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,…

But, upon his entreaty, we will follow ⟨p. 66⟩him a little further: Supposing, that he hath dispatched the business of Apostasy, he comes to Heresy, and tells us; That it is an adhesion to some private or singular Opinion, or Error, in Faith; contrary to the general approved Doctrine of the Church; That which ought to be subsumed, is, that the Church of Rome did never adhere to any singular Opinion or Error in Faith, contrary to the general approved Doctrine of the Church; but our Author, to cover his business, changes the terms in his proceeding, into the Christian World; to clear this to us a little, I desire to know of him, What Church he means, when he speaks of the approved Doctrine of the Church? I am sure, he will say, the Roman-Catholic Church; and, if I ask him, What age it is, of that Church which he intends, he will also say, That Age which is present, when the Opinions mentioned, are asserted, contrary to the approved Doctrine. We have then obtained his meaning, viz. The Roman-Church did never at any time adhere to any Opinion, but what the Roman-Church at that time adhered unto; or taught, or approved, no other Doctrine, but what it taught ⟨p. 67⟩and approved. Now, I verily believe this to be true, and he must be somewhat besides uncivil, that shall deny it. But from hence to infer, That the Roman-Church, never fell from her first purity by Heresy; that is a thing I cannot yet discern, how it may be made good. This conclusion ariseth out of that pitiful definition of Heresy he gives us, coined merely to serve the Roman-Interest. The rule of judging Heresy is made the approved Doctrine of the Church; I would know of what Church: of this or that particular Church, or of the Catholic? Doubtless the Catholic must be pretended. I ask, Of this or that Age, or of the first? Of the first certainly. I desire then to know, how we may come to discern infallibly what was the approved Doctrine of the Catholic-Church of Old, but only by the Scriptures; which we know it unanimously embraced as given unto it by Christ, for its Rule of Faith and Worship. If we should then grant, that the approved Doctrine of the Church, were that which a departure from, as such, gives formality unto Heresy; yet there is no way to know that Doctrine but by ⟨p. 68⟩the Scripture. But yet neither can or ought this to be granted.