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

TREATIS.

^D And whereas you say Reformation is of those duties that are impaled in for some particular persons.) It appeares that publike Reformation is so impaled; for whereas every man is commanded to observe the Sabbath, honour his Parents, and every man forbidden to have other Gods worship I∣mages, take Gods Name in vaine, kill, steale, &c. Yet the supreame Power alone in Scripture is called on for pub∣like Reformation, and no private person, as Saint Austin hath very well observed.

^E I answer, this were a grand designe, if you could heigh∣ten * 1.1 Reformation into such an holy Prodigy.) I need not heighten it, which is so high a worke of it selfe, that our longest armes cannot reach it, though we stand on the tip∣toes of our best desires and endeavours, till God shall first be pleased to send us a peace. A prodigy it is not (not long since you tearmed it an extraordinary businesse) yet if it be performed whilst warre lasteth, it is a worke of the Lord, and may justly seeme mervailous in our eyes.

^F As you would of late the Church into the Prelacy and the Clergy.) When and where did I doe this? I ever accounted that the Cetus fidelium, the Congregation of the faithfull was Gods Church on earth. Yet I often find the Church repre∣sented in generall Counsels, by the Prelacy and Clergy (who are or should be the best & wisest in the Church) & their de∣cisions in matters of Religion, interpreted and received as the resolutions of the Church in generall.

^G And excluded the Layty as a prophane crew, and to be

taught their distance.) What honest man ever thought the Layty, as Layty, prophane? I conceive our Kingdome would be very happy, if none of the Clergy were worse then some of the Layty. And I am sure that the godly Clergy are Gods Layty his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & the godly Layty are Gods Clergy, his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Yet now a dayes, some usurping Lay-men may well be taught their distance, who meddie with ministeriall functi∣ons: Nor will a wel-meaning heart one day excuse the un∣sanctified hands of such Vzzah's, who presuming to preach, hold not our Arke from shaking, but shake our Arke with holding it.

^H Luther will tell you this is one of the Romish engines.) Indeed this was a Popish device too much to depresse the Layty. But this engine (thanks be to God) is since broken asunder, and it will be in vaine for any to glew the peeces thereof together. And now since the Monopoly of the Po∣pish Clergy (ingrossing all matters of Religion to themselves) is dissolved; it is fit Protestant Ministers lawfull propriety in their calling, should justly be maintained.

^I Thus you may take off many honest Labourers in the Vine∣yard.) Farre be it from me especially if they be skilfull-La∣bourers such as will prune the Vines, not pluck them up by the roots. But this and what you say of those to whom God hath held out his Scepter, is nothing to the purpose; except you could prove where God in the Scripture, hires or cals private men to make a publike Reformation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Auferenda I∣dola, non potest quisquam iu∣bere privatus Aug. cont. li∣teros Utilium lib. 2. cap. 92.