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,…

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 ⟨p. 77⟩greater under-valuation of the abilities, or outward condition of the first Reformers, then was spoken and written by the greatest and wisest and learnedst of men of old, concerning the Preachers and Planters of Christianity. Should I but repeat the biting Sarcasms, contemptuous reproaches and scorns wherewith, with plausible pretences, the Apostles and those that followed them in their work of preaching the Gospel were entertained by Celsus, Lucian, Porphyry, Julian, Hierocles, with many more, men learned and wise; I could easily manifest how short our new Masters come of them in facetious wit, beguiling eloquence, and fair pretences, when they seek by stories, jestings, calumnies, and false reports, to expose the first Reformers to the contempt and scorn of men, who know nothing of them but their names, and those as covered with all the dirt they can possibly cast upon them. But I intend not to tempt the Atheistical wits of any, to an approbation of their sin, by that compliance which the vain fancies of such men do usually afford them, in the contemplation of the wit ⟨p. 78⟩and ingenuity, as they esteem it, of plausible calumnies. The Scripture may be heard;

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 alledged, 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 antient 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