The Hartlib Papers

Title:Letter, Sampson Johnson To John Dury
Dating:16 June 1633
Ref:42/13/1A-2B
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        [Greek: to theo euchairein?]
Louinge brother in christ.
On the 4th of this month I receiued yours of the 28 of May, I had preuented you with one from hence but that I differred writinge till some few dayes enabled me with sufficient matter & furnished me with such aduertisments as I doubt <not but> will be welcome to you & with all declare me not to haue been vnmindfull of that most christian office you put me in trust withall:
To giue you an account of all that I haue done both on the way & heere in this place touchinge that pious work you haue in hand, first know, that at Marpurg duringe our stay in that court which was 3 dayes I neglected not to visite the professors & to acquaint them with the charitable intention which is on foote; The first man I went to was Doctor [Fewerburnius? altered] because most famous for his writinges, & specially for that controuersye he had with his brethren the Tubingenses, he after some altercations, sore against my will but not to be auoided vnlesse I would haue betray'd a good cause by refusinge him an answer to some obiections he made, became willinge in this our worke both by his vnfained approbation of it & his promise to further it with all his power; an other Doctor I likewise visited & imparted the negotiation vnto one Doctor Hannekenius a man of a farr more temperate way, & of a more moderate spirit then the former, by whose conuersation I receiued much comfort, & information likewise concerninge the meanes & way which he proposed for the perfectinge of this blessed worke of spirituall concord: the particulars I shall reserue till please the almighty god to graunt vs an interview: I cannot omitt likewise to mention the familiaritye I haue contracted there with a famous Iuris consult of our fayth an old scholler of Zacharias Vrsinus; Doctor Vulteus a great favorer & louer of our nation of profound learninge & most orthodoxe in his religion, this I signifye to you because if your iourney had you through that place
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you may first make your addresse to him whoe beeinge ours will be able to giue you a character of those other professors diuines or what else I had not time to conuerse with all:
To proceed now in the course of my iourney, at Erfurt where wee made but very short stay I could doe litle or nothinge only I mett with a gentelman which came to visite my Lord his name I cannot presently call to remembrance but an acquaintance of my Lord he is & a seruaunt likewise of the Elector, of our religion, & a man of great worth & abilities with whom I communicated this businesse beeinge first put vppon the discource by him vnto whom your name nor<&> labours in this point were not vnknowne, this gentlman as a devout & pious Polititian offers most readily his best seruice & endeauours in this godly purpose of pacification in the Church of Christ:
Next at Leipzicke I did not spare my best industrye but presently repaired to the 2 professors of diuinitye the beeing of one name seniour & Iunior Höpfnerus from these men I first hard what the Lutherane spirit could produce which might be most preiudiciall to this holy worke; they after some short discource fell a declaiminge against Doctor Bergius the Elector of Brandeburghs Preacher, chiefly for 2 thinges which will proue great impediments to this inward brotherwood soe much wished for; first his giuinge out copies of theyr priuate conference at Leipzig contrary to his promise & stipulation to the great scandale of theyre churches which were not made acquainted with any such conference nor euer consented to it, secondly his diuulginge a booke since that time against Doctor Himmelius of Iena, in which they Affirme there ar many passionate passages vnlike his former more modest carrage at the conference & all to gether vnbefitting one whoe would seeme to make ouertures of agreement in matter of christian fayth & doctrine: but after all theyre inuectiue
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they concluded with a ready willingnesse to embrace any meanes or way of holy reconciliation, notwithstandinge these iust causes they seeme to haue of exception against vs, if soe be that the Elector be first moued in the affaire.
Lastly for this court where wee now remaine, my Lord hath had longe discourse & conference with Doctor Hoë & this very day I my self by my Lords order, he after the methode of those of Leipzig hath Laid downe a cataloge of accusations against Dr Bergius, with many protestations how much he has suffered by the publication of that conference which should haue been concealed or at least diuulged by consent if at all but in fine professes that all<none of> these accidents shall stand betwixt him & his conscience [letter deleted] in beeinge an instrument to promote this mysticall vnion of the members of Christs Church which <he> would be ready to purchase with the dearest bloud of his body; as for Doctor Bergius I can say nothinge till I haue spoke with him, but I cannot excuse him for his communicatinge of the copies of that priuate conference at Lipzig soe freely; this weeke or the next my lord is like to take his iourney that way & if he hath any way erred in these actions layd to his charge my whole care shall bee through my Lords meanes to make all well, that these meanes<men> may haue nothinge to obiect against vs which should tend to the Least hindraunce of soe holy <a> worke: I much reioyce <to heare> of the good hopes you giue of the chancelours assistance in [letter deleted] this spirituall consent & harmonye I pray god mollifye his heart & make him a happy meanes of promotinge it:
As for myselfe I shall not faile with all diligence to afford my weake labours in this spirituall haruest & bindinge vp of sheaues of brotherhood for the prosperitye of Christs Church & the flourishinge of the commonwealth in all holinesse, as I haue begun soe I purpose to continue omittinge noe occasion I shall meet with which may serue to this holy purpose councell; I haue deliuered your remembrances in your letter & I entreat you to doe the like for me presentinge <my> best respects to that worthy & pious [word deleted] <warrier> Sir
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Iames Ramsay, to sir Alexander Hamilton, the gouernour, mr Hinderson, mr muat & the rest thus with my continuall prayers for successe in your great businesse & for the increase of gods blessinges on your person I rest
                                Your Louinge freind &
Dresda: Iune 16/6              seruaunt in all christian
     1633                             dutyes
                                  Samp: Iohnson.
For this present there is an armistitium of 14. dayes which haue an end on wetnesday next agreed on betwixt the the armies in silesia the Elector of Saxe & Fridlands; the truce was made after 5. offers of giuinge battaile by the sax-swed. & Brande: forces to the Emperors, without knowledge of the Elector heere till twas done, but beeinge concluded Hoffkirck was sent with letters which declare that twill be much for theyre aduantage, the God of Battaile assist our partye & giue vs this third victorye that wee <may> magnifye & glorifie him through the ruine of spirituall Babilon which is now is now ounce more on the crisis:
All those you[altered] remembred returne theyr salutations to you likewise. mr Whittmore is leauinge vs & goinge for England.
[right margin, Dury:]
              1633
            Mr Jhonson
     scr. Dresdæ ------------6. Iune
     Acc. frft   -----------17. eiusd.