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,…

I have showed already, that there is no privity of Interests between us and the Romanists in this matter. But suppose, we had been originally instructed in Christianity by men sent from Rome to that purpose, (for unless, we suppose this, for the present, our talk is at an end) I see not, as yet, the verity of this Proposition. With the Truth, (where-ever it be, or with whomsoever) it is most certainly our duty to abide. And if those, from whom we first received our Christianity ministerially, abide in the Truth, we must abide with them; not because they, or their Predecessors, were the Instruments of our Conversion; but, because they abide in the Truth. Setting aside this Consideration of Truth, which is the Bond of all Union, and that which fixeth the Centre, and limits the bounds of it, one Peoples, or one Churches abiding with another in any Profession of Religion, is a thing merely indifferent. When we have received the Truth from any, the ⟨p. 49⟩formal reason of our continuance with them in that union, which our reception of the Truth from them gives unto us, is their abiding in the Truth, and no other. Suppose some Persons, or some Church or Churches, do propagate Christianity to another; and in progress of time, themselves fall off from some of those Truths, which they, or their Predecessors, had formerly delivered unto these instructed by them? If our Author shall deny, that such a Supposition can well be made, because it never did, nor can fall out, I shall remove his Exception, by scores of Instances out of Antiquity, needless in so evident a matter to be here mentioned. What in this case would be their duty who received the Gospel from them? Must they abide with them, follow after them, and embrace the errors they are fallen into, because they first received the Gospel from them? I trow not; It will be found their duty to abide in the Truth, and not to pin their Faith upon the sleeves of them, by whom ministerially it was at first communicated unto them. But this case, you will ⟨p. 50⟩say, concerns not the Roman-Church, and Protestants; for, as these abide not in the Truth, so they never did, nor can, depart from it. Well then! that we may not displease them at present, let us put the case so, as I presume, they will own it.

I have shewed already, that there is no privity of Interests between us and the Romanists in this matter. But suppose, we had been originally instructed in Christianity by men sent from Rome to that purpose, (for unless, we suppose this, for the psent, our talk is at an end) I see not, as yet, the verity of this Proposition. With the Truth, (where-ever it be, or with whomsoever) it is most certainly our duty to abide. And if those, from whom we first received our Christianity ministerially, abide in the Truth, we must abide with them; not because they, or their Predecessors, were the Instruments of our Conversion; but, because they abide in the Truth. Setting aside this Consideration of Truth, which is the Bond of all Union, and that which fixeth the Center, and limits the bounds of it, one Peoples, or one Churches abiding with another in any Profession of Religion, is a thing meerly indifferent. When we have received the Truth from any, the