Truth maintained, or, Positions delivered in a sermon at the Savoy since traduced for dangerous, now asserted for sovnd and safe / by Thomas Fvller.

TREATISE.

You hover in Generalls, and seeme to me desirous that * 1.1 your Reader should understand more then you are willing to expresse; my opinion breifly is this. That no new Re∣velations, or new infused light in essentiall points of Re∣ligion, is bestowed on any now-adayes, but that the same light hath in as plentifull a measure beene given to former ages, especially to the age wherein the Apostles lived, and when the faith was once delivered to the Saints, and by them sett downe in the Scripture, and that then so perfectly and compleatly, that it needed not the accessions of any fu∣ture Revelations.

I confesse that men by searching the Scripture (that oyle will never leave increasing as long as more vessells be still brought) and diligent prayer to God may and do arive daily at a clearer understanding of many places of Gods word which they had not before. These words; Thou art Peter and on this rock will I build my Church, and that Place, this is my body, are now more truly and plainly un∣derstood then they were 200 yeares agoe, when the Popes supremacy was as falsly founded on the former as transub∣stantiation was unjustly inferred from the latter. How∣ever these were not Revelations of new truthes, but repa∣rations of ould. For the prime primative Church received and embraced the same, The Saints * 1.2 in the time of Popery Sung as it were a new song, a Song not new but renewed, not new in it selfe but perchance to the hearers, and such are many truthes, which are preached in our age in the Protestant Church.

They that maintaine the contrary opinion of moderne re∣velations of new essentiall truths doe a three fold mischiefe therein. First they lay an aspertion of ignorance and imper∣fection of knowledge on the Apostles themselves, and this is no lesse then Scandalum Magnatum.

Secondly they much unsettle men in matters of Religion, and produce a constant inconstancy and scepticall hovering in all oppinions and as the Athenians erected an Altar to the unknowne God, so men must reserve a blancke in their soules therin to write truths at yet unknown, when they shall be revealed. Thus men will never know when their creede is ended, and will daily waver in that truth which they have in possession, whilst they waite for a clearer and firmer as yet in revertion.

Thirdly they sixe on the Scripture an imputation of im∣perfection and such as talke of new revelations of truth, may well remember the passage in the Old Revelation. * 1.3 If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this booke. And it seemes to mee all one in effect whether men peece the Scriptures, with old Traditions, or new Revelations; and thus the Pa∣pist and Anabaptist are agreed like men in a circle going so farre from each other with their faces, till their backes meete together. And I professe I should sooner trust a tradition containing in it nothing crosse to the Scripture and com∣ming to mee recommended from the primitive times, and countenanced with the practise of the Church in all ages, then a new upstart Revelation. The best is, wee have no neede to trust either, whilst we have Gods word alone suf∣ficient to relie on.

The result of all is this, We have now a-dayes no new truths revealed, but old ones either more fairely cleared or more firmely assented to, no new Starres of Revelation a∣rise in any hearts. If any such doe burne and blaze there, they are but comments which will fade at last. In a word this age is not happie with any new truths, but guiltie of many old lyes.

Yea, it rendereth it suspitious, that some men are going about some what, which they cannot justifie by the old knowne lawes of God, because they beginne to broach pre∣parative doctrines, Introductorie of new revelations: Di∣strusting (as it seemes) the Scripture, the old Iudge, as not for their turnes, because they provide for an Appeale to an other Vmpirer; and if those are justly accounted dange∣rous members in the Church, who would bring in Innova∣tions in Ceremonies, then pretenders of new Revelations in Essentiall points of Doctrine are so much the greater offen∣ders, by how much Doctrine is more necessary, and funda∣mentall in a Church then ceremonies. But I will answer some passages in your Examination particularlie.

M. The Gospel doth worke and winde its beames into the world, according to the propheticall seasons for Revelotions.) Distinguish we heare, betwixt matters of fact, and matters of faith. Matters of fact being foretold in the Scripture, are best understood when they are accomplished: In which re∣spect the longer the world lasteth, the clearer men see & the plainer they understand such predictions. The Seales in the Revelations were successively opened, the Trumpets succes∣sively blowne, the Vialls successively powred out, and the things imported in and by them, are successively performed. Wherefore time is the best comentator on the propheticall parts of the Bible, Dies die•••• docet. And to day, which is yesterdaies schoolemaster will be Scholler to tomorrow, in which respect the * 1.4 Prophets words are most true. Many shall runne too and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. But now, as for matters of Faith, they were at once, and for ever, fully, and freely, delivered at the first to the Apostles, and so from them to us, and that so perfectly, & compleatly, they neede no new revelations, quo ad Materium, though quoad modum, old truths may now have a new measure to be more clearely understood then in the darke times of Po∣pery.

N. We may have Beames, and Radications, and Shoot∣ings,

which our Fathers had not.) For Beames and Radica∣tion of knowledge, I have delivered my oppinion: but as for Shootings, God knowes wee have many such as our Fa∣thers never had; God in his mercy cease such Shootings or else in his Iustice direct the Bulletts to such markes, as in truth have been the troublers of our Israel.

O. The Apostles had not all their truths and light, revea∣led at once, some early, some late, some not till the Holy Ghost was bestowed.) All this is most true which you say, The Apo∣stles at first were (as we may say) Freshmen, newly admitted into Christs Company. Then they tooke their first degree of knowledge, when sent forth to Preach the Gospel, Mat. 10. to the Iewes alone in their Masters life time. They com∣menced in a higher knowledge after Christ his Resurrecti∣on: And after his Assention, assended yet higher in Spiritu∣all Illuminations: Lastly, after the comming of the Holy Ghost, they proceeded Doctors in deede; I meane, they then had the completion and consumation of all understan∣ding necessary to salvation. Now Sir, Consider that after this time, they wrote the New Testament, and therein all essentialls for us to know and doe for our soules health, so that we now doe deduce and derive our knowledge, not from the Apostles in their infancy, or minority of Judgement, but from them having attained to the Top, and Verticall point of their perfectest skill in heavenly misteries.

P. And who cannot thinke wee are rising into that age, wherein God will power his Spirit upon all flesh, &c.) What proportion doth this beare with what you said not long since, Prophesying that our Marian Times did approach too fast? When nothing was light but the Bonefiers to burne the Marters. I will not deny but this great sun may arrise, but the reigning vices of the time are but an ill Mor∣ning Starre to harbinger the rising thereof. We have taken the St. Shippe from those in heaven, but have no more holi∣nesse in our selves here on earth. What betwixt the sins which brought this Warre, and the sinnes this warre hath

brought, they are sad prefages of better times. Never was Gods name more taken in vaine by oathes and imprecations. The Lords day, formerly profained with mirth, is now profained with malice, and now as much broken with Drummes as formerly with a Tuber and Pipe. Superiours never so much slighted. so that what * 1.5 Naball said sullenly, and (as he applyed in) falsly, we may say sadly & truly, there be many servants now adayes, that breake away, everyman from his Master. Killing is now the only Trade in fashi∣on, & Adultery never more common, so that our Nation (in my opinion) is not likely to confound the spirituall Whore of Babilon, whilst corporall whoredom is in here very where committed, no where punished. Their so usuall, that they have stollen away the word of Stealing and hid it under the Name of Plundering. Lying both in word & Print grown Epidemicall, so that it is questionable whether Gunnes or Printing, (two inventions of the same Countrey and stan∣ding) at the present doe more mischeife in this Kingdome. It is past covering of our Neighbours houses, when it is come to violent keeping them. He therefore that doth seriously consider, the Grievousnesse and Generality of these sinnes, will rather conclude that some Darkenesse of Desolation, then any Great light is likely to follow upon them. God I confesse in mercy may doe much, both to pardon and pro∣sper us, and can extract Light out of Darkenesse, but whe∣ther he will or no, I (though confident of his power,) see little cause to hope of his pleasure herein, And though here∣in I must confesse, many of these inormities. may, (though not wholy be excused, yet) be something extenuated, by pleading the unavoidable necessities which warre doth cause, yet surely wee shall answer to God for causing this warre by our crying sinnes, and transgressions.

Q Wherein the light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sunne, and the light of the Sun as the light of the seven dayes.) This, for ought I can finde to the contrary, was ac∣complished at Christ Comming, and the generall giving of

the Gospel to the Gentiles, with the sending of Gods Spi∣rit miraculously upon them, sure I am a Paralell place of the Prophet was then fulfilled, by the exposition of Saint * 1.6 Peter himselfe, And it shall come to passe in the last dayes (saith God) I will power out my spirit upon all flesh: and your Sonnes and your Daughters shall prophesie, and your young∣men shall see visions, and your old men shall dreame dreames. These words having the advantage of that Date In the last daies, might with the more colour have beene allead∣ged by you, and applyed to these times, to prove some spe∣ciall Revelations in our dayes, had not the Apostle marred your Mart, and prevented you by applying the prophesie to the primative times.

Notes

• * 1.1

  9. Now new light or new essen∣tiall truths are or can be revealed in this age.
• * 1.2

  Revel. 14. 3.
• * 1.3

  Reve. 21. 18
• * 1.4

  Dan. 12. 4.
• * 1.5

  1 Sam. 25. 10
• * 1.6

  Ioel 2. 28. Acts 2. 17.