A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

I suppose you know that not long after the times wherein I say Religion as the power and purity of it much decayed in the world, that God brought an overflowing scourge and deluge of Judgements upon most of the Nations of Europe, that made Profession of Christianity. What in sadness do you think might be the cause of that dispensation of his Providence? Do you think that all things were well enough amongst them, and that in all things their ways pleased God? is such an apprehension suitable to the Goodness, Mercy, Love and faithfulness of God? or must he lose the glory of all his properties in the administration of his righteous Judgements, rather then you will acknowledge a demerit in them whom he took away as with a Flood? So indeed the Jews would have had it of old under their sufferings; but he pleaded and vindicated the equality and righteousness of his ways against their proud repinings. ⟨p. 433⟩Pray be as angry with me as you please, but take heed of justifying any against God: The task will prove too hard for you. And yet to this purpose are your following contemptuous expressions; For unto my observation, that after these times, the Goths and Vandals with others, overflowed the Christian world, you subjoin, either to punish them we may believe, or to teach them how to mend their manners. Sir, I know not what you believe, or do not believe, or whither you believe any thing of this kind or no. But I will tell you what I am persuaded all the world believes, who know the story of those times, and are not Atheists: and it is, that though the Goths and Vandals, Saxons, Huns, Franks and Longobards, with the rest of the barbarous Nations, who divided the Provinces of the Western Empire amongst them, had it may be no more thoughts to punish the Nations professing Christianity, for their sins, wickedness and superstition, (though one of their Chief Leaders proclaimed himself the Scourge of God against them) then had the King of Babylon to punish Judah for her sins, and Idolatry in especial, yet that God ordered them, no less then he did him in his Providence for those ends which you so scorn and despise, that is, either to punish them for their sins, or to provoke them to leave them by repentance. Take heed of being a scoffer in these things, least your bands be made strong. God is not unrighteous who exerciseth judgement.

I suppose you know that not long after the times wherein I say Religion as the power and purity of it much decayed in the world, that God brought an overflowing scourge and deluge of Judgements upon most of the Nations of Europe, that made Profession of Christianity. What in sadness do you think might be the cause of that dispensation of his Providence? Do you think that all things were well enough amongst them, and that in all things their wayes pleased God? is such an apprehension suitable to the Goodness, Mercy, Love and faithfulness of God? or must he lose the glory of all his properties in the administration of his righteous Judgements, rather then you will acknowledge a demerit in them whom he took away as with a Flood? So indeed the Jews would have had it of old under their sufferings; but he pleaded and vindicated the equality and righteousness of his wayes against their proud repinings.