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

Sixthly, This lays a great temptation to idleness and pride before the guides of the Church: Men are naturally subject to sloth, and may not this principle suggest such a temptation as this? What need we take care or pains to search into truths, to be able to convince gain-sayers, to c•r•y things with strength ⟨p. 63⟩of Scripture & Reason, seeing we have power to compel men to yield to us? And men who can do least by Reason and Scripture, are many times strongest in their violence this way, this strength must come in to make up their other weakness. But it may be Conscience will not let them compel men presently; it will tell them they must seek first to convince men: but because the seeking to satisfy other mens consciences in things differing from us, is a troublesome work, the temptation that this principle presents, may at least prevail thus far, that seeing besides means of conviction by arguing they have another help at hand to keep down error, namely, compulsory violence, making men who differ from them, to suffer for those things; therefore not to trouble themselves very much in the way of seeking to convince, but for their own ease to rid their hands of such a burdensome work, to cast the trouble, and lay heavy burdens upon their brethren, this is easy for them to do, though hard for their brethren to suffer; But the Tables may turn one day, wherein the sufferers shall have the greatest ease, & the inflicters the sorest burden. But God forbid that their brethren should lay it upon them, though it were put into their power to do it.

Sixtly, This lays a great temptation to idleness and pride before the guides of the Church: Men are naturally subject to sloth, and may not this principle suggest such a temptation as this? What need we take care or pains to search into truths, to be able to convince gain-sayers, to c•r•y things with strength ⟨p. 63⟩of Scripture & Reason, seeing we have power to compel men to yeeld to us? And men who can do least by Reason and Scripture, are many times strongest in their violence this way, this strength must come in to make up their other weaknesse. But it may be Conscience will not let them compell men presently; it will tell them they must seek first to convince men: but because the seeking to satisfie other mens consciences in things differing from us, is a troublesom work, the temptation that this principle presents, may at least prevail thus far, that seeing besides means of conviction by arguing they have another help at hand to keep down error, namely, compulsory violence, making men who differ from them, to suffer for those things; therefore not to trouble themselves very much in the way of seeking to convince, but for their owne ease to rid their hands of such a burthensom work, to cast the trouble, and lay heavy burdens upon their brethren, this is easie for them to do, though hard for their brethren to suffer; But the Tables may turn one day, wherein the sufferers shall have the greatest ease, & the inflicters the sorest burthen. But God forbid that their brethren should lay it upon them, though it were put into their power to do it.