A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

Wherefore those few sheets of Paper are to be hid but with caution and diligence, least their concealment should stir us up greater troubles. This is fair and open; being a brief summary of that admiration of the Scriptures which so abounds in Catholic Countries; That Hermannus one of some account in your Church, affirmed that the Scriptures could be of no more Authority ⟨p. 359⟩then Aesops Fables, were they not confirmed by the Testimony of your Church; we are informed by one Brentius, and we believe the information to be true because the saying is defended by Hosius de Authoritat. Script. Lib. 3. who adds unto it of his own; Revera nisi nos Authoritas Ecclesiae doceret hanc scripturam esse Canoncam, perexiguum apud nos pondus haberet: the truth is, if the Authority of the Church did not teach us that this Scripture is Canonical, it would be of very light weight unto us. Such Cordial respects do you bear unto it. And the forementioned Andradius Defens. Con. Trid. Lib. 2. to the same purpose; Neque enim in ipsis libris quibus sacra mysteria conscripta sunt, quicquam in est Divinitatis quae nos ad credendum quae in illis continentur religione aliqua constring at; sed Ecclesiae, quae codices illos sacros esse docet, & antiquorum Patrum fidem & pietatem commendat▪ tanta inest vis & amplitudo, ut illis nemo sine gravissimâ impietatis nota possit repugnare; neither is there in those books wherein the Divine Mysteries are written any thing or any character of Divinity or divine original which should on a religious account oblige us to believe the things that are contained in them. But yet such is the force and Authority of the Church which teacheth th•se books to be sacred, and commendeth the faith and piety of the Ancient fathers, that no man can oppose them without a grievous mark of impiety. How, by what means, from whom should we learn the sense of your Church, if not from your Council of Trent, and such mighty Champions of it? Do you think it equitable, that we should listen to suggestions of every obscure Friar, and entertain thoughts from them about the sense of your Church, contrary to the plain assertion of your Councils and and great Rabbis? And if this be the respect that ⟨p. 360⟩in Catholic Countries is given to the Scripture, I hope you will not find may of your Countrymen rivals with them therein. It is all but Hail and Cr cifie;