THe aim of Master Dury's Negotiations hath been.

First, to remove mistakes and scanda­lous debates from among Protestants, from whence their Divisions did arise, and by which they have been hitherto fomented.

Then also to bring their minds and af­fections by the acknowledgment of the same fundamentalls of true faith, whereunto they are come; to the observation of the same Rules of obedience, by a peaceable walking in the duties of Christian moderation, and Charitable forbear­ance of each other in the things extra-fundamentall, where­unto they are not come as yet.

To attain this aim he hath put himself upon the work of studying the ways, and solliciting the Counsells of Christi­an amitie and mutuall edification in Truth and Peace, and hath negotiated with all the Churches and the eminent men therein, to gain their assent to those ways and counsels under the countenance and with the permission of the civill autho­rity. To which Negotiation he hath twice applied himself in two Periods of undertaking the work.

In the first Period, from the year 1628. till 1641 hee dealt with the chief leading men of both parties, and with sone of their assemblies in these following places. viz.

In Prussia, at Dantzick and at Elbing; with the Minister and Professors of the School.

In England with the godly learned Non-conformist Mini­sters, such as were Mr. Cotton, Mr. White, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Nye, and others; with the best of the Bishops, such as were Dr. Davenant, Dr. Hall, Dr. Morton, and others; with the best of the Prelaticall men, such as were Mr. Mede, Dr. Fealtly, and others

In Scotland, with the University of Aberdene, with the Mi­nistry of Edinburg, with the Scots Commissioners from time to time sent into England, and with the generall Assembly held at Edinburg.

In Ireland, with the Bishop of Armach, the Bishop of Kil­more, and the Bishop of Ardack.

In the Low-Countries, with the Synods of South and North-Holland, and their Deputies when the Synods were not met; with the Synod of Utrecht, with the Synod of the French Churches; with the Coetus and Classis of Zealand; and with the University of Leyden, and leading men of those parts; such as were Bogermannus, Festus Hommius, de Dieu, and others.

In Germany, with King Gustavus of Sweden at Wirtzburg, and his Divines, who then were with him; with the Divines of Hessen at Cassell; with those of Hannaw, of the Palatinat, of Deux-pont, of Anhalt, of the Wetteraw and of Herborn; with those of the Assemby at Heilborn; with the Ministers at Franck fort and at Mentz, (which then was under the Swedish jurisdiction) with the Universities of Helmstat, of Jena, of Leipsick and of Strasburg; with the Ministers of Nuremburg, of Brunswick of Hildesheim, of Zell, of Hamburg, of Bremen, of Lunenburg, of Lubeck, of Stade, and other neighbouring parts, and with the Protestant States assembled at Franck­fort.

In Switzerland, with the Antistes of Zurich, who in the name of all the other Churches, and with their foreknowledg gave advice.

In France with the Ministery of Paris, of Mets, of Sedan and of Geneva.

In Sweden, with the Ministrie of Stockholm, with the Divi­ny [Page 3]Professors of the Academy of Upsall, with the Colledge of Westerose, with the Colledge of Stregnes, and with the Synod held at Stockholm.

In Denmark, with the Divinity Professors of Coppenhagen, and with the King of Denmark his Chaplain at Gluck­stadt.

In Poland, with the Ministry of Vilna in Lithuania, with the brethren of the unity of Bohemia at Lesna, with the Synod of the lesser Polonia at Oxa, and with the Protestant Polish States at their Parlament.

In Transsylvania, with the generall Synod of those parts, wherein all the cases of conscience incident to the whole work were largely resolved.

From the year 1641. till 1654. the troubles of England ob­liged Master Dury to study for Peace and Unity at home.

In the second Period of his Negotiation abroad, from the year 1654. till 1657. he dealt to gain concurrence and assent to his proceedings.

In England, with the chief Divines of both Universities, and with the leading Ministers in and about London.

In Switserland with all the Reformed Cantons, and their confederates, Zurick, Berne, Glaris, Basell, Scaphusen, Appenzel. Saint Gall, Biel, Neustat, Geneva, Lausanna, Mulhusen, Neus­chastel, and the Grisons.

In Germany, with the chief Counsellours of the Duke of Wirtemberg; with the Agent and chief Divines of the Elector Palatin, whom he appointed to entertain the Negotiation, with the Ministry of the County of Hannaw, with those of Franckfort, with the Churches of Wetteraw in the Counties of Isenburg and Budingen, of Solms and Witgenstein; in the Prin­cipalities of Nassaw at Herborn, at Dillenberg, at Sigen, and at Diets. With those of the upper Hessen at Marpurg; and with those of the lower Hessen at Cassell. With those of Anbalt at Dessaw, at Koethen, at Berenburg and at Pletzkow. With those of Saxonie, at Weimar, at Gotha and at Isennack; with those [Page 4]of Brunswick at Minden, with those of the County of Schaum­burg at the Academy of Rintelen, with those of the County of the Lippe at Detmold, with those of the County of Benthem, at Teclenburg, at Benthem and at Steinfurt; with those of Embden, with those of Bremen; and with the generall Synod of the Dukedoms of Gulick, Cleve, Berg and the March held at Duysburg; and with the Councell of State of the Elector of Brandenburg ruling in Cleve.

In the Low-Countries with the Synod of South-holland held at Dort, with the Synod of Gelderland held at Harderwick; with the Synod of North-holland held at Alckmaer: with the Synod of the Province of Utrecht held at Utrecht; with the Synod of the French Churches held at Middelburg; with the Classis of Walcheren, and the other Classes of Zealand: with the Divinitie Professors of the Academies of Leyden Utrecht, Franeker, Groning & Duysburg, with the general States of the united Provinces; with the States of Zealand at their Provinciall meeting, with the Deputies of the States of Utrecht: with the States of Holland at their Provinciall mee­ting, w^th the Deputies of States of Friesland, with the Deputies of the States of Groning; with the Deputies of the Cities of Overyssell, Deventer, Campen, Swoll. With the Senate of the Court of Gelderland: with the Ministry of Amsterdam; and with Prince Adolf the King of Swedens brother, being at Am­sterdam, with all these except onely the two Synods of Hol­land, (whereof the one had no time to consider the businesse, and by the other it was referred to the civill Magistrates di­rectory) there are correspondents appointed to entertain with Master Dury the prosecution of the work upon the grounds laid in this last Period of the Negotiation, So that from hence forth it wil lye upon us to see that these proceed­ings bee not interrupted, if we will answer our publick pro­fessions and solemn engagements, for the advancement of the Protestant Religious interest against the adversaries thereof.

Which the Representatives of this Nation, and the godly party therein by Pole hath obliged it self unto, before God and the whole Christian world; in three severall Decla­rations.

First in the Remonstrance of the State of the King­dom, published by the Parlament in the year 1641. where the words in the close thereof are these:

Wee will labour by all offices of friendship, to unite the forreign Churches with us in the same cause: and to seek their liberty, safety, and prosperity, as bound thereunto by charity unto them and by wifedom for our own good: for by this means our strength shall bee increased; and by a mutuall concurrence to the same common end we shall bee able to procure the good of the whole body of the Pro­testant profession.

Secondly, in the Nationall League and Covenant, the Godly party which hath entred thereinto, doth in a most solemn manner declare, that our affectionate desire is:

That the success of our proceedings may bee delive­rance and safetie to all Gods people, and encourage­ment to other Christian Churches, groaning under and in danger of the yoak of Antichristian Tyranny, to join with us in the same or like association and covenant, to the glo­ry of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Christ, and the Peace and tranquility of Christian Kingdoms and Common-wealths.

Thirdly, in the Parlament held in the year 1653. the Declaration published the 12 of July is full of this design:

For being addressed

To all Gods people, aswell in neighbour Nations, as in this.

And expressing, A great expectation of the breaking forth of the Kingdom of Christ in all the Earth.

They manifest their faith and hope concerning this businesse by these words:

That God will not suffer his people here to deal fasly with him in his cause, till hee hath accomplshed his great work, and brought about his great ends

Whereupon their earnest praier is put up unto him:

That God would unite their hearts unto himself, that they may bee one among themselvs, and with all the people of God who are members of the body of Christ; and that they may bee fitted and used as Instruments in the hand of God; for a more full and clear revealing of the Lord Jesus, and a right promulgation of the blessed Gospell, and the true interest of his Kingdom, and the advance thereof, that oppressing yoaks may bee broken, and all burthens removed: that his Tabernacle may be fully raised up; and his Temple built by his Spirit, that all his people may have one lip, one heart, one consent, one shoulder to bow down & worship him; that the envie of Judah and Ephraim may bee taken away; that they may be one, in one fold, with one shepherd; that the swords and spears may be turned into plough-shares and pruning hooks, and the Earth fil­led with the knowledg of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea

Now where so many solemn Engagements and Resoluti­ons are taken up and made known; as matters of conscience to be prosecuted in the cause of God, there certainly God will expect some reall endeavours for a performance, chiefly then when the opportunity is so fairly offered as now it is, and not onely so, but when wee are called upon to imbrace it as now wee are.