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,…

And what was the reason of this failure? Why St. Paul fixed on an unsuitable means of persuading them, namely Moses and the Prophets, when he should have made use of the Authority of the Church. Vain, and bold man, that dares oppose his prejudices to the Spirit and Wisdom of Christ in that great and holy Apostle, and that in a way and work wherein he had the express pattern and example of his Master! If this be the Spirit that rules in the Roman-Synagogue, that so puffs up men in their fleshly minds, as to make them think themselves wiser then Christ and his Apostles, I doubt not, but men will every day find cause to rejoice, that it is cast out of them; and be watchful, that it return to possess them no more. But this is that which galls the man; The difficulty which he proposeth as insoluble by any ways but an acquiescing in the Authority of the present Church, he finds assoiled in Scripture on other ⟨p. 208⟩Principles. This makes him fall soul on St. Paul, whom he finds most frequent in answering it from Scripture, not considering, that, at the same time▪ he accuseth St. Peter of the like folly, though he pretend for him a greater reverence. However, this may be said in defence of St. Paul, that by his Arguments about Christ and the Gospel from Moses and the Prophets, many thousands of Jews all the World over were converted to the Faith; when it's hard to meet with an instance of one in an age, that will any way take notice of the Authority of the Roman-Church. But to return; this was the constant way used by the Apostles, of answering that great difficulty pleaded by our Author from the Authority of the Hebrew-Church. They called the Jews to the Scripture, the plain Texts and Contexts of Moses and the Prophets, opposing them to all their Churches real or pretended Authority; and all her Interpretations pretended to be received by Tradition from of old; so fixing this for a perpetual standing Rule to all Generations, that the Doctrine of the Church is to be examined ⟨p. 209⟩by the Scripture, and where it is found contradictory of it, her authority is of no value at all, it being annexed unto her attendance on that Rule. But it may be replied, That the Church in the days of the Apostles was not yet settled, nor made firm enough to bear the weight that now may be laid upon it, as our Author affirms▪ pag. 149.