A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

This is a business I could have been glad you had not necessitated me to the Consideration of; for it cannot be truly and distinctly handled, […] ⟨p. 400⟩such reflections upon your Church and way, as may without extraordinary indulgence redound unto your disadvantage. Your have by your own voluntary choice called me to the discussion of those Principles which have created you much trouble in these Nations, and put you oftentimes upon attempting their disquiet. Now these are things which I desire not. I am but a private man, and am very well contented you should enjoy all that peace and liberty which you think not meet in other Nations where the Power is at your disposal, to grant unto them that dissent from you. Lex talionis should be far from influencing the minds of Christians in this matter: however the equity of it may at any time be pleaded or urged to relieve others in other places, under bondage and persecution. But I am sure, if I judge your proceedings against other men dissenting from you in Conscience, to be unjustifiable by the Scripture or Light of Nature, or suffrage of the Ancient Church, as I do, I have no reason to desire that they should be drawn into president against their selves, in any place in the world. And therefore Sir, had you provided the best colour you could for your own Principles, and palliated them to the […], so to hide them from the eyes of those, who it may be are ready to seek their disturbance and trouble from an apprehension of the evil that may ensue upon them, and had not set them up in comparison with the Principles of Protestants of all sorts, and for the setting off your own with the better grace and lustre, untruly and invidiously reported theirs, to expose them unto those thoughts, and that severity from supreme powers which you seek your selves to wave, I should have wholly passed by this discourse, unto which no occasion was administered ⟨p. 401⟩in the Animadversions; but now as you have handled the matter, unless I would have it taken for granted that the Principles of the Roman Church, are more suited unto the establishment and promotion of the interest and Sovereignty of Kings and other supreme Magistrates, and in particular the Kings of these Nations, then those of Protestants, which in Truth I do not believe, I must of necessity make a little further enquiry into your Discourse.

This is a business I could have been glad you had not necessitated me to the Consideraion of; for it cannot be truly and distinctly handled,