388 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. puritanism and Calvin's notions approach nearer to popery, than the church of England. Dr. Fulke was author of a work, entitled "A brief and plain Declaration, containing the desiresof all those faith. ful Ministers who seek Discipline and Reformation of the Church of England, which may serve as a just Apology against the false Accusations and Slanders of their Adver- saries," 1584. Here he sufficiently declares his sentiments relative to church discipline andmatters of nonconformity. Though Mr. Dudley Finner's name is prefixed to the work, Dr. Fulke was its author.. He was a very holy man, and a divine of uncommon learning and abilities, but ever scrupled some points of conformity. Wood styles him a good philosopher, and a pious and solid divine.i- Granger observes, that he gained a great reputation by his writings against Cardinal Allen, and his " Confutation of Heskins, Sanders, and Rastell, three pillars of Popery," 1559. Dr. Fulke was, for a considerable time, says he, a warm advocate for the principles of the nonconformists ; but in process oftime, got the better of his prejudices, and made a near approach to the doctrine and discipline of the established church.$ This author, for the satisfaction of his readers, ought to have proved, from good authority, that Dr. Fulke's principles of nonconformity arose from prejudice, and to have shewn how near he afterwards approached towards the ecclesiastical establishment. As Dr. Fulke deliveredhis sentiments openly and freely on this subject, in the works that he published, let him speak in his own language. Giving his opinion of a bishop, according to the use of the church, and of the scripture, he affirms, " That for order and seemly government, there was always one principal, to whom by long use of the church, the name of bishop was applied ; yet in the scripture a bishop and an elder is of one order and authority."§ " And," says he, " there ought to be in every church or congregation an eldership, which ought to have the hearing, examination, and determination of all matters pertaining to the discipline andgovernment of that congregation." 11 Giving his sentiments of the cross in baptism, he makes the following observation : " Many, it is * MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 419. (1 1 5.) f Wood's Athena, vol. i. p. 724. Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. i. p. 215, 216. § Petitionof Prelates Examined, p. 15. Edit. 1641. II Paget's Church Government, p. 203.
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