A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

In this condition did the whole Province continue unto the death of Commodus, under the rule of Ulpius Marcellus as we are informed by Dio and Lampridius. This was the state of affairs in Britain, when the Epistle of Eleutherius is supposed to be written. And for my part I cannot discover where this Lucius should reign with all that Sovereignty ascribed unto him. Baronius thinks he might do so beyond the Picts wall, which utterly overthrows the wholly story, and leaves the whole Province of Britain, utterly unconcerned in the coming of Fugatius and Damianus into this Island. These are some, and many other reasons of my suspicion I could add, manifesting it to be far more just then yours that I had no reason for it, but only because I would not acknowledge that any good could come from Rome.

In this condition did the whole Province continue unto the death of Commodus, under the rule of Vlpius Marcellus as we are informed by Dio and Lampridius. This was the state of affairs in Britain, when the Epistle of Eleutherius is supposed to be written. And for my part I cannot discover where this Lucius should reign with all that Soveraignty ascribed unto him. Baronius thinks he might do so beyond the Picts wall, which utterly overthrows the wholy story, and leaves the whole Province of Brittan, utterly unconcerned in the coming of Fugatius and Damianus into this Island. These are some, and many other reasons of my suspition I could add, manifesting it to be far more just then yours that I had no reason for it, but only because I would not acknowledge that any good could come from Rome.

Let us now see what you further except against the account I gave of the progress and declension of Religion in these, and other Nations. You add, then say you, succeeded times of Luxury, Sloth, Pride, ⟨p. 430⟩ambition, scandalous riots, and corruption both of faith and manners over all the Christian world, both Princes, Priests, Prelates and people. But you somewhat pervert my words, so to make them liable unto your exception: for as by me they are laid down, it seems you could find no occasion against them. I tell you p. 253. that after these things a sad decay in faith and holiness of life befell professors, not only in this Nation, but for the most part all the world over; the stories of those days are full of nothing more then the Oppression, Luxury, Sloth of Rulers, the pride, ambition and unseemly scandalous contests for preeminence of Sees, and extent of Jurisdiction among Bishops, the sensuality and ignorance of the most of men. Now whether these words are not agreeable to Truth and Sobriety, I leave to every man to judge, who hath any tolerable acquaintance with History, or the occurrences of the Ages respected in them. Your reply unto them is, not a grain of virtue or Goodness we must think in so many Christian Kingdoms and Ages: But why must you think so? who induceth you thereunto? when the Church of Israel was professedly far more corrupted, then I have intimated the state of the Christian Church in any part of the world to have been, yet there was more then a grain of virtue or goodness, not only in Elijah, but in the meanest of those seven thousand who within the small precincts of that Kingdom had not bowed the knee to Baal: I never in the least questioned, but that in that declension of Christianity which I intimated, and remission of the most from their pristine Zeal, but that there were thousands and ten thousands that kept their integrity and mourned for all the Abominations that they saw practiced in the world. Pray reflect a little upon