A30587:361
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.
3. The truth is maintained, by forbearing that practice which those opinions of men that are contrary to the truth, puts them upon, not doing as they do is a continual witness against them, and so a witness for the truth, & this is a Christians duty at all times, although I must never upon any ground do that which my conscience says is in it self sin, in the least thing, yet I am not ever bound to do that which my conscience says is in it self good (as it may fall out) in some great things. A thing in it-self evil can never be made my duty to do, what ever circumstances it may be clothed with, what ever good I conceive may be done by it; but a thing in it self good, may by circumstances attending of it, be such, as at this time it is my duty to forbear it, so that in not doing it I cannot be charged of a sin of omission, of not living according to what my judgment and conscience is convinced of to be truth, and good.
3. The truth is maintained, by forbearing that practice which those opinions of men that are contrary to the truth, puts them upon, not doing as they do is a continual witnesse against them, and so a witnesse for the truth, & this is a Christians duty at all times, although I must never upon any ground do that which my conscience sayes is in it selfe sin, in the least thing, yet I am not ever bound to do that which my conscience says is in it self good (as it may fall out) in some great things. A thing in it-self evill can never be made my duty to do, what ever circumstances it may be cloathed with, what ever good I conceive may be done by it; but a thing in it self good, may by circumstances attending of it, be such, as at this time it is my duty to forbear it, so that in not doing it I cannot be charged of a sin of omission, of not living according to what my judgment and conscience is convinced of to be truth, and good.
That we may understand yet further our duty of profession so as we may cause no divisions by it,1 let these five rules be considered for the ordering of it.