A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

but the degrees of this visibility, as to conspicuousness and notoriety, depending on things accidental unto the being, and consequently visibility of Church, do no way affect as unto any change. Now from hence it follows, 1. That the presence or absence of the Humane nature of Christ with, or from his Church on earth, doth not belong unto the visibility of it; so that the absence of it, doth no way infer a necessity of substituting another visible head in his stead. Nor was the presence of his humane Nature with his Church any way necessary to the visibility of it; his conversation on the earth being wholly for other ends and purposes. 2. That the presence or absence of the humane nature of Christ, not varying his headship, which under both considerations is still the same, the supposition of another Head is perfectly destructive of the whole Headship of Christ▪ there being no vacancy possible to be imagined for that supply, but by the removal of Christ out of his place. For he being the Head of his Church as God and man, in his whole person invisible, and the visibility of the Church consisting solely in its own profession of the Truth, the absence of his humane nature from the earth, neither changeth his own Headship, nor prejudiceth the Churches visibility: so that either ⟨p. 384⟩the one or the other of them should induce a necessity of the supply of another Head. Consider now what it is that you oppose unto these things. You tell us, •. That Christ was the Head of the Church in his humane nature delegated by and under G•d to that purpose You mean he was so absolutely, and as man, exclusively to his divine nature. This your whole Discourse with the Inferences that you draw from this supposition abundantly manifests. If you can make this good, you may conclude what you please: I know no man that hath any great cause to oppose himself unto you, for you have taken away the very foundation of the being and […] of the Church in your supposition. 2. You inform us. That Christ by his Ascension into heaven ceased to be that Head that he was, so that of necessity another must be substituted in his place and room; and this we must think to be the Pope. He is I confess absent from his Church here on earth, as to his bodily appearance amongst us;

but the degrees of this visibility, as to conspicuousness and notoriety, depending on things accidental unto the being, and consequently visibility of Church, do no way affect as unto any change. Now from hence it follows, 1. That the presence or absence of the Humane nature of Christ with, or from his Church on earth, doth not belong unto the visibility of it; so that the absence of it, doth no way inferr a necessity of substituting another visible head in his stead. Nor was the presence of his humane Nature with his Church any way necessary to the visibility of it; his conversation on the earth being wholly for other ends and purposes. 2. That the presence or absence of the humane nature of Christ, not varying his headship, which under both considerations is still the same, the supposition of another Head is perfectly destructive of the whole Headship of Christ there being no vacancy possible to be imagined for that supply, but by the removal of Christ out of his place. For he being the Head of his Church as God and man, in his whole person invisible, and the visibility of the Church consisting solely in its own profession of the Truth, the absence of his humane nature from the earth, neither changeth his own Headship, nor prejudiceth the Churches visibility: so that either