A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

Two Reasons I confess you add why you chose vadimonium deserere, and not reply to the Animadversions; which to deal plainly with you, give me very little satisfaction: The first of them you say, is because to do so, would be contrary to the very end and design of Fiat Lux, which shall immediately be considered. The other is, the threats which I have given you, that if you dare to write again, I will make you know, what manner of man I am. Sir, Though it seems you dare not reply to my Book, yet you dare do that which is much worse; you dare write palpable untruths, and such as your self know to be so, as others also who have read those Papers. By such things as these, with sober and ingenious Persons, you cannot but much prejudice the interest you desire to promote, as well as in your self you wrong your conscience, and ruin your reputation. Besides all advantage springing from untruth is fading: neither will it admit of any covering, but of its own kind, which can never be so increased, but that it will rain through. Only I confess thus far you have promoted your design, that you have given a new and cogent instance of the Evils attending Controversies in Religion. which you declaim about in your Fiat; which yet is such, as it had been your duty to avoid. What it is that you make use of to give countenance unto this fiction (for malum semper habitat in alieno fundo) I shall have occasion afterwards to consider. For the present I leave you to the discipline of your own thoughts;⟨p. 4⟩ Prima est haec ultio quod se Judice, nemo nocens absolvitur. And I the rather mind you of your failure at this entrance of our discourse, that I may only remit your thoughts unto this stricture, when the like occasion offers it self, which I fear it will do not unfrequently: But Sir, it will be no advantage unto me, or you, to contend for the Truth which we profess, if in the mean time, we are regardless of the observance of truth, in our own hearts and spirits.

Two Reasons I confess you adde why you chose vadimonium deserere, and not reply to the Animadversions; which to deal plainly with you, give me very little satisfaction: The first of them you say, is because to do so, would be contrary to the very end and design of Fiat Lux, which shall immediately be considered. The other is, the threats which I have given you, that if you dare to write again, I will make you know, what manner of man I am. Sr, Though it seems you dare not reply to my Book, yet you dare do that which is much worse; you dare write palpable untruths, and such as your self know to be so, as others also who have read those Papers. By such things as these, with sober and ingenious Persons, you cannot but much prejudice the interest you desire to promote, as well as in your self you wrong your conscience, and ruine your reputation. Besides all advantage springing from untruth is fading: neither will it admit of any covering, but of its own kind, which can never be so encreased, but that it will rain through. Only I confess thus far you have promoted your design, that you have given a new and cogent instance of the Evils attending Controversies in Religion. which you declame about in your Fiat; which yet is such, as it had been your duty to avoid. What it is that you make use of to give conntenance unto this fiction (for malum semper habitat in alieno fundo) I shall have occasion afterwards to consider. For the present I leave you to the discipline of your own thoughts;