Truth maintained, or Positions delivered in a sermon at the Savoy: since traduced for dangerous: now asserted for sound and safe. By Thomas Fuller, B.D. late of Sidney Colledge in Cambridge. The particulars are these. I That the doctrine of the impossibility of a churches perfection, in this world, being wel understood, begets not lazinesse but the more industry in wise reformers. II That the Church of England cannot justly be taxed with superstitious innovations. III How farre private Christians, ministers, and subordinate magistrates, are to concurre to the advancing of a publique reformation. IIII What parts therein are only to be acted by the Supreme power. V Of the progresse, and praise of passive obedience. VI That no extraordinary excitations, incitations, or inspirations are bestowed from God, on men in these dayes. VII That it is utterly unlawfull to give any just offence to the papist, or to any men whatsoever. VIII What advantage the Fathers had of us, in learning and religion, and what we have of them. IX That no new light, or new essentiall truths, are, or can be revealed in this age. X That the doctrine of the Churches imperfection, may safely be preached, and cannot honestly be concealed. With severall letters, to cleare the occasion of this book.

TREATISE.

B. But suppose this perfect Reformation were e. c.) It seemes you suspect the strength of your outworkes, that you so seasonably retire to your Castle, Now at last condemni••g this doctrine, not as false, but unfitting to be preach∣ed.

C. Were among the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I thinke you would say 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or otherwise Sir my learning will not extend to understand this your new greeke.

D. He were no wise and faithfull Devine) So then you conclude me a foolish & deceitful Minister, & I had rather you should call me so tentimes, then my guiltie conscience should tell me so once, for concealing of a necessary truth.

E. Who would not preserve that secret for holy advan∣tages.) First the question is, wheither or no it lay in my

power if I would to keepe this Point secret. What your people at Heslerton•• in Yorkeshire are, you best know in this Doctrine, I was not the teacher but the re∣membrancer of my people at the Savoy, from whom had I closely covered it with both my hands, they would have seene it through all my fingers. Besides what hope can one have to keepe it secret when (as you say) so great and glorious a light is shining now-a-dayes.

But if I could,* 1.1 I ought not to suppresse it. Let Po∣pish tenents be shutt in a cloister, and sicke opinions keepe their Chamber, God never lighted this Truth for us to put it under a bushell, it being alwaies seasonable to bee divulged, and now dangerous to bee concea∣led.

These holy advantages, (I would not count them ad∣vantages were they not holy,) arise from Preaching this point. First, it awakens men from their Idle dreames of their conceited perfection of a Church here, and too many I feare have made this common-wealth here woefully militant, under pretence here to make the Church happily triumphant.

Secondly, to teach all Christians (Majestrates and Mi∣nisters most especially) as industry so patience, daily to doe, and constantly to suffer no whitt disheartned in their endeavours to perfection. Knowing though things bee badd, after their best labours to amend them, that this proceedes from the inevitable vanity, to which the creature is subject.

Thirdly, to weane men from this world, making them to love and long for the time of the restitution of all things, when this world as a watch out of tune shall not one∣ly bee taken ass••nder and scoured, but also have all the wheeles made new and then bee perfectly refor∣med.

Yea Sir, let us try whether you or I proceeding on our contrary principles, shall more effectually perswade a reformation, you will tell the world that a perfect reformation in this life is attaineable, even to the antici∣pating of Heaven heare, and this you will presse with all your power and flowers of Retorick, and all little enough to performe so unsavory an untruth. Now see sit what mischeifes will follow hereupon.

1. Because one falsehood requires more to support it, you must call in other auxilliary falsities to defend this, and so engage your selfe in a multitude of errors.

2. Seeing sl••ghts and shifts can never last long, your forgery will be detected.

3. You are lyable to Heavens Pillorie to bee punni∣shed for holy fraud.

4. You will scarce be trusted afterwards though telling truth being once convicted and ever suspected of falshood.

As for those whom you have deceived unto the utmost of their endevours of Reformation, on your false perswa∣sion that the perfection thereof may bee had in this world, though their labours therein bee very forward at the first, yet soone will they wither and weaken▪ with the graine in the Gospel that wanted Roote (no Roote and a false Roote are the same in effect,) and Gods blessing can∣not be expected on the deceitfull proceedings.

As for mee who have no cunning in such hunting, but please my selfe with Iacob to bee a plaine man, I would goe another way to worke, and tell them the worst first, that indeede it is vaine to expect a perfect re∣formation in this world. However let them comfort themselves, that wee serve such a Master who accepts of the will for the deede, and knowes whereof we are made. Hee remembreth that wee are but dust. And therefore let us doe our best, and strugle against our

infirmities, being confident that God in Christ will pardon what is amisse, and reward what is good in us. And I doubt not but such doctrine by Gods bles∣sing will both take deeper impression in mens hearts, and bring forth better fruits of amendment in their lives.

F. I commend Bodin and Tacitus for their politi∣call faithfulnesse, they writt far, yet would not Sun the imperiall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 nor make them popular.) I con∣fesse it to bee unfitting, yea dangerous to impart mi∣steries of State to private people, for such Iewels are to bee lockt in a safe and sure Cabinet, the bosoms of Politians, Not so in necessary Points of Divinity, for though every private man hath not a State to go∣verne, hee hath a soule to save, and therefore must be partner in all wholsome doctrines.

Indeede in some cases, Preachers may though not finally suppresse, yet seasonably conceale, or rather wa∣rily deferre the publishing of some points of Religion, First when they are not of absolute concernement to salvation, & the Minister by his Christian discretion plaine∣ly foresees, that all the good which rationally can bee ex∣pected to redound from Preaching such a Truth, will not countervaile the ill, which in probability will ine∣vitably follow thereupon; Or else when the Auditors are not capeable as yet of such difficult Doctrines. Christ himselfe did fitt his Wines to his bottles, powring in not what hee could give, but they could take, least otherwise hee should rather spill his liquor, then fill his vessells.

Neither of these cases now alledged take place con∣cerning the publishing of the Doctrine of the Im∣possibility of the Churches perfection in this world. For we may by Gods blessing justly expect and promise to

our selves and others much good and comfort from the preaching thereof, as we have largely proved before. Nor dare I so much to disparage the times we live in, (now it being above a hundred yeares since Luthers reformation) as to count them to have age so much, and Knowledge so litle, as not yet to be capable with safety & profit of so plaine & true a Doctrine, some short∣ly expect the day of Iudgment, and sure then the world is already come to Age to understand Truths, except shee come not out of her Mynority till just shee be ready to die and to be dissolved.

G. Would not Sunne the Imperiall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.) Godly secrets in Religion in some respects may be Sunn'd. First that thereby they may be tryed, (all Truths have Eagles eyes) whether or no they can behold, and beare the Sunne Beames. Secondly, because our * 1.2 Saviour hath said, what I tell you in darknesse, that speake in the light, and what you heare in the Eare that preach you upon the House toppe. Lastly, that by pro∣claiming them the Godly may have an oppertunity to re∣ceive them, and the wicked be rendred unexcusable for refusing them, when such Truths are made generally knowne.

H. Nor make them popular.) I distinguish on the word Popular. If it be taken, as generally it is, (use having con∣fined a word, of generall acception in it selfe, to an ill sence) to Court the good will of people for any private or sinester end, it is utterly unlawfull for Popularity, which is necessary love, in a Prince, is unlawfull lust, in a Subject, who may not Court the Kings wife, for to him a lone, are the People married in a Politicke Relation. All honest men therefore disclaime, to make Truths Popular in this fence, to impart them to the vulgar to gaine any vaine applause. Yea, consider herein, whether you ra∣ther

be not faultie in making the Imperiall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to bee Popular, who incite and incourage ordinary People, to make a Publique Reformation

But Truths in Divinity must be made Popular, that is bee communicated to all people, in true sinceritie for the saving of their Soules.

The* 1.3 Apostle, calleth it the Common salvation, and therefore it must be preached to all in common, our Ser∣mons must, aswell be ad Populum as ad clerum.

Otherwise such Monopolies are illegall and distructive to the State of the Church, for any Ministers to engrosse any wholsome Doctrine to themselves, and not im∣parte it to their Parish, except in the cases afore men∣tioned.

Notes

• * 1.1

  10. That the Do∣ctrine of the Churches im∣perfection may safely bee preached and cannot honest∣ly bee concea∣led.
• * 1.2

  Math. 10. 26
• * 1.3

  Iude. 3.