A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

These are the Principles of Protestants; this is the Progress of their Faith in coming unto settlement and assurance. These are their Foundations, which are as unquestionable as any thing in Christianity; the most of them, your selves being judges. And from them, one of these two things will necessarily follow; Either that all men, unto whom the Word of God doth come, will come to an agreement in the Truth, or the Unity of Faith; or Secondly, That it is their own fault if they do not so do: For what upon these Principles should hinder them from so doing? All saving Truth is revealed by God in the Scripture, unto the end that men may come to the knowledge of it. It is so revealed by Him, that it is possible, and with his assistance, easy for men to know aright his Mind and Will about the things so revealed: and be hath appointed regular ways and means for men ⟨p. 158⟩to wait upon him in and by, for the obtaining of his assistance. Now pray revive your Question that gave occasion unto this discourse; however men may differ in Religion, why is not the Scripture sufficient to bring them unto an agreement and settlement? Take heed that in your Answer, you deny not some Principle that will involve the whole interest of Christianity in its ruin: Where is the defect? where the hinderance, why all men upon these Principles however differing at present, may not come to a full Settlement and Agreement? I hope, you will find none but what are in them selves; and for them; ipsi-viderint; the Scripture is blameless. Here is Certainty of Revelation from God, Fullness of that Revelation as to our Duty, Clearness and perspicuity for our understanding of it, Means appointed and sanctified for that end; what I pray is wanting? All Truths wherein it is the Duty of men to agree are fixed and stated, so that it can never be lawful for any man, in any generation, to call any of them into question; plain and evident, that no man can mistake the mind of God in them in things wherein his Duty is concerned, without his own crime and guilt. You will say then, it may be, But why then do not men agree, why do you not agree among your selves, but I would hope, that it is scarcely possible for any man to be so ignorant of the Condition of mankind, and amongst them of the best of men, as seriously to ask this Question. Are not all men naturally blind in the things of God?

These are the Principles of Protestants; this is the Progress of their Faith in coming unto settlement and assurance. These are their Foundations, which are as unquestionable as any thing in Christianity; the most of them, your selves being judges. And from them, one of these two things will necessarily follow; Either that all men, unto whom the Word of God doth come, will come to an agreement in the Truth, or the Unity of Faith; or Secondly, That it is their own fault if they do not so do: For what upon these Principles should hinder them from so doing? All saving Truth is revealed by God in the Scripture, unto the end that men may come to the knowledge of it. It is so revealed by Him, that it is possible, and with his assistance, easie formen to know aright his Mind and Will about the things so revealed: and be hath appointed regular wayes and means for men