A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

The words therefore themselves you see are of an indifferent signification, having this difference between them, that the one for the most part is used to signify the Relinquishment of that which a man had before embraced, and the other a choice or embracing of that which a man had not before received or admitted. And this difference is constantly observed by all Ecclesiastical writers, who afterwards used these words in the worst or an evil sense; so that Apostasy in this appropriation of it, denotes the relinquishment of any Important Truth or way in Religion; and ⟨p. 63⟩Heresy the choice or embracement of any new destructive Opinion or Principle or way in the profession thereof. A man then may be an Apostate by partial Apostasy, that is depart from the Profession of some Truth he had formerly embraced, or the performance of some duty which he was engaged in, without being an Heretic, or choosing any new opinion which he did not before embrace. Thus you signally call a Monk that deserts his Monastical Profession an Apostate, though he embrace no opinion which is condemned by your Church, or which you think heretical. And a man may be an Heretic, that is choose and embrace some new false opinion, which he may coin out of his own imagination, without a direct renunciation of any Truth which before he was instructed in. And this is that which I intended, when I told you that your Church is fallen by partial Apostasy and by Heresy. She hath renounced many of the important Truths which the old Roman Church once believed and professed, and so is fallen by Apostasy. And she hath invented or coined many Articles pretended to be of faith, which the old Roman Church never believed, and so is fallen by Heresy also. Now what say you hereunto? Why, good Sir, in this division Apostasy is set to express a total relapse in opposition to Heresy, which is the partial. But who gave you warrant or leave so to set them? It would it may be somewhat serve your turn, in evading the Charge of Apostasy, that lies against your Church; but, Good Sir, will not prove that you may thus confound things for your advantage. Idolatry is Heresy, and Apostasy is Heresy, and what not, because you suppose you have found a way to escape the imputation of Heresy.

The words therefore themselves you see are of an indifferent signification, having this difference between them, that the one for the most part is used to signifie the Relinquishment of that which a man had before embraced, and the other a choice or embracing of that which a man had not before received or admitted. And this difference is constantly observed by all Ecclesiasticall writers, who afterwards used these words in the worst or an evill sense; so that Apostasie in this appropriation of it, denotes the relinquishment of any Important Truth or way in Religion; and