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,…

These flourishes then of our Orator, being not likely to have the least effect upon any who mind the Apostolical advice of taking heed lest they be beguiled with enticing words, we shall not need much to insist upon them. This custom of performing the Worship of God in the Congregation in a Tong unknown to the Assembly, renders, he tells us, that great act more majestic and venerable; but why, he declares not. A blind veneration of what men understand not, because they understand it not, is neither any duty of the Gospel, nor any part of its Worship. St. Paul tells us, he would pray with the Spirit, and pray with Understanding also; of this Majestic show, and blind Veneration of our Author, Scripture, Reason, Experience of the Saints of God, Custom of the Ancient Churches know nothing. Neither is it possible to preserve in men a perpetual veneration of they know not what, nor, if it could be preserved, is it a thing that any way belongs to Christian Religion. Nor can any rational man conceive, wherein consists the Majesty of a mans pronouncing words, in matters wherein ⟨p. 346⟩his concernment lies, in a tongue that he understands not. And I know not wherein this device for procuring veneration in men, exceeds that of the Gnostics, who fraught their Sacred administrations, with strange uncouth names and terms, intended, as far as appears, for no other end but to astonish their Disciples. But then the Church, he saith, as opposite to Babel, had one Language all the world over, the Latin Tongue being stretched as large and as wide as the Catholic Church, and so any Priest may serve in several Countries administering presently in a place by himself or others converted, which are conveniences attending this custom and practise. Pretty things to persuade men to worship God they know not how; or to leave that unto others to do for them, which is their own duty to perform; and yet neither are they true. The Church by this means is made rather like to Babel, then opposite unto it: the fatal ruining event of the division of the Tongues at Babel was, that by that means they could not understand one another in what they said, and so were forced to give over ⟨p. 347⟩that design which before they unanimously carried on. And this is the true, event of some mens performing the Worship of God in the Latin tongue, which others understand not.

These flourishes then of our Orator, being not likely to have the least effect upon any who mind the Apostololical advice of taking heed lest they be beguiled with inticing words, we shall not need much to insist upon them. This custom of performing the Worship of God in the Congregation in a Tong unknown to the Assembly, renders, he tells us, that great act more majestick and venerable; but why, he declares not. A blind veneration of what men understand not, because they understand it not, is neither any duty of the Gospel, nor any part of its Worship. St. Paul tells us, he would pray with the Spirit, and pray with Understanding also; of this Majestick shew, and blind Veneration of our Author, Scripture, Reason, Experience of the Saints of God, Custom of the Antient Churches know nothing. Neither is it possible to preserve in men a perpetual veneration of they know not what, nor, if it could be preserved, is it a thing that any way belongs to Christian Religion. Nor can any rational man conceive, wherein consists the Majesty of a mans pronouncing words, in matters wherein