Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…

It is a very hard thing to give a judgment,¹ but these notes may help us much in discerning.

1. 1Answ.

First, if I see a mans own private interest is much engaged in what he pretends conscience for, this may be enough to raise suspicion, though it can be no determining rule; for a man may in some things have his conscience put him upon ⟨p. 31⟩that where there is much of his own interest; but this brings him under much suspicion, if the thing be not exceeding clear to the view of every man.

First, if I see a mans owne private interest is much engaged in what he pretends conscience for, this may be enough to raise suspition, though it can be no determining rule; for a man may in some things have his conscience put him upon ⟨p. 31⟩that where there is much of his owne interest; but this brings him under much suspition, if the thing be not exceeding clear to the view of every man.

Secondly, if in the course of a mans life, he appears not to §2be much under the command of his conscience, but can take liberty as he pleases; if indeed a man in the general course of his life appears to be very conscientious; we had need take heed how we meddle with such a man in a way of opposition, except the evil we see now in him be very clear and gross; but that man, who in the common course of his life, can trifle with his conscience, hath deprived himself of the benefit of this plea, as a man may forfeit the benefit of his freedom in the City by misdemeanour: so the benefit that otherwise might be had of such a plea may be forfeited by such looseness of life.