A30587:283
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 it be said, But we will take care that those men who shall be consulted withal, and those men who shall have power in their hands to determine, shall be wise, understanding, godly men, and then the danger will not be so great.
If it be said, But wee will take care that those men who shall be consulted withall, and those men who shall have power in their hands to determine, shall be wise, understanding, godly men, and then the danger will not be so great.
Suppose those men who for the present have such power,1 have attained to the highest measure of of knowledge and godliness that can be imagined to be in any men upon the earth, yet the people are under this temptation, to neglect the getting of knowledge themselves; and it may be the rather, because those who are appointed to determine things, are so understanding and so conscientious; now these people growing ignorant; when these knowing and godly men who are now in place, shall be gone, who shall choose other in their places? I suppose it to be the opinion of most of you, and of the godly in the Kingdom, and in all Reformed Churches, that either the body of the Church, the people must choose their Officers, or at least, that none must be put upon them without their consent. Well then, if the people through the prevailing of the former temptations grow ignorant, is it not like they will choose such guiders and leaders as themselves are? or if they shall not choose, yet their negative voice will have such an influence into the choice, as it is very probable, that in a generation or two, blind guides will be brought in, and so the blind leading the blind. And when by this ignorance hath ⟨p. 65⟩prevailed and gotten head in the Church, there is almost an impossibility ever to get it out again; this brings men into the dark, and locks and bolts the doors upon them.