A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

But until you do some one, or all of these, your crying out, The Church, the Church the Church cannot err, makes no other noise in our ears, than that of the Jews, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Law shall not fail, did in the ears of the Prophets of old. Neither do we speak this of the Church, or any Church, as though we were concerned to question or deny any just Privileges belonging unto it, thereby to secure our selves from any pretensions of yours; but merely for the sake of Truth. For we shall manifest anon unto you, that you are as little concerned in the Privileges of the Church, be they what they will, more or less, as any Society of the Professors of Christianity in the world; if so be that you are concerned in them at all. So that if the Truth would permit us to agree with you in all things that you assign unto the Church, yet the difference between you and us were never the nearer to an end; for we should still differ with you about your share and interest therein; and for ever abhor your frowardness in appropriating of them all unto your selves: And herein, as I said, hath lien a great part of your ruin; Whilst you have been sweetly dreaming of an Infallibility, you have really plunged your selves into errors innumerable: and when any one hath jogged you to awake you out of your fatal sleep, by minding you of your particular ⟨p. 194⟩errors, your dream hath left such an impression upon your imagination, as that you think them no errors, upon this only ground, because you cannot err. I am persuaded, had it not been for this one error, you had been freed from many others: But this perfectly disi• ables you for any candid Inquisition after the Truth: For why should he once look about him, or indeed so much as take care to keep his eyes open, who is sure that he can never be out of his way. Hence you inquire not at all, whether what you profess be Truth or not, but to learn what your Church teacheth and defend it, is all that you have to do about Religion in this world: And whatever Absurdities or Inconveniences you find your selves driven unto in the handling of particular points, all is one, they must be right though you cannot defend them, because your Church which cannot err hath so declared them to be:

But untill you do some one, or all of these, your crying out, The Church, the Church the Church cannot erre, makes no other noyse in our ears, than that of the Jews, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Law shall not fail, did in the ears of the Prophets of old. Neither do we speak this of the Church, or any Church, as though we were concerned to question or deny any just Priviledges belonging unto it, thereby to secure our selves from any pretensions of yours; but meerly for the sake of Truth. For we shall manifest anon unto you, that you are as little concerned in the Priviledges of the Church, be they what they will, more or less, as any Society of the Professours of Christianity in the world; if so be that you are concerned in them at all. So that if the Truth would permit us to agree with you in all things that you assign unto the Church, yet the difference between you and us were never the nearer to an end; for we should still differ with you about your share and interest therein; and for ever abhor your frowardness in appropriating of them all unto your selves: And herein, as I sayed, hath lyen a great part of your ruine; Whilest you have been sweetly dreaming of an Infallibility, you have really plunged your selves into errours innumerable: and when any one hath jogged you to awake you out of your fatall sleep, by minding you of your particular