A30587:234
Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…
Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and evils of them : with cautions that we may not be hurt by them, and endeavours to heal them / by Jeremiah Burroughs.Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and evils of them : with cautions that we may not be hurt by them, and endeavours to heal them / by Jeremiah Burroughes.
London: printed for Robert Dawlman, 1653
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It is not what men say they see no reason for,1 or what it may be they indeed see no reason for; but what men cannot see reason for, though they should bend their understandings, and strength to the uttermost; yea, what the generality of man kind, and of that community of which a man is, cannot possibly see reason for, it is impossible for the generality of mankind, & the community of any Church or State, though they should be never so diligent to find out what is good, and what is evil, yet to be able to understand every thing that is evil, to be so.
It is not what men say they see no reason for,1 or what it may be they indeed see no reason for; but what men cannot see reason for, though they should bend their understandings, and strength to the uttermost; yea, what the generality of man kind, and of that community of which a man is, cannot possibly see reason for, it is impossible for the generality of mankind, & the community of any Church or State, though they should be never so diligent to find out what is good, and what is evill, yet to be able to understand every thing that is evill, to be so.
- 1Answ.
If you will have laws made against all things, that such as are in authority conceive to be evil, then you must give them power to judge, not only by the rules of common justice and equity, and punish for the breach of them, but by the apprehensions that their own raised parts shall suggest unto them, and to punish men for not being raised to that height of understanding themselves have; but this power is more then is fit to be given to any men upon earth. This would bring tyranny both in State and Church.
If you will have laws made against all things, that such as are in authority conceive to be evill, then you must give them power to judge, not only by the rules of common justice and equity, and punish for the breach of them, but by the apprehensions that their own raised parts shall suggest unto them, and to punish men for not being raised to that height of understanding themselves have; but this power is more then is fit to be given to any men upon earth. This would bring tyranny both in State and Church.