A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

from the day wherein Man was first created upon the earth, to the days wherein we live, never did a Person or Church yield any obedience, or perform any acceptable worship unto God, but what was founded on, and regulated by his Word, given unto them antecedently unto their obedience and worship, to be the sole foundation and Rule of it. That you have no concernment in what is, or may be truly spoken of the Church, we shall afterwards show; but it is not for the interest of Truth, that we should suffer you without control, to impose such absurd notions on the minds of men; especially when you pretend to direct them unto a Settlement in Religion. Alike true is it, that the Church gives Authority unto the Scripture: Every true Church indeed gives witness or Testimony unto it, and it is its Duty so to do; it holds it forth, declares, and manifests it, so that it may be considered and taken notice of by all; which is one main End of the Institution of the Church in this world: But the Church no more gives Authority to the Scripture than it gives Authority to God himself: He requires of men the discharge of that Duty which he hath assigned unto them, but stands not in need of their ⟨p. 189⟩suffrage to confirm his Authority. It was not so indeed with the Idols of old, of whom Tertullian said rightly; Si Deus homini non placuerit, Deus non erit: The reputation of their Deity depended on the Testimony of men; as, you say, that of Christ's doth on the Authority of the Pope. But I shall not farther insist upon the disprovement of this vanity; having showed already, that the Scripture hath all its Authority both in its self, and in reference unto us, from Him whose Word it is: and we have also made is appear, that your Assertions to the contrary, are meet for nothing but to open a door unto all Irreligiousness, Profaneness, and Atheism; so that there is [Greek or Hebrew] ▪ nothing sound or savoury, nothing which an heart careful to preserve its Loyalty unto God, will not nauseate at, nothing not suited to oppugn the fundamentals of Christian Religion in this your Position. This ground well fixed you tell us.

from the day wherein Man was first created upon the earth, to the days wherein we live, never did a Person or Church yield any obedience, or perform any acceptable worship unto God, but what was founded on, and regulated by his Word, given unto them antecedently unto their obedience and worship, to be the sole foundation and Rule of it. That you have no concernment in what is, or may be truly spoken of the Church, we shall afterwards shew; but it is not for the interest of Truth, that wee should suffer you without controul, to impose such absurd notions on the minds of men; especially when you pretend to direct them unto a Settlement in Religion. Alike true is it, that the Church gives Authority unto the Scripture: Every true Church indeed gives witness or Testimony unto it, and it is its Duty so to do; it holds it forth, declares, and manifests it, so that it may be considered and taken notice of by all; which is one main End of the Institution of the Church in this world: But the Church no more gives Authority to the Scripture than it gives Authority to God himself: He requires of men the discharge of that Duty which he hath assigned unto them, but stands not in need of their