Animadversions on a treatise entitled Fiat lux, or, A guide in differences of religion,…Animadversions on a treatise intituled Fiat lux, or, A guide in differences of religion,…

It is well observed by him in his second Paragraph, that most of the great Contests in the world about perishing things, proceed from the unmortified lusts of men. The Scripture abounds in Testimonies given hereunto: St. James expressly; From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence even of your lusts that war in your members? ye lust and have not, ye kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain; you fight and war, yet you have not, chap. 4.1, 2. Mens lusts put them on endless irregularities, in unbounded desires, and foolish sinful enterprises for their satisfaction. Neither is Satan the old Enemy of the well-fare of mankind wanting to excite, provoke, and stir up these lusts by mixing himself with them in his temptations, ⟨p. 126⟩thrusting them on, and entangling them in their pursuit. As to the Contests about Religion, which I know not with what mind or intention he terms an empty airy business, a ghostly fight, a skirmish of Shadows or Horse-men in the clouds, he knows not what principle, cause, or source, to aso•ibe them unto; That which he is most inclinable unto, is, That there is something invisible above man, stronger and more politic then he, that doth this contumely to mankind, that casts in these Apples of Contention amongst us, that hisses us to war and battle, as waggish Boys do Dogs in the street. That which is intended in these words, and sundry others of the like quality that follow, is, that this ariseth from the enticements and impulsions of the Devil. And none can doubt, but that in these works of darkness, the Prince of Darkness hath a great hand. The Scripture also assures us, that as the Scorpions which vexed the world issued out of the bottomless pit, so also that these unclean spirits do stir up the powers of the Earth to make opposition unto the Truth of the Gospel, and Religion of Jesus Christ. ⟨p. 127⟩But yet neither doth this hinder, but that even these religious feuds and miscarriages also, proceed principally from the ignorance, darkness, and lusts of men▪ In them lies the true cause of all dissentions in and about the things of God. The best know but in part, and the most love darkness more than light, because their works are evils. A vain conversation received by tradition from mens fathers;