A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

were it an house of Dagon, a Temple dedicated unto Idols: but, to deal so with that wherein dwells the Majesty of the Living GOD, is not so justifiable. It is true; Evert this Principle, and you overthrow the foundation on which the faith of Protestants is built; but it is no less true, that you do the same to the foundation of the Christian Faith in general, wherein we hope your own concernment also lies And this is the thing that I am declaring unto you; namely, that either you acknowledge the Principles on which Protestants build their Faith and Profession, or by denying them you open a door unto Atheism, at least to the ⟨p. 137⟩extirpation of Christian Religion out of the world. I confess you pretend a relief against the present instance, in the Authority of your Church, sufficient as you say to give a Credibility unto the Scriptures, though its own self-evidencing Power and Efficacy, with the Confirmation of it by Catholic Tradition exclusive to your present suffrage, be rejected. Now I suppose you will grant, that the Prop you supply men withal upon your casting down the foundations on which they have laid the weight of their eternal Salvation, had need be firm and immovable. And remember that you have to do with them, who though they may be otherwise inclineable unto you, Non tamen ignorant quid distent aera a lupinis; and must use their own judgement in the Consideration of what you tender unto them. And they Ask you, 1. What will you do if it be as you say with them who absolutely reject the Authority of your Ch••ch, which is the condition of more than a moiety of the Inhabitants of the world, to speak sufficiently within compass? And 2. What will you advise us to say to innumerable other Persons that are pious and rational, who, upon the mere consideration of the lives of many, of the most, of the guides of your Church, your bloody inhumane practices, your pursuit of worldly carnal designs, your visible secular interest wherein you are combined and united, cannot persuade themselves, that the Testimony of your Church in and about things that are invisible, spiritual, heavenly, and eternal, is at all valuable, much less that it is sufficient to bear the weight you would lay upon it. 3. Was not this the way and method of Vaninus for the Introduction of his Atheism;

were it an house of Dagon, a Temple dedicated unto Idols: but, to deal so with that wherein dwels the Majesty of the Living GOD, is not so justifiable. It is true; Evert this Principle, and you overthrow the foundation on which the faith of Protestants is built; but it is no less true, that you do the same to the foundation of the Christian Faith in generall, wherein wee hope your own concernment also lyes And this is the thing that I am declaring unto you; namely, that either you acknowledg the Principles on which Protestants build their Faith and Profession, or by denying them you open a door unto Atheism, at least to the