A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

In your following Discourse you make a flourish with what your Church hath in Gospels, Epistles, Good books, Anniversary observations, and I know not what besides. But Sir, we discourse not about what you have, but what you have not, nor will have though God command you to have it, and threaten you for not having it. You have not the Scripture ordinarily in a language that they can understand, who if they are the Disciples of Christ are bound to read, study, and meditate in it continually; which are therefore hindered by you in the discharge of their duty, whilst you neither enter into the Kingdom of heaven your selves, nor suffer them that would. N•y you have burned men and their Bibles together for attempting to discharge that duty which God requireth of them, and wherein so much of their spiritual advantage is enwrapped. Neither have you the entire worship of God in a tongue known to the people, whereby they might join in it, and pray with understanding, and be edified by what they ⟨p. 533⟩hear (which the Apostle makes the end of all things done or to be done in public Assemblies) but are left to have their brutish affections led up and down by dumb shows, postures and gestures, whereunto the Scripture and Antiquity are utter strangers. These things you have not, and which renders your Condition so much the worse, you refu•e to have them though you may, though you are entreated by God and man to make use of them; yea where great and populous nations under your power, have humbly petitioned you that by your leave and permission they might enjoy the Bible, and that Service of God which they could understand, you have chosen rather to run all things into confusion and to fall upon them with fire and sword, then to grant them their request; O curvae in terris animae & caelestium inanes!

In your following Discourse you make a florish with what your Church hath in Gospels, Epistles, Good books, Anniversary observations, and I know not what besides. But Sir, we discourse not about what you have, but what you have not, nor will have though God command you to have it, and threaten you for not having it. You have not the Scripture ordinarily in a language that they can understand, who if they are the Disciples of Christ are bound to read, study, and meditate in it continually; which are therefore hindred by you in the discharge of their duty, whilest you neither enter into the Kingdom of heaven your selves, nor suffer them that would. Ny you have burned men and their Bibles together for attempting to discharge that duty which God requireth of them, and wherein so much of their spiritual advantage is enwrapped. Neither have you the entire worship of God in a tongue known to the people, whereby they might joyn in it, and pray with understanding, and be edified by what they