The effect of Master Dury's Negotiation for the uniting of Protestants in a Gospel's Interest in brief is this 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 acknowledgement of the same fundamentals 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 extrafundamentall, whereunto they are not come as yet. To attain this aim he hath put himself upon the work of studying the ways, and soliciting the Counsels of Christian amity and mutual 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 civil 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 he dealt with the chief leading men of both parties, and with soon 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 Nonconformist 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 Prelatical 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 general 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 cassel; with those of Hannaw, of the Palatinat, of Deuxpont, of Anhalt, of the Wetteraw and of Herborn; with those of the Assemby at Heilborn; with the Ministers at Frank 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 foreknowledge gave advice. In France with the Ministry of Paris, of Mets, of Sedan and of Geneva. In Sweden, with the Ministry of Stockholm, with the Diviny Professors of the Academy of upsal, with the College of Westerose, with the College 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 Parliament. In Transsylvania, with the general 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 proceed. 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 Counselors 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 cassel. With those of Anbalt at Dessaw, at Koethen, at Berenburg and at Pletzkow. With those of Saxony, at Weimar, at Gotha and at Isennack; with those of Brunswick at Minden, with those of the County of Schaumburg at the Academy of Rintelen, with those of the County of the Lip 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 general Synod of the Dukedoms of Gulick, Cleve, Berg and the March held at Duysburg; and with the Council 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 Divinity Professors of the Academies of Leyden Utrecht, Franeker, Groaning & Duysburg, with the general States of the united Provinces; with the States of Zealand at their Provincial meeting, with the Deputies of the States of Utrecht: with the States of Holland at their Provincial meeting, with the Deputies of States of Friesland, with the Deputies of the States of Groaning; 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 sweden brother, being at Amsterdam, with all these except only the two Synods of Holland, (whereof the one had not time to consider the business, and by the other it was referred to the civil 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 will lie upon us to see that these proceed be not interrupted, if we will answer our public 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 itself unto, before God and the whole Christian world; in three several Declarations. First in the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom, published by the Parliament in the year 1641. where the words in the close thereof are these: We will labour by all offices of friendship, to unite the foreign 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 be increased; and by a mutual concurrence to the same common end we shall be 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 entered thereinto, doth in a most solemn manner declare, that our affectionate desire is: That the success of our proceed may be deliverance and safety to all God's people, and encouragement to other Christian Churches, groaning under and in danger of the yoke 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 tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms and Commonwealths. Thirdly, in the Parliament held in the year 1653. the Declaration published the 12 of July is full of this design: For being addressed To all God's 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 business by these words: That God will not suffer his people here to deal falsely with him in his cause, till he hath accomplshed his great work, and brought about his great ends Whereupon their earnest prayer is put up unto him: That God would unite their hearts unto himself, that they may be one among themselves, and with all the people of God who are members of the body of Christ; and that they may be 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 Gospel, and the true interest of his Kingdom, and the advance thereof, that oppressing yokes may be broken, and all burdens 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 envy of Judah and Ephraim may be taken away; that they may be one, in one fold, with one shepherd; that the swords and spears may be turned into ploughshares and pruning hooks, and the Earth filled with the knowledge 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 real endeavours for a performance, chief then when the opportunity is so fairly offered as now it is, and not only so, but when we are called upon to embrace it as now we are. Sir Edwin Sands in his Book called Europae Speculum, or a view of the State of Religion in the Western parts of the World. Pag. 183. THe end (of these unhappy differences in Religion, between the Reformed, and Lutheran Protestant's) will be, that their enemies shall laugh, when themselves shall have cause to weep, unless the graciousness of God, stir up some worthy Princes of renown, and reputation with both the sides, to interpose their wifedom, industry and authority, for the uniting these factions, or at leastwise for reconciling, and composing those differences in some tolerable sort: a work of immortal fame, and desert, and worthy of none other, but of them, of whom this wicked base World is not worthy.