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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52476	Three choice and profitable sermons upon severall texts of Scripture viz. Jer. 30. 17, John 14. 3, Heb. 8. 5 : the first of them being the last sermon which he preached at the court of election at Boston, the second was the last which he preached on the Lords-Day, the third was the last which he preached on his weekly-lecture-day : wherein (beside many other excellent and seasonable truths) is shewed, the Lords soveraignty over, and care for his church and people, in order to both their militant and triumphant condition, and their fidelity and good affection towards himself / by that reverend servant of Christ, Mr. John Norton ...	Norton, John, 1606-1663.; Norton, John, 1606-1663. Copy of the letter returned by the ministers of New-England to Mr. John Dury about his pacification.	1664 (1664)	Wing N1324; ESTC R40050	44,511	76

fear was upon them because of the people of the land one means to secure them from fear in time of trouble was with the first to proceed with the things of Religion and to be in good earnest to settle them 1 Chron. 28.20 21. Do it saith David unto Solomon and the Lord God even my God will be with thee and not only so but the priests the princes the people will be with thee c. But when Solomon falls off from God's Worship then ariseth against him the spirit of Hadad and the spirit of Rezin and the spirit of Ieroboam c. 1 Kings 11. It is a great point of policy in troublesome times viz. the attending to the Cause of Religion Without Order the Ark could not move in Davids time but you see what trouble follows upon it and Churches cannot likewise move untill the Order of the Churches be proportionably settled Haggai 1.5 6. Now therefore saith the Lord of Hosts consider your wayes when the Worship of God was neglected things went ill with them You have sown much and bring in little ye eat but ye have not enough and again ver 7th Thus saith the Lord of Hosts consider your wayes and in Chap. second they do hearken to him the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel and Josuah and from the time that they set themselves about the work of the Lord all things went well with them How farre the drought and the last years and other troubles are here considerable referring to our selves let the Scripture be the interpreter The matters of outward prosperity have much dependance upon the carrying on the cause of Religion and that according to the Order of the Gospel or by the Scripture-patern our safety lies in keeping there not turning to the right hand nor turning to the left hand In Exod. 39. you have it mentioned about ten times in that Chapter in way of Commendation that what was done was so according as the Lord had Commanded Moses Let this stand with us I beseech you beloved that for the motion of Elders of Brethren of Councils of Magistrates of Churches settle the same as the Lord hath Commanded i. e. according to Scripture-prescript and patern we are then a safe People FINIS A COPY OF THE LETTER Returned by the MINISTERS of NEW-ENGLAND TO M R. JOHN DURY ABOUT HIS PACIFICATION Faithfully Translated out of the Original Manuscript written in Latine By the Reverend AVTHOR of the Three former SERMONS With some Considerations premised about that Subject necessary for these Times By a Lover of Truth and Peace Published in the Year 1664. THE PREFACE TO THE READER AS of old it was observed that Julian who hated the Christians with an implacable hatred when he could invent no way worse opened a wide way for Schisms and Divisions In like manner hath it been the Policy of the Adversary in succeeding times when there appears no hope of undermining the Walls of Truth by Heresie and false Doctrine to attempt the scattering and dispersing the Assertors thereof by raising and fomenting Schisms and Dissensions amongst them From which Fountain it may justly be feared hath sprung a jealousie in the mindes of sundry persons in this Country That the Determination of the late Synod Anno 1662. if attended unto would bring into the Churches of New-England a practice contrary both to the Frame of their Churches and to the judgement of those famous Worthies that at first their Churches were blest withall when as it will be found most evident to any that shall impartially survey the Constitution and state of the said Churches That the principall if not the sole Reason why the same things then agreed upon were not long before set afoot and practised was not any doubt or scruple about the duty of the things themselves but the want of Agreement about the Way and Manner how they might most conveniently and safely put in practice which being now fully cleared up in the Propositions of the said Synod the Aspersion cast upon their former Church-administrations as too much favouring the way of the Separation is not onely now removed but an Expedient found out for the holding Communion with other Orthodox Churches in things lawful and necessary without any prejudice to the the Purity of their Worship The commendable receiving and practising of this Truth by some Churches among them and necessity of attending thereunto by all is most convincingly evident by many writings published abroad in the world by many Eminent persons in the name of others wherein much paines is taken up in clearing the way of these Churches from the imputation of Schism and separation from others but in none more then in a Letter returned with the Subscription of the names almost of all the Elders universally in this Place unto a Letter of the Reverend and Learned Mr. John Dury who ever since the year 1635. had been labouring for a Pacification between the Reformed Protestant Churches of Europe and who is famous in the Christian World for that work and at last had communicated his design to those of New-England desiring their Approbation and Concurrence in the said design wherein they expresly declare That they own all those Churches professing the Protestant Religion and retaining the fundamentals of Doctrine and essentials of Order if they be otherwise peaceable and walk orderly for Brethren and that they are ready to reach out unto them the right hand of fellowship From whence it will necessarily follow that seeing other Churches so qualified although they should dissent from them in many Points of Religion are owned as Brethren and that in way of fellowship if those that so profess shall refuse to conferre the seal of Baptism to the Children of such Parents as belong to any such like Churches according as is expressed in the aforesaid Propositions of the Synod They will neither be able to avoyd contradicting their own words and writings nor yet secure themselves from the guilt of dissimulation And that it might appear there was no advantage taken by any stragling sentence or expression in the said Letter cast off from its Dependants it was thought necessary to Translate and publish the whole to the open view of all and because also in the draught of the same are found many undeniable Arguments enforcing this very Conclusion as when it s said That the diverse opinions of some Churches about Polity and indifferent things although they are not so small that the lovers of truth should be silent about them so neither are they so great that they need be any hindrance to the seekers of Peace and Quietness in such an undertaking Which is also there further evidenced by instancing the unquestioned Example of our Saviour who refused not Celebrare Sacra or joyn in the Worship of God in the Jewish Church defaced at that time with more grievous corruptions And further it is added That the nature of Political as well as Christian Society

religious then so to carry it that they should no sooner see a Congregational-man then to have cause to say They see an Enemy to the Crown Prov. 24.21 My son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change Eccles 10.20 Curse not the King no not in thy thought Dan. 6.22 Innocency was found in me saith Daniel and also before thee O King have I done no hurt Is this thy voice my son David 1 Sam. 26.17 really so not hypocritically We have severe Observers Tongues are not untaught to inform against us It is but wisdome to give no cause especially such as our own Consciences cannot testifie for and such as all Orthodox Churches in the Protestant world will testifie against In matters of the State-Civil and of the Church let it be shewn that we are his Disciples who Matth. 22.21 said Give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and unto God the things that are Gods and in matters of Religion let it be known that we are for Reformation and not for Separation 6. Lastly Take care thar the Order of the Gospel may have a free passage in the Churches I mean that our Practice may effectually answer our Doctrine in that Book entituled The Platform of Church-Discipline 'T is that for which we are Out-casts at this day that for the substance of it is it that sheweth what New-England is I would I might say that there are none among our selves that are against it There was a time when the General Court did approve of it and when the Members of that Synod pleaded for it Our reality herein will be in no small degree critical of our Integrity in this Undertaking and our Actions must be the demonstrations of our Sincerity This is a principal Ingredient of this healing Plaister and for the defect-hereof are such frequent and scandalous Breaches in our Churches so many Administrations in vain and such sad Non-administration and Remora's occasioning that sad Quaerie of Spectators Whether the Congregational-way be practicable yea or not I beseech you consider whom it is that it doth concern to answer this Objection you that are conscientious do not forget it at whom the stick lyes in one order or another If we cannot build without the noise of Hammers yield that we are not Temple-workmen yield we must either that the Congregational-way is not the way of God or that We are unfit for the behaviour of the House of God As concerning the Church-government according to the Platform of Discipline the practice of which doctrine who careth for is not this that truth which the Synod Churches the General Court sometime made a good Confession of and that now no man comparatively careth for Ezra 4.8 Rehum cares not for it ver 23. Artaxerxes careth not for it Nehem. 4. Sanballat and Tobiah care not for it the Episcopal man the Presbyterian care not for it the Morellian careth not for it the Merchant the Souldier the Husbandman the Labourer careth not for it Haggai 1. The people of Jerusalem the Church-members care not for it I am apt sometimes to think that Aaron may be under a temptation of irregular complyance but minde Ier. 15.19 Let them return unto thee but return not thou unto them I may say thus much and pardon my speech A more yeilding Ministry unto the People I believe is not in the World I beseech you let not Cesar be killed in the Senate after he hath fought it out and conquered in the Field let us acknowledge the Order of the Eldership in our Churches in their way and the Order of Councils in their way duely back'd and encouraged without which Experience will witness that these Churches cannot long consist God hath opened the mouth of the Speaker to you this day it being a day wherein after so many attempts and feares you are betrusted with your Liberties for another year You have this years oportunity and at such a time and blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers who hath put such a thing in the Kings heart so farre to accept your Application to his Majesty as not onely to give you the oportunity of the year present but also encouragement for many years to come Let all of us be stirred up by the Lord and at such a time to strengthen the hand of Zerubbabel and Jehoshua by your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ Do not betray liberty under the pretence of liberty You that are in the honoured Magistracy remember Davids troubles Psal 132.1 5. he could not rest till the Ark had rest And those that are in the Ministry remember Paul's troubles and what his cares were 1 Cor. 11.28 Let us all minde what were the troubles and thoughts of heart that were in them that lived in the dayes of Malachi Chap 3.16 But are there not many that minde onely their cieled houses c and how much doth the work of the Out-cast lye unattempted witness the sick estate of the Churches and how can it be remedied if we will not acknowledge Order and shall I say that we are real therein You have brought upon your selves real troubles and likewise upon your Relations and Friends in England and those here that suffer with you in this Exile See then that you be not hypocritical but real to the Truth which you have professed I could tell you and you must not forget it That there have been Men of Renown as they are called Numb 16.2 Famous in the Congregation of Israel that did go out of Egypt but yet could not endure the Order of God in the Wilderness Let us shew it that we mistook not our selves pretending to come into this Wilderness to live under the Order of the Gospel We are Out-casts indeed and reproached but let us be such Out-casts as are caring for the Truth and therefore not to neglect an Apologie it doth become and greatly concern Gods Out-casts to minde it You know there are those who represent you as disaffected to Government and as Sectaries and Schismaticks and as Fanaticks you see cause to Apologize therein And for that term of Fanatick you must remember it is not of yesterday however it be now used or abused You may learn the original use of it from that distribution of Professors in relation to Church government in former times into four sorts viz. Orthodoxt Pontificii Rationales and Fanatici But I trust that God doth and Angels and Men shall know that we are Orthodox Gods Out-casts are not Fanaticks The Woman in the wilderness may have the vomit of the Dragon cast in her face if you let it lye on you will suffer wash it off therefore by an Apologie Thus did Justin Martyr Tertullian Iuel and others in their time Give not the advantage of interpreting Silence as Consent nor think it labour lost if an Apologie will wash your face And though we may be cast out by men yet may we hope that God will

doth utterly forbid the denial of Fellowship-priviledges to such Members as are found without scandal Let not the words and practices of them that pretend to the greater Purity of Reformation be Yea and Nay which if it should appear the Scandall would be so much the greater in that the foresaid Letter with so many Subscriptions in all probability is known in the world being sent into Forreigne parts upon a Publick account As for the Translation of the Letter they who had the chiefest hand therein have no other design then by approving themselves as Lovers of Truth and Peace to undeceive simple-hearied and honest-minded persons who are ready with Barnabas to be carried away with the dissimulation of such as are through a kinde of preposterous Zeal unwilling to have any of the common Priviledges of the Church of God bestowed upon any whose effectuall Sanctification may be questioned which is the cause as one observeth of a Schismaticall inclination of some godly and religious persons In reference to the Words and Phrases much of the Elegancy of them is taken away in the Translation by reason of the abstruseness of the Latine it faring in this kinde with Books as it doth with Bodies which are nothing so comely when arrayed with a stranger as with their own proper clothing and habit but where-ever appeared a necessity of changing the phrase the sense is preserved whole and entire For a Conclusion If the Practice of the purest Churches together with the Authority of the most Pious Zealous Learned and judicious Divines might avail any thing in this consideration it were easie to present many things to the view of the Reader from the Writings of a Cas Consc Ep 9. qu. 3. Com. Gal 5.27 Perkins b De Pol lib. 1. cap. 13 14 33. Parker c Epist 149. 103. Calvinus d Locus 47. thes 33 34. Bucanus with many other of the Learnedst Non-Conformists who alwayes disclaimed both the Principles and Practices of the Rigid Separation and all such as renounced Communion with other Churches upon the account of some Impurities about Order and Discipline However it came to be the fate of these Churches in America to verge too near them in their Primitive Administrations But we shall onely content our selves with the mentioning the Judgement of two not the least eminent and famous Lights in the Church of God about this point No Church can be said to be alienated from God and from his Covenant although it may become very sick and adulterous until God shall have taken away from it his Matrimonial Covenant casting it quite off as defiled with Adultery according to Isa 50 1. which will not be so long as it retaines the Head and the Head retaines it by a publick declaration of his grace that calleth Col. 2.19 Jun. Thes Theolog. Thes 36. pag. 2099. But Ames more fully about the Subject of Baptism 1. Expositious Infants are to be baptized whose Parents are unknown if they be born among Christians out of charity they are to be looked at as the sons of Christians if there be not just cause to presume the contrary 2. They that in some way by their Profeision belong unto the Church yet notwithstanding do openly violate the Covenant of God their Infants ought to be baptized though with some distinction sc so that what the Covenant requires and is wanting in them be supplied by others 3. Infants illegittimate ought so to be baptized that either their Parents profess their Repentance or that their Education be undertaken by other godly persons 4. Children of contumacious Excommunicates are not conveniently baptizable unless by the interposition of meet Sureties 5. Infants of Papists and such like who are Semi-Christians may be baptized if they finde a meet surety under whose power may be their Education Ames Cas Consc Lib. 4. Cap. 27. To which may be added The Baptism of Infants ought not to be deferred without a serious and weighty reason Ibid. TO THE WORTHY AND EMINENT M R. JOHN DURY SALVTATIONS THat amongst so many horrid Alarms of War amongst so many fatal differences of Opinion raised in matters of Religion and that also after so many and such unwearied labours of famous Intercessors now so often in this cause undertaken in vain you should O Dury the most zealous Friend of Peace not onely be seriously thinking of but are also unto this day strongly endeavouring the Espousals of Truth and Peace between the Professors of the Gospel we verily do largely congratulate you in the conceiving so great a design with our utmost and daily Prayers helping forward by Gods Assistance the birth of this Man-Childe Suffer us to speak the very truth of the matter nor is there any need to deny the same even as the Holy-Scripture relates how the Olive Branch brought much comfort to the Parent of the other World after the Flood while he was lamenting over the Tremendous Spectacle of the Deluge over flowing all here below in like manner did your Letter breathing a very spirit of peace as another Noahs dove sent down from Heaven wonderfully refresh the exile Brethren who were almost astonished to see so many nations that profess the Gospel making irreconcileable war amongst themselves together with the many and great dissentions in the business of Religion and that monstrous flood of Errour breaking forth not out of the Cataracts of the Clouds but the very Mouth of the Dragon Be it so that we are in the utmost parts of the Earth we have onely changed our Climate not our mindes we have altered our place that we might retain the Faith without alteration There are indeed some that might have been better imployed at least meer strangers to our affairs who do therefore impute unto us the guilt of Schism because in the first place we have endeavoured after the pure Worship of God But if any see good to enquire into the Reason why these Churches in the Wilderness left their Country this it was viz. that the Ancient Faith and pure Worship might be found inseparable companions in our Practice and that our posterity might be undefiled in Religion Nevertheless we are never unmindefull of the saying of Austin to the Brethren in the Wilderness as he styles them There are two things considerable saith he Conscience and good Name Conscience is necessary for thy self good Name for thy Neighbour He who trusts to his Conscience and neglects his good name is cruel especially if he be set in that place of which the Apostle writing to his Disciple saith In all things shew thy self an example of good works It may not be unlawful for us who are in the Wilderness on the further side of the Seas as well those who through grace are called to the Ministry though in our selves the greatest of sinners and the least of all the Saints as any others to Apologize for our selves in the Words of the Tribes beyond Jordan a little changed for the

vindicating or preserving our good name in a matter of so great moment both before great ones Fathers Brethren and every gentle Reader The Lord God of Gods the Lord God of Gods he known and Israel shall know if wittingly and willingly in Rebellion or treacherous dealing against the Lord or in Schism it be that we have departed from our Country save us not this day But yet notwithstanding we are not unmindful of that so known Oracle Love the Truth and Peace we neither strive for Truth without making reckoning of Peace neither do we pursue Peace with the loss of Truth the former defaceth this latter teareth the seamless Coat of the Church It is as necessary to avoid the Rock of Schism on the right hand as the Quicksands of Confusion on the left We renounce Samaratanism that deadly sink of false Doctrine as much as we fly from Donatism the sore enemy of Evangelical Temperament and devourer if we may speak after Teriullian of Christian Society but admire and embrace the Concord and Agreemeent of the Gospel We are no whit pleased with Cassanders shaking hands with Papists at the furthest distance erring from the Truth Nor yet with the Romanist renouncing Communion with them that are otherwise minded in lesser differences but in special manner we ought to labour that we may walk with an even foot and not to turn aside an haires breadth from the Truth in the mean time it is better to be a Cyprian then a Steven It is much more grievous to think aright and be found a Scismatick then to think amiss in things not fundamental and be of a peaceable spirit The spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ is a spirit of Truth of peace and Communion so desirous of Peace that it requireth Communion in a true Church although not pure and so desirous of Truth that it forbids impurity in any Church whatsoever That that is the Mark at which we aim and which we endeavour and breath after in him who is the Way the Truth and Life It is confessed there are some Apices or lesser points in Divinity which the Church of God hath now for above an hundred years bewailed as the obstacles of Peace concerning which the chief controversies maintained are about Predestination Ubiquity and the Eucharist About these points how many thousand Polemick writings have been extant all abroad which the Christian World is scarce able to contein Alas that ever there should be a warre about the Sacrament Alas that ever there should be any contentious Treatises about the Eucharist turning the very Badge of Union into an Apple of Contention who can refrain from tears at the uttering of such things yet these notwithstanding that there is place for the so much desired Coalition between the Evangelicks and the Reformed so called may easily be made appear by running through the chief Heads of things As namely Because in the first Article they who were the greatest Favourers of that eminent Worthy of the former Age do yet ascribe the work of Conversion wholly unto God and do likewise stifly maintain and accurately defend Grace to be altogether free who were also utter enemies to that pestilent Opinion of the Schoolmen That God is bound to him that doth what he can of himself And who likewise do deservedly account it meer Pelagianism to make any kinde of Qualifying Fitness a Moral Motive unto predeterining Grace As for the Opinion of the Ubiquity of the Humane Nature by virtue of the Hypostatical Union it cannot be denied but that Papers have come abroad written by too much gall and sharpness In the mean while it is agreed upon by all and taken for granted That the Humane Nature is Personally Omnipresent According to this Rule likewise are other Propositions about the Person to be judged of under this head Lastly As concerning the Lords Supper the Divines of either part do reject Transubstantiation together with worshiping of bread But about the Real Presence viz. Sacramental of the Body and Blood of Christ it is agreed between both These so many and great Differences are to be accounted as so many Heart-griefs although not to be numbred amongst them which by the Apostle are called Vnlearned Questions yet we judge them not to be of that moment as to hinder the giving each other the right hand of fellowship or the pledges of Eclesiastical Brotherhood building upon that Apostolical Canon of holy Communion Nevertheless in that whereunto we have attained let us walk by the same Rule let us minde the same thing Phil. 3.16 Here also we may call to minde that common and received Distinction between Fundamentals and non-fundamentals and that Brotherly Fellowship is not to be refused with men peaceable and otherwise Orthodox for the sake of Non-fundamentals We account it very unequal to fasten upon any one that holds an Opinion all the Consectaries which to him that argues according to the exactest grounds of Reason seem to follow upon such premises especially if those Consequences be disowned by him in which respect there are no small Errours on both sides while those of our side impeach the other of Eutyches his opinion though refusing to own it for the sake of Consubstantiation And they on the other side go about to make ours guilty of making God the Author of Sin although we never so much disclaim it in the Point of Predestination The Disputes about the Consequences of these whether rightly inferred or not from the premises belong not to this place to be examined yea the matter it self requires rather that we should forbear But this Tragedy is not yet at an end For as to Polity and indifferent things they have taken up divers Opinions who it were to be wished that they would embsace that Concord one with another which hath been so often endeavoured after But the Differences of this nature as they are not so small that the Lovers of Truth should be silent about them so neither are they so great that they need be any hindrance to the Seekers of Peace and Quietness in the present Undertaking as may appear by the unquestioned Example of our Saviour who refused not to Celebrate the Worship of God in the Jewish Church defaced at that time with more greivous corruptions They who are united to Christ by heart-converting grace are Members of his Mystical Body and whosoever but in appearance at least are joyned to the Head and have added themselves to the Polity of Israel are to be received Members of the Political Body Now Communion follows upon Union Besides the nature of Political as well as Christian Society doth utterly forbid to deny the Priviledges of fellowship to such Members as are found without Scandal Thus much we thought good to speak briefly about this Point that Honoured Persons and Respected Brethren might understand what Reasons moved us to entertain the same Opinion with themselves We have been taught that the Idea or Patern of holy Communion ought

to be fetched from Divine Writ and not to be framed after our own pleasure The Rules of Sacred Society are certain beyond which or short of which it is not in our power to extend or withhold the Right-hand of Brother-hood Whoever having attained these shall acknowledg them and having acknowledged them shall walk according unto them so holding Communion with sinners as he doth not in the least communicate with their sins so as he is wanting neither to the Truth nor himself nor his Brethren him we deservedly esteem both as a Guide and Pillar of the Church will we or nill we we are Brethren and seeing we are Brethren let us acknowledge our selves what we are namely Brethren in the Lord. A day would scarce suffice to rehearse how many and how great incitements do call for and require this To account the weak in Faith for none is indeed it self a greater weakness The name of Brethren is sweet it is matter of great delight to be such indeed But it is much to be lamented that those who are so should not be acknowledged to be so So to stand for Truth that by too tenacious insisting upon Doctrine we make no reckoning of the Rights of Society is to be carried with the study of Parties not of the Truth and to undertake the Patronage of an Opinion rather because it is our own then because it is true Sounder Philosophy determines that the excellency of Union is to be esteemed according to the dignity of the Cause We here pass over in silence the conspiring together of the waters and dry land to make one Globe as also that of the frame of the Heavenly and the Earthly Globe to make one Sphere of the World There may be found an heap of Miracles in the quiet gathering the living creatures into the Ark and their abiding in it where the most savage of them laid aside their savageness being ready to acknowledge Noah for their Lord not much otherwise then Adam in giving Names unto them where might be seen the Wolfe standing amongst the Sheep neither do the Flocks seem affraid of the great Lyons These are indeed very great things but yet if they be compared with the Myst cal Union shining forth in one of the very least of Christs Members there would want words to express how great the distance is To proceed therefore if the Union of a very few Believers be of so great moment of how great account should be the Uniting of all Protestants in the Faith But let us here pause a while and not think much to weigh this matter a little more seriously and we shall finde unless we are much deceived this very Union about which we are treating if it be without hypocrifie and deceit but as the very off-spring and image of the Hypostatical Union and onely next unto it on Earth as to the kinde and like unto which there will not be found any in Heaven no not when Angelical Nature remained in its perfection We do believe indeed and not out of a vain conceit That this Agreement is a bright Looking-glass made of the Blood of the Lamb wherein Jesus himself the Prince of so great a Peace clearly shines forth in passing through which also he doth irradiate the World with its brightness while it stedfastly beholds this clear Looking-glass and by irradiating ingenerates Faith therein In which respect we need not fear to affirm That the perpetual conjunction of all Mankinde established by the Bond of the first Covenant would be by infinite degrees exceeded by it That they all may be one as thou Father in me and I in thee that the world may know that thou hast sent me Joh. 17.21 If the possibility of such a Peace should appear we could not do much in the pursuing the necessity thereof Notwithstanding if we may have leave that this Necessity may be fastned in our mindes as they say with the strongest Nayle before we leave this Exhortatory part of our Discourse we think meet for a Conclusion to adorn and strengthen it with the Sayings of some Famous men tending much unto Peace At Marpurg Luther long since professed That he would not yield this Praise to the Adverse Party that they should be more studious of Concord and Peace then himself From whence arose that famous Concord of Marpurg We finde also Calvin thus expressing himself that he might compose mindes and allay so great Commotions at a time when Contention was grown much too hot But I desire you to consider first How great a man Luther is and in what great Gifts he doth excell and with how great Courage and Constancy of Minde with how great Dexterity with how great Efficacy of Learning he hath hitherto endeavoured to put to stight the Kingdome of Antichrist and propagate the Doctrine of Salvation I have been often wont to say That if he should call me Devil a thousand times that I would yet give him that honour as to acknowledge him the eminent Servant of God But our Davenant most severest of all If the Schismes of Churches might be taken away as without doubt they may I would rather have a Mill-stone hanged about my neck and be cast into the Sea then either hinder a Work so acceptable unto God and so necessary to avoid Scandals or not promote it with my whole heart and all my utmost Endeavours Epiphanius would not that Christians should have any By-name Let the Nick-name of Zuinglians and Calvinists then cease the Marks rather of Faction then of Brotherly Vnion What should we have to do with Luther What should we have to do with Calvin We Profess the Gospel we Believe the Gospel Bellarmine somewhere hath a Catalogue of a great many Kingdomes that fell off from the Papacy whose defection from the Mystery of Iniquity if it hath troubled the Cardinals of Rome how much more would their Uniting together in the Mystery of Piety be a terrour to the Roman Party When the truly holy League shall wholly stand for the Lamb when Humane Endeavours and Dissensions being laid aside they shall onely intend that one thing to afford their mutual help for the promoting of Religion when they shall unanimously carry on the war of the Lord against the Whore as if they were indued with the very Spirit of the Revelation when they shall be called neither English nor Dutch nor Swedes nor Danes but onely Christians If Poets Writings any truth contain Ages fierce Wars shall never more maintain But it is not in our power most excellent Dury to adde our counsel either to the beginning or the preserving this Agreement You are not ignorant that we are Exiles Britains altogether divided from the rest of Europe wherefore we are less fit to perform this Task Neither are we so unsensible of our own weakness as not readily to confess our inability for so great a Service nor is there need seeing we must thankfully acknowledge and own that this office hath

been abundantly performed both by Strangers as well as by our own Countrymen We may here call to minde and not without some sacred sympathy those Blessed Soules Melancthon and Pareus now amongst the Blessed the one no less famous amongst the Reformed then the other amongst the Evangelicks The first of whom going towards Haganoa with sighing uttered these words In Synods hitherto we lived have And now in them return unto the grave The other seriously meditating on the controversie of the Encharist brake forth into these words I am weary with disputing Thus if these men might be Judges we ought rather Pray then Dispute and study how to Live then to Contend And perhaps the Divines of either part after they have been wearied and broken in their Spirits with daily and continual Contentions will more readily accept of the Counsels of Peace which hitherto have been less acceptable while the Sense of Anger remained fresh After by long use they have been taught they may prefer the waters of the Pacifick Sea before those of Meribah Nor need we say That those Honoured Persons and Brethren will perhaps more kindly entertain the Counsels of Peace seeing there are we know not how many Sayings Writings Deeds of Princes Churches and Universities openly testifying That eminent men of both Orders and that not of the lowest Rank have not onely received but taken Counsel together and engaged their helping hand as need shall require from which beginnings it is but meet to hope the best God is able to make them workers of Peace whom he hath given to be Seekers of Peace If otherwise such eminent endeavours shall not want their reward in heaven and their honour in Israel These are piously Heroick Enterprises which as they do oblige all good men so are they to be admired of them Their Praises how great or how little soever as the present age is not altogether silent about them so will posterity declare the rest and perhaps the unknown parts of the World We give thanks unto the Father of Lights with all our hearts who hath put this Work into the minde of Dury savouring of a Spirit more then Humane and hath added also suitable Courage to the promoting so Pious and Apostolical a matter which Task whosoever shall effect if we may be Judges will deserve a more then ordinary Triumphant Statue and whose Monument will so far excel the Trophees of Achilles as if they were not worthy to be mentioned in the same day However the issue of the matter fall yet it is a great deal to have attempted in a great Design Seek the Peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee We give thanks unto the God of Peace who would not suffer the labours of his servant endeavouring after peace to be undertaken altogether without success Therefore most worthy Sir go on in this your strength resting on the prophecy for the desired Concord That it shall be in it 's own appointed time The power which have obeyed the Roman Harlot shall hate her make her naked and burn her with fire For God hath put it into the hearts of the Kings that they should fulfil his will It doth not become those that have a meet understanding of things to doubt of their Agreement in the Faith who are to burn to Ashes the Metropolis of the last Head of the Beast as an enemy to the Faith The Discord of the Kings detaines the Whore on her throne and keeps the Woman in the Wilderness while they are contending amongst themselves It makes all Priamus his house rejoyce And other Trojans to lift up their voice But this their sacred Concord the renowned Sons of Sion cannot but look upon as a forerunner of the Destruction of Rome now at the very doors and accordingly with their daily and most ardent prayers breathe after hope and long for the same Lastly we give thanks to Mr. Dury into whose heart it came to remember Joseph separate from his Brethren at so great a distance both by Sea and Land and who hath vouchsafed with so comfortable a message to visit us poor wretches clothed in Sackcloth for our warfare yet as we trust the Sackcloth of the Gospel who hath not refused to put New-England as a part of the skirt of Aaron's garment upon which hath descended some of the precious Oil into the Catalogue of the so much famed Agreement And who hath by his Letter exhorting unto such Agreement given us an occasion to bring in this Testimony such as it is for our brotherly Communion with the whole company of Protestants professing the Faith of Christ Jesus For we must ingenuously confess that then when all things were quiet and no threatning signes of warre appeared seeing we could not be permitted by the Bishops at that time prevailing to perform the Office of the Ministry in Publick nor yet to enjoy the holy Ordinances without Subscription and Conformity as they were wont to speak nor without the mixture of Humane Inventions with Divine Institutions we chose rather to depart into the remote and unknown Coasts of the Earth for the sake of a purer worship then to lye down under the Hierarchy in the abundance of all things but with the prejudice of Conscience But that in flying from our Country we should renounce communion with such Churches as profess the Gospel is a thing which we confidently and solemnly deny Certainly so far as concerns our selves in whatever Assemblies amongst us the whole Company of them that profess the Gospel the Fundamentals of Doctrine and Essentials of Order are maintained although in many niceties of controversal Divinity they are at less Agreement with us we do hereby make it manifest which yet we would alwayes have understood so as the least part of Truth according to the nature of that Reverence which ought exactly to be yielded thereunto may be preserved that we do acknowledge them all and every one for Brethren and that we shall be ready to give unto them the right hands of fellowship in the Lord if in other things they be peaceable and walk orderly We humbly beseech the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in whose lips is onely power to perswade that he would enlighten Princes Divines and even all who are rightly called Christians from the name of Christ with the lively splendour of such an Agreement and draw them with a Soul-moving Energie to the divine Love of himself As for that which concerns your self the sweetest Follower of Peace We should account it an heinous crime to be wanting unto you in our Prayers to the very God of Peace That he would so preserve your Life your Course and your Work that you may bring unto a Conclusion your so eminent undertaking with so many sighs labours sweatings dangers and with so great charges hitherto carried on if otherwise and that it seem good to the great Determiner of things before this come to pass to advance him that hath been a follower of peace on Earth to the state of a Blessed Saint in Heaven That then he would raise up other Duryes who may bring the work so happily begun to its desired end Your most observant Brethren in Christ The Ministers of the Churches and Preachers of the Word Militant for the Faith of Jesus in New-England John Wilson Pastor of Boston John Norton Teacher of the same John Mayo Pastor of New-Boston Richard Mather Teacher of Dorchester John Allin Pastor of Dedham John Eliot Teacher of Rexbury Samuel Danforth Pastor of the same William Thomson Pastor of Braintry Henry Flint Teacher of the same Thomas Thatcher Teacher of Weymouth Peter Hubbard Pastor of Hingham John Miller Pastor of Yarmouth John Wilson junior Pastor of Medfield Zechariah Symmes Pastor of Charlstown Thomas Shepard Peacher of the same Samuel Stone Teacher of Hartford Jonathan Mitchel Pastor of Cambridge John Sherman Pastor of Watertown Edmund Brown Pastor of Sudbury Edward Bulkly Pastor of Concord Thomas Carter Pastor of Woborne Samuel Haugh Pastor of Reding John Fiske Pastor of Chelmsford John Reyner Teacher of Dover Ezekiel Regers Pastor of Rowly Samuel Philips Teacher of the same Samuel Whiting Pastor of Lyn. John Higginson Pastor of Salem Thomas Cobbet Pastor of Ipswich William Hubbard Teacher of the same Francis Dane Teacher of Andover William Worcester Pastor of Salisbury John Ward Pastor of Haverhil Timothy Dalton Teacher of Hampton Seaborn Cotton of the same Joseph Emerson Pastor of York Michael Wigglesworth Pastor of Maldon William Walton Minister of the Word Ralph Smith Minister of the Word Charles Chauncy President of Harvard Colledge Gershom Bulkly Fellows of the said Colledge Thomas Graves Fellows of the said Colledge Zech. Symmes Fellows of the said Colledge Zech. Brigden Fellows of the said Colledge FINIS