A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

for Queen Berta with her Bishop Luidhardus had both practised the worship of Christ in England before his coming, and so prepared the people, that Gregory says in one of his Epistles, Anglorum gentem voluisse fieri Christianam. What will thence ensue? why plainly, that we must be all Papists or Atheists, and esteem the whole Gospel a Romance. But why so I pray? Why, the Categoric Assertions are both clear; namely, that the Papist first brought us the news of Christianity; and that Papists are now odious. But how comes this about? we were talking of Gregory, and some that came from Rome in his days. And if you take them for Papists, you are much deceived. Prove that there was one Papist at Rome in the days of that Gregory, and I will be another; I mean such a Papist as your present Pope is, or as your self are. Do you think that Gregory believed the Catholic Supremacy and Infallibility of the Pope, the doing whereof in an especial manner ⟨p. 327⟩constitutes a man a Papist. If you have any such thoughts, you are an utter stranger •o the state of things in those days, as also to the writings of Gregory himself. For your better information you may do well to consult him, lib. 4. Epist. 32, 36, 38. And sundry other instances may be given out of his own writings, how remote he was from your present Popery. Irregularities and superstitious observations were, not a few in his days crept into the Church of Rome, which you still pertinaciously adhere unto, as you have the happiness to adhere firmly unto any thing that you once irregularly embrace. But that the main Doctrines, Principles, Practices and Modes of Worship which constitute Popery, were known, admitted, practised, or received at Rome in the days of Gregory, I know full well that you are not able to prove. And by this you may see the Truth of your first Assertion, that Papists brought us the first news of Christianity: which you do not in the least endeavour to prove; but take it hand over head, to be the same with this, that some from Rome preached the Gospel to the Saxons in the days of Gregory, which it hath no manner of affinity withal. Your second true Assertion is, that the Papist is now become odious unto us; but yet neither will this be granted you. Popery we dislike, but that the Papists are become odious unto us, we absolutely deny.

for Queen Berta with her Bishop Luidhardus had both practised the worship of Christ in England before his coming, and so prepared the people, that Gregory sayes in one of his Epistles, Anglorum gentem voluisse fieri Christianam. What will thence ensue? why plainly, that we must be all Papists or Atheists, and esteem the whole Gospel a Romance. But why so I pray? Why, the Categorick Assertions are both clear; namely, that the Ppist first brought us the news of Christianity; and that Papists are now odious. But how comes this about? we were talking of Gregory, and some that came from Rome in his dayes. And if you take them for Papists, you are much deceived. Prove that there was one Papist at Rome in the dayes of that Gregory, and I will be another; I mean such a Papist as your present Pope is, or as your self are. Do you think that Gregory believed the Catholick Supremacy and Infallibility of the Pope, the doing whereof in an especial manner