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,…

That which first draws up towards the design he is in pursuit of, is his Determination, ⟨p. 155⟩That the issuing of mens perplexities in the investigation of this hidden God, must be by some Prophet or Teacher, sent from God unto men; but the uncertainty of coming into any better condition thereby, is so exaggerated by a contempt of those ways and means, that such Prophets have fixed on to evidence their coming forth from God, by Miracles, Visions, Prophesies, a show of Sanctity, with a concourse of Threats and Promises, as that means also is cashiered from yielding us any relief. Neither is there any thing intimated, or offered, to exempt the true Prophets of God, nor the Lord Christ himself, from being shuffled into the same bag with false pretenders in the close, that were brought forth to play their game in this pageant. Yea, the difficulty put upon this help of the loss we are at in the knowledge of God, by Prophets and Prophesies, seems especially to respect those of the Scripture, so to manifest the necessity of a further evidence to be given unto them, then any they carry about them, or bring with them, that they may be useful to this end and purpose: And this intention ⟨p. 156⟩is manifest a little after, where the Scripture is expressly reckoned among those things which all men boast of, none can come to certainty or assurance by. Thus are poor unstable souls ventured to the Borders of Atheism, under a pretence of leading them to the Church. Was this the method of Christ, or his Apostles, in drawing men to the Faith of the Gospel? this the way of the holy men of old, that laboured in the Conversion of Souls from Gentilism and Heresy? Were ever such bold assaults against the immovable Principles of Christianity made by any, before Religion came to be a matter of carnal Interest? Is there no way to exalt the Pope, but by questioning the Authority of Christ, and Truth of the Scripture? Truly, I am sorry, that wise and considering men should observe such an irreverence of God and his Word to prevail in the spirits of men, as to entertain thoughts of persuading them to desert their Religion, by such presumptuous Insinuations of the uncertainty of all Divine Revelation. But all this may be made good on the consideration ⟨p. 157⟩of the changes of men after their profession of this or that Religion;