A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

Protestants suppose the Scripture to be given forth by God, to be unto the Church, •a perfect Rule of that Faith and Obedience, which he requires at the hands of the sons of men. They suppose that it is such a Revelation of his Mind or Will, as is intelligible unto all them that are concerned to know it, if thy use the means by him appointed to come unto a right understanding of it. They suppose that what is not taught therein, or not taught so clearly, as that men who humbly and heartily seek unto him, may know his mind therein, as to what he requireth of them, cannot possibly be the necessary and indispensable Duty of any one to perform. They suppose that it is the Duty of every man to search the Scriptures with all diligence, by the help and assistance of the means that God hath appointed ⟨p. 105⟩in his Church to come to the knowledge of his mind and will in all things concerning their Faith and Obedience, and firmly to believe and adhere unto what they find revealed by him. And they moreover suppose that those who deny any of these Suppositions, are therein, and so far as they do so, injurious to the Grace, Wisdom, Love, and Care of God towards his Church, to the Honour and perfection of the Scripture, the Comfort and establishment of the Souls of men, leaving them no assured Principles to build their Faith and Salvation upon. Now from these Suppositions I hope you see that it will unavoidably follow, that the Scripture is able every way to effect that, which you deny unto it a sufficiency for. For where, I pray you, lies its defect? I am afraid, from the next part of your Question, Has it ever done it, that you run upon a great mistake. The defect that follows the failings and miscarriages of men, you would have imputed unto the want of sufficiency in the Scripture. But we cannot allow you herein. The Scripture in its place, and in that kind of Cause which it is, is as sufficient to settle men, all men, in the Truth, as the Sun is to give light to all men to see by: But the Sun that giveth light doth not give eyes also. The Scripture doth its work, as a Moral Rule, which men are not necessitated or compelled to attend unto or follow.

Protestants suppose the Scripture to be given forth by God, to be unto the Church, •a perfect Rule of that Faith and Obedience, which he requires at the hands of the sons of men. They suppose that it is such a Revelation of his Mind or Will, as is intelligible unto all them that are concerned to know it, if thy use the means by him appointed to come unto a right understanding of it. They suppose that what is not taught therein, or not taught so clearly, as that men who humbly and heartily seek unto him, may know his mind therein, as to what he requireth of them, cannot possibly be the necessary and indispensable Duty of any one to perform. They suppose that it is the Duty of every man to search the Scriptures with all diligence, by the help and assistance of the means that God hath appointed