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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	evil_a	good_a	great_a	3,686	5	2.7944	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81931	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 Hamburg in the yeare MDCXXXIX. 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 of some issue.	Dury, John, 1596-1680.	1641 (1641)	Wing D2889; Thomason E167_13; ESTC R4299	30,514	57

but whilest the Austrians are before which devour Protestants with open mouth and false brethren behind which undermine their counsels their heads are brought very low their state is overthrown their Church is darkened their land is burnt up and the people thereof is as the fewel to the fire yet for all that scarce any Protestant Divine or States-man spareth his brother but he snatcheth on the right hand and is still hungry and eateth on the left hand and is not yet satisfied every man eateth the flesh of his own arm or strengtheneth his adversaries with the overthrow of his brethren Manasseh is against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasseh and they both are against Judah and what the end of this will be God alone doth know Neither is there any that seemeth hitherto to have taken this matter so seriously to heart as the importance thereof doth require for although these thoughts of Reconcilement are now become of absolute necessity yet many do not apprehend them to be of such a nature Neverthelesse to me sure it is that if the desire to preserve both Church and State be at this time necessary to a conscionable and honest mind and if this desire cannot be attained without a confederation and conjunction of divided spirits nor this conjunction either be procured or faithfully maintained except the ground thereof be laid in the hearts of Clergy-men then it followeth that both to facilitate and to confirm the civill confederation this work of Ecclesiasticall Reconcilement is not onely seasonable but of absolute necessity to be undertaken and although there were none other circumstance but this to move an honest heart to think upon this matter this alone ought to suffice But besides this there is another circumstance of seasonablenesse arising from the preparatives made already in the minds of men towards the effect of reconciliation for it is most true that all mens thoughts in all Churches and States are already stirred up and wrought upon in some measure to this effect insomuch that there is scarce any but he hath some impression concerning the effect of this Negotiation True it is that some fear it some hope for it some doubt what to think of it and some laugh at it all these howsoever well or ill affected are already prepared in some sort unto the further agitation of the businesse for whatsoever the disposition of their mind be it is no great matter for this time present because it sufficeth to make the work seasonable that there be some kind of reall impressions and thoughts reflecting upon it If their impressions and thoughts be good it is so much the better if they be indifferent yet because they are thoughts of such a work the mind is disposed towards the effect thereof which will not be found unseasonable unto them if they be rather evil then good that is if they either despise it as a matter too meanly undertaken by one of no appearance or despair of it as a matter of too great difficultie yet it is not unseasonable to deal with them in it although it were for none other cause then to rectifie their judgements in these conceptions which concern both the manner of proceeding which is thought to be disproportionate unto such an end and the matter which is thought to be of so great weight that it cannot be heaved if at last they be wholly evil that is if they fear either the effect of peace it self or my person and negotiation in it then it is most of all not seasonable onely but even necessary also to deal with them that their needlesse fears may be corrected and better impressions wrought upon them lest they be moved through jealousies for sinister and private ends to hinder these proceedings either by neglect of duties requisite or by crosse courses secretly or openly taken in hand Thus seeing mens spirits are wakened up and a reall expectation is raised in their minds of some thing which may be done in this work it is seasonable to entertain the same by such a continuance of agitation in this matter which may rectifie the evil prevent the worst and strengthen the good affections And thus much of the seasonablenesse of the time The consideration of the place is of no small moment in the production of all things because it is a matrix wherein the seed of every thing is conceived which most commonly according to its fit or unfit disposition either marreth or maketh the shape of that which is brought forth Therefore if this place I mean Hamburgh and Lubeck be rightly considered it will be found in two respects most fit for the agitation of this work First in respect of the situation that these cities are in the middest of all Protestant States and most convenient to entertain correspondence with all others of both sides not onely because they are as a centre amongst the rest but chiefly because they have perpetuall occasions of conveyance to all quarters so that at one time information may be given to all parties of every occurrence that may fall out Secondly in respect that these are free cities not onely free for all persons to resort unto safely from all quarters without all jealousies and outward respects prejudiciall unto the work but also fitted with certain Divines of speciall use by whose means if they be once gained to the cause all the rest of Germany may without all difficultie be wrought upon Lastly the persons considerable fit to be made use of both here elswhere are all such Divines as follow one John Arnd formerly generall Superintendent at Luneburgh who hath laboured with good effect to draw the minds of Lutheran Divines from disputes unto the thoughts of a godly life These men are all zealous for peace and spare not to bear witnesse against the unconscionable and partiall dealings of many of their own Clergy And besides these other known prudent and moderate men who are in eminent places of authority can be made use of amongst which the Lord Chancellour of Denmark Frise and the Lord Chancellour of Holstein Ravenelow and my Lord Rosencrants and others as well here in Hamburg and Lubeck and elsewhere can be set a work towards their own Clergie to take off the edge of their spirits in many things with most of whom acquaintance is either made already or may be made by fit addresse hereafter IV. Of the particular intentions and endeavours which I ought to undertake to advance the effect of these Negotiations VVHen I begin to think of my self and of the endeavours which I have already undertaken and which I ought and may further undertake two things represent themselves unto me First what the inward purposes and resolutions of my mind ought to be towards the work Secondly what outward undertakings must follow thereupon to gain the effect intended As concerning the resolutions and purposes of my mind they were settled before I came out of Sweden in these particulars First that

as to such as are conscionably and honestly affected towards peace and unitie and towards these some further means either in private or in publick may be used that they may give occasion unto their Clergie to break off silence and declare their resolutions towards peaceable endeavours And if either of these means take or take not at last the Acts may be sent to some chief Universities of both sides and submitted unto their judgements After all which both the Acts and the judgements thereof may be published in print with a Preface to remonstrate unto the rulers of Christian States what the true causes and remedies of schismes are and how by amiable and conscionable treaties amongst sober and godly Divines all inconvenients of strifes and endlesse disputes might be taken out of the way with an exhortation and entreaty towards them to choose out and authorize fit men to go with consent and liking of their brethren about such a work for the generall good of Christendome and particular of Protestant Churches If then any Prince or State be stirred up to take this resolution and will give occasion to others to enter with some of his Clergy upon these thoughts the matter may be further prepared by certain degrees of publick meetings whereof it is not yet time to speak And this is the first way taken from the ground of former treaties The second way of proceeding in this businesse may take the rise from the circumstances of this present time and then it will have a relation unto the publick dangers of Protestant Churches and States and to the necessity of a brotherly league and confederation betwixt the same against their common enemies Here then all such as have reall intention to frame such a League to support the Protestant cause and to restore the house Palatine in Germany I suppose will easily be perswaded to further the spirituall part of this League that is to say to care for the soul of their conjunction as well as for the bodily part thereof Here then there should be a purpose of negotiating for a league with the German Princes and Lutheran States and the Ambassadour that is to labour in it should have one with him authorized and instructed by eminent authority to treat with the Lutheran Clergy about the work of Ecclesiasticall Reconcilement who might have some instructions to some such effects as these may be First to do nothing without foreknowledge and expresse consent of the Ambassadour sent to make the league Secondly to treat with none obligatorily but with such Divines as shall expressely be named to that effect by that Prince or State with whom the Ambassadour should be in treaty for the other conjunction Thirdly to treat of matters onely preparatorily by way of consultation with a reference to some other future treaties which in due time might be taken in hand Fourthly to treat onely of means and wayes belonging to the scope of religious agreement in matters of difference which have bred disputes and publick scandalls to which effect he should be authorized to testifie a willingnesse in the Church from whence he cometh to advance unity amongst all Christians and chiefly to try by what means in due time a more strict and near Ecclesiasticall agreement might be brought to passe amongst Protestants Fifthly to avoid and decline all particular occasions of dispute and debatement about matters controversall Sixthly to make such proposall of particular means and wayes of agreement as will be then found expedient to be mentioned by those from whom he cometh and will probably be entertained by those to whom he is sent Such like instructions being given to one that is acquainted with the persons humours and controversies of Lutheran Divines and by some experience can foresee prevent and answer their scruples jealousies doubts shifts and difficulties no doubt a publick treaty might very easily be brought to passe to great good purpose about the work of Reconciliation For if the minds of one or two Divines about every Prince should in this manner be drawn and prepared really to affect or at least not to disaffect the purpose of a further treaty at some friendly meeting the way of coming together might without great difficulty be so contrived that by little and little all matters might be composed and settled in unitie without all occasion of strife and dispute And the chief motive why a Theologicall treaty in this kind ought to be intended and urged as a thing most necessary amongst Protestants may be alledged by the Ambassadour of the Civill League to be this That seeing in a faithfull confederation and brotherly league for mutuall defence betwixt two parties for each others lives liberties and rights there ought not to be any known cause of doubt concerning the sinceritie of mutuall love and upright intentions betwixt the confederates left untaken away lest the reall effect thereof be disappointed and seeing it is notoriously known that one of the greatest causes by which mutuall love and sincere intentions can be broken off hath been existent and is not yet truly taken away from the spirits of Lutheran Divines who have esteemed hitherto all Reformed Protestants no better then damnable hereticks therefore to take away this cause of disjunction and of breach in true love it will be necessary to permit chief Divines of both sides to treat in a friendly manner that they may receive satisfaction one from another in matters of doubt and that they may take away the causes of mistakes and future breaches and confirm their love one towards another And to this effect it might also be intimated that whiles such intentions of brotherly reconcilement are in agitation it would be fit a course should be taken to forbid railing accusations and odious imputations from the pulpit on both sides in hope that the grounds thereof will shortly be taken away to the full content of every one Hitherto the preparatives of a publick treaty have been spoken of but in case no such amiable treaties can be produced then remaineth the last attempt which may be intended that the pretext of schisme whereby many many damnable errours are laid to the charge of the Reformed Churches can be taken away and the Lutheran Divines made to take notice that all Reformed Protestants are wronged by such imputations To do this as formerly so now acquaintance must be made with the ring-leaders of that side which chiefly uphold the division and when the matters of duty belonging to mutuall edification are without prejudice proposed a question must be made concerning the causes which hinder the work of Reconcilement to know in particular what they are what may be thought a sufficient and requisite means to take thē out of the way To which question a short and friendly answer from him with whom the treaty is begun must be procured in writing wherein as well the Catalogue of those things which are laid to the charge of the Reformed Churches as also the