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,…

Sermons to the people must be made in the peoples language; but prayers that are made to God for them, if they be made in a language that God understands, it is well enough. This reason renders the others useless, and especially shuts the first out of doors. For, certainly it is ⟨p. 353⟩nothing to the purpose, that the people understand somewhat; if it be no matter whether they understand any thing at all, or no. But I desire to know, What prayers of the Priest they are, which it matters not, whether the people hear or understand? Are they his private devotions for them in his Closet or Cell, which may be made for them, as well when they are absent, as present, and in some respect better too? These doubtless are not intended. Are they any prayers that concern the Priest alone, which he is to repeat, though the people be present? No, nor these neither; at least not only these. But they are the prayers of the Church, wherein the whole assembly ought to cry jointly unto Almighty God; part of that worship, wherein all things are to be done to edification; which they are in this, and the Quakers silent meetings, much alike. Strange! that there is no need, that men should know or understand that, which is their duty to perform; and which if they do it not, is not that, which it pretends to be; the worship of the Church. Again, if the people neither need hear, ⟨p. 354⟩nor understand what is spoken, I wonder, what they make there. Can our Author find any Tradition (for, I am sure, Scripture he cannot) for the setting up of a dumb show in the Church, to edify men by signs, and gestures, and words insignificant? These are gallant attempts. I suppose, he doth not think it was so of old; for, sure I am, that all the Sermons, which we have of any of the Ancients, were preached in that very Language, wherein they celebrated all divine worship; so that if the people understood the Sermons, as he says, they must be made to them in a Language they understand; I am sure, they both heard and understood the worship of the Church also: but Tempora mutantur; and, if it be enough, that God understands the Language used in the Church, we full well know there is no need to use any Language in it at all.

Sermons to the people must be made in the peoples language; but prayers that are made to God for them, if they be made in a language that God understands, it is well enough. This reason renders the others useless, and especially shuts the first out of doors. For, certainly it is