A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

That which this Discourse seems to amount unto, is that if a man question or reject any thing that is taught by the Church whereof he is a member, there remains no way for him to come unto any certainty in the remaining parts of Religion, but that he may on as good grounds question and reject all things as any. As you phrase the matter, by mens vilifying a Church which a mind to prevaricate upon pretence of Scripture, &c. though there is no consequence in what you say, yet no man can be so mad as to plead in justification of such a proceeding. For it is not much to be doubted, but that he who layeth such a foundation, and makes such a beginning of a separation from any Church, will make a progress suitable thereunto. But if you will speak unto your own purpose, and so as they may have any concernment in what you say with whom you deal, you must otherwise frame your hypothesis. Suppose a man to be a member of any Church, or to find himself in any Church state with others, and that he doth at any time by the light and direction of the Scripture, discover any thing or things to be taught or practised in that Church whereof he is so a member, which he cannot assent unto, unless he will contradict the Revelation that God hath made of himself, his mind and will, in that complete Rule of all that Religion and worship which are pleasing unto him, and therefore doth suspend his assent thereunto, and therein ⟨p. 342⟩dissent from the determination of that Church; then you are to assert for the promotion of your design, that all the Consequents will follow which you expatiate upon. But this supposition fixes immovably upon the penalty of forfeiting their interest in all saving truth, all Christians whatever, Greeks, Abissines, Armenians, Protestants in the Churches wherein they find themselves, and so makes ••ustrate all their attempts for their reconciliation to the Church of Rome. For do you think they will attend unto you, when you persuade them to a relinquishment of the Communion of that Church wherein they find themselves to join with you, when the first thing you tell them is, that if they do so, they are undone and that for ever?

That which this Discourse seems to amount unto, is that if a man question or reject any thing that is taught by the Church whereof he is a member, there remains no way for him to come unto any certainty in the remaining parts of Religion, but that he may on as good grounds question and reject all things as any. As you phrase the matter, by mens vilifying a Church which a mind to prevaricate upon pretence of Scripture, &c. though there is no consequence in what you say, yet no man can be so mad as to plead in justification of such a proceeding. For it is not much to be doubted, but that he who layeth such a foundation, and makes such a beginning of a separation from any Church, will make a progress suitable thereunto. But if you will speak unto your own purpose, and so as they may have any concernment in what you say with whom you deal, you must otherwise frame your hypothesis. Suppose a man to be a member of any Church, or to find himself in any Church state with others, and that he doth at any time by the light and direction of the Scripture, discover any thing or things to be taught or practised in that Church whereof he is so a member, which he cannot assent unto, unless he will contradict the Revelation that God hath made of himself, his mind and will, in that compleat Rule of all that Religion and worship which are pleasing unto him, and therefore doth suspend his assent thereunto, and therein