The Work of Peace Ecclesiastical, Part 3
Concerning the way how to draw on inſenſibly theſe treaties.
I Have hitherto profeſſed my ſelf like a publick Solicitor of peaceable counſels betwixt both parties, to ſee what good inclinations either were or might be wrought upon the ſpirits of Clergy men in this age, towards their mutuall edification in duties belonging to the Communion of Saints. How much my ſolicitation hath ſtirred them up to theſe thoughts, and how farre they are prepared to admit or not to admit of peaceable propoſitions, it is not fit for me to declare; I hope hereafter the effect it ſelf ſhall ſpeak. But ſeeing I am reſolved ſtill to continue and to proceed to win by little and little and draw on the Lutheran Clergy towards friendly and peaceable affections, I conceive that it cannot be otherwiſe brought to paſſe then by ſuch proceedings as hitherto I have uſed. Whereof the firſt ſtep hath been alwayes, a free, unpartiall, and unblameable converſation with the chief Divines to make acquaintance with them. When acquaintance is made, the next ſtep is, to come by degrees inſenſibly to inſinuate matters of mutuall edification, in making them ſenſible of ſuch duties of Chriſtianity which are moſt neceſſary at this time to be ſet upon by men of conſcience and charitie: By this means the inclinations and diſpoſitions of their minds will either, if they be good, break forth and diſcover themſelves, or if they be raw and untoward, will be in ſome part prepared towards further thoughts of this nature. This being done, a man may draw ſomewhat near the ſubject of peace and mutuall reconcilement, in making them think of the great inconveniences of ſchiſmes and diviſions amongſt Proteſtants, and of the great good which might redound to all Chriſtians, if the true cauſes and originall motives of ſuch differences might really be taken out of the way, as well by ſettling mens judgments in the truth of Chriſtian Religion which are wholly undoubted, as by bringing their will to affect the main duties, wherein the publick and Eccleſiaſticall profeſſion thereof conſiſteth: Of which duties the firſt ground doth ſeem to be this, That all men, and chiefly Divines, are bound in conſcience to intend truly and profeſſe openly a deſire and willingneſſe to be at peace with peaceable neighbours; and, That they ought to account peaceable neighbours ſuch men as not onelyonly ſtudy to be void of offenſe towards others, but alſo deſire to entertain love and friendſhip with them. Theſe principles being propoſed and wrought upon the minds of ſome of their Leaders, it might be tryed whether or no they could be brought to declare and promiſe that they will concurre in thoughts and treaties, by which the grounds of former, and the caſes of future ſcandals and contentions might be taken away from amongſt Proteſtants. If then they ſhould not be averſe from ſuch a motion, they might be brought by degrees forward; Firſt, To entertain private thoughts by themſelves concerning the poſſibilitie of advancing ſuch treaties: Secondly, To communicate ſuch thoughts to others, which ſhall be found deſirous to conferre without prejudice about this matter with them: Thirdly, To heare the propoſals of others, and declare how farre they agree or diſagree with the ſame, that means may be thought upon, by which difficulties and incident cauſes of diſagreement at the treatie may either be prevented or taken out of the way. If any three or foure leading-men of the Lutheran ſide can be brought thus farre, (whereunto it is likely that all reaſonable and conſcionable Divines will eaſily be brought) there is much wonne in the cauſe. For the ſchiſme is upheld by none but by a few, who indeed decline all occaſions of orderly treaties, but yet dare not openly profeſſe any unwillingneſſe towards the ſame. When therefore a willingneſſe is thus ſtirred up in ſome, and the averſeneſſe of others is prevented ſo that it cannot openly break forth, if then it be found expedient to proſecute the work in a more publick way, the conſent of Princes will be requiſite, to have a preparatory meeting in ſome place, onelyonly of ſome chief and well diſpoſed perſons on both ſides; wherein the generall grounds of an agreement might be layd, and a reſolution taken how to proceed by degrees afterwards to a more full concluſion, and how to ratifie the agreement in all particulars of moment, with conſent and counſel of ſuch as may pretend ſome intereſt in the buſineſſe. But becauſe we are not yet come ſo farre as to draw the chief Divines of theſe quarters to affect a treatie, and to conſent to a meeting of this nature, therefore it is now to no purpoſe to ſpeak of that which might be done at it, but I will come to mine own private task, to ſhew by what means other preparatives of ſuch a treatie may be negotiated openly and more irreſiſtibly, and how the pretext by which Lutheran Divines uſe to keep up ſtrife and alienate the affections of men, otherwiſe harmleſſe and ſimple, might be taken out of our way.