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,…

he intended not Roman-Catholics, and the differences we have with them in this Discourse; It is Protestants, Presbyterians, Independents, Anabaptists, Quakers, that he deals with all, and them only, and that upon this ground, that none of them have any Title or pretence of Reason to impose ⟨p. 131⟩on one another, and so ought to be quiet, and let one another alone in matters of Religion. But for the Roman-Catholics, they are not concerned at all in this Harangue, having a sufficient Title to impose upon them all. Now truly, if this be all, I know not what we have to thank you for, Tantúmne est otii tibi abs re tua, aliena ut cures, eaque quae ad te nihil at tinent? There are wise and learned men in England, who are concerned in our differences, and do labour to compose them or suppress them. That this Gentleman should come and jostle them aside, and impose himself an Umpire upon us, without our choice or desire, in matters that belong not unto him, how charitable it may seem to be, I know not; but it is scarcely civil. Would, he would be persuaded to go home, and try his remedies upon the distempers of his own family, before he confidently vend them to us. I know he has no Salves about him to heal diversities of Opinions, that he can write Probatum est upon, from his Roman-Church. If he have, he is the most uncharitable man in the world, to ⟨p. 132⟩leave them at home brawling, and together by the ears; to seek out practise where he is neither desired, nor welcome, when he comes without invitation. I confess, I was afraid at the beginning of the Section, that I should be forced to change the Title before I came to the end, and write over it Desinit in piscem. The sum of this whole Paragraph is, that all sorts of Protestants, and others, here in England, do ridiculously contend about their several persuasions in Religion, and put trouble on one another on that account, whereas it is the Pope only that hath Title and Right to prescribe a Religion unto us all; which is not to me unlike the fancy of the poor man in Bedlam, who smiled with great contentment, at their folly, who imagined themselves either Queen Elizabeth, or King James, seeing he himself was King Henry the Eighth. But, seeing that is the business in hand, let us see what is this Title, that the Pope hath, which Protestants can lay no claim unto.

he intended not Roman-Catholicks, and the differences we have with them in this Discourse; It is Protestants, Presbyterians, Independents, Anabaptists, Quakers, that he deals with al, and them only, and that upon this ground, that none of them have any Title or pretence of Reason to impose