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,…

Though this be enough, yet it is not all, that may be replied unto this old pretence, and plea, as managed to the purpose of our Adversaries. It is part of the motive, which the great Historian makes Galgacus, the valiant Britain, use to his Country-men, to cast off the Roman-yoke; Solitudinem ubi fecerunt, pacem vocant. It was their way, when they had by force and cruelty laid all waste before them, to call the remaining solitude and desolation, by the goodly name of Peace; neither considered they, whether the residue of men had either satisfaction in their minds, or advantage by their Rule. Nor was the Peace of the Roman-Church any other before the Reformation. What waste they had, by Sword and Burnings, made in several parts of Europe, in almost all the chiefest Nations of it, of mankind; what desolation they had brought by violence upon those who opposed their rule, or questioned their Doctrine; the blood of innumerable poor men, many of them ⟨p. 74⟩learned, all pious and zealous, whom they called Waldenses, Albigenses, Lollards, Wicklevites, Hussites, Caliptives, Subutraguians, Picards, or what else they pleased, (being indeed the faithful witnesses of the Lord Christ and his Truths) will at the last Day reveal. Besides, the event declared, how remote the minds of millions▪ were from an acquiescence in that Conspiracy in the Papal Sovereignty, which was grown to be the Bond of Communion amongst those who called themselves the Church, or an approbation of that Doctrine and Worship which they made profession of. For no sooner was a door of Liberty and Light opened unto them, but whole Nations were at strife who should first enter in at it; which undoubtedly, all the Nations of Europe had long since done, had not the holy wise God in his good Providence suffered in some of them a sword of power and violence to interpose it self against their entrance. For, whatever may be pretended of Peace and Agreement to this day, take away force and violence, Prisons and Fagots, and in one day, the whole compages of that stupendous Fabric of the Papacy, will be ⟨p. 75⟩dissolved; and the life, which will be maintained in it, springing only from secular advantages and inveterate prejudices, would together with them decay, and disappear.

Though this be enough, yet it is not all, that may be replyed unto this old pretence, and plea, as mannaged to the purpose of our Adversaries. It is part of the motive, which the great Historian makes Galgacus, the valiant Brittain, use to his Countrey-men, to cast off the Roman-yoke; Solitudinem ubi fecerunt, pacem vocant. It was their way, when they had by force and cruelty layed all waste before them, to call the remaining solitude and desolation, by the goodly name of Peace; neither considered they, whether the residue of men had either satisfaction in their minds, or advantage by their Rule. Nor was the Peace of the Roman-Church any other before the Reformation. What waste they had, by Sword and Burnings, made in several parts of Europe, in almost all the chiefest Nations of it, of mankind; what desolation they had brought by violence upon those who opposed their rule, or questioned their Doctrine; the blood of innumerable poor men, many of them