Wherefore I do all the more wonder at that haughty and famous objection of the adversary, who, like one looking for water in a running stream, takes exception to the lack of Scripture texts in writings crowded with Scripture texts.  He says he will agree with the Fathers so long as they keep close to Holy Scripture.  Does he mean what he says?  I will see then that there come forth, armed and begirt with Christ, with Prophets and Apostles, and with all array of Biblical erudition, those celebrated authors, those ancient Fathers, those holy men, Dionyius, Cyprian, Athanasius, Basil, Nazianzen, Ambrose, Jerome, Chrysostom, Augustine, and the Latin Gregory.  Let that faith reign in England, Oh that it may reign! which these Fathers, dear lovers of the Scriptures, build up out of the Scriptures.  The texts that they bring, we will bring:  the texts they confer, we will confer:  what they infer, we will infer.  Are you agreed?  Out with it and say so, please.  Not bit of it, he says, unless they expound rightly.  What is this “rightly”?  At your discretion.  Are you not ashamed of the vicious circle?

Hopeful as I am that in flourishing Universities there will be gathered together a good number, who will be no dull spectators, but acute judges of these controversies and who will weigh for what they are worth the frivolous answers of our adversaries, I will gladly await this meeting-day, as one minded to lead forth against wooded hillocks [cf.  Cicero in Catilinam ii. 11], covered with unarmed tramps, the nobility and strength of the Church of Christ.

SEVENTH REASON

HISTORY

Ancient History unveils the primitive face of the Church.  To this I appeal.  Certainly, the more ancient historians, whom our adversaries also habitually, consult, are enumerated pretty well as follows:  Eusebius, Damasus, Jerome, Rufinus, Orosius, Socrates, Sozomen, Theodoret Cassiodorus, Gregory of Tours, Usuard, Regino, Marianus, Sigebert, Zonaras, Cedrinus, Nicephorus.  What have they to tell?  The praises of our religion, its progress, vicissitudes, enemies.  Nay, and this is a point I would have you observe diligently, they who in deadly hatred dissent from us,—­Melancthon, Pantaleon, Funck, the Centuriators of Magdeburg,—­on applying themselves to write either the chronology or the history of the Church, if they did not get together the exploits of our heroes, and heap up the accounts of the frauds and crimes of the enemies of our Church, would pass by fifteen hundred years with no story to tell.