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

Martin Bishop of Turen was at that time a man of no great Learning, but so famous for Holiness, Charity, and numerous miracles, as the like is scarce written with credibility of any man since the Apostles (for which he is canonized a Saint.) This Martin was grieved partly to hear strictness brought into reproach, and partly to see Magistrates called to the suppression of heresies by the Bishops; and so every heretic taught how to persecute and suppress the truth, who could burget the Emperor on his side: Therefore he petitioned the Emperor for mercy to the Priscillianists, and told him that it was a thing not used by Christians, to propagate sound doctrine or suppress mens errors by the sword: He also avoided the Synods of the Bishops, and refused not only their Councils, but their Communion: Whereupon the Bishops not only despise him as an unlearned man, and one that deceived the people with false miracles; but also suggested to the Emperor that he was a favourer of the heretics himself: Insomuch that Martin hardly escaped suffering with them, through the Bishops calumnies. But the great piety and clemency of the Emperor preserved him; And at last did promise him the saving of the lives of some that were further appointed to suffer, on condition that he himself would communicate with the Bishops. Martin saw that there was no other means to save the life of one that else was presently tody, and thinking that Christ who would have mercy and not sacrifice, would in such a case allow ⟨p. 376⟩it, he promised to have Communion with the Bishops, and so did communicate with them the next day, and saved the mans life. When he had done it he was in great doubt and perplexity about it, whether he had done well or not? and in this trouble went secretly out of the City homewards: And by the way in a Wood as he was in heaviness and doubt, an Angel appeared to him, and rebuked and chastened him, for communicating with them, and bid him take warning by this, lest the next time he hazarded his salvation it self by it. And Martin professed that long after this, the gift of miracles was denied him; but he communicated with the Synod and Bishops no more.

Martin Bishop of Turen was at that time a man of no great Learning, but so famous for Holiness, Charity, and numerous miracles, as the like is scarce written with credibility of any man since the Apostles (for which he is canonized a Saint.) This Martin was grieved partly to hear strictness brought into reproach, and partly to see Magistrates called to the suppression of heresies by the Bishops; and so every heretick taught how to persecute and suppress the truth, who could burget the Emperor on his side: Therfore he petitioned the Emperour for mercy to the Priscillianists, and told him that it was a thing not used by Christians, to propagate sound doctrine or suppress mens errours by the sword: He also avoided the Synods of the Bishops, and refused not only their Councils, but their Communion: Whereupon the Bishops not only despise him as an unlearned man, and one that deceived the people with false miracles; but also suggested to the Emperour that he was a favourer of the hereticks himself: Insomuch that Martin hardly escaped suffering with them, through the Bishops calumnies. But the great piety and clemency of the Emperour preserved him; And at last did promise him the saving of the lives of some that were further appointed to suffer, on condition that he himself would communicate with the Bishops. Martin saw that there was no other means to save the life of one that else was presently todie, and thinking that Christ who would have mercy and not sacrifice, would in such a case allow