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

And whereas it is said, that some will abuse such liberty at this: It is answered, Surely those who are peaceable and conscientious, must not be deprived of what sufferance Christ allows them, because others who are in the same way, are, or may prove turbulent, and do or may not appear truly conscientious. This is as far beneath the rule of Justice, as no sufferance in any thing conceived erroneous, is above it.

And whereas it is said, that some will abuse such liberty at this: It is answered, Surely those who are peaceable and conscientious, must not be deprived of what sufferance Christ allowes them, because others who are in the same way, are, or may prove turbulent, and do or may not appear truly conscientious. This is as farre beneath the rule of Justice, as no sufferance in any thing conceived erroneous, is above it.

Thirdly, whatsoever errors or miscarriages in Religion §3the Church should bear withal in men, continuing them still in communion with them as Brethren, these the Magistrate should bear with in men, continuing them in the Kingdom or Common-wealth, in the enjoyment of the liberty of Subjects: Grant what possible can be granted to the Magistrate in the extent of his power about Religion, to be Custos utriusque tabulae; yet certainly no man can imagine, that this his charge reaches further then the charge of the Church: That he is to be more exact in his oversight of these things, then the Church is to be; for what ever the power of the Magistrate be in these things, yet to the Church especially are the Oracles, the Ordinances, the Truths of God committed. The charge of the spiritual estate of men especially belongs to the Church: Now the Church is to bear with men in their infirmities, though they be ignorant of many things, yea after means used for information. No Church must cast off any from communion with it, but for such things that all the Churches of Christ ought to cast them off for.¹ This is generally held by our Brethren, if a man be rightly cast out of communion with one Church, he is thereby cast out of all; if this be so, then surely many things must be suffered before we proceed to cast out a member, it must not be for every error or miscarriage. Thus Bishop Davenant in his rules for Peace, Those may not be cut off from communion with particular Churches who remain joined to the Catholic Church.