A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

The eighth Principle, which way soever it be determined is of great importance, as to the Cause under debate. Here then we shall stay a while, and examine the difficulties which you labour to entangle that Assertion withal, which we acknowledge to be the great and Fundamental Principle of our Profession, and you oppose. The Position I laid down as yours is, That the Scripture on sundry accounts is in sufficient to settle us in the Truth of Religion, or to bring us to an agreement amongst our selves. Hereunto I subjoined the four heads of Reasons, which, in your Fiat, you insisted on to make good your Assertion. These you thought meet to pass by, without reviving them again to your further disadvantage. You are acquainted, it seems, with the old Rule, —Et quà Desperat tractata nitescere posse, relinquit. The Position its self you dare not directly deny, but yet seek what you can to wave the owning of it, contrary to your express Discourse, Chap. 3. §. 15. p. 199, 200, &c. as also in sundry other places, interwoven with expressions exceedingly derogatory to the Authority, Excellency, Efficacy, and fullness of the ⟨p. 100⟩Scripture, as hath been showed in the Animadversions. But let us now consider what you plead for your self. Thus then you proceed: You speak not one word to the purpose, or against me at all, if I had delivered any such Principle. Gods Word is both the sufficient and only necessary means of both our Conversion and Settlement, as well in Truth as Virtue. But the thing you heed not, and unto which I only speak, is this, that the Scripture be in two hands, for example, of the Protestant Church in England, and of the Puritan who with the Scripture rose up and rebelled against her, Can the Scripture alone of its self decide the business. How shall it do it? has it ever done it? Or can that written Word now solitary, and in private hands, so settle any in a way that neither himself nor present adherents, nor future generations shall question it, or with as much probability dissent from it either totally or in part, as himself first set it. This is the Case unto which you do neither here, nor in your whole Book, speak one word; and what you speak otherwise of the Scriptures excellency I allow it for Good.

THe eighth Principle, which way soever it be determined is of great importance, as to the Cause under debate. Here then we shall stay a while, and examine the difficulties which you labour to entangle that Assertion withall, which we acknowledge to be the great and Fundamentall Principle of our Profession, and you oppose. The Position I laid down as yours is, That the Scripture on sundry accounts is in sufficient to settle us in the Truth of Religio, or to bring us to an agreement amongst our selves. Hereunto I subjoyned the four heads of Reasons, which, in your Fiat, you insisted on to make good your Assertion. These you thought meet to pass by, without reviving them again to your further disadvantage. You are acquainted, it seems, with the old Rule, —Et quà Desperat tractata nitescere posse, relinquit. The Position its self you dare not directly deny, but yet seek what you can to wave the owning of it, contrary to your express Discourse, Chap. 3. §. 15. p. 199, 200, &c. as also in sundry other places, interwoven with expressions exceedingly derogatory to the Authority, Excellency, Efficacy, and fullness of the