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

Thirdly, when the account a man gives cannot in any rational §3way be judged such, giving allowance to all his weaknesses, as should probably mis-lead him so grossly, as is apparent he is mislead. We must grant, that those may be reasons to one which are not to another; but when they appear so gross, as after all allowances to weaknesses, they cannot in any common understanding reach to such a conclusion, we may at least suspect very much, that the evil of this man lies not in his conscience, but some where else; yet we should not do well to be too hastily and violent with such men; it may be a man for a while may be so over-poured, that he is not able to render a rational account of his ways, but wait a while, and deal with him tenderly in love; consider his personal disabilities, his temptations, give him all the allowance you can; if one means prevail not to show him his error, try another; if at one time you do no good upon him, see what may be done at another; consider, is it not possible, that even such weak things may appear to the conscience of a man that hath so many weaknesses, and lies under so many temptations, to be for the present such grounds as he cannot without sin deny; and if so, you had need deal tenderly with such a man, except the grossness of the evil requires severity.

Thirdly, when the account a man gives cannot in any rational §3way be judged such, giving allowance to all his weaknesses, as should probably mis-lead him so grosly, as is apparant he is mislead. We must grant, that those may be reasons to one which are not to another; but when they appeare so grosse, as after all allowances to weaknesses, they cannot in any common understanding reach to such a conclusion, we may at least suspect very much, that the evill of this man lies not in his conscience, but some where else; yet we should not do well to be too hastly and violent with such men; it may be a man for a while may be so over-powred, that he is not able to render a rationall account of his wayes, but wait a while, and deal with him tenderly in love; consider his personal disabilities, his temptations, give him all the allowance you can; if one means prevail not to shew him his error, try another; if at one time you do no good upon him, see what may be done at another; consider, is it not possible, that even such weak things may appear to the conscience of a man that hath so many weaknesses, and lies under so many temptations, to be for the present such grounds as he cannot without sin deny; and if so, you had need deale tenderly with such a man, except the grosseness of the evill requires severity.