A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

A number indeed of pretences, or, it may be, Probabilities you may heap together, which yet upon examination will not be found so much neither, unless a man will swallow amongst them that which is destitute of all Probability; but what is included in the evidence given unto it by Divine Revelation which is not yet pleaded unto him. It may be then you will work Miracles to confirm your Assertions. Let us see them. For although very many things are requisite to manifest any works of wonder that may be wrought in the world to be real Miracles, and good Caution be required to judge unto what end Miracles are wrought; yet if we may have any tolerable evidence of your working Miracles in Confirmation of this Assertion, that you are the true and only Church of God, with the other Inferences depending thereon, which we are in the Consideration of, you will find us very easy to be treated withal. But herein also you fail. You have then no way to deal with such a man as we first supposed, but as you do with us; and produce Testimonies of Scripture to prove and confirm the Authority of your Church; and then you will quickly find where you are, and what snares you have cast your selves into. Will not a man who hears you proving the Authority of your Church by the Scripture, ask you, And whence hath this Scripture its Authority? yea that is supposed to be the thing in Question, ⟨p. 140⟩which denying unto it an [Greek or Hebrew], you yet produce to confirm the Authority of that, by whose Authority alone, its self is evidenced to have any Authority at all. Rest in the Authority of God manifesting its self in the Scripture, witnessed unto by the Catholic Tradition of all Ages, you will not. But you will prove the Scripture to be the Word of God by the Testimony of your Church; and you will prove your Ch•••h to be enabled sufficiently to testify the Scriptures to be of God, by the Testimonies of the Scripture. Would you knew where to begin and where to end? But you are indeed in a Circle which hath neither beginning nor ending; I know not when we shall be enabled to say, Inventus, Chrysippe, tui finitor acervi. Now do you think it reasonable that we should leave our stable and immovable firm foundations, to run round with you in this endless Circle, until through giddiness we fall into Unbelief or Atheism?

A number indeed of pretences, or, it may be, Probabilities you may heap together, which yet upon examination will not be found so much neither, unless a man will swallow amongst them that which is destitute of all Probability; but what is included in the evidence given unto it by Divine Revelation which is not yet pleaded unto him. It may be then you will work Miracles to confirm your Assertions. Let us see them. For although very many things are requisite to manifest any works of wonder that may be wrought in the world to be reall Miracles, and good Caution be required to judge unto what end Miracles are wrought; yet if we may have any tolerable evidence of your working Miracles in Confirmation of this Assertion, that you are the true and only Church of God, with the other Inferences depending thereon, which we are in the Consideration of, you will find us very easie to be treated withall. But herein also you fail. You have then no way to deal with such a man as we first supposed, but as you do with us; and produce Testimonies of Scripture to prove and confirm the Authority of your Church; and then you will quickly find where you are, and what snares you have cast your selves into. Will not a man who hears you proving the Authority of your Church by the Scripture, ask you, And whence hath this Scripture its Authority? yea that is supposed to be the thing in Question,