A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

You add nextly as my words, The eye may not have her species as well as the ear, because God hath commanded the one, and not the other. You know full well that you do not express my words, nor meaning as you ought. But I shall now cease to expect better dealing from you, and make the best that I may of what you are pleased to set down. Speaking in general, I do not, nor did deny that the eye might have its use and the species of it to help and further our faith and devotion in the worship of God. It hath so in the Sacraments by him instituted; but I tell you it can have no use to these ends in things which God hath forbidden, as he hath done the making of Images for religious adoration. But you say, Fiat Lux makes it appear that God commands both, and the nature of man requireth both, nor can I give any reason why I may not look upon him who was crucified, as well as hear him. Pray Sir talk not of Fiat Lux making it appear. The design of Fiat Lux is rather to hide then to make any thing appear; and you might have done well to direct us unto that place in your Fiat, where you fancied that you had made it appear that God commands that use of Images in his worship which you plead for; and as for what the nature of man requireth we suppose God knows as well at least as the Pope, and is as ⟨p. 506⟩careful to make suitable provision for its relief and help in the duties he calls us to the performance of. And it is an easy thing to give you a reason why you may not look on him that was crucified, that is with your bodily eyes, as well as hear him by the preaching of the word, and it is because you cannot. You your self tell us, when you think it for your purpose, that Christ as to his humane nature is now invisible, and that is it I think you intend. Now how you will look with your bodily eyes on that which unto you and us is at present invisible, I cannot understand. I know that one of the great Fathers of your second Nicene faith, publicly affirmed in the Council with the approbation of his Associates, that Christ is so present with, or related unto his Image, that he should speak of it and should say, this is Christ, should not err. But I know also he did it with as much wisdom as he whom the Prophet derides for carving a stock into the likeness of a man, and then saying unto it, Thou art my God.

You add nextly as my words, The eye may not have her species as well as the ear, because God hath commanded the one, and not the other. You know full well that you do not express my words, nor meaning as you ought. But I shall now cease to expect better dealing from you, and make the best that I may of what you are pleased to set down. Speaking in general, I do not, nor did deny that the eye might have its use and the species of it to help and further our faith and devotion in the worship of God. It hath so in the Sacraments by him instituted; but I tell you it can have no use to these ends in things which God hath forbidden, as he hath done the making of Images for religious adoration. But you say, Fiat Lux makes it appear that God commands both, and the natue of man requireth both, nor can I give any reason why I may not look pon him who was crucified, as well as hear him. Pray Sir talk not of Fiat Lux making it appear. The design of Fiat Lux is rather to hide then to make any thing appear; and you might have done well to direct us unto that place in your Fiat, where you fancied that you had made it appear that God commands that use of Images in his worship which you plead for; and as for what the nature of man requireth we suppose God knows as well at least as the Pope, and is as