The first reason, which is holy Scriptures.: An answer to the Ten reasons of Edmund Campian the Jesuit… by William Whitaker | AskReformation

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WHereas there are many things. which euidently open the Aduersaries mistrust in the cause, yet nothing so much, as the maiestie of Gods bookes, by them most filthilie^* corrupted. For they, who after that they haue reiected the voyces and testimonies of all other witnesses, and are neuerthelesse, ⟨p. 18⟩driuen to so narrow shifts, that they cannot defend their cause to be good, except they lay violent hands vpon the holy Scriptures also, assuredly shew themselues to be in great distresse, and all other helps failing and fainting, must now trie the last and vttermost shift. What cause had the Manachies to cancel^a S. Matthewes Gospell, and the Acts of the Apostles? Desperation: for they were tormented with these bookes, both because they had denied Christ to be^b borne of a Ʋirgin, and also had falsely affirmed, that then the holy^c Ghost came first downe from heauen amongst Christians, when their^d Paraclete, that most wicked Persian leapt out. What made the^e Ebionits to abandon all S. Paules Epistles? De•peration: for so long as these kept their authoritie, Circumcision is abolished, which they had brought backe againe. What enforced^f Luther that most wicked Apostata, to call the Epistle of S. Iames, ^*contentious, proud, barren, rushy, and iudge it to be vnworthy an Apostolike spirit? Desperation:^g For by this Epistle that miserable caitife affirming our iustification to be by faith^* only, is vtterly confuted & cōfounded what incensed^h Luthers whelpes, on a suddaine to put out of the^* true Canon of Scripture, Tobias, Ecclesiasticus, & the two bookes of the Macchabees; & in despight of them many otherⁱ bookes, vnto which they picked the like quarrell? Desperation: for by these heauenly^k Oracles they be expresly conuinced, as often as they dispute against the defence of Angels, as often as they dispute against Free-will, as often as they dispute against praying for the dead, as often as they dispute against praying to Saints. Is it so indeed? Is there such frowardnes, is there such presumption amongst mē? when they had trodden vnder foot the authority of the Churches, Coūcels * Seas, Fathers, Martyrs, Emperours, People, Lawes, Ʋniuersities, Histories, all Monuments of Antiquitie & holines; & had openly proclamed, that they would haue all controuersies decided by the written word of God only;

:71p. 18–20

would they then have dismembered the ⟨p. 19⟩very same word, which only remained, by cutting out of the whole body, so many, so good, and so excellent parts thereof. For the Calvinists have cut out of the old Testament^l seven whole books, besides certain other small pieces, which I let pass unspoken of The Lutherans likewise have cut off S. James Epist & for spite of it,^m five others, which some where else also were once called in question. To these also, do the late Genevans add the book of Esther, & a great part of the third chapter, & all the two last chapters of Daniel, which the Anabaptists their school-fellows had a little before condemned, & laughed to scorn; But how much more modest lie dealt S. Austin, who making a Catalogue of the books of holy Scriptures, took for his rule neither the Hebrew Alphabet, as the Jews do, nor yet his own private spirit, as Heretics use to do; but that spirit wherewith Christ quickeneth the whole body of his Church, which Church being not Lady (as Heretics do cavil) but only keeper of this gage, hath by old^* ancient Councils, openly challenged this whole and entire treasure of the books of Scripture, which the late Council of Trent also hath embraced? The self-same S. Augustine, entreating particularly of one parcel of Scripture, could not persuade himself, that the book of Wisdom, should by any mans rashness, or secret false suggestion, be thrust out of the Canon of Scripture, which even in his time, by judgement of the Church, process of time, testimony of ancient writers, and instruction of faithful men, had kept his authority, as a sound and Canonical book; what would he say if he were now living upon the earth again, and should see the Lutherans and Calvinists to be Bible makers, who with their sine and smooth stile, have raced both the old and new Testament, and put out of the Canon of holy Scriptures, not only the book of Wisdom, but many books more also? so that, that which shall not be uttered out of their shops, must by their brain-sick decree be rejected as a thing most rude and loath some. They that are driven to this horrible and ⟨p. 20⟩detestable shift, though their Arms be blazed never so far abroad, by their own disciples, though they buy and sel• benefices, though in their Sermons, they cry out against Catholics, though they procure them the sword, rack.

would they then haue dismembred the ⟨p. 19⟩very same word, which only remained, by cutting out of the whole body, so many, so good, and so excellent partes therof. For the Caluinists haue cut out of the old Testament^l seauen whole bookes, besides certaine other small peeces, which I let passe vnspoken of The Lutherans likewise haue cut off S. Iames Epist & for spight of it,^m fiue others, which some where els also were once called in questiō. To these also, do the late Geneuans adde the booke of Hester, & a great part of the third chapter, & al the two last chapters of Daniel, which the Anabaptists their school-fellowes had a little before cōdemned, & laughed to scorne; But how much more modest lie delt S. Austine, who making a Catologue of the books of holy Scriptures, tooke for his rule neither the Hebrew Alphabet, as the Iewes do, nor yet his owne priuate spirit, as Heretikes vse to do; but that spirit wherewith Christ quickneth the whole body of his Church, which Church being not Lady (as Heretickes do cauil) but only keeper of this gage, hath by old^* auncient Councels, openly challenged this whole and entire treasure of the bookes of Scripture, which the late Coūcell of Trent also hath embraced? The self-same S. Augustine, intreating particularly of one parcell of Scripture, could not perswade himselfe, that the booke of Wisdome, should by any mans rashnes, or secret false suggestion, be thrust out of the Canon of Scripture, which euen in his time, by iudgement of the Church, processe of time, testimonie af auncient writers, and instruction of faithfull men, had kept his authoritie, as a sound and Canonicall booke; what would he say if he were now liuing vpon the earth againe, and should see the Lutherans and Caluinists to be Bible makers, who with their sine and smooth stile, haue raced both the old and new Testament, and put out of the Canon of holy Scriptures, not only the booke of Wisdome, but many bookes more also? so that, that which shall not be vttered out of their shops, must by their brain-sicke decree be reiected as a thing most rude and loath some. They that are driuen to this horrible and ⟨p. 20⟩detestable shift, though their Armes be blazed neuer so farre abroad, by their owne disciples, though they buy and sel• benefices, though in their Sermons, they cry out against Catholikes, though they procure them the sword, racke.

lBaruch. Tob. Judith. Sapient. Eccles. Macha. d•o.Baruch. Tob. Iudith. Sapient. Eccles. Macha. d•o.
mEpistol. ad Hebr. Epist Jud. Epist. 2. Pet. Ep. 2 & 3. Johannis. it a censent Luth. in praefat. Mag. Cent. 1. lib. 2. cap 4. Kem. in exam. con. Tri. Ses. 4. De doct. chr. lib. 2. cap. 8. Ses. 4. vide Mel. Can. lib. 2. de Loc. Theol. cap. 9.10.11. de praedest. Sanct. cap. 14.Epistol. ad Hebr. Epist Jud. Epist. 2. Pet. Ep. 2 & 3. Iohannis. it a censent Luth. in praefat. Mag. Cent. 1. lib. 2. cap 4. Kem. in exam. con. Tri. Ses. 4. De doct. chr. lib. 2. cap. 8. Ses. 4. vide Mel. Can. lib. 2. de Loc. Theol. cap. 9.10.11. de praedest. Sanct. cap. 14.
*This is false, for the Laodicene Councel doth so number the books of the Scriptures as we do, and not as the Councell of Trent doth.This is false, for the Laodicene Councel doth so number the bookes of the Scriptures as we do, and not as the Councell of Trent doth.

:72p. 20–21

and gallows, yet are they overcome, naught set by, horrible in mens sight, and quite overthrown. For as much as the taking upon them the authority of Censors and sitting as honourable Judges, do dash out at their pleasure such holy Scriptures, as they found would not serve their turn; is there any body though never so simple, which can fear these subtle sleights of the Adversaries, who, as soon as they should enter within your assembly that are learned men, and fly unto such their usual shifts, as it were unto their familiar spirit, should, though not with reproach full words, yet at the least with trampling of your feet be thrust out of your schools? I would demand of them, (for example sake) b• what authority they maim and rob the corps of the Bible? They answer they do not cut out any true Canonical Scriptures but cull out only such as are not Canonical, that have been foisted into the Bible, and are indeed but counterfeits. Who shall be judge? the^* holy Ghost; for this very answer doth^o Calvin give, thereby to escape the judgement of the Church, by whose authority all spirits are tried; why then do some of you cut off certain books, and others of your crew, allow the same, seeing you all vaunt of the self-same spirit? The Calvinists spirit alloweth of six Epistles, which the Lutheran spirit doth disallow, and yet both of you (as you say) have the holy spirit. The^p Anabaptists do call the history of Job a fable interlaced with tragical and Comical metres: how know they that? by the spirit that instructeth them.^q Castalio, that lecherous varlet made no more account of that mystical book of Solomon, commonly called Cantica canticorum (which the Catholics do as highly esteem as a Paradise of the soul, as that heavenly food Manna, which was laid up and kept in the tabernacle, ⟨p. 21⟩and as delicate dainties in Christ) then he did of a^* bawdy song, and ribald tab of a Courtly waiting maid with her lover; where had he this? of the spirit? In the Apocalypse of^r S. John, every little title whereof S. Hierome affirmeth to contain some high and notable mystery; yet nevertheless, these^s severe Judges, Luther, Brentius and Kemnitius find I know not what lacking shooting all at this mark, that the book might be defaced, and be of no authority: whom did they ask? the spirit.^*

and gallowes, yet are they ouercome, naught set by, horrible in mens sight, and quite ouerthrowne. For as much as the taking vpon them the authoritie of Censorors and sitting as honorable Iudges, do dash out at their pleasure such holy Scriptures, as they found would not serue their turne; is there any body though neuer so simple, which can feare these sub•tle sleights of the Aduersaries, who, assoone as they should enter within your assemiblie that are learned men, and flie vnto such their vsuall snifts, as it were vnto their familiar spirit, should, though not with reproach full words, yet at the least with trampling of your feet be thrust out of your schooles? I would demaund of them, (for example sake) b• what authoritie they mayme and robbe the corpes of the Bible? They answere they doe not cut out any true Canonicall Scriptures but cull out only such as are not Canonicall, that haue been forsted into the Bible, and are indeed but counterfeits. Who shall be iudge? the^* holy Ghost; for this very answere doth^o Caluin giue, thereby to escape the iudgement of the Church, by whose authoritie all spirits are tried; why then do some of you cut off certaine bookes, and others of your crew, allow the same, seeing you all vaunt of the self-same spirit? The Caeluinists spirit alloweth of six Epistles, which the Lutheran spirit doth d•sallow, and yet both of you (as you say) haue the holie spirit. The^p Anabaptists doe call the historie of Iob a fable interlaced with tragicall and Comicall meeters: how know they that? by the spirit that instructeth them.^q Castalio, that lecherous varlet made no more account of that mysticall booke of Salomon, commonly called Cantica canticorum (which the Catholikes do as highly esteeme as a Paradise of the soul, as that heauenly food Manna, which was laid vp and kept in the tabernacle, ⟨p. 21⟩and as delicate dainties in Christ) then he did of a^* baudie song, and ribaudous ta•be of a Courtly wayting mayd with her louer; where had he this? of the spirit? In the Apocalyps of^r

*Campian refuseth the holy Ghost as Judge.Campian refuseth the holy Ghost as Iudge.
o1. Lib. Inst. cap. 7.
pXistus Sen. lib. 7.
qPraefat. in Cant.
*This is falsoe for Castalio in his preface hath no such word.
rEpist. ad Paul.
sPraef. in Apoc.
*This is most false: read the answer to it.This is most false: reade the answere to it.

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Luther upon a preposterous zeal casteth a bone amongst the^g four Evangelists, and preferring S. Pauls Epistles far before the three former Gospels, in the end concludeth, that the one only Gospel of S. John is from henceforth to be taken, for the gay, for the true, and the principal Gospel; as one that as much as in him lay would gladly have made the Apostles also partakers of his brawling in religious matters: who was his Tutor? the spirit. Besides this, that peevish^u Fryer was so malapert, as to endeavour to make^* S. Lukes Gospel to be suspected to be written in a wanton style, because therein good works are often commended unto us: whom hath he consulted with? the spirit. Theodorus Beza was so bold as to reprehend that mystical word taken out of the 22. Chapter^x of S. Luke, Hic est Calix novum Testamentum in sanguine meo, qui (calix) pro vobis fundetur: This is the Cup of the new Testament in my blood, which (Cup) shall be sh•dde for you: as very corrupt and evilly placed there; because this sentence cannot admit any interpretation, but of the^* wine of the Cup changed into the very true blood of Christ: where learned he that? of the spirit. Finally, when every man committeth every thing to his private spirit, they belie the name of the holy Ghost most blasphemously. Do not these fellows which deal thus, bewray themselves, and show what they are? are they not easily confuted? are they not in the assembly of such men, as you of both the Universities be, quickly perceived, and soon repressed: Ought I to fear ⟨p. 22⟩disputations with these in defence of the Catholic faith, who with much falsehood have handled the very word not of man, but of God himself? Here I pass over such things, as they have depraved in their false translations, though there be intolerable matters wherewith I may well charge them. I am very loath to take away any part of the matter, either from my old College fellow Master Gregory Martin, a man of excellent great knowledge in the three tongues,^y which will handle this matter far more learnedly and copiously then I can; or from some others, which (as I understand) have already undertaken this matter. The matter that I now write of, is far more heinous and horrible.

Luther vpon a prepostorous zeale casteth a bone amongst the^g foure Euangelists, and preferring S. Paules Epistles farre before the three former Gospels, in the end concludeth, that the one only Gospell of S. Iohn is from henceforth to be taken, for the gay, for the true, and the principall Gospell; as one that asmuch as in him lay would gladly haue made the Apostles also partakers of his brawling in religious matters: who was his Tutor? the spirit. Besides this, that peeuish^u Fryer was so malapert, as to endeuor to make^* S. Lukes Gospell to be suspected to be written in a wanton style, because therein good workes are often commended vnto vs: whom hath he consulted with? the spirit. Theodorus Beza was so bold as to reprehend that mysticall word taken out of the 22. Chapter^x of S. Luke, Hic est Calix nouum Testamentum in sanguine meo, qui (calix) pro vobis fundetur: This is the Cup of the new Testament in my blood, which (Cup) shall be sh•dde for you: as very corrupt and euilly placed there; because this sentence cannot admit any interpretation, but of the^* wine of the Cup changed into the very true blood of Christ: where learned he that? of the spirit. Finally, when euery man committeth euery thing to his priuate spirit, they belie the name of the holy Ghost most blasphemously. Do not these fellowes which deale thus, bewray themselues, and shew what they are? are they not easily confuted? are they not in the assemblie of such men, as you of both the Vniuersities be, quickly perceiued, and soone represt: Ought I to feare ⟨p. 22⟩disputations with these in defence of the Catholike faith, who with much falshood haue handled the very word not of man, but of God himselfe? Here I passe ouer such things, as they haue depraued in their false translations, though there be intolerable matters wherewith I may well charge them. I am very loath to take away any part of the matter, either from my old Colledge fellow Master Gregory Martin, a man of excellent great knowledge in the three tongues,^y which will handle this matter farre more learnedly and copiously then I can; or from some others, which (as I vnderstand) haue already vndertaken this matter. The matter that I now write of, is farre more heynous and horrible.

gPraefat. in novum Test.Praefat. in nouum Test.
uSer. de Pharis & Publican.
*This is false: for Luther never spake saucily of S. Luke.This is false: for Luther neuer spake saucily of S. Luke.
xLuc. C. 22. [Greek or Hebrew].Luc. C. 22. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
*This is false: for by no means can he endure thi• exposition.This is false: for by no meanes can he endure thi• exposition.
yLatin Greek and Hebrew.Latin Greeke and Hebrew.

:74p. 22

There were lately discovered certain petty Doctors, that upon a drunken pang laid violent hands upon the divine Scriptures, and have condemned them, as corrupted, as maimed, as falsified, as craftily foisted in, in sundry places; some parts thereof they have corrected, some they have raced, and some they have quite pulled out. And lastly they have changed, as the fortress of this authentical writing of Gods own hand, wherewith before it was fenced, unto certain Lutheran spirits, as though it were into vain bulwarks of their own imaginations, or into bare painted walls, least peradventure they should have bin mum for want of matter, when they should stumble at such places of Scripture, as are plain against their heresies. Of which nevertheless, they could no sooner shift their hands, then sup up hot coals or eat hard stones. Then this first reason seemed to me urgent and just, which when it had evidently laid before mine eyes, that the Adversaries side was but counterfeited and feeble, truly it encouraged me much, being both a Christian, and also somewhat beaten in this kind of study, in defence of the everlasting Kings Charter, to encounter with the remnants of these discomfited enemies.

There were lately discouered certaine pettie Doctors, that vpon a drunken pange laid violent hands vpon the diuine Scriptures, and haue condemned them, as corrupted, as maymed, as falsified, as craftily foisted in, in sundrie places; some parts thereof they haue corrected, some they haue raced, and some they haue quite pulled out. And lastly they haue changed, as the fortresse of this authenticall writing of Gods owne hand, wherewith before it was fenced, vnto certaine Lutherane spirits, as though it were into vaine bulwarkes of their owne imaginations, or into bare painted walles, least peraduenture they should haue bin mum for want of matter, when they should stumble at such places of Scripture, as are plaine against their heresies. Of which neuerthelesse, they could no sooner shift their hands, then suppe vp hot coales or eate hard stones. Then this first reason seemed to me vrgent and iust, which when it had euidently laid before mine eyes, that the Aduersaries side was but counterfeited and feeble, truely it incouraged me much, being both a Christian, and also somewhat beaten in this kind of studie, in defence of the euerlasting Kings Charter, to encounter with the remnaunts of these discomfited enemies.