Truth Maintained, To the reader – Title page 2
To the unpartiall Reader.
BE not affraid to peruſe my Poſitions, though they be accuſed to bee dangerous. The Saints did not feare infection from the company of Saint Paul, though he was indicted to be a Peſtilent Fellow.
To acquaint you with my intentions in this Book (that Acts 24. 5.ſo you may proportion your expectation accordingly) Herein I have to my Power vindicated the truth: conſulting with my conſcience, not outward ſafety; Inſomuch that I care not whom I diſpleaſed, to pleaſe the Bird in my Breaſt. Yea when the actions of other men, have by the Examiner beene laid to my charge, I have tooke the boldneſſe to leave them to their Authors to defend. For though Honeſtie commands me to pay my owne debts, yet diſcretion adviſeth me from Solomons mouth, to avoid Sureti-ſhip, and not to Breake my ſelfe with being bound for the Errors of others.Pro. 11. 15.
I cannot but expect to procure the Ill-will of many, becauſe I have gone in a middle and moderate way, betwixt all extremities. I remember a ſtory too truely appliable to me. Once a Jayler demanded of a Priſoner, newly committed unto him: whether or no he were a Roman Catholick. No, anſwered he: what then ſaid he are you an Anabaptiſt? Neither replied the Priſoner, What, (ſaid the other) are you a Browniſt. Nor ſo ſaid the man, I am a Proteſtant. Then ſaid the Jayler, get you into the dungeon: I will afford no favor to you, who ſhall get no profit by you: Had you beene of any of the other religions, ſome hope I had to gaine by the viſits of ſuch as are of your owne profeſſion. Iam likely to finde no better uſage, in this age, who profeſſe my ſelfe to be a plaine Proteſtant, without wealt or garde, or any Addition: equally oppoſite to all Hereticks and Sectaries.
Let me mate this with another obſervation. By the Law of the twelve Tables, if a man were indebted but to one creditor, he had no Power over his body: but Bodin. de Repub. lib. 1. p 50.if he owed mony to many, and was not ſolvable, all his creditors together might ſhare his body betwixt them, and by joynt conſent pluck him in peeces. Me thinks, a good Morall lurkes in this cruell Law: namely, that men who oppoſe one adverſary alone, may come off and ſhift pretty well, whilſt he who provokes many enemies, muſt expect to bee torne aſunder: and thus the poore Levite, will bee rent into as many pieces, as the Levites Iudg. 19. 29.wife was.
Yet I take not my ſelfe to bee of ſo deſolate and forlorne a Religion, as to have no fellow profeſſors with me. If I thought ſo, I ſhould not only ſuſpect, but condemne my judgement: having ever as much loved ſingleneſſe of heart, as I have hated ſingularity of opinion. I conceive not my ſelfe like Eliah to be left alone: having, as I am confident, in England, more then ſeventy thouſand, 1 King. 19. 14.juſt of the ſame Religion with me. And amongſt theſe, there is one in price and value, eminently worth tenne thouſand, even our gratious Soveraigne, whom God in ſafety and honour long preſerve amongſt us.
And here I muſt waſh away an aſperſion, generally, but falſely caſt on men of my profeſſion and temper: for all moderate men, are commonly condemned for Lukewarme
As it is true, Saepelatet vitium proximitate boni.
It is as true, Saepelatet virtus proximitate mali.
And as Lukewarmneſſe hath often fared the better (the more mens ignorance) for pretending neighbourhood to moderation: ſo Moderation (the more her wrong) hath many times ſuffered for having ſome ſuppoſed vicinity with lukewarmneſſe. However they are at a grand diſtance, Moderation being an wholeſome Cordiall to the ſoule: whilſt lukewarmneſſe (a temper which ſeekes to reconcile hot and cold) is ſo diſtaſtefull, that health it ſelfe ſeemes ſick of it, and vomits it out. And we may obſerve Rev. 3 16.theſe differences betwixt them.
Firſt the Lukewarme man (though it be hard to tell what he is; who knowes not what he is himſelfe) is fix't to no one opinion, and hath no certain creed to beleeve; Whereas the Moderate man, ſticks to his principles, taking Truth whereſoever he findes it, in the opinions of friend, or foe; gathering an herb, though in a ditch: and throwing away a weed, though in a Garden.
Secondly, the Lukewarme man, is both the archer and marke himſelfe; aiming only at his owne outward ſecurity. The Moderate man, levels at the glory of God, the quiet of the Church, the chooſing of the Truth, and contenting of his conſcience.
Laſtly, the Lukewarme man, as hee will live in any Religion, ſo he will dye for none. The Moderate man, what he hath warily choſen, will valiantly maintaine, at leaſt wiſe intends, and deſires to defend it, to the death. The Kingdome of Heaven (ſaith our Saviour) ſuffereth violence. And in this ſenſe, I may ſay, the moſt moderate Mat. 11. 12.men are the moſt violent, and will not abate an hooſe, or haires breadth, in their Opinions, whatſoever it coſt them. And time will come, when Moderate men, ſhall be honoured as Gods Doves, though now they be hooted at, as Owles in the Deſart.
But my Letter ſwels too great, I muſt break off. Only requeſting the reader by all obligations of charity. Firſt, to read over my Sermon, before he entreth on the Examination. To conclude, when I was laſt in London, it was generally reported that I was dead: nor was I diſpleaſed to heare it. May I learne from hence with the Apoſtle, To Die daily. And becauſe to God alone tis known, how ſoon my death may come, I deſire to ſet forth this book as my Will and Teſtament, which if it can be of no uſe to the reader, it may be ſome eaſe and comfort to the writer, that the world may know, in this multitude of Religions, what is the Religion of
Thy Servant in Chriſt Ieſus Thomas Fuller.
A SERMON OF Reformation. Preached at the Church of the SAVOY, laſt Faſt day, July 27, 1643.
By Thomas Fuller B. D. and Miniſter there.
LONDON, Printed in the yeare of our Lord. 1643.