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,…

now we are taught, That Kingly Authority, with his Crown-land, is from the Pope. That instructs us, to expect the preservation of Faith and Truth, in the world, from Christ alone; the establishment of his Throne and Kingdom for ever and ever▪ His building, guidance, and protection of his Church: but, we are now taught, that for all these things we are beholding to the Pope, who, by his only Authority, keeps up the faith of the Deity of Christ; who surely is much engaged to him, that he takes it not to himself. Besides, what he is, for our better information, ⟨p. 419⟩that we may judge aright concerning him, we may consider also what he doth; and hath been doing, it seems, a long time; He is one that hath never been known to let fall the least word of passion against any, nor move any engine for revenge; one whose whole life, and study is, to defend innocence, &c. That by his general Councils, all held under, and by him; especially that of Nice, hath done more good than can be expressed; Careful, and more than humanely happy, in all ages, in reconciling Christian Princes, &c. One who let men talk what they will, if he be not an unerring guide in matters of Religion and Faith, all is lost. But how shall we come to know, and be assured of all this? Other men, as our Author knows and complains, speak other things of him; Is it meet, that in so doubtful and questionable a business, and of so great importance to be known, we should believe a stranger upon his word, and that against the vehement affirmations at least, of so many to the contrary: The Scripture speaks never a word that we can find of him, nor once mentions him at all. The ancient Stories of the Church are utterly silent of him, as for ⟨p. 420⟩any such person as he is here described, speaking of the Bishop of Rome, as of other Bishops in those days many of the Stories of after-ages give us quite another Character of him both as to his personal qualifications and employment. I mean, of the greatest part of the series of men going under that name. In stead of Peace-making and Reconciliation, they tell us of fierce and cruel wars, stirred up and managed by them; of the ruin of Kings, and Kingdoms, by their means: and instead of the meekness pretended, their breathing out threatenings against men that adore them not;

now we are taught, That Kingly Authority, with his Crown-land, is from the Pope. That instructs us, to expect the preservation of Faith and Truth, in the world, from Christ alone; the establishment of his Throne and Kingdom for ever and ever His building, guidance, and protection of his Church: but, we are now taught, that for all these things we are beholding to the Pope, who, by his only Authority, keeps up the faith of the Deity of Christ; who surely is much ingaged to him, that he takes it not to himself. Besides, what he is, for our better information,