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. A SERMON OF REFORMATION HEB. 9.10 Vntill the time of Reformation THose who live beyond the Polar circles are called Periscii because they have shadows round aboue them In a more mysticall meaning the Jewes before Christ may be so called living in constant Umbrages of Types and Ceremonies which were taken away when the Sunne of Righteousnesse did arise Their sacrificing of Lambes and Rammes and Kids and Goats and Calves and Kine and Turtle-doves with their observing of Meates and Drinkes and Dayes whereas the Apostle saith Colos. 2.17 A shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ Yea in some sense I may safely say that the very Sanctum and Sanctum Sanctorum was still but the outward Atrium as containing therein such Types as related to a higher and holier truth To instance only in the Holy of Holies herein were seven sacred Utensils all full fraught with Heavenly Mysteries First the Golden Censor signifying our prayers mingled with Christs merits woefull for us if he did not give better Incense then we bring which he offers up for us to his Father Secondly The Arke of the Covenant overlaid round about with gold whilest Shittim wood was in the middest thereof to Typifie Christs humanity decked and adorned with his Godhead Thirdly the Pot of Manna looking backwards in memoriall of the miraculous meat of the Israelites in the Wildernesse And forwards to set forth Angels food in Heaven which is neither to eat nor to drinke but to doe Gods will and to see Gods glory Fourthly Aarons Rod which budded and besides the History contained therein alluded to Christs Resurrection that Branch of Iesse cut downe and cast out amongst the dead which yet afterwards did revive flourish and fructifie Fifthly The Tables of the Covenant wherein the Commandements were written by Gods finger to intimate that only an infinite power can effectually print Gods Lawes in our hard and obdurate hearts Sixthly the golden Cherubims overshadowing the Mercy-Seat with their wings and looking towards it to shew that the mystery of Gods mercy is to be covered from the curiosity of prophane eyes whilest the pious may with comfort behold it Seventhly and lastly the Mercy-Seat it selfe the Embleme of that Mercy-Seat in Heaven to which poore penitents being cast at the Barre of Gods justice have a free and open appeale All these were of gold and pure gold and yet Saint Paul Gal. 4.9 calleth all legall ceremonies beggarly Elements in comparison of Christ the Truth in whom these did determine and expire As the rude lines of Black-Lead wherwith the Picture is first drawne vanish away when the curious Limner layeth on the lively colours so that all these outward Ordinances had an end at the comming of Christ being only to last Vntill the time of Reformation The Text is so short it needs not to be divided only the word REFORMATION must bee expounded a word long in pronouncing and longer in performing as generally signifying the bettering and amending of what is amisse In Greeke {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A Through Rectifying However sometimes the word Reformation is not opposed to things bad in their owne nature but to things that are lesse perfect and may be more perfected as in the Text For the Ceremoniall law of the Jewes was compleat in its kinde as given of God and every thing made by Him must be like Him that made it very good Yet comparatively that law was imperfect and needed a Reformation which was performed at Christs comming Besides though the Ceremoniall Law was good in it selfe yet it was bad as it was abused by the ignorant Jewes For though the knowing Patriarks looked through and beyond the Types to the Messias himselfe yet the dull People mistaking the Shell for the Kernell and the Casket for the Jewell lodged their soules where they should only have bayted and did dote on the shadowes as on the substance it selfe in which respect the Peoples judgements as well as those Ceremonies needed a Reformation The maine point we shall insist on is this That Christians living under the Gospel live in a time of Reformation which will appeare in severall particulars For besides Ceremonies removed according to the principall intent of the Text Manners are now reformed and Doctrine refined Poligamy connived at in the Patriarks now generally condemned the Bill of Divorce cancelled by Christianity which was permitted to the Jewes not because that was good but because they were bad and by this Tolleration were kept from being worse The second Table abused by the restrictive Comments of the Pharisees confining those Lawes which were made to confine them onely to the outward Act are now according to our Saviour interpretation extended to their true demention The mistery of the Trinity clouded in the old Testament is cleered in the New The Doctrine of Gods righteousnesse by faith of the merrit of Christ of the spirit of Adoption of the Resurrection of the Body darkly delivered under the Law are manifested in the Gospel with many other heavenly Revelations Let us be hartily thankfull to God who gave us to be borne since the comming of Christ in the time of Reformation Our Twi-light is cleerer then the Jewish Noon-day The men of China use to brag that they because of their ingenious civility have two Eyes the Europaeans one and that all the World besides are starke blinde more truely it may be said that the Christans had two Eyes the Law and Gospell the Jewes but one the Law alone and all people and Pagans besides sit in darknesse and the shadow of death The Jewes indeed saw Christ presented in a land-scept and beheld him through the Perspective of faith seeing the promises a farre off But at this day a Dwarfe-Christian is an overmatch for a gyant Jew in knowledge as appeareth by our Saviours Riddle Mat. 11.11 Among them that are borne of women there hath not risen a greater then John the Baptist Notwithstanding he that is least in the Kingdome of Heaven is greater then he Which Riddle is thus untyed Iohn Baptist was the greatest amongst the Children of Women because other Prophets foresaw Christ He saw him others spake of Christ He spake to him and had the high honour to baptize him with water by whose spirit he himselfe was baptized Yet was he the least in the Kingdome of Heaven which properly began after Cerists Ascention because though perchance acquainted with the generals thereof the particulars of the time place meanes and manner were as much conceal'd from him as cleerly revealed unto us He never knew that Iudas should betray Christ Caiphas accuse him Peter deny him Pilate condeme him Souldiers crucifie him Nicodemus embalme him Ioseph bury him These and many more Circumstances of our Saviours passion
come into their hands to reforme Lord what worke would they make Very facile but very foule is that mistake in the vulgar Translation Luke 15.8 Instead of Everrit domum shee swept the house 'T is rendred Evertit domum She overturnd the house Such sweeping we must expect from such Spirits which under pretence to cleanse our Church would destroy it The best is they are so farre from sitting at the Helme that I hope they shall ever be kept under Hatches Now as discretion discovereth it selfe in the matter of Reformation so also it appeareth in the manner thereof First it is to be done with all reverence and respect to the ancient Fathers These though they lived neer the Fountain of Religion yet lived in the Marches of Paganisme as also in the time wherein the Mystery of iniquity began to work which we hope is now ready to receive the wages If therefore there be found in their practice any Ceremonies smacking of Paganisme or Popery and if the same can be justly chalenged to continue in our Church I plead not for their longer life but for their decent buriall Secondly with honourable reservation to the memories of our first Reformers Reverend Cranmer Learned Ridley Down right Lattimer Zealous Bradford Pious Philpot patient Hooper men that had their failings but worthy in their Generations These bare the heat of the day indeed which were burnt to ashes and though we may write a fairer hand then they yet they affixed a firmer Seal that dyed for their Doctrine Lastly with carefulnesse not to give any just offence to the Papists Say not we need not to feare to offend them who would confound us We have so long waited for their conversion we have almost seene our subversion Indeed we are forbidden to offend Gods little ones but not inhibited to offend the Devils great ones And though S. Paul bids us to give no offence to those that are without that is meant of pure Pagans and therefore the Papists being neither well within nor well without fall not under that precept For all these Expressions savour more of Humor then Holinesse of Stomack then the Spirit Though Papists forget their duty to us let us remember our duty to them to them not as Papists but as professors of Christianity to their persons not erronious opinions not giving them any just offence But if they will be offended without cause be their amends in their own hands If Rebeckah will come to Isaac she shall be wellcome But in no case shall Isaac go back to Rebeckah Genesis 34.6 Beware that thou bring not my son thither again These five Ingredients must compound effectuall reformers Where any or all of these are wanting a Reformation will either not be made or not long kept Witnesse the pretended Reformation the Papists so much bragge off in the last of Queen Mary in the University of Cambridge by the Delegates of Cardinall Poole Where nothing of worth was done but many foolish ceremonies enforced and the Bones of Bucer and Phagius burnt It passeth for the expression of mad man to beat the aire and it is little better to beat the earth To fight as they did against dust and ashes bodies of men long before buried except they thought by this similitude of burning dead bodies to worke in silly people a beliefe of Purgatory fire tormenting soules deceased Now when it came into question whether the Ordinances and Decisions of those Reformers should be ingrossed in Parchment or in paper Doctor Swinborne Master of Clare Hall gave his opinion that paper would doe the deed well enough as being likely to last longer then those decrees should stand in force as afterward it came to passe they being all rescinded in the next yeer being the first of Queene Elizabeth Two things more must here be well observed First that there is a grand difference betwixt founding of a new Church and reforming of an old For the former Saint Paul outstript all men in the World The Papists bragge much of King Edgar who is said to have founded as many Monasteries as there be weekes in the yeer Surely more Churches in Asia and Europe were built from the ground by Saint Paul who strived to preach the Gospel not where Christ was named lest he should build upon another mans foundation Romans 15.20 But reforming of Churches is an easier work as not giving a Church the life but the lustre not the birth but the beauty either repairing what is defective or removing what is redundant Thus we acknowledge Solomon the sole founder of the Temple though Ioash repaired it amending the breaches thereof Iotham enlarged it adding the beautifull porch thereto and Ezechiah adorned it covering the pillars with silver therein However it is worth our observing that Reformers are sometimes ambitious to entitle themselves to be founders as being covetous of credit and counting it more honour to make a thing then to mend it Thus Nebuchadnezzar boasted Daniel 4.30 Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the Kingdome by the might of my power and for the honour of my majesty Whereas Babylon was built by Nimrod or as others say Semyramis many yeers before Nebuchadnezzars cradle was made Yet he no doubt did encrease strengthen and beautifie it on which title see how he engrosseth all the glory unto himselfe as first and sole founder Is not this great Babylon that I have built Let none in like manner brag that they are now the first Founders of a Church in England built long since therein time out of minde We deny and defile such Papists as say that Augustine the Monke was the first Apostle of this Island where the Gospel long before had been preached though not to the Saxons our Ancestors yet to the Britans our Predecessors Yea having cause to search who first brought Christianity over into Britanny my endeavours have been still at a losse and left at uncertainty Perchance as God Deuteronomie 34.6 buried the body of Moses That no man knoweth the place of his Sepulchre unto this day to cut off from the Jewes all occasion of Idolatry So it seems his wisdom hath suffered the names of the first founders of Religion Here to be covered in obscurity to prevent posterity from being superstitious to their Memories However if justly we be angry with the Papists for making the Brittish Church a tall stripling grown to weare swadling cloathes againe more cause have we to distaffe the pens and preachings of such who make their addresses unto us as unto pure Pagans where the word is newly to be planted A Moderne Author tels us a strange story how the servants of Duke D. Alva seeking for a Hawke they had lost found a new country in the Navell of Spaine not known before invironed with Mountaines and peopled with naked Salvages I should wonder if such a Terra incognita could be found in England which what betwixt the covetousnesse of
Landlords and the carefulnesse of Tenants is almost measured to an Acre But if such a place were discovered I must allow that the Preachers there were the first planters of the Gospel which in all others places of the kingdom are but the Continuers thereof I hope Christ hath reaped much goodnesse long ago where these now new pretend to plant it And if England hath not had a true Church hitherto I feare it will not have a true Church hereafter The second thing I commend unto you is this That a perfect Reformation of any Church in this world may be desired but not hoped for Let Zenophons Cyrus be King in Plato's Common-wealth and Batchelors wives breed maides children in Mores Vtopia whilest Roses grow in their Gardens without prickles as Saint Basil held they did before the fall of Adam These phansies are pleasing and plausible but the performance thereof unfeisable and so is the perfect reformation of a Church in this world difficult to bee described and impossible to be practised For besides that Sathan will doe his best or rather his worst to undoe it Man in this life is not capable of such perfection Look not to finde that in man out of Paradise which was not found in man in Paradise continuance in an holy estate Martin Luther was wont to say he never knew good order in the Church last above fifteen yeares in the purity thereof yea the more perfect the Reformation is the lesse time it is likely to last Mans minde being in constant motion when it cannot ascend higher will not stand still but it must decline I speake not this to dis-hearten men from endeavouring a perfect Reformation but to keep them from being dis-heartned when they see the same cannot be exactly observed And yet there are some now adayes that talke of a great light manifested in this age more then ever before Indeed we Modernes have a mighty advantage of the Ancients whatsoever was theirs by Industry may be ours The Christian Philosophy of Iustin Martyr the constant Sanctity of Cyprian the Catholick faith of Athanasius the Orthodox judgement of Nazianzen the manifold Learning of Ierome the solid Comments of Chrysostome the subtill Controversies of Augustine the excellent Morals of Gregory the humble Devotions of Bernard All contribute themselves to the edification of us who live in this later Age But as for any transcendent extraordinary miraculous light peculiarly conferred on our Times the worst I wish the opinion is this that it were true Sure I am that this light must not crosse the Scripture but cleere the Scripture So that if it affirmeth any thing contrary to Gods written Word or enforceth any thing as necessary to salvation not exprest in Gods Word I dare boldly say That such a light is kindled from Hell As for the opinion of Christs corporall visible Kingdome to come within few yeares I will neither peremptorily reject it not dare absolutely receive it Not reject it lest I come within the compasse of the Apostles reproofe 2 Peter 2.12 Speaking evill of the things they understand not Confessing my selfe not to know the reasons of their opinions who though citing for it much Canonicall Scripture yet their interpretations thereof may be but Apocrypha Nor dare we receive it not being safe to be familiar with strangers at the first sight and this Tenent is strange as set commonly afoot with these few last yeares I am afraid rather on the contrary of a generall defection Seeing the word is so slighted and the guests begin to play with their meat I feare lest God the master of the feast will call for the Voyder that so when Christ comes to judgement he shall finde no faith on the earth But of things to come little and doubtfully If this opinion of Christs corporall comming very shortly be true I hope if we live we shall have our share therein if otherwise Moses hath no cause to complaine if dying he commeth not into the earthly Canaan but into the Heavenly Meane time whilest we expect the personall comming of Christ let us pray for the peaceable comming back of him who sometimes is called Christ in the Scripture the Lords Annointed O the miserable condition of our Land at this time God hath shewed the whole World that England hath enough in it selfe to make it selfe happy or unhappy as it useth or abuseth it Her homebred wares enough to maintain her and her homebred warres enough to destroy her though no forreigne Nation contribute to her Overthrow Well whilest others fight for Peace let us pray for Peace for Peace on good termes yea on Gods termes and in GODS time when he shall be pleased to give it and we fitted to receive it Let us wish both King and Parliament so well as to wish neither of them better but both of them best Even a happy Accommodation Only this I will adde that his Majesty in making his Medals hath tooke the right course to propagate his promises and most royall intentions to posterity and raise it to behold the performance thereof Seeing Princes memories have beene perpetuated by their Coines when all other Monuments Arches Obelisks Piramids Theaters Trophies and Triumphs have yeelded to Time and been quite forgotten Yea t is probable that the names of some short reigning Emperours had been quite lost if not found in their Impresses on their Monies Coynes having this peculiar priviledge to themselves that after they had beene buried many yeares in the ground when taken up againe they have life enough to speake the names of those Princes that caused them and their Impressions to be stamped either to their eternall shame or lasting honour To conclude let us all provide for that perfect Reformation in the world to come when Christ shall present the Church his Spouse to God his Father Without spot comming from mans corruption or wrincle caused by times continuance When we shall have a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein shall dwell Righteousnesse With judgements reformed from error wils reformed from wilfulnesse affections reformed from mistaking their object or exceeding their measure all powers and parts of soule and body reformed from sinne to sanctity Let us wait all the dayes of our appointed time till our change come Untill this time of Reformation Amen FINIS Vse Object Answ. Object Answ. Camdens Eliz. p. 367. Fox Acts Monum. pag. 1064 In a book of directions to travel