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

Ye•,¹ a man may be put to some trouble in those ways of §13evil, that his conscience puts him upon, so far as to take off the wantonness of his spirit, and the neglect of means: In times of liberty there is very great wantonness in mens spirits, they stand as in an equal balance to receive truth or error; every little thing casts the balance in many mens spirits, as interest in a friend, esteem from such men of repute in some, in others the credit they conceive there is in being able to speak further to a business then other men, to have a further insight into it then others, and a thousand the like; now to help against such temptations, if there be some trouble ⟨p. 37⟩laid in the way, of that which is apparently evil, so as men shall see there is something to be suffered in that way; if there be no more grains of trouble then may help against this wantonness and neglect of means, I see no reason why any should be offended at this; indeed if there be a mistake, and the trouble be put into the wrong scale, if it be laid in the way of truth, let the sin be upon those who dare venture upon their mistakes; or if so much be put into the scale as will not balance only against wantonness, and neglect of means, but will be a sore temptation to decline the trueth, and rather embrace that which is evil, then to endure so much trouble; this is very displeasing to God: If a man be asleep at a Sermon, his friend may pull his hand, yea he will not be offended though he give him a nip perhaps: but if he should strike him with a staff on the head, so as to make the blood come, or cut his flesh with his knife, this would not be borne.

Ye•,¹ a man may be put to some trouble in those wayes of §13evill, that his conscience puts him upon, so farre as to take off the wantonnesse of his spirit, and the neglect of meanes: In times of liberty there is very great wantonnesse in mens spirits, they stand as in an equall ballance to receive truth or errour; every little thing casts the ballance in many mens spirits, as interest in a friend, esteem from such men of repute in some, in others the credite they conceive there is in being able to speake further to a businesse then other men, to have a further insight into it then others, and a thousand the like; now to help against such temptions, if there be some trouble