The Work of Peace Ecclesiastical, Title page – Dedication
A SUMMARY DISCOURSE concerning the work of PEACE ECCLESIASTICALL, How it may concurre with the aim of a civill confederation amongſt PROTESTANTS: Preſented to the conſideration of my Lord Ambaſſadour Sr. THOMAS ROVV, &c. at HAMBƲRG, in the yeare M DC XXXIX. By Mr. JOHN DURY, A faithfull and indefatigable Solicitour of the Goſpel of Peace amongſt Proteſtants: Now put to the Preſſe for the information of ſuch as are able to countenance, and willing to help forward the Negotiation to ſome iſſue.
CAMBRIDGE: Printed by Roger Daniel, Printer to the Univerſitie, Ann. Dom. 1641.
JOHN 3. 20, 21.
Every one that doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, leſt his deeds ſhould be reproved.
But he that doth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifeſt that they are wrought in God.
To the Right Honourable Sr. THOMAS ROW, Knight, Chancellour of the moſt Honourable Order of the Garter, and Ambaſſadour extraordinary for his Majeſtie, unto the King of Denmark, and Princes of Germanie, &c.
Right Honourable;
IT is eaſie to diſcourſe of a good buſineſſe, but betwixt doing and ſaying there is a great deal of difference. And although I labour to be rather effectuall then talkative, nevertheleſſe ſometimes diſcourſes are requiſite to ſatisfie ſuch as muſt heare and judge of the work. What ſatisfaction this may give, I know not; but I can conjecture that few will be pleaſed with it, except thoſe which really love the work for it ſelf. And although I did not intend to be half ſo large when I firſt ſet pen to paper, as now I find my ſelf to have been, yet I am not ſatisfied in mine own work, becauſe I ſee that whiles I ſtudy to avoid prolixity I do not deſcend unto ſuch particulars as Judicious States-men will perhaps look after in theſe endeavours concerning the outward wayes of proceeding, and as learned Divines will reflect upon concerning the inward manner of reconciling mens judgements, & working peaceable diſpoſitions upon their affections. But my Apologie is, that particulars depend upon circumſtances, and that the varietie of circumſtances is almoſt infinite: Therefore not ſo much to be diſcourſed of, as to be obſerved in the action, and made uſe of towards the effect. Neither is it fit to lay open in a diſcourſe communicable to every one the particularities which pertain to the undertaking, and muſt go along with the execution. It ſufficieth in this caſe to make the neceſſitie and poſsibility of things intended to appear, which I hope is done, if not ſo fully as could have been, yet in ſome ſatisfactory meaſure towards ſuch as can conceive and make uſe of generall rules applyable to caſes, which every one acquainted with the nature of publick affairs eaſily can imagine and repreſent unto himſelf. Now the chief end for which I have put my ſelf upon this diſcourſe is, that I ſhould at this occaſion ſumme up mine own thoughts to diſcover the ſame unto your Lordſhip, and to let others ſee my way, who perhaps will concurre to further it in time and place convenient. For ſeeing the work is in it ſelf moſt neceſſary, and for the Proteſtant cauſe moſt profitable, and neither impoſsible nor ſo difficult as moſt men that have not tried the ford, as I have done, imagine it to be; therefore I would not have any to deſpair of it, nor give me occaſion to complain of this age, that after ſo many years unblamable ſolicitation, I have found ſmall reality of aſsiſtance in a publick work of ſo great neceſsity. The jealouſies and fears of the times, I know, occaſionate this: But as for me, I have once for all by oath unto Almighty God renounced all by-reſpects in this buſineſſe; and no man ſhall ever be ſo jealous over me for outward circumſtances, as I ſhall be inwardly over my ſelf, leſt the ſimplicity of my mind in theſe purpoſes be tainted with worldly hopes or fears; againſt which as the traytours of good counſel, I have guarded my ſpirit in working it into a temper, wherein I may ſeriouſly take pleaſure with the Apoſtle in all adverſities, and rejoyce in croſſes and in2. Cor. 12. 10. ſtraights, that when I ſhall be (as I foreſee I may be) deſerted, neglected, deſpiſed and laughed at, for embracing (as it were alone) ſo vaſt a buſineſſe, I may then endure it patiently, and without murmuring at my eaſe rely upon Gods providence in it, in reſpect I know that he is able to ſhew his ſtrength in my weakneſſe. And if he will not comfort me with the wiſhed for ſucceſſe, yet I ſhall not faint in well-doing, becauſe theſe generall grounds and rules to walk by are able to ſupport me (if my heart be upright to the work) in all difficulties. Neither is it requiſite for me to ſet forth and commend this matter, nor will I uſe perſwaſive arguments to induce men to give aſsiſtance in it: for I deſire the help of none, but of ſuch as love the work for it ſelf, and who are able either of themſelves, or at leaſt from theſe generall diſcoveries, to ſatisfie their thoughts in the poſsibility of more particular undertakings. Few men are ſo judicious to conſider the conſequence, and ſo cordiall to aſsiſt the proſecuting of theſe endeavours, as your Lordſhip hath alwayes been. I ſpeak this in true ſimplicity of heart, as knowing, from the reall teſtimonies of your Patronage unto the work, the thing which I ſay. Therefore as your Honour was the firſt encourager and ſupporter of me at the beginning of this Negotiation in Pruſsia, ſo now at this almoſt full period thereof, after this triall of my conſtancy, ſincerity, and unblamableneſſe therein, I am perſwaded your favours will not be failing before it appear what preparatives may be wrought further in theſe Quarters, and in the Church of Denmark, where hitherto nothing hath been attempted. Who knoweth what opportunities time will produce hereafter? Periander, one of the renowned ſeven Sages of Greece, biddeth us, Expect the occaſion: & theforeign. Libr. 43. reaſon of this precept may be taken from Dion, who ſaith, Quòd plura negotia opportunitate occaſionum quàm viribus rectè ſunt confecta. Thus then if I may but go on without noiſe in mine own private ſlow pace, I ſhall reſt contented: for I know that this ſeed muſt not onelyonly be ſown in the hearts of men at its own times, but alſo lie there a ſeaſon and rot before it will ſpring up and fructifie. The Prophet Iſaiah in a caſe of this nature ſaith, He that believeth Eſay. 28. 16.ſhall not make haſte: Now I do believe; therefore I am reſolved not to make haſte. OnelyOnly two things I could wiſh for; Firſt, that all outward helps be not withdrawn from my ſubſiſtence; Secondly, that the favourable acceſſe which I have had unto ſome eminent Divines of Great Brittain, which are not unwilling to take ſome ſpirituall tasks in hand concerning this ſubject may be ſtil confirmed. If theſe wiſhes cannot be obtained, I confeſſe the caſe will be ſo much the more difficult, but yet no worſe then either is preconceived or hath been experimented. For in both theſe I have been at as low an ebbe when I firſt did begin this Negotiation as I am likely ever to be. And now ſeeing I have ſerved out my apprenticeſhip, I hope I ſhall not prove leſſe induſtrious & happy at the latter end in continuing my trade, then at firſt I was in learning how to begin the ſame. It is ſome advantage in framing a reſolution to have experience of extremities wherein Gods providence hath been ſeen. I can deſire no more to be at reſt in reſpect of future contingents, and in reſpect of preſent matters, I thank God for contentedneſſe. I will make no further preliminary diſcourſes; for I fear me theſe have been too long. Therefore I intend now to come to my proper ſubject, which at this time is,
A generall Diſcourſe touching a concurrence of the work of Peace Eccleſiaſticall with the aim of a civill Confederation amongſt Proteſtants.
IN this matter two things are to be conſidered: Firſt, What the concurrenceThe heads of this deliberation of endeavours towards the work of Eccleſiaſticall reconcilement may contribute unto the aim of a civill Confederation. Secondly, How this concurrence may be ſet a work moſt effectually and profitably towards the ſcope which ought to be intended in ſuch a negotiation.