A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

We had not our Christianity immediately from the East, nor from Joseph of Arimathea, we Englishmen had not. For as he delivered his Christianity unto some Britons, when our Land was not called England but Albion or Brittany, and the inhabitants were not Englishmen but Britons or Kimbrians, so likewise did that Christianity, and the whole news of it quite vanish, being suddenly overwhelmed by the entient deluge of Paganism; nor did it ever come from them to us: nay the Britons themselves had so forgot and lost it, that they also needed a second Conversion, which they received from Pope Eleutherius: And that was the only news of Christianity which prevailed and lasted even amongst the very Britons, which seems to me a great secret of Divine Providence in planting and governing his Church, as if he would have nothing to stand firm and lasting, but what was immediately fixed by, and seated upon that Rock: for all other conversions have variety, and the very seats of the other Apostles failed, that all might the better cement in the unity of one head: Nay the Tables which God wrote with his own hand were broken, but the other written by Moses remained; that we might learn to give a due respect unto him, whom God hath set over us as our Head and Ruler under him, and none exalt himself against him. I know you will laugh at this my Observation: but I cannot but tell you what I think. ⟨p. 322⟩Where I speak then of the news of Christianity first brought to this Land I mean not that which was first brought upon the earth or soil of this Land, and spoken to any body then dwelling here, but which was delivered to the forefathers of the now present Inhabitants, who were Saxons or English men. And I say, that we the now present Inhabitants of England, off spring of the Saxons or English, had the first news of our Christianity immediately from Rome, and from Pope Gregorius the Roman Patriarch, by the hands of his Missioner St. Austin. Sith then the Categoric Assertions are both clear, namely that the Papists first brought us the news of Christianity: and Secondly, that the Papist is now become odi us unto us: What say you to my Consequent? that the whole story of Christianity may as well be deemed a Romance, as any part of that Christianity we at first received, is now judged to be a part of a Romance.

We had not our Christianity immediately from the East, nor from Joseph of Arimathe•, we Englishmen had not. For as he delivered his Christianity unto some Britans, when our Land was not called England but Albion or Brittany, and the inhabitants were not Englishmen but Britans or Kimbrians, so likewise did that Christianity, and the whole news of it quite vanish, being suddenly overwhelmed by the entient deluge of Paganism; nor did it ever come from them to us: nay the Brittans themselves had so forgot and lost it, that they also needed a second Conversion, which they received from Pove Eleutherius: And that was the only news of Christianity which prequiled and lasted even amongst the very Britans, which seems to me a great seeret of Divine Providence in planting and governing his Church, as if he would have nothing to stand firm and lasting, but what was immediately fixed by, and seated upon that Rock: for all other conversions have variety, and the very seats of the other Apostles failed, that all might the better cement in the unity of one head: Nay the Tables which God wrote with his own hand were broken, but the other written by Moses remained; that we might learn to give a due respect unto him, whom God hath set over us as our Head and Ruler under him, and none exalt himself against him. I know you will laugh at this my Observation: but I cannot but tell you what I think.