A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

Would you have us to leave the sure word of Prophecy, more sure than a voice from Heaven, the Light shining in the dark places of this world which we are commanded to attend unto by God himself, the Holy Scripture given by Inspiration, which is able to make us wise unto Salvation, the Word that is perfect, sure, right, converting the Soul, enlightening the eyes, making wise the simple, whose observation is attended with great reward, to give heed, yea to give up all our Spiritual and eternal concernments, to the credit of old groundless uncertain Stories, inevident presumptions, fables invented for and openly improved unto carnal, secular and wicked ends? Is your request reasonable? Would we could prevail with you to cease your importunity in this matter: especially considering •the dangerous consequence of the admission of these your Principles unto Christianity in general. For, if it be so that St Peter had such an Episcopacy as you talk of, and that a continuance of it in a Succession by the ⟨p. 186⟩Bishops of Rome, be of that indispensable necessity unto the preservation of Christian Religion as is pretended, many men considering the nature and quality of that Succession, how the means of its continuation have been arbitrarily and occasionally changed, what place formerly popular Suffrage, and the Imperial Authority have had in it; how it came to be devolved on a Conclave of Cardinals, what violence and tumults have attended one way, what briberies and filthy respects unto the lusts of unclean Persons the other, what Interruptions the Succession it self hath had by vacancies, Schisms, and contests for the place, and uncertainty of the Person that had the best right unto the Popedom according to the customs of the days wherein he lived, and that many of the Persons who have had a place in the pretended Succession, have been plainly men of the world, such as cannot receive the Spirit of Christ, yea open enemies unto his Cross: would find just cause to suspect that Christianity were utterly failed many Ages ago in the world, which certainly would not much promote the Settlement in Truth and Unity of Faith that we are enquiring after. And this is the first way that you propose to supply that Defect which you charge upon the Scripture, that it is insufficient to reconcile men that are at variance about Religion, and settle them in the Truth.

Would you have us to leave the sure word of Prophesie, more sure than a voyce from Heaven, the Light shining in the dark places of this world which wee are commanded to attend unto by God himself, the Holy Scripture given by Inspiration, which is able to make us wise unto Salvation, the Word that is perfest, sure, right, converting the Soul, enlightning the eyes, making wise the simple, whose observation is attended with great reward, to give heed, yea to give up all our Spirituall and eternall concernments, to the credit of old groundless uncertain Stories, inevident presumptions, fables invented for and openly improved unto carnal, secular and wicked ends? Is your request reasonable? Would wee could prevail with you to cease your importunity in this matter: especially considering the dangerous consequence of the admission of these your Principles unto Christianity in generall. For, if it be so that St Peter had such an Episcopacy as you talk of, and that a continuance of it in a Succession by the