A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

3. Protestants believe and profess, that the End ⟨p. 148⟩wherefore God gave forth his Word by Inspiration, was that it might be a stable Infallible Revelation of his mind and will, as to that knowledge which he would have mankind entertain of him, with that Worship and Obedience which he requireth of them, that so they may please him in this world, and come unto the fruition of him unto all eternity. God who is the formal object, is also the prime Cause of all Religious worship. What is due unto him as the first Cause, last End, and Sovereign Lord of all, as to the substance of it, and what he further appoints himself, as to the manner of its performance, suited unto his own Holiness, and the Condition wherein in reference unto our Last end we stand and are, making up the wh•le of it. That he hath given his Word to reveal these things unto us, to be our Rule, Guide, and Direction in our ways, walkings, and universal deportment before him, is, as I take it, a fundamental Principle of our Christian Profession. Neither do I know that this is denied by your Church; although you startle at the inferences that are justly made from it. I shall not need therefore to add any thing in its Confirmation, but only mind you again, that the calling of it into question, is directly against the very heart of all Religion, and the unanimous consent of all that in the world are called Christians, or ever were so. Yea, and it must be granted, or the whole Scripture esteemed a Fable, because it frequently declares, that it is given unto us of God for this End and Purpose. And hence do Protestants infer two other Conclusions, on which they build their Persuasion concerning the Unity of Faith, and the proper means of their Settlement therein.

3. Protestants believe and profess, that the End ⟨p. 148⟩wherefore God gave forth his Word by Inspiration, was that it might be a stable Infallible Revelation of his mind and will, as to that knowledge which he would have mankind entertain of him, with that Worship and Obedience which he requireth of them, that so they may please him in this world, and come unto the fruition of him unto all eternity. God who is the formal object, is also the prime Cause of all Religious worship. What is due unto him as the first Cause, last End, and Soveraign Lord of all, as to the substance of it, and what he further appoints himself, as to the manner of its performance, suited unto his own Holiness, and the Condition wherein in reference unto our Last end we stand and are, making up the whle of it. That he hath given his Word to reveal these things unto us, to be our Rule, Guide, and Direction in our wayes, walkings, and universal deportment before him, is, as I take it, a fundamentall Principle of our Christian Profession. Neither do I know that this is denied by your Church; although you startle at the inferences that are justly made from it. I shall not need therefore to adde any thing in its Confirmation, but only mind you again, that the calling of it into question, is directly against the very heart of all Religion, and the unanimous consent of all that in the world are called Christians, or ever were so. Yea, and it must be granted, or the whole Scripture esteemed a Fable, because it frequently declares, that it is given unto us of God for this End and Purpose. And hence do Protestants inferre two other Conclusions, on which they build their Perswasion concerning the Vnity of Faith, and the proper means of their Settlement therein.