A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

Yet I assure you withal, that I hope, yea I am verily persuaded, that there are many, very many, amongst you, whose minds and affections are so influenced by common ingrafted notions of God and his Goodness, with a sense of the frailties of mankind, and weakness of the evidence that is tendered unto them, for the eviction of that indispensable necessity of subjection to the Pope, which their Masters urge, as also with the beams of Truth shining forth in general in the Scriptures, and what they know or have heard of the practises of primitive times, as that, being seasoned with Christian charity and candour, they are not so leavened with the sour prejudice of this Principle, as to be rendered unmeet for the due exercise of moderation; but for this, they are not beholding to your Church, not this great Principle of your profession.

Yet I assure you withall, that I hope, yea I am verily perswaded, that there are many, very many, amongst you, whose minds and affections are so influenced by common ingrafted notions of God and his Goodness, with a sense of the frailties of mankind, and weakness of the evidence that is tendred unto them, for the eviction of that indispensible necessity of subjection to the Pope, which their Masters urge, as also with the beams of Truth shining forth in generall in the Scriptures, and what they know or have heard of the practises of primitive times, as that, being seasoned with Christian charity and candour, they are not so leavened with the sowr prejudice of this Principle, as to be rendred unmeet for the due exercise of moderation; but for this, they are not beholding to your Church, not this great Principle of your profession.

2. It is the Principle of your Church, whereunto your Practise hath been suited, that those who dissent from you in things determined by your Church, being Heretics, if they continue so to do, after the application of the means for their reclaiming which you think meet to use, ought to be imprisoned, burned, or one way or other put to death. This you cannot deny to be your Principle, it being the very foundation of your Inquisition, the chief corner-stone in your present Ecclesiastical fabric, that couples and holds up the whole building together: And it hath been asserted in your practice for sundry Ages in most Nations of Europe: Your Councils, as that of Constance, have determined it, and practised accordingly, with John Huss, and Hierome: Your Doctors dispute for