The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

And it is not Pilate's hypocritical washing of his hands, that will excuse him: Nor the Romish Clergies disclaiming to meddle in a judgement of blood, which will reconcile the minds of sufferers to them, as long as they are Masters of the Inquisition, or deliver them up to the secular power, and excommunicate and depose the temporal Lords who will not do such execution as they require.

Though I have some where else mentioned it, I will again request the Reverend Pastors of the Church, to peruse the story of Idacius and Martin in Sulpitius Severus. The sum of it is this. Priscillian and many others (some Bishops and some Presbyters and some private persons) were zealous in religion, but heretical (Gnostics saith Sulpitius:) Ithacius and Idacius were two Orthodox Bishops who were very hot against these heretics: Both of them men of rash and haughty spirits, and one of them at least (saith ⟨p. 374⟩Sulpitius) an injurious person that scarce cared what he said or did by others (see what persons a good cause may be defended by.) These Bishops drew in the Bishops of the neighbouring Churches, & in their Synods first condemned the Priscillianists; and next provoked the Emperor against them. The Priscillianists found that if that were the way, an Emperors Court was not so Orthodox or constant, but there might be as good hopes for them: And therefore they got a powerful friend in Court to undertake their business, and got the better of the Bishops: The Bishops being born down for a time, at last Maximus was proclaimed Emperor, and came over with power and victory into Germany (such another as Cromwell, who by the Bishops was accounted a very Religious Christian, but usurped the Empire, and fought against and killed one of the Emperors, and pretended that the soldiers made him Emperor against his will.) This Maximus (whether sincerely or for his own advantage is unknown) did take part with the Orthodox and greatly honour the Bishops and promote Religion, and got a great deal of love and honour. Ithacius and Idacius and the rest of the Bishops apply themselves to Maximus against the Priscillianists; who hearkened to them, and to please them put Priscillian and some others to death, and punished others by other ways of violence. The more rude ungodly sort of Christians, so far concurred or over-went the Bishops, that they turned their fury against any that seemed more Religious than their neighbours: so that if any one did but fast and pray more, and read the Scriptures