CONTENTS. I. Dr. Fuller's Father and his Friends II. Dr. Fuller's Friends at the University III. Dr. Fuller's preaching at Cambridge IV. Dr. Fuller removes to Broad-Windsor XIII. Fuller's Triple Reconciler XIV. Fuller's Church History of Britain XV. Fuller's Church History of Britain XVI. Fuller's Church History of Britain XVII. Fuller's Church History of Britain N looking round for a patron of these, my imperfect endeavours to collect some notices of one of the most honest and laborious authors of the seventeenth century, I could find none more suited for this friendly office than yourself. A lover of moderation, and marked by a course of integrity, alas, too rare in this divided and unhappy period, you will here find some traces of a congenial spirit, in one who lived but to advance the interests of truth and goodness, and to commend piety by a life of cheerfulness and con tentment. In the comparative state of the theology of the two periods, it is allowed on all hands, that a great similarity exists between the times of Dr. Fuller and our own. The same extremes are observable, and unhappily, the same aversion to profit from experience, and to reduce all things to the only unerring standard, the rules of the New Testament; those rules, which, whilst they give but an outline of ecclesiastical discipline, are sufficiently copious in enforcing the Christian spirit, and thus pointing out the true and only apostolic means of securing the spiritual unity of the church. In these pages may be seen the true Via Media between Popery and Puritanism, exemplified in the life of one who was acknowledged and respected by Bishops Hacket and Hall, Morton and Gunning; and who continued the same through good report, and through evil report, representing to the last, the school of Hooker, rather, the original party and state of the Church of England, as established under the auspices of Queen Elizabeth. That state has long since passed away, but if ever our Church shall recover its former greatness and strength, it will be in an age in which not Laud but Hooker, not Heylyn but Fuller, will be regarded as the faithful representatives of the English Church-system. All false principles are doomed to work themselves out, and to end in dishonour and oblivion. Thus the present generation may live in assured hope of a period that shall revive the Catholicity |