Title: | Copy Letter, John Dury To Stephen Marshal |
---|---|
Dating: | 12 February 1655 |
Ref: | 4/3/79A-B |
[4/3/79A]
Sir.
When I was in the first period of my worke; I wrote some letters in Common to bee imparted unto many; Chiefly to those whose influence I thought might bee greatest towards others (for I cannot undertake to write unto all severally) now I find your Self upon my list, amongst the first. Therefore I make no doubt; but the adresse which I desired to bee made unto you, hath given you by Mr Hartlibs application of himself unto you; that information which the worke then could afoord, & you might desire. Now I am come to the ende of another period in the busines which hath been agitated no lesse succesfully with the Confederate Neighbours of the Cantons, then the former was with the Cantons themselves: & that those who have engaged themselves to concurre with me in this busines may know the further progresse therof, I shall beginne with your self, because it is now come to a greater maturitie then it was then & as your acquaintance is most large & credit with all deservedly in a high esteeme; so the matter henceforth to bee communicated & agitated will bee most considerable & fit for your zeale & prudencie to manage towards your Brethren. I beginne[H alters from beganne?] with the foure Chief Cantons, Zurich, Berne, Basel, & Schaphusen. Then I made a progres Eastward[H capitalises] to their neighbour Confederates St Gall & the Grisons; & of this progresse Mr Secretarie if not Mr Hartlib also hath given you, or will give you an account. I returned to Zurich as to my center; & then set forward againe Westward[H capitalises] to the other neighbour Confederates[H capitalises], which are upon the confines of Burgundie & France. In this progresse I have had to deale, with the Sisters of the French Churches; to insinuate by their adresses the businesse unto them; to gaine in due time their concurrence. The Chief of these are Geneva, Lausanna, & the Citie[H capitalises] & County of Neufchastel. All these are as fully engaged to cooperate & correspond, as I could desire them to bee; & the Lord hath prospered my way so, that since the 21th of December (the day I beginne[H alters from beganne?] this circuit) till the 7th of February (the day I arrived here at Berne) all this hath beene effected; for which his name bee blessed. Mr Secretary & Mr Hartlib will bee able to let you know the particulars; amongst which there is one which I desire specially to recommend unto your care & wisdome; which is the letter, of the Professor of Divinity, at Lausanna a zealous godly man, which upon an occasionall discourse concerning Practicall Divinity I had with him. Hee wrote afterward unto me, when I was gone from him.
[4/3/79B]
[left margin, H: No. 43./]
I have sent also the Declaration of the Ministers & Professors of Lausanna by this Post to Mr Hartlib; whom I pray you to assist with your best direction & helpe both in the management of this affaire with discretion, & in other occasions wherin happily hee may find himself in a strait, for hee is without forecast in regard of himself, if the public requires his service. For I know by manifold experiences, that hee will suffer his very subsistence, & whole livelihood to lye at the Stake rather; then to neglect an opportunitie of furthering a public designe. I never[H alters] yet saw any like him for this; & truly such spirits should bee cherished[H alters], which are foreward even to cast themselves as it were away upon all difficulties; that others may reap the benefit of their paines. Hence it is that hee is as willing a Sollicitor for me in these undertakings for the Churches, as I am willing to have him employed & supported therin by your love & care for him.
As in the formed period I made use of Mr Nye to impart to yourself & Mr Caryll, & Mr Goodwin & others that which I wrote then[H alters]; so now in the ende of this period let me intreat you to doe the like towards him & the rest of the Brethren of your acquaintance, that by the meanes of this common letter; you may have occasion to ripen your thoughts together about the objects which are offered unto you therin, towards the advancement of Peace & Truth in the Kingdome of Christ, through the communion of Saints. Now the Lord direct our Spirits in the way of his love, to performe all our duties heerin without preiudice & partialitie towards every one to whom hee hath made himself knowen by his truth. In it I subscribe my self heartily
Berne this 12th Febr. Your humble & affectionat
1655/54 Brother & servant
Iohn Dury.
[Hartlib's hand:]
To his Reverend and Loving Brother
in Christ. Mr Stephen Marshal.
Preacher of the Gospel of
Christ at
Ipswich.