Answer to Campian the Jesuit, Reasons · Reason 6
EDMVND CAMPIAN. The ſixt Reaſon, which is the foundation of the Fathers.
IF euer that ſaying (aIob. 5. ſearch the Scriptures) was loued, and liked of by any, which was greatly regarded and ought to be amongſt vsus; the holy Fathers aſſuredly herein excelled and exceeded: for by their labour and cost were the Bibles copied out, and conueyed to ſo many countries and nations of ſtrange languages; by their great perils and torments were they deliuered from burning by the enemies, and from destruction; by their paines and teachings, hauehave they been throughout expounded most faithfully; they ſpent whole daies and nights in the ſtudy of holy Scriptures; they preached out of eueryevery Pulpit the holy Scriptures; they enriched long volumes with holy Scriptures; with moſt faithful Commentaries they explained the holy Scriptures; they ſeaſoned as well their feaſting as their fasting, with holy Scriptures. And finally they exerciſed themſelues, euen vntill crooked old age crept vponupon them in holy Scriptures. And although they grounded their reaſons alſo vponupon the authority of their Aunceſtors, vppon the common practiſe of the Church, vponupon the ſucceſſion of Biſhops, vponupon generall Councels, vponupon Traditions of the Apostles, vponupon the bloodſhedding of Martyrs, vponupon the decrees of Pre…s, vponupon ſtrange ſignes and marn…us …racles, yet their greatest deſire was, especially to fill their treatiſes, with ſtore of testimonies out of the holy Scriptures. Theſe they vrge, vponupon theſe they make their habitation, to theſe Scriptures as vntounto the coatebCant. 4. armor of valiant ſouldiers, they worthily yeeld the higheſt and most honorable place, like noble captaines, daily deſending the Catholike Church, which is the citie of God, by them kept in good repaire, againſt all miſcheeuous aſſaults of her enemie: the which thing maketh me the more to maruell, at that proud and fooliſh exception of the aduerſarie, who like one that ſeeketh for water in the running riuer, complaineth for the ſcarſity of Scriptures, where greateſt ſtore of Scriptures are alleadged. So long he ſaith he is content to be iudged by the Fathers as they ſwarue not from the Scriptures. Doth he ſpeake as he thinketh? I will ſee then that theſe most famous writers, moſt auncient Fathers, and moſt holy men, Saint Denys, S. Cyprian, S. Athanaſius, S. Baſil, S. Gregory Nazianzen, S. Ambroſe, S. Hierome, S. Chryſoſtome, S. Auguſtine, and S. Gregory the great ſhall come forth wel armed and vpholden with Chriſt, with the Prophets, with the Apoſtles, and with the whole furniture of the Bible. Grant good Lord, that, that religion may*And at this day the ſame faith flouriſheth in England, which thoſe Fathers did had and defended. raigne in England, I ſay good Christ grant, that, that religion may raigne in England, that theſe Fathers that embrace the Scriptures, ſo louingly hauehave builded vp out of the Scriptures. Looke what Scriptures they bring, wee will bring the ſame; looke what Scriptures they conferre, we will conferre the ſame; looke what Scriptures they alleadge, we will alleadge the ſame. Art thou alſo contented with this? cough out Sir a Gods name, and tell me plainly what you thinke. I like them not thou wilt ſay except they interpret the ſaid Scriptures rightly; what meanest thou by ſaying rightly? ô now I know, after thy owne fancy. Art thou not aſhamed of this blind intreate dealing? Then for as much as I am in good hope, that in the foreſaid Vniuerſities, that most freſhly flouriſh, there will ioyne together a great number of ſuch as will looke into theſe controuerſies; not groſely, but with ſharpe iudgement, and wil weigh theſe mens trifling anſwere not partially, but in equall ballance; I will therefore, with a chearefull courage expect this day of battell, as one that mindeth to march forward with the nobility, & force of Chriſts Church, againſt a monkeſ… multitude of ragged Rogues.