A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

at last giving a distinction of the intrinsic acceptability of our works, the easier to silence me, you say as I say. Could any man, not acquainted with you, ever imagine, but that had denied that ever Protestants opposed the merit of Good works; you positively affirm I did so; you pretend ⟨p. 29⟩to transcribe my own words; you wonder why I should say so; you produce testimony to disprove what I say, and yet all this while you know well enough that I never said so: have a little more care, if not of your Conscience, yet of your Reputation; for seriously if you proceed in this manner, you will lose the common Privilege of being believed when you speak truth. Your words in your Fiat Lux, p. 15. ed. 2. are, that our Ministers cull out various Texts (out of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans) against the Christian doctrine of Good works, and their merit; wherein you plainly distinguish between the Christian Doctrine of Good works, and their merit, as well you may; I tell you pag. 25, 26 that no Protestant ever opposed the Christian Doctrine of Good Works. Here you repeat my words as you pretend, and say, that I deny that any Protestant ever opposed the Merit of Good works; and fall into a feigned wonderment at me, for saying that which you knew well enough I never said: For Merit is not the Christian, but rather as by you explained, the Antichristian Doctrine of Good works, as being perfectly Anti-Evangelical. What Merit you will esteem this Good work of yours to have, I know not, and have in part intimated what truly it doth deserve. But you add, that making a distinction of the intrinsic acceptability of works, you say as I say: What is that I pray? do I say, that Protestants oppose the Christian Doctrine of Good Works, as you say, in your Fiat; or do I say, that they never opposed the Merit of Good works, as you fain me to say in your Epistle? neither the one nor the other: but I say that Protestants teach the Christian Doctrine of Good works, as revealed in the Gospel, and oppose the Merit of Good works, by you invented, and as by you explained, ⟨p. 30⟩and now avowed. And whilst you talk at this rate, as if you were perfectly innocent, you begin your story as if you had nothing to do but to accuse another of fraud, like him that cried, —Nec si me miserum fortuna Sinonem Finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque improba fingit. when you know what his business was.

at last giving a distinction of the intrinsick acceptability of our works, the easier to silence me, you say as I say. Could any man, not acquainted with you, ever imagin, but that had denied that ever Protestants opposed the merit of Good works; you positively affirm I did so; you pretend