A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

CHAP. 10.

Further Vindication of the second Chapter of the Animadversions; the remaining Principles of Fiat Lux considered.

IT is time to return, and put an end unto our review of those Principles, which I observed your Discourse to be built upon. The next as laid down in the Animadversions, p. 103. is, That the Pope is a good man, one that seeks nothing but our good, that never did us harm, but hath the Care and inspection of us committed unto him by Christ. In the Repetition hereof you leave out all the last part, and express no more, but the Pope is a good man, and seeks nothing but our good: and therein aim at a double advantage unto your self. First, That you may with some colour of Truth, though really without it, deny the Assertion to be yours, when as the latter part of it, which upon the matter, is that which gives the sense, and determines the meaning of the whole, is expressly contended for by you, and that frequently, and at large. Secondly, That you may vent an empty Cavil against that expression, seeks nothing, but our good; whereas had you added the next words, and never did us harm, every one would have perceived in what sense the former were spoken, and so have prevented the frivolous exception. Your words are, This also I nowhere aver, for I never saw him, nor have any such acquaintance with him as to know whither he be a good man, or no: though in charity I do not use to judge hardly of any body; much less could say, that he whom I know to have a general solicitude for all Churches, seeks nothing but our good, ⟨p. 302⟩Sir if I had pondered my words in Fiat Lux no better then you heed yours in your Animadversions upon it; they might even go together both of them to lay up Pepper and Spices, or some yet more vile employment.