A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

But you will now prove by instances, that if a man deny any thing that your Church proposeth, he may with as good reason deny every Truth whatever. I shall follow you through them, and consider what in your matter or manner of proposal is worthy that serious perusal of them which you so much desire. To begin, See if the Quakers deny not as resolutely the regenerating power of Baptism, as you the efficacy of Absolution. See if the Presbyterians do not with as much reason evacuate the Prelacy of Protestants, as they the Papacy. All things it seems are alike, Truth and Error, and may with the same reason be opposed and rejected. And because some men renounce errors, others may on as good grounds renounce the Truth, and oppose it with as solid and ⟨p. 346⟩cogent reasons. The Scripture it seems is of no use to direct, guide, or settle men in these things that relate to the worship and knowledge of God. What a strange dream hath the Church of God been in from the days of Moses, if this be so! Hitherto it hath been thought that what the Scripture teacheth in these things turned the scales, and made the embracement of it reasonable, as the rejection of them the contrary. As the woman said to Joab, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, they shall surely ask counsel at Abel, and so they ended the matter: They said in old time concerning these things, To the Law and the Testimonies, search the Scriptures, and so they ended the matter. But it seems tempora mutantur, and that now Truth and Falsehood are equally probable, having the same grounds, the same evidences. Quis leget haec, min, tu istud ais. Do you think to be believed in these incredible figments, fit to bear a part in the stories of Ulysses unto Alcinous! Yet you proceed, See if the Socinian Arguments against the Trinity, be not as strong as yours against the Eucharist. But where did you ever read any Arguments of ours against the Eucharist? Have you a dispensation to say what you please for the promotion of the Catholic Cause? Are not the Arguments you intend, indeed rather for the Eucharist then against it? Arguments to vindicate the nature of that holy Eucharistical Ordinance, and to preserve it from the manifold abuses that you and your Church do put upon it. That is, they are arguments against your Transubstantiation and proper sacrifice that you intend.

But you will now prove by instances, that if a man deny any thing that your Church proposeth, he may with as good reason deny every Truth whatever. I shall follow you through them, and consider what in your matter or manner of proposal is worthy that serious perusal of them which you so much desire. To begin, See if the Quakers deny not as resolutely the regenerating power of Baptisme, as you the efficacy of Absolution. See if the Presbyterians do not with as much reason evacuate the Prelacy of Protestants, as they the Papacy. All things it seems are alike, Truth and Error, and may with the same reason be opposed and rejected. And because some men renounce errors, others may on as good grounds renounce the Truth, and oppose it with as solid and