John Vincent Cane, a Franciscan friar, had published a book entitled, " Fiat Lux ; or, a Guide in Differences of Religion betwixt Papist and Protestant, Presbyterian and Independent;" in which, under the guise of recommending moderation and charity, he invites men over to the Church of Home, as the only infallible remedy for all church divisions. The work falling in to some extent with the current of feeling in certain quarters, had already gone through two impressions ere it reached the hands of Owen, and is believed to have been sent to him at length by Clarendon. Struck with the subtle and pernicious character of the work, whose author he de- ' Wood's Athcu. 0x011., iv. 100.
LXXX LIFE OF DR OWEN.
scribes as " a Naphtali speaking goodly words, but while liis voice was Jacob's voice, his hands were the hands of Esau,"' Owen set him- self to answer it, and soon produced his " Animadversions on Fiat Lux, by a Protestant ; " which so completely exposed its sophistries and hidden aims, as to make the disconcerted friar lose his temper. The friar replied in a " Vindication of Fiat Lux,"' — in which he betrayed a vindictive wish to detect his opponent, and bring upon him the re- sentment of those in power; describing him as " a part of that dismal tempest which had borne all before it, — not only church and state, but reason, right, honesty, and all true religion."^ To which Owen rejoined, now manfully giving his name, and, according to his custom, not satisfied with answering his immediate opponent, entered largely into the whole Popish controversy. Few things are more remarkable in Owen than the readiness with which he could thus summon to his use the vast stores of his accumulated learning.
But, even after this good service had been done to the common cause of Protestantism, there seemed a danger that this second work would not be permitted to be published ; and it is curious to notice the nature of the objections, and the quarter whence they came. The power of licensing books in divinity was now in the hands of the bishops; and they Avere found to have two weighty objections to Owen's treatise. First, That in speaking of the evangelists and apostles, and even of Peter, he withheld from them the title of " saint;" and, secondly, That he had questioned whether it could be proved that Peter had ever been at Rome. Owen's treatment of these objections was every way worthy of himself. In reference to the former, he reminded his censors that the titles of evangelist and apostle were superior to that of saint, inasmuch as this belonged to all the people of God ; at the same time, he expressed his willingness to yield this point. But the second he could only yield on one con- dition,— namely, that they would prove that he had been mistaken. Owen's book at length found its way to the press; not, however, through the concessions of the bishops, but through the command of Sir Edward Nicolas, one of the principal secretaries of state, who interposed to overrule their scruples.^
Dr Owen's reputation was greatly extended by these writings ; and this led to a new interview with Clarendon. His lordship acknow- ledged that he had done more for the cause of Protestantism than any other man in England; and, expressing his astonishment that so learned a man should have been led away by " the novelty of Independency," held out to him the hope of high preferment in the church if he would conform, Owen undertook to prove, in answer to any bishop that he might appoint, that the Independent form of ' Viudic. of Auinuid. ou Fiat Lux, p. 10. 2 Asty, pp. xxiii., xxiv.
HIS EETIREMENT AND LAST DAYS. LXXXI
churcli order, instead of being a novelty, was the only mode of government in the church for the first two centuries; and as for his wish to bestow upon him ecclesiastical honours, what he had to ask for himself and his brethren was, not preferment within the church, but simple toleration without it. The dazzlmg bait of a mitre appears to have been set before all the leading Nonconformists ; but not one of them yielded to its lure.^ This led the chancellor to uiquire what was the measure of toleration he had to ask ; — to which Owen is reported to have answered, " Liberty for all who assented to the doctrine of the Church of England." This answer has been remarked on by some at the expense of his consistency and courage ; and the explanation has been suggested, that he now asked not all that he wished, but all that there was the most distant hope of receiving. It should be remembered, however, in addition, that many of the most liberal and enlightened men among the Nonconformists of those days objected to the full toleration of Papists;^ not, indeed, on reli- gious, but on political grounds; — both because they were the subjects of a foreign power, and because of the bearings of the question on the succession of the Duke of York to the throne ; and also, that Owen's plan would actually have comprehended in it almost the whole of the Protestant Nonconformists of that age.
A more honourable way of deliverance from his troubles than conformity was, about the same time, presented to Dr Owen, in an earnest invitation from the first Congregational church of Boston, in New England, to become their pastor. They had " seen his labours, and heard of the grace and wisdom communicated to him from the Father of lights;" and when so many candles were not permitted to shine in England, they were eager to secure such a burning light for their infant colony. It does not very clearly appear what sort of answer Owen returned. One biographer represents him as willing to go, and as even having some of his property embarked in a vessel bound for New England, when he was stopped by orders of the court; others represent him as unwilling to leave behind him the struggling cause, and disposed to wait in England for happier days.^