Sermon of Assurance, Title page – To the reader
A SERMON OF ASSVRANCE. Foureteene yeares agoe Preached in CAMBRIDGE, since in other Places. Now by the importunity of Friends exposed to publike view. By THOMAS FULLER B. D. late Lecturer in Lombard Street.
LONDON, Printed by J. D. for John Williams at the Signe of the Crowne in Pauls Church-yard. 1647.
TO THE HONOVRABLE, and nobly accomplished Knight, Sir IOHN DANVERS, all the blessings of this, and a better life.
SIR,
WEe read how Zachariah being struck dumbe, called for Table-bookes thereon to write his minde, making his hands to supply the defect of his mouth: It hath been the pleasure of the present Authority (to whose commands I humbly submit) to make me mute, forbidding mee till further order the exercise of my publicke Preaching, wherefore I am faine to imploy my fingers in writing, to make the best signes I can, thereby to expresse, as my desire to the generall good, so my particular gratitude to your Honour.
May this Treatise but finde the same favour from your Eie, as once it did from your Eare, and be aswell accepted when read, as formerly when heard. And let this humble Dedication be interpreted a weake acknowledgement of those strong obligations your bounty hath laid upon me. Well may you taste the fruits of that tree, whose root your liberality hath preserved from whithering▪
Sir, these hard times have taught mee the Art of frugality, to improve every thing to the best advantage; by the same rules of thrift, this my Dedication as returning thanks for your former favours, so begs the continuance of the same. And to end, as I began, with the example of Zachariah, as his dumbnesse was but temporary; so I hope by Gods goodnesse, and the savour of my friends, amongst whom your Honour stands in the highest ranke, the miracle may be wrought, that the dumbe may speake again, and as well by words publikely professe, as now by his hand, he subscribes himselfe,
Your Servant in all Christian office. THOMAS FULLER.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
I Shall be short in my addresses unto thee; not onelyonly, because I know not thy disposition, being a stranger unto thee; but chiefly, because I am ignorant of my owne present Condition, remaining as yet, a stranger to my selfe Were I restored to the free use of my Function, I would then request, the concurrence of thy thankes with mine, to … gracious God the giver▪ and honourable Persons the dealers of this great favour unto me. Were I finally interdicted my …, without hope of recoverie, I would bespeake thy pitty to bemoane my estate. But lying as yet in the Marshes betweene Hope and Feare, I am no fit subject to be condoled for, or congratulated with.
Yet it is, I trust▪ no piece of Popery to maintaine; that the prayers of others may be beneficiall, and available for a person in my Purgatorie condition. Which moves me to cravethy Christian suffrages, that I may be ridde out of my present torment, on such tearmes as may most tend to Gods glory, mine owne good, and the edification of others. However matters shall succeede, it is no small comfort to my Conscience, that in respect of my Ministeriall Function, I doe not die Felo de se; not stabbing my Profession by mine own lazinesse, who hither to have, and hereafter shall improve my utmost endeavours, by any lawfull meanes to procure my restitution.
When the Priests would have carried the Arke after David, David forbad them to goe further, If (said hee▪ I shall finde favour in the eyes of the Lord, hee will bring mee againe, and sh…w mee both it, and his habitation. But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee: behold here am I, let him doe to me, as seemeth good unto him▪ Some perchance would perswade me, to have the Pulpit carried after me, along with me to my private Lodgings, but hitherto I have refrained from such exercises, as subject to offence, hoping in due time to bee b…ught backe to the Pulpit, and endeavouring to compose my selfe to Davids resolution. And if I should bee totally forbidden my Function, this is my confidence, that, That great pasture of Gods Providence, whereon so many of my Profession doe dayly feede, is not yet made so bare by their biting, but that, besides them and Millions more, it may still comfortably maintaine,
Thy Friend and servant in Christ Jesus.
THOMAS FULLER.