A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

Preaching of the word unto believers is an Ordinance of Christ, and that of indispensable necessity unto their edification or growth in Grace and knowledge which he requireth of them. In the practice of this ordinance were the Apostles themselves sedulous, and commanded others so to be. So were they in the Primitive following times, as you may learn from the account given us of Church meetings by Justin Martyr, and Tertullian in their Apologies, and all that have transmitted any thing unto Posterity concerning their Assemblies. For this end, to hear the word preached, Christians came together, not only, or solely, or exclusively to the administration of other Ordinances, but as to a part of that worship which God required at their hands, and wherein no small of their spiritual advantage was enwrapped. To deny this, as you do in your Fiat, is to deny that the Sun shines at noon day, and to endeavour to dig up the very roots of P•ety, Knowledge, and all Christianity; to what ends and purposes, and for the enthroning of what other thing in your room, let all indifferent men judge. And I shall take leave to say, that to my best observation, I never met with an Assertion in any Author of what Religion so ever more remote from truth, sobriety and modesty then that of yours in your Fiat, pag. 275. Nor did the Primitive Christians for 300. years ever hear a Sermon made unto them upon a Text, but merely flocked together at their Priests appointment unto their Messachs. This I say is so loudly and notoriously untrue, and so known to be so, to all that have ever looked into the stories of those times, that I am amazed at your confidence in the publishing of it. It may be you will hope to shelter your self under the ambiguity of that ⟨p. 456⟩expression made unto them upon a text. Supposing that an instance cannot be given of that mode of preaching, wherein some •ertain Text is read at the entrance of a Sermon and principally insisted upon. But this Fig leaf will not cover you from the just Censure of knowing men. For 1. Their following adversative, but merely, is perfectly exclusive of all preaching be it of what Mode it will be. 2. The reading of one certain Text before Preaching is not necessary unto it, but all preaching is and ever was upon some Text or Texts, that is, it consisted in the explication and application of the word of God, that is, some part of portion of it.

Preaching of the word unto believers is an Ordinance of Christ, and that of indispensible necessity unto their edification or growth in Grace and knowledge which he requireth of them. In the practice of this ordinance were the Apostles themselves sedulous, and commanded others so to be. So were they in the Primitive following times, as you may learn from the account given us of Church meetings by Justin Martyr, and Tertullian in their Apologies, and all that have transmitted any thing unto Posterity concerning their Assemblies. For this end, to hear the word preached, Christians came together, not only, or solely, or exclusively to the administration of other Ordinances, but as to a part of that worship which God required at their hands, and wherein no small of their spiritual advantage was enwrapped. To deny this, as you do in your Fiat, is to deny that the Sun shines at noon day, and to endeavour to dig up the very roots of Pety, Knowledge, and all Christianity; to what ends and purposes, and for the enthroning of what other thing in your room, let all indifferent men judge. And I shall take leave to say, that to my best observation, I never met with an Assertion in any Author of what Religion so ever more remote from truth, sobriety and modesty then that of yours in your Fiat, pag. 275. Nor did the Primitive Christians for 300. years ever hear a Sermon made unto them upon a Text, but meerly flocked together at their Priests appointment unto their Messachs. This I say is so loudly and notoriously untrue, and so known to be so, to all that have ever looked into the stories of those times, that I am amazed at your confidence in the publishing of it. It may be you will hope to shelter your self under the ambiguity of that