The Hartlib Papers

done on your Part at home towards & <a> further concurrence, in the meane time Mr Hartlibs informations[altered from information] I hope will make some preparatorie Impressions to fitte you to receive that which is like to follow: for I see that God doth go along with the worke; & makes things reddie for our hand beyond our expectation; for that which I was suggesting & wishing the Evangelicall Cantons to doe; & wherin I found them slow, God hath another way [word deleted] <H: mooved> them to effect; I was at the Chief of them now & then, to write into Sweden to congratulate this new King[H alters from Kings] his coronation, & in the ende to recommend unto him the Common Interest of Protestants, in bringing them to a neerer union; this now is done by them upon a stronger motive then[H alters] I could bring forth; for one of their owne nation who lives in Sweden in the Qualitie of a Minister to such of our profession who have had a freedome there to exercise their worship without Molestation in privat ever since I first <H: went> into those parts; this Minister I say hath written hither to the Chief preacher of Zurich his cosen, & tells him that an Earle about the King in chief favour, sent for him, & in his cabinet privatly discoursed with him, to shew that Kings inclination towards the Union of Protestants & willed him to write to his friends in Switzerland to give them assurance therof; & to will them to congratulate him in his preferment to the Crowne, & to recommend unto him the busines of a neerer[H alters from neer] union amongst Protestants; that hee would himself present the letter to the King & procure the Answer: this intimation comming from thence, hath done the worke: for the letter is written & I beleeve sent by this time. Upon this ground of Providence leading me, I have begunne[H alters from beginne] to make use of the Declaration which the Ministerie of Sweaden gave me fifteen[altered] yeares ago; which hath lyen dormant for want of opportunitie, all this

while to improove it, it tends to shew upon what termes they would have the rent removed & unitie professed: which are briefly these 1. That wee should hold forth our agreement in fundamentall truths. 2. That wee should reiect errors destructive to the foundation. 3. That a mutuall Toleration should bee used in ceremoniall matters. 4. That a cleer way of dealing without ambiguities should bee used in the expression of the agreement. 5. That the errors condemned should not bee suffered to spread againe. 6. That needles disputes should bee awoided. 7. That former reproaches & injuries should bee silenced & put to oblivion. 8. That the Apostolicall Rules[H capitalises] of walking in societies under ordinances may bee setled & observed. These eight conditions as demands from the Church of Sweden requisite to settle a Religious correspondencie amongst Protestants; I have beginne to propose here to the Chief leading men to move[H alters] them to think theron, to declare their liking of them, & to forecast how the agreement may bee setled according of <H: to> the Tenor of them, & to entertaine this in Secret among themselves without making any noise therof towards Lutherans or Swedes, till the Reformed side have ripened their thoughts concerning the propositions which I have made unto them to settle our owne correspondencie first within ourselves, that then beginning with the Swedes upon the ground of their owne demands, & under the conduct of their King, wee may make an offer unto them; to accept of the conditions of Peace, which they require should bee accomplished; & shewing[H alters] the way how they should bee accomplished from Gods word, in the exercise of that love & libertie, which is proper to the Gospell, wee may

come to some solemne treatie & ratification of our unitie, in the bond of Peace. This overture[H alters from ouverture] from Sweden hath thus opened my thoughts, & drawen them forth to prepare these men towards a more distinct application of our Generall way unto these objects; & this I [are?] <H: am> willing to acquaint your Honour with all, that you[H alters from your] may see what the finger of God doth seeme to point at in this busines; & that you would lay it to heart in your prayers; & as your heart shall mone you to cooperat by Counsell in due time to suggest unto his Highness that which you shall think most expedient for the further countenancing[altered] of the busines in due time; I shall not cease to call upon the Lord for his assistance & direction unto his Highness & your self in all your affaires; & as you shall find me ledde in the truth to serve the Lord, so I hope you will endevour to assist me; & incline his Highness to favour the worke & countenance me in it; who shall alwayes endevour to approve my self in this & all other duties.