32 ANIMADVERSIONS ON A TREATISE
in those days as they are now represented to men that mind only things that are present; nor was their agreement their virtue, but their sin and misery, being centred in bhnduess and ignorance, and cemented with blood.
V. "That the first reformers were most of them sorry, contemp- tible persons, whose errors were propagated by indirect means, and entertained for sinister ends," is in several places of this book alleged, and consequences, pretended thence to ensue, urged and improved. But the truth is, the more contemptible the persons were that began the work, the greater glory and lustre is reflected on the work itself; which points out to a higher cause than any [which] appeared outwardly for the carrying of it on. It is no small part of the gospel's glory, that, being promulgated by persons whom the world looked on with the gi-eatest contempt and scorn imaginable, as men utterly destitute of whatever was by them esteemed noble or honourable, it prevailed notwithstanding in the minds of men, to eradicate the inveterate prejudices received by tradition from their fathers, to overthrow the ancient and outward glorious worship of the nations, and to bring them into subjection unto Christ. Neither can any thing be written with more contempt and scorn, nor with greater undervaluation of the abilities or outward condition of the first reformers, than was sj)oken and written by the greatest, and wisest, and learnedst of men of old, concerning the preachers and planters of Christianity. Should I but repeat the biting sarcasms, contemptuous reproaches, and scorns wherewith, with plausible pretences, the apostles, and those that followed them in their work of preaching the gospel, were entertained by Celsus, Lucian, Porphyry, Julian, Hierocles, Avith many more, men learned and wise, I could easily manifest how short our new masters come of them in facetious wit, beguiling eloquence, and fair pretences, when they seek, by stories, jestings, calumnies, and false reports, to expose the first reformers to the contempt and scorn of men who know nothing of them but their names, and these as covered with all the dirt they can possibly cast upon them. But I intend not to tempt the atheistical wits of any to an approbation of their sin, by that compliance which the vain fancies of such men do usually afford them, in the contemplation of the wit and ingenuity, as they esteem it, of plausible calumnies. The Scripture may be lieard : that abundantly testifies that the character given of the first reformers, as men poor, unlearned, seeking to advantage them- selves, by the troubling of others better, greater, and wiser than they, in their religion, was received of the apostles, evangelists, and other Christians, in the first budding of Christianit}^. But the truth Ls, all these are but vain pretences; those knew of old, and these do now, tliat the persons whom they vilify -and scorn
ENTITLED FIAT LUX. 33
were eminently fitted of God for the work that they were called unto.
The " receiving of their opinions for sinister ends," reflects princi- pally on this kingxlom of England; and must do so, whilst the sur- mises of a few interested friars shall be believed by Englishmen, before the solemn protestation of so renowned a king as he was who first cashiered the pope's authority in this nation : for what he, lieing alive, avowed on his royal word, and vowed, as in the sight of the Almighty God, was an effect of light and conscience in him, they will needs have to be a consequent of his lust and levity. And what honour it is to the royal government of this nation, to have those who swayed the sceptre of it but a few years ago publicly traduced aud exposed to obloquy by the libellous pens of obscure and unknown persons, wise men may be easily able to judge. This I am sure, there is little probabihty that they should have any real regard or reverence for the present rulers, farther than they find or hope that they shall have their countenance and assistance for the furtherance of their private interest, who so revile their predecessors for acting contrary unto it, — and this loyalty the king's majesty may secure him- self of from the most seditious fanatic in the nation, — so highly is he beholden to these men for their duty and obedience.
VI. " That our departure from Rome hath been the cause of all our evils, and particularly of all those divisions which are at this day found amongst Protestants, and which have been since the Reforma- tion," is a supposition that not only insinuates itself into the hidden sophistry of our author's discourse, but is also eveiywhere spread over the face of it, with as little truth or advantage to his purpose as those that went before. So the Pagans judged the primitive Chris- tians; so also did the Jews, and do to this day. Here is no new task lies before us. The answers given of old to them, and yet continued to be given, will suffice to these men also. The truth is, our divisions are not the effect of our leaving Pome, but of our bei72g thei'e. In the apostasy of that church came upon men all that darkness, and all those, prejudices, which cause many needless divisions amongst them. And is it any wonder that men, partly led, partly driven, out of the right way, and turned a clean contrary course for sundiy gene- rations, should, upon liberty obtained to return to their old paths, somewhat vary in their choice of particular tracks, though they all agree to travel towards the same place, and, in general, steer their course accordingly? Besides, let men say what they please, the differences amongst the Protestants that are purely religious are no other but such as ever were, and, take away external force, ever will be, amongst the best of men, whilst they know but in part ; however, they may not be managed with that pnidence and moderation which it is our