A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

2. Some Protestants are of that judgement that external force ought to have no place at all in matters of faith; however Laws may be constituted with Penalties for the preservation of public outward order in a Nation, most of them, that Hareticidium or putting men to death for their misapprehensions in the ⟨p. 116⟩things of God is absolutely unlawful; and all of them, that Faith is the Gift of God, for the communication whereof unto men, he hath appointed certain means, whereof external force is none. Unto which Two last Positions, not only the greatest Protestant, but the greatest Potentate in Europe, hath lately in his own words, expressive of an heavenly benignity towards mankind in their infirmities, declared his Royal Assent. And I shall somewhat question the Protestancy of them, whom his Authority, Example, and Reason, doth not conclude, in these things. For my part I desire no better, I can give no greater warrant to assert them as the Principles of Protestants, than what I have now acquainted you with. And it is no small satisfaction unto me to contemplate on the heavenly Principle of Gospel peace, planted in the noble soil of Royal Ingenuity and Goodness, whence fruit may be expected to the great profit and advantage of the whole world. Now it is easy to discover the natural and genuine tendency of these Principles towards Moderation. Indeed in acting according unto them, and in a regular consistency with them consists the Moderation which we treat about. Wherever then Protestants use not that Moderation towards those that dissent from them if otherwise peaceable, which the Lord Jesus requires his Disciples to exercise towards all them that profess the same common hope with them, the fault is solely in the Persons so offending; and is not countenanced from any Principles which they avow. Whether it be so with those of your Church, shall now be considered.

2. Some Protestants are of that judgement that externall force ought to have no place at all in matters of faith; however Laws may be constituted with Penalties for the preservation of publick outward order in a Nation, most of them, that Hareticidium or putting men to death for their misapprehensions in the ⟨p. 116⟩things of God is absolutely unlawfull; and all of them, that Faith is the Gift of God, for the communication whereof unto men, he hath appointed certain means, whereof externall force is none. Unto which Two last Positions, not only the greatest Protestant, but the greatest Potentate in Europe, hath lately in his own words, expressive of an heavenly benignity towards mankind in their infirmities, declared his Royall Assent. And I shall somewhat question the Protestancy of them, whom his Authority, Example, and Reason, doth not conclude, in these things. For my part I desire no better, I can give no greater warrant to assert them as the Principles of Protestants, than what I have now acquainted you with. And it is no small satisfaction unto me to contemplate on the heavenly Principle of Gospel peace, planted in the noble soyl of Royall Ingenuity and Goodness, whence fruit may be expected to the great profit and advantage of the whole world. Now it is easie to discover the naturall and genuine tendency of these Principles towards Moderation. Indeed in acting according unto them, and in a regular consistency with them consists the Moderation which we treat about. Whereever then Protestants use not that Moderation towards those that dissent from them if otherwise peaceable, which the Lord Jesus requires his Disciples to exercise towards all them that profess the same common hope with them, the fault is solely in the Persons so offending; and is not countenanced from any Principles which they avow. Whether it be so with those of your Church, shall now be considered.