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,…

Neither can any thing, but a confidence of the ignorance of men in all things that are past, yea, in what was done almost by their own Grandsires, give countenance to a man in his own silent thoughts, for such insinuations of quietness in the World before the Reformation. The Wars, Seditions, Rebellions, and Tumults, (to omit private practises) that were either raised, occasioned, and countenanced by the Pope's absolving Subjects from their Allegiance, Kings and States from their Oaths given mutually for the securing of Peace between them, all in the pursuit of their own worldly interests, do fill up a good part of the Stories of some ages before the Reformation. What ever then is pretended, things were not so peaceable and quiet in those days, as they are now represented to men that mind only things that are present; nor was their Agreement their virtue, but their sin and misery; being centred in blindness and ignorance, and cemented with blood.

Neither can any thing, but a confidence of the ignorance of men in all things that are past, yea, in what was done almost by their own Grandsyres, give countenance to a man in his own silent thoughts, for such insinuations of quietness in the World before the Reformation. The Wars, Seditions, Rebellions, and Tumults, (to omit private practises) that were either raised, occasioned, and countenanced by the Pope's absolving Subjects from their Allegiance, Kings and States from their Oaths given mutually for the securing of Peace between them, all in the pursuit of their own worldly interests, do fill up a good part of the Stories of some ages before the Reformation. What ever then is pretended, things were not so peaceable and quiet in those dayes, as they are now represented to men that mind only things that are present; nor was their Agreement their vertue, but their sin and misery; being centred in blindness and ignorance, and cemented with bloud.

V. That the first Reformers were most of them sorry contemptible Persons, whose Errors were propagated by indirect means, and entertained for sinister ends; is in several places of this Book alleged, and consequences pretended thence to ensue, urged and improved. But the truth is, the more contemptible the Persons were that begun the work, the greater glory and lustre is reflected on the work it self; which points out to an higher cause then any appeared outwardly for the carrying of it on. It is no small part of the Gospels glory, that being promulgated by persons whom the World looked on with the greatest contempt and scorn imaginable, as men utterly destitute of whatever was by them esteemed noble or honourable; it prevailed notwithstanding in the minds of men, to eradicate the inveterate prejudices received by Tradition from their Fathers; to overthrow the ancient and outward glorious Worship of the Nations; and to bring them into subjection unto Christ. Neither can any thing be written with more contempt and scorn, nor with