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,…

but that that, or those, are to be used, which the people, who are concerned in it, do understand. But what Language soever it was in, it was kept privately in the Ar• or Tabernacle, not touched, not looked upon by the people, but brought forth at times to the Priest. [Greek or Hebrew] what Book was kept in the Ark? the Law, Prophets, and Hagiography? who told you so? A Copy of the Law indeed, or Pentateuch, was by God's command put in the side of the Ark, Deut. 31.26. That the Prophets, or Hagiography, were ever placed there, is a great mistake of our Author; but not so great as that that follows; that the Book placed in the side of the Ark, was brought forth for the Priest to read in on the Sabbath days; when as all men know, the Ark was placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Tabernacle and Temple, which only the High Priest entered, and that once a a year, and that without liberty of bringing any thing out which was in it, for ⟨p. 337⟩any use whatever. And his mistake is grossest of all, in imagining, that they had no other copies of the Law or Scripture, but what was so laid up in the side of the Ark. The whole people being commanded to study in it continually, and the King in special, to write out a Copy of it with his own hand, Deut. 17.18. out of an Authentic Copy; yea, they were to take sentences out of it; to write them on their fringes, and posts of their doors and houses, and on their gates; all to bind them to a constant use of them. So that this Instance, on very many accounts was unhappily stumbled on by our Author, who, (as it seems) knows very little of these things. He was then evidently in haste, or wanted better provision, when on this vain surmise, he proceeds to the encomiums of his Catholic Mother's indulgence to her children, in leaving of the Scripture in the hands of all that understand Greek and Latin (how little a portion of her family; and to a declamation against) the preaching and disputing of men about it, with a commendation of that reverential ignorance, which will arise in ⟨p. 338⟩men from whom the means of their better instruction is kept at a distance.