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

3ly. If men go upon this principle, they will be in danger of opposing truth as well as falsehood, and compelling to falsehood as well as to truth; for in matters doubtful & controversial amongst good and peaceable men, it is not easy to have any such grounded confidence, as to be out of all danger of mistake; there is more confidence needful in a thing that we impose upon others, then in what we practice our selves; If a thing be to us rather true then otherwise, we may lawfully do it; but this is not enough to be a ground for the imposing it upon others, who cannot see it to be a truth; in such a case we had need be very sure. The weak drislings of our probabilities, guesses, & opinions, are not enough to cause the stream of another mans conscience to stop▪ yea to turn its course another way; especially considering, that in such things we have oftentimes misgiving thoughts our selves; yea, and not long since we were confident, that what we now condemn was true; and what we now are ready to enjoin others, we then did as confidently condemn. There must be great care taken, that when we seek to pluck up tares, we pluck not up the wheat also; this may be understood of things, of truths and falsehoods, as well as of persons; we may be mistaken in the one as well as in the other. Pluck not up the tares. Christ does not forbid casting out any wicked men from the Church; but as ⟨p. 59⟩Hierome hath it, in those Countries tares were very like the wheat; therefore take heed, says Christ, what you do in plucking up; when you have to deal with men whose condition is any way doubtful, be sure they be hypocrites, or else meddle not with them, do not pluck them up upon every surmise, because you think they are not right, for then you may pluck up a wheat as well as a tare, he may prove to be a godly man; therefore you had better let tares grow; If you do but think that such men are not right, you were better let them continue in the Church, then by venturing upon them, to be in danger to pluck up the wheat.

3ly. If men goe upon this principle, they will be in danger of opposing truth as well as falshood, and compelling to falshood as well as to truth; for in matters doubtful & controversal amongst good and peaceable men, it is not easie to have any such grounded confidence, as to be out of all danger of mistake; there is more confidence needfull in a thing that we impose upon others, then in what we practice our selves; If a thing be to us rather true then otherwise, we may lawfully do it; but this is not enough to be a ground for the imposing it upon others, who cannot see it to be a truth; in such a case we had need be very sure. The weak drislings of our probabilities, guesses, & opinions, are not enough to cause the stream of another mans conscience to stop yea to turne its course another way; especially considering, that in such things we have oftentimes misgiving thoughts our selves; yea, and not long since we were confident, that what wee now condemne was true; and what we now are ready to enjoyn others, we then did as confidently condemn. There must be great care taken, that when we seek to pluck up tares, wee plucke not up the wheat also; this may be understood of things, of truths and falshoods, as wel as of persons; we may be mistaken in the one as well as in the other. Pluck not up the tares. Christ does not sorbid casting out any wicked men from the Church; but as