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

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.

Christ would have no evill punished that is repented of;¹ if it be a known evill, then it must be repented of particularly; if it be a 〈…〉 of ignorance, Christ forgives it upon a generall repentance, although a man should never be convinced of it all his dayes; Yet, says Christ, I discharge him of all these, supposing the rise of his ignorance be not some wilfull neglect: But if it be a sinn committed through wilfulnesse, or continued in obstinately, then sayes Christ, I will have this man smart for such an offence; now comes in the power of the Church-officers, to doe in the Name of Christ what he would have done: But if they goe further, then they exercise a tyrannicall power, if they will punish every thing which they conceive to be evill, whether committed through ignorance and weaknesse, or wilfulnesse 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, sayes Christ, I goe but thus far with my power; If I see any of my Church sin through weaknesse and ignorance, labouring to understand and do my will, and mourning that they know no more, they do no better, I wil passe by all; but if any shall appear wilfull and obstinate, I will deale severely with such a one.