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,…

The first is an hinge, upon which many of those which follow, do, in a a sort, depend; yea, upon the matter, all of them. Our Primitive receiving Christian Religion from Rome, is that which influences all persuasions for a return thither. Now if this must be admitted to be true, that we in these Nations first received the Christian Religion from Rome, by the Mission and Authority of the Pope; it either must be so, because the Proposition carries its own evidence in its very terms, or because our Author, and those consenting with him, have had it by Revelation, or it hath been testified to them by others, who knew it so to be: That the first it doth not, is most certain; for, it is very possible, it might have been brought ⟨p. 41⟩unto us from some other place, from whence it came to Rome; for, as I take it, it had not there its beginning. Nor do I suppose, they will plead special Revelation, made either to themselves, or any others about this matter. I have read many of the Revelations that are said to be made to sundry persons canonized by his Church for Saints; but never met with any thing concerning the place from whence England first received the Gospel. Nor have I yet heard Revelation pleaded to this purpose by any of his Co-partners in design. It remains then, that some body hath told him so, or informed him of it, either by writing, or by word of mouth: Usually, in such cases, the first enquiry is, Whether they be credible Persons who have made the report. Now the pretended Authors of this Story, may, I suppose, be justly questioned, if on no other, yet on this account, that he who designs an advantage by their Testimony, doth not indeed himself believe what, they say. For notwithstanding what he would fain have us believe of Christianity coming into Britain from Rome, he knows well ⟨p. 42⟩enough, and tells us elsewhere himself, that it came directly by Sea from Palestine into France, and was thence brought into England by Joseph of Arimathea. And what was that Faith and Worship which he brought along with him, we know full well; by that which was the Faith and Worship of his Teachers, and Associates, in the work of propagating the Gospel recorded in the Scripture. So that Christianity found a passage to Britain, without so much as once visiting Rome by the way. Yea, but 150 years after, Fugatius and Damianus came from Rome, and propagated the Gospel here;

The first is an hinge, upon which many of those which follow, do, in a a sort, depend; yea, upon the matter, all of them. Our Primitive receiving Christian Religion from Rome, is that which influences all perswasions for a return thither. Now if this must be admitted to be true, that we in these Nations first received the Christian Religion from Rome, by the Mission and Authority of the Pope; it either must be so, because the Proposition carries its own evidence in its very terms, or because our Author, and those consenting with him, have had it by Revelation, or it hath been testified to them by others, who knew it so to be: That the first it doth not, is most certain; for, it is very possible, it might have been brought