A30587:247
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.
If you say, If men have means of knowledge and strength, and yet continue ignorant and weak, should not such be dealt with as wilful and obstinate?
If you say, If men have meanes of knowledge and strength, and yet continue ignorant and weake, should not such be dealt with as wilfull and obstinate?
No,1 says Christ, I do not go by any such rule, for I have revealed my will in my Word, I labour by my Spirit and Ministers to convince men, yet I see after all means I use, there are many, who merely through their weakness are not convinced, I pity them, I deal gently with them, I pardon them. Those then who will go further, they will punish for every evil; and if they use means to convince them, and they be not convinced, they will judge them obstinate, and proceed against them accordingly; these challenge and exercise not the power of Christ, but Antichrist. If Christ should deal so with them, as they deal with their brethren, it would go ill with them; If Christ should say, whatsoever I see evil in you, ⟨p. 53⟩I will not suffer it in you; if you are ignorant notwithstanding means of light, I will deal with you as wilful and obstinate, and never leave inflicting punishment upon you, till you be convinced, and do reform; could any of you stand before Christ dealing thus with you? Take heed of exercising that power over your Brethren (and that in Christs name) that you would not have Christ exercise over you.
No,1 says Christ, I do not goe by any such rule, for I have revealed my will in my Word, I labour by my Spirit and Ministers to convince men, yet I see after all meanes I use, there are many, who meerly through their weaknesse are not convinced, I pitty them, I deal gently with them, I pardon them. Those then who will go further, they will punish for every evill; and if they use means to convince them, and they be not convinced, they will judge them obstinate, and proceed against them accordingly; these challenge and exercise not the power of Christ, but Antichrist. If Christ should deale so with them, as they deal with their brethren, it would go ill with them; If Christ should say, whatsoever I see evil in you,