Gospel Communion in the Way of Godliness, Text 2
In Engliſh it ſpeaks thus: To the Chief Patrons and Rulers of the Churches of Great Brittain and Ireland, the eminent Servants of God, and moſt reſpected favourers of the diſtreſſed Church in Germany: Be Grace and Peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, through the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt, Amen.
ALthough it is atteſted by the holy Oracles: and the thing it ſelf doth ſpeak it, that to the ſeverall members of the Church ſeverall Gifts of Gods Spirit are beſtowed; yet it is evident that the Father of Lights, the Giver of every perfect gift doth in the diſtribution of all his Gifts propoſe unto himſelf but one and the ſame end, which is the common edification and mutuall uſefulneſſe of all unto each other.. For the Apoſtle ſaith, that The manifeſtation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withall: and elſewhere we are commanded, As every one hath received the Gifts, even ſo to miniſter the ſame unto one another, as good Stewards of the manifold graces of God. For the talent which every one of us hath received of God, is committed to our Truſt, that we being made diſtributers thereof, ſhould not dig it in the ground, as that unprofitable ſervant did; but employ it to the advantage of our Lord: that with ſuch ſervants as are faithful unto him, we may gain more Talents both to our Maſters uſe, and to ourſelves.
Theſe things, Illuſtrious and Renowned Gentlemen, moſt Reverend, and Reverend Fathers, and Brethren in Chriſt, are alledged; to the end we may acquaint you with our wiſhes and deſires, that ſeeing we are certainly informed, that in the Churches of Great Brittain, the doctrine of Practicall Divinity by the publick Writings of many godly wiſe Miniſters of your Churches, is brought to a great perfection, and that it is excellently fitted for the uſe of the Common People, but yet kept up as a hidden treaſure from the eyes of forreign Nations within the bounds of your own language alone, and that a very great benefit would accrew unto all Chriſtian Churches, and chiefly to thoſe that profeſſe the purity of the Goſpel, if ſo be thoſe things which are peculiar unto you, were publiſhed, ſo as by them they might alſo be read and underſtood: ſeeing (we ſay) theſe things are ſo; our purpoſe is to acquaint your Honours and Worſhips with our wiſhes and deſires; and by the bond of holy communion in Chriſt; and with that confidence of ſpeech which our Brotherly freedom doth ſuggeſt; to intreat (you chiefly, who being Rulers, Protectors and Favourers of the Churches, are truly deſirous to edifie the Publick) that you would not ſuffer ſo precious a Talent to be hid and concealed any longer from the hands and eyes of forreigners: but that you would according to the pious zeal and affection of fervent Charity, which you have towards Brother-churches: and the bountiful care which you have for the glory of God in the Propagation of the Goſpel take ſome convenient courſe by which the marrow of thoſe Authours, which in that kinde are extant amongſt you, and are of chief note; may be gathered out of all into one Volume, either of Common Places, or of a Body of Practical Divinity: which may be publiſhed and made uſe of by all in a tongue known and common to the Learned.
We have heard that ſome few things have been tranſlated into the Low Dutch Language; which are of great uſe unto thoſe Churches, and their Scholars of Divinity.
Of late alſo there is a little Book of the Practice of Piety, tranſlated out of the Engliſh into our Germane tongue; which hath taken ſo much with many godly ſouls; that we finde thereby wrought in them, a very great growth of that Religious diſpoſition, which doth conſiſt in a pure and modeſt Profeſſion of Heavenly Truth: for which cauſe (we hope) that if our wiſhes may obtein by your means the favour which is deſired, that ſome of your men (to whom God ſeemeth mercifully to have given, in the midſt of theſe troubles both quietneſs, and means to confer theſe and ſuch like benefits unto his Church) will eaſily be found, who without difficulty will at your Perſwaſion, beſtow their pains and their Talents to collect, to tranſlate, to digeſt, and to publiſh the chief Practical Writings and Meditations of your Authours. Whence we are confident this will come to paſs, that the Kingdom of God will receive a notable enlargement, if a Compleat Body of ſuch Doctrine out of your Writers were put forth; wherein as well the young Scholars of Divinity for their ſtudies: as many Paſtors of the Churches for their Sermons, might finde matter farre more uſeful unto edification, then that is, which now a dayes is met withall in Controverſal Writings: So that by this means, the mindes of many men may be drawn back from the endevours of ſtrife, unto the affections of unfeigned Charity; whence afterwards this will follow; that unto God in the firſt place Glory and Thankſgiving will redound; and then unto the Profeſſors of the Goſpel, with the care of Holineſſe and Piety, Peace and Concord; to the Churches, publick edification; to the ſimpler ſort, Pious learning; to the Godly and afflicted, ſound ſpiritual comfort; to the erring and ſuch as go aſtray, ſaving Converſion; to ſuch as are ſecure and carnal, a lively wakening of their conſcience; to the Hypocrites and ſtubborn ſinners, a cleer diſcovery of their Perveſneſſe; and to all the Generations to come, a greater light of Truth will be advanced; and laſtly, unto thoſe that ſhall beſtow their Talent towards this Endeavour, for the Advancement of Gods Kingdom: when he ſhall call us to an account of the Talent, which we have received from him; that glorious and bleſſed voice ſhall then come from the Lord unto them: Well done, thou good and faithful ſervant, thou haſt been faithful in a few things, I will make thee Ruler over many things, enter into the joy of thy Lord: which joy we wiſh from our heart, together with all temporal happineſs; to all thoſe, to whom this our Requeſt ſhall be made known; and with whom it ſhall finde acceptance.
Farewel in the Lord Excellent Gentlemen, whom with all reſpect we are bound to worſhip. Given at Hanaw 24 Febr. 1633. By
John Daniel Wildius Miniſter of Gods Word, and Inſpector of the Churches of Hanaw. M.P.
Theodorus Leurelius, Preacher of the Church of Hanaw.
Conradus Amonius, Preacher to the Court in the ſame place.
Paulus Toſſanus, Doctor of Divinity, and Aſſeſſor of the Eccleſiaſtical Senate in the lower Electoral Palatinate.
Clemens Boecius, Paſtor of the French Church in New Hanaw.
Iſaacus Boots, Paſtor of the Flanders Church, which is gathered unto Chriſt in Hanaw.
Matthew Rowyer, Paſtor of the French Church at New Hanaw.
Mr. Philip Pareus ſon to David, Rector and Profeſſor of the famous Colledge of Hanaw.
At Herborne in March and elſewhere in April, in the ſame yeer 1633, the ſame ſuit was renewed by theſe:
Petrus Streithagen, Preacher to the Court of the moſt Illuſtrious King of Bohemia, of bleſſed memory.
John Moriaen, formerly Preacher of Gods Word amongſt thoſe of Collen. I did under-write this at Francfortt 23 April 1633.
Philip Snabelius of Hoing in the County of Solms, Preacher to his native Church.
John Conradus Hopfius, Miniſter of the Word of God in the County of Hanaw in Merchabel, an exiled Palatine.
I Henry Meerbottius, for the preſent time Paſtor of Scheſheim Ladenburg in the Electoral Palatinate: am willing to confirm alſo with my Subſcription, this moſt profitable intention and common wiſh of our Brethren of Germany.
John Irlin, Doctor of Divinity, Rector and Profeſſor of the School of Herborn, Paſtor of the Church of the ſame place, and Inſpector of the neighbouring Churches of Naſſaw. M.P.
Mr. Caſparus Stippius, Archdeacon of the Church of Siegen, who ſubſcribed in his own name, and in the name of the reſt of his Brethren, in the County of Siegen in Naſſaw.
John Arcularius Paſtor of the Church of Beilſtein, who ſubſcribed in his own name, and in the name of the reſt of his Brethren, in the Counties of Beilſtein and Orzen in Naſſaw.
Thomas Dorn, Paſtor of Altenkirck, in the name of the Churches of the County of Sainen. M. P.
THis Letter doth ſpeak ſufficiently for it ſelf, and the perſons who did▪ write it were in theſe parts none of the leaſt conſiderable in theſe times; nor is their number ſmall, if you take notice of the Churches in whoſe names the Subſcriptions are made; and although the time ſince this Letter was ſent, may ſeem ſomewhat long, yet becauſe that which hitherto could be done to obtein their deſire hath not bin neglected, though by ſeveral invincible impediments obſtructed, becauſe the expectation of obteining it is not vaniſhed, but at this time raiſed, and becauſe ſuch a Suit as this can never be out of date till it be fulfilled, nay, although the firſt Petitioners ſhould all be dead, it ought not the leſs conſcionably to be regarded by thoſe to whom it is made; becauſe it doth not at all concern any temporal, or ſo much the particular conveniency of thoſe that make it, as the ſpiritual edification, and general benefit of all the Churches of God, and of the ages to come in the Goſpel: I ſay becauſe of all theſe conſiderations; and more that might be added; therefore I am willing to ſecond their requeſt, as many wayes I am bound to do: and to that effect that the accompliſhment of their deſire may be obteined with more readineſs and facility, I have added hereunto a Summary Platform of the heads of ſuch a Body of Divinity as they ſue for, which may give the Undertakers ſome occaſion to think further upon the matter, which (I hope) God will bleſs in their hand; whereunto the endeavours and prayers ſhall not be wanting, of their
Humble Servant in Chriſt, John Dury.
End of the text · John Dury, Gospel Communion in the Way of Godliness (1654)