A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

So long as you agree with us, you shall be sure to agree with us. They must be very unfriendly minded towards you, that will call these [Greek or Hebrew] into question. Yet there remains still one Scruple on my ⟨p. 92⟩mind, in reference unto what you assert. I am not satisfied that there is in your Church, any such unity of faith, as can keep men from falling out, or differing in and about the Doctrines and Opinions they profess. If there be, the children of your Church are marvellous morose, that they have not all this while learned to be quiet; but are at this very day writing volumes against one another, and procuring the Books of one another to be prohibited and condemned, which the writings of one of the learnedest of you in this Nation, have fately not escaped. I know you will say sometimes, that though you differ, yet you differ not in things belonging unto the unity of faith. But I fear, this is but a Blind, an Apron of Fig-leaves. What you cannot agree in, be it of never so great importance, you will agree to say, that it belongs not unto the unity of faith; when things no way to be compared in weight and use with them, so you agree about them, shall be asserted so to do. And in what you differ, whilst the scales of Interest on the part of the combatants hang even, all your differences are but in School and disputable points. But if one party prevail in Interest and Reputation, and render their Antagonists inconsiderable as to any outward trouble, those very Points that before were disputable, shall be made necessary, and to belong to the Unity of Faith; as it lately happened in the Case of the Jansenists. And here you are safe again; The Unity of the Faith is that which you agree in; and that which you cannot agree about belongs not unto it, as you tell us, though you talk at another rate among your selves. But we must think, that the Unity of Faith is bounded by the confines of your wranglements; and your agreement is the Rule of it. This, it may be, you think suits your turn: but whether it be so well suited ⟨p. 93⟩unto the Interest of the Gospel and of Truth, you must give men leave to enquire, or they will do it ingrati, whether you will or no. But if by the Unity of Faith you intend the substantial Doctrines of the Gospel, proposed in the Scripture to be believed on necessity unto Salvation;

So long as you agree with us, you shall be sure to agree with us. They must be very unfriendly minded towards you, that will call these into question. Yet there remains still one Scruple on my