A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

which as it was not necessary as to his Headship, so he promised to supply the inconvenience which […] Disciples apprehended would ensue thereupon, so that they should have great cause to rejoice at it, as that wherein their great advantage would lye: John 16. 7. That this should be by giving us a Pope at Rome in his stead, he hath no way intimated. And unto those who know what your Pope is, and what he hath done in the world, you will hardly make it evident, that the great advantage which the Lord Christ promised unto his Disciples upon his absence, is made good unto them by his Supervisorship. 3. You would have the visibility of the Church depend on the visibility of its Head, as also its sameness in all ages. And no one, you are secure, who is now visible, pretends ⟨p. 385⟩to be the Head of the Church, but the Pope alone, and therefore of necessity he it must be. But Sir, if the Lord Jesus Christ had had no other nature then that wherein he was visible to the eyes of men, he could never have been a meet Head for a Church dispersed throughout the whole world, nor have been able to discharge the Duty annexed by God unto that office. And if so, I hope you will not take it amiss, if on that supposition, I deem your Pope, of whom millions of Christians know nothing but by uncertain rumours, nor he of then, to be very unmeet for the discharge of it. And for the visibility of the Church, I have before declared wherein it doth consist. Upon the whole matter, you do not only come short of proving the Identity and Oneness of the Church to depend upon one visible Bishop as its Monarchical Head, but also the Principles whereby you attempt the confirmation of that absurd position, are of that nature that they exclude the Headship of Christ, and in•er no less change or alteration in the Church, then that which must needs ensue thereon, and the substitution of another in his room, which destroys the very essence and being of it.

which as it was not necessary as to his Headship, so he promised to supply the inconvenience which 〈…〉 Disciples apprehended would ensue thereupon, so that they should have great cause to rejoyce at it, as that wherein their great advantage would lye: John 16. 7