A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

But you tell me, I do not only reject what you object against Prelate Protestants, but also what you allege ⟨p. 374⟩in their behalf. I do so indeed; though I laugh not at you or it, as you pretend; and so must any man do, who pleading for Protestancy hath not a mind openly to prevaricate. For your Plea for them is such, as if admitted, would not only overthrow your Prelacy which you pretend to assert, but also destroy your Protestancy which you will not deny but that you seek to oppose. Nay it is no other, but what was contradicted in the very Council of Trent by the Spanish Prelates, as that which they conceived to have been an engine contrived for the Ruin of Episcopacy under a pretence of establishing it; and which instead of asserting them to be Bishops in the Church, would have rendered them all Curates to the Pope. You would have us believe that Christ hath appointed one Episcopal Monarch in his Church with plenitude of power to represent his own Person, which is the Pope, and from him all other Bishops to derive their power, being substituted by him, and unto him unto their work. And must not this needs be an acceptable defensative or Plea unto Prelate Protestants, which if it be admitted, they can be no longer supposed to be made Overseers of their flocks by the Holy Ghost, but by the Pope, which forfeits their Prelacy, and besides asserts his Supremacy, which destroys their Protestancy?

But you tell me, I do not only reject what you object against Prelate Protestants, but also what you alledge ⟨p. 374⟩in their behalf. I do so indeed; though I laugh not at you or it, as you pretend; and so must any man do, who pleading for Protestancy hath not a mind openly to prevaricate. For your Plea for them is such, as if admitted, would not only overthrow your Prelacy which you pretend to assert, but also destroy your Protestancy which you will not deny but that you seek to oppose. Nay it is no other, but what was contradicted in the very Council of Trent by the Spanish Prelates, as that which they conceived to have been an engine contrived for the Ruine of Episcopacy under a pretence of establishing it; and which insteed of asserting them to be Bishops in the Church, would have rendred them all Curates to the Pope. You would have us believe that Christ hath appointed one Episcopal Monarch in his Church with plenitude of power to represent his own Person, which is the Pope, and from him all other Bishops to derive their power, being substituted by him, and unto him unto their work. And must not this needs be an acceptable defensative or Plea unto Prelate Protestants, which if it be admitted, they can be no longer supposed to be made Overseers of their flocks by the Holy Ghost, but by the Pope, which forfeits their Prelacy, and besides asserts his Supremacy, which destroyes their Protestancy?