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

Now then, the rise of the power of Church-governors rising from Jesus Christ, and they doing what they do in the Name of Christ, therefore they cannot punish any evil beyond what Christ would have punished.

Now then, the rise of the power of Church-governors rising from Jesus Christ, and they doing what they doe in the Name of Christ, therefore they cannot punish any evill beyond what Christ would have punished.

You will say, What evils would Christ have punished, and what not?

You will say, What evills would Christ have punished, and what not?

Christ would have no evil punished that is repented of;¹ if it be a known evil, then it must be repented of particularly; if it be a […] of ignorance, Christ forgives it upon a general repentance, although a man should never be convinced of it all his days; Yet, says Christ, I discharge him of all these, supposing the rise of his ignorance be not some wilful neglect: But if it be a sin committed through wilfulness, or continued in obstinately, then says Christ, I will have this man smart for such an offence; now comes in the power of the Church-officers, to do in the Name of Christ what he would have done: But if they go further, then they exercise a tyrannical power, if they will punish every thing which they conceive to be evil, whether committed through ignorance and weakness, or wilfulness and obstinacy, in this they take upon them a higher power of punishing then Christ (according to the tenor of the Gospel) exercises. For my part, says Christ, I go but thus far with my power; If I see any of my Church sin through weakness and ignorance, labouring to understand and do my will, and mourning that they know no more, they do no better, I will pass by all; but if any shall appear wilful and obstinate, I will deal severely with such a one.