A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

You proceed, finding your self puzzled, in the third place you lay on load, she fell say you, by Apostasy, Idolatry, Heresy, Schism, Licentiousness and profaneness of Life. And in this you do not much unlike the drunken youth, who being bid to hit his Masters finger with his, when he perceived he could not do it, he ran his whole fist against it. Seriously Sir, you have the worst success in your Attempts for a little wit and merriment that ever I met with. If you would take my advice, you should not strain your Genius for that which it will not afford you: you forget the old rule, Tu nihil invita dies faciesve Minerva. Any other diversion were better than this which proves so successless: Yet I must confess you deserve well of pastime, seeing to serve its interests you so often make your self ridiculous, as you now do in this pitiful story. And I cannot tell you whether my Answer have touched your finger or no, but I am sure, if it be true, it strikes your Cause to the heart; and I am as sure of the Truth of it, as I am that I am alive. And you see how I am puzzled, even as he was who cried inopem me copia fecit. Your Church hath fallen so many ways, all so foully and evidently, that it is hard for any man to choose what instance to insist upon, who is called on to charge her, as you by your enquiry of them, do on your Protestant Readers. And for my part, I had rather you should take your choice, against which of the things mentioned you think your self best able to defend her. And may it please you to choose your Instance, if I prove not your Church to have fallen by it, I will ⟨p. 61⟩promise you to become a Papist. You proceed to your own particulars, and ask, Did she fall by Apostasy: to which you subjoin my words, by a partial not a total one; with your reply, Good Sir, in this division Apostasy is set to express a total relapse in opposition to Heresy which is the partial. I see you have as little mind to be drawn to the consideration of your Apostasy, as of your Idolatry; and would fain post off all to Heresy, under a corrupt notion of which term, you hope to find some shelter for your self and your Church, although in vain. But Verte omnes tete in facies, & contrahe quicquid Sive animis, sive arte vales. You must bear the charge of Apostasy also.

You proceed, finding your self puzled, in the third place you lay on load, she fell say you, by Apostasie, Idolatry, Heresie, Schisme, Licentiousness and prophaneness of Life. And in this you do not much unlike the drunken youth, who being bid to hit his Masters finger with his, when he perceived he could not do it, he ran his whole fist against it. Seriously Sr, you have the worst success in your Attempts for a little wit and merriment that ever I met with. If you would take my advice, you should not strain your Genius for that which it will not affoard you: you forget the old rule, Tu nihil invita dies faciesve Minerva. Any other diversion were better than this which proves so succesless: Yet I must confess you deserve well of pastime, seeing to serve its interests you so often make your self ridiculous, as you now do in this pittifull story. And I cannot tell you whether my Answer have touched your finger or no, but I am sure, if it be true, it strikes your Cause to the heart; and I am as sure of the Truth of it, as I am that I am alive. And you see how I am pusled, even as he was who cryed inopem me copia fecit. Your Church hath fallen so many wayes, all so foully and evidently, that it is hard for any man to chuse what instance to insist upon, who is called on to charge her, as you by your enquiry of them, do on your Protestant Readers. And for my part, I had rather you should take your choyce, against which of the things mentioned you think your self best able to defend her. And may it please you to chuse your Instance, if I prove not your Church to have fallen by it, I will