelded out of his works cockle and dregges. And the reſiduehCent. 2. cap. 5. vide Cent. 1. lib. 2. cap. 10. & Seqq. of the Fathers of this age, which were in very deed*They were Apoſtolike men, yet they did not commit to writing all the things the Apoſtles did. Apoſtolike men, left vntounto their poſteritie blasphemous and monſtrous doctrine. IniLib. de Praſcript. contra Ha…. Tertullian they greedily catch at that fault, which being told therof by vsus, they with vsus alſo detest. But let them call to mind, the booke which he writ de Praeſcriptionibus, wherwith the heretikes of our time had ſo ſound a blow, was neuer hither to reprehended by the Church. How ſufficientlie and euidently hath*This Hyppolitus is counterfeite. Hyppolitus kOrat. de conſum. Secul.Biſhop of Portua foreſhewed the raigne of Luthers hereſies, which was a ſtrong pillar▪ in Antichrists building? And for that cauſe they call him amost childiſh ſcrible, & a masker. ThatlIuel. &c. cauſſ. Dial. 8. & 11. criticall French man Cauſſaeus, and themCent. 3. cap. 4. Magdeburgeans do call S. Cyprian (who was the flower and honor of Africke) a blocke head, a man cast out of Gods ſight a deprauer of the true doctrine of Penance: why, what hath he done? he hath writ for ſooth one booke of Virginity, and another of thoſe that are Relapſed, and certaine treatiſes of the vnity of the Church, yea & ſuch Epistles alſo vntounto Cornelius Biſhop of Rome, that except this bleſſed Martyr be diſgraced, Peter Martyr the Vermillian, and all his confeder a…s, must bee taken for worſe then adulternous & Church-robbers. And leſt I ſhould ſtand too long vponupon particularties, aft the Fathers of that age arenCent. 3. cap. 4. generally*This is falſe, for none doe condemne or reiect the Fathers of this age. condemned, as men that hauehave corrupted wonderfully, the ſincere doctrine of Penance. Ho… I pray you? the Auſterity for ſooth of theoCanones Poenitenti… ve…eres. Canons which at that time was vſed, doth highly diſpleaſe this plauſible ſect, which are fitter for Chambers then for Churches, and is accuſtomed to tickle ſenſuall eares, and to ſo …cuſhions to eueryevery elbow: wherein, I ſay, wherein hath the next age offended? forſooth S. Chryſoſtome and other Fathers of that time hauehave fouly darkened iuſtification by faith only S. Gregory Nazianzen, whom auncient writers for honor ſake, hauehave Sirnamed Theologus. 1. the Diuine, by Cauſſaeus iudgement, was but aqDia. 6.7.8 brabler and knew not what to ſay: S. Ambroſe was bewitched of an euill ſpirit. S. rBeza in Act. Apost. ca. 23. Stancha. li. de Trin.Hierome is as*This which concerneth S. Hierome is all falſe. deeply damned in hell, as the diuell himſelfe, becauſe he was iniurious to the Apoſtle, a blasphemer, a naughty man, a wicked fellow. Gregorie Maſſonius eſteemeth more of one Caluin, then of an hundred Auguſtines, a hundred is but a few.ſLib. cent. Henrie. 8. Reg. Aug…. Martin Luther careth not a button, if there were againſt him a thouſād Auguſtines, a thouſand Cyprians, a thouſand Churches. I thinke it will be to no purpoſe to wade any further in this matter, for who may maruell, if they that thus raile againſt theſe worthy men, hauehave alſo been ſaucy againſt Optatus, Athanaſius, Hilarius, both Cyrils, Epiphanius, Baſill, Vincentius, Fulgentius, Leo, and Gregorie the Romane? And yet if there may be any iuſt defence of an vniuſt cauſe, I do not deny but the Fathers hauehave, whereſoeuer you reade in their workes, ſuch matter, as may cauſe the Aduerſarie to take pepper in the noſe, ſo long as they follow their owne humours. For they that cannot away with preſcript daies of abſtinence, how is it likely that they can abide S, Baſill, S. Gregorie Nazianzene, S. Leo, and S. Chryſoſtome, who hauehave ſet forth in printgz…ch. 13. Praef. in cent. 5. very godly ſermons, concerning Lent, and Ember daies, as things vſually at that time obſerued among Christian people. Can thoſe men chuſe, which hauehave ſold their ſoules for riches, bodily pleaſure, daintie fare, and fine apparrell, but beare deadly hatred to S. Baſill, S. Chryſoſtome, S. Hierome, and S. Auguſtine, whoſe excellent bookes of the order, rule, and vertuous life of*But theſe Monkes were moſt vnlike to ours. Monkes, are vſually in eueryevery mans band? May they that hauehave intruded ſeruill will into man, that hauehave cut off all Chriſtian funerals, that hauehave ſet on fire the reliques of Saints, continue friendſhip with S. Auguſtine? who hath penned three whole bookes of mans*But in theſe bookes he doth not eſtabliſh freewill. freewill,tLib. 22. de Ciuit. Dei. cap. 8. & ſer. de diuerſ. 34. & ſequent. one booke of care to be taken for the dead, one long chapter of that his noble worke De ciuitat. Dei, concerning miracles wrought at the Churches, Chappels, and ſepulchers of holy Martyrs, and certaine Sermons of the ſame matter. Can ſuch as meaſure faith by their own captiouſnes, refraine from anger towards S. Auguſtine, of whoſe penning there is extant a notableoCont. epiſt. Man. quam vocant. fundam. c. 4. Epiſtle againſt Manachie, wherein he confeſſeth, that for his faith he will cleaue vntounto*Yet in that very place Augustine preferred truth before all theſe. Antiquitie, vnity, continuall ſucceſſion, and to the Church, which by preſcription alone challengeth amōg ſo many hereſies, the title of Catholike?uLi. 1. cont. Pa…men. Optatus *This Optatus is an old Father newly printed.Biſhop of Miletan confuteth ſuch as tooke part with Donatus, by the Catholike cōmunity. Their wickednes he accuſeth by the decree of the Pope Melchiades; he reprouethxLib. 2. their hereſie by the ſucceſſion of the Biſhops of Rome. He displaieth theiryLib. 3. madnes, by their dafiling both of the bleſſed Euchariſt, and alſo of the holy oyle. He abhorreth theirzLib. 6. ſacriledge, in breaking downe of holy Altars, whereupon Chriſts body is laid, and alſo in polluting of the Chalices, which contained Christs blood: I would gladly know what they thinke of Optatus, who is commended by S. aAug. lib. 1 cont. Parmen. De Vnit. ca. 16. & lib. 3 de Doct. Chriſt. c. 40.Auguſtine as a worthy and Catholike Biſhop not inferiour to S. Ambroſe, and S. Cyprian, and whom S. bFulgent. li. 2. ad Monim. Vide epist. Synod. Alex. ad Feli. 2.Fulgentius alſo recordeth to hauehave been an holy man and faithfull Interpretor of S. Paul, not vnlike vntounto S. Auguſtine, and S. Ambroſe. They reade S. Athanaſius Creed in their Churches: Do they for all that beare him any good will, who hath highly commended as an auncient writer in an exact booke, S. Antony that hermite of Aegypt, and alſo hath humbly appealed, with the Councell of*A counterfeit Epiſtle. Alexandria vntounto the Sea Apostolike of S. Peter? How often doth S. Prudentius in his Hymnes pray vntounto the bleſſed Martyrs? what Hymnes doth he endite in their praiſe? how often doth he worſhip the King of Martyrs at their aſhes and bones? will they allow of this man? S. Hierome in the defence of Reliques, and honor of Saints writeth againſt Vigillantius, and for the preheminence of virginitie against Iouinian: will they tolerate this? An high ſolemne feast was kept bycVide Epist. de Ambroſ. ad Epist. It al. Fom. 3. Sil… & tiuſdem Amb. Epist. 85. Item Serm. 91. S. Ambroſe in the honor of his Patrones Geruaſius and Protaſius, to the great reproach of the Arrians; which act the holydAugust. lib. 22. de ciuie. Dei. cap. 1. Fathers hauehave highly commended, and God himſelfe adorned with many miracles: will they be friends with S. Ambroſe? cGreg…r. Tur. lib. de gloria Mar. cap. 46. Metaphraſt.S. Gregorie the great, that Apoſtle of*Gregorie the great was neither our Apoſtle, nor an Apoſtle at all. ours, is flat on our ſide and for that title is hated of our Aduerſaries, whom Caluin in his fury doth deny to be brought vp in thefIust. lib. 1. cap. 11. n. 5. ſchoole of the holy Ghost, becauſe hee called holi… Images the books of vnlearned people. A whole day would not be enough for me to reckon all the Epistles, Sermons, Homilies, Orations, Treatiſes, and disputations of the old Fathers, wherein of ſet purpoſe both grauely and eloquently, they hauehave confirmed our Catholike doctrine. So long as theſe bookes of theſe Fathers ſhall be ſold at the Stationers ſhop, in vaine are the hauens and ſea coasts watched ſo narrowly; to no purpoſe, are houſes, coffers, and chests ſtraightly ſearched; to no end, are penall proclamations ſet vponupon ſo many gates. For none of our late writers, neither Harding, nor Sanders, nor Allen, nor Stapleton, nor Briſtol, do more vehemently inueigh againſt theſe their new found dreames, then thoſe Fathers do, whom I hauehave named: which things when I well conſidered, my courage began to riſe, & I had a deſire to fight, in which conflict, on which ſide ſoeuer the aduer ſarie ſhall ſtart, except he yeeld due honor vntounto God, he ſhall hauehave the foyle: if he allow of the Fathers, he is caught; if he diſallow of them, he is no body. Thus it fell out when I was: a yong ſtudent at Oxford.*This word Biſhop Iewel did neuer eat, neither wil we euer renoūce. Iohn Iewel the captaine of Engliſh Caluinists, challenged in most bragging ſort all Catholikes at Paules Croſſe in London, vrging and alledging like an hypocrite, all the Fathers that euer flouriſhed within ſixe hundred yeares after Christ. Certeine worthy men, which then for religion liued as baniſhed men, in the Ʋniuerſity of Lonan, thoug through the iniquity of the time, they liued in great distreſſe, yet anſwered his challenge. That ſubtiltie, follie, impudency, and ſaucines of Iewel, which the fore ſaid writers hauehave luckily diſcouered, hath done ſo much good to the cōmon ſort of people in England, that within my remembrance I dare boldly ſay, there ſcarcely hapned any one thing more profitable, to the afflicted Engliſh Church then this. Proclamatiōs forth▪ with were ſet on eueryevery gate, that no ſuch*But Biſhop Iewel publiſhed the whole booke of the Aduerſaries that all might reade them. bookes might lawfullie be read or kept in their houſes, whereas Iewels exclamations at Paules Croſſe, did almost extort the ſame out of the writers hands. But they that came to the ſcanning of this matter found that the Fathers were all Catholike, that is, on our ſide. Neither didgLib. de vita Iuclii. Laurence Humphrey conceale this blow giuen him and his fellowes, who when he had highly extolled Iewel otherwiſe, noted yet want of*This is falſe, he neuer vpbraided him with any impudencie. diſcretion in him for this one thing, that hee for his part had allowed the iudgements of the Fathers in matters of controuerſie, which when the ſaid Laurence Humphrey without any circumſtances plainly protesteth that he neither hath, nor will hauehave any thing to doe. I did once alſo familiarly request Toby Mathew, who new for preaching beareth the bell, whom for good learning ſake and likely ſeedes of other good vertues, I dearely loued, that he would plainly tell me, whether he that ſo diligently read the Fathers, could be of that ſide, whereunto he laboured to allure his audience. He replied no, if he both read them, and withall beleeued them.*This is moſt falſe, they who giuegive moſt to the Fathers are moſt diſſenting from you. This his anſwere is very true, and I perſwade my ſelfe, that neither hee now, nor Mathew Hutton, who as I heare is a famous man, and bent much to ſtudy the Fathers, nor any other of the Aduerſaries, which do the like, do otherwiſe thinke. Wherefore, yet I might come ſurely to this combate, to encounter with ſuch, who as though they had a Wolfe by the eares, are inforced to diſcredit their cauſe for euer, whether they reiect the Fathers or ſtand to their iudgement. For by doing the one, they truſſe vp their trinckets to flie away, and by doing the other, they are ſtreightwaies ſtrangled.