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

First, we must be well grounded in fundamentals, before we make profession of other truths; seldom or never have you known men who in the beginning of their profession of Religion have laid out the first of their strength in Controversies, but that they have vanished & come to nothing in their profession. Be first well rooted in the faith, in the great things of godliness, •he absolute necessary things of eternal life, and then thy searching into other truths of God which are for thy further edification, will be seasonable.

First, we must be wel grounded in fundamentals, before we make profession of other truths; seldome or never have you known men who in the beginning of their profession of Religion have laid out the first of their strength in Controversies, but that they have vanished & come to nothing in their profession. Be first well rooted in the faith, in the great things of godlinesse, •he absolute necessary things of eternall life, and then thy searching into other truths of God which are for thy further edification, will be seasonable.

2ly. Take heed that what thou dost be not out of affectation of novelties, which men naturally have itching desires after. It is very pleasing to the flesh, to convey such things to others, to be the first that shall bring to others, things wch before they understood not, whatsoever the things be. As there is much wickedness in raising up old errors, as if they were new truths; so there is much vanity in bringing forth old truths in novel and affected phrases, as if men desired to be thought to find out some new thing that yet hath not been, or is very little known in the world, when indeed upon examination, when it is unclothed of its new expressions, it proves to be the same old truth, that ordinarily hath been known & taught, and so the man appears to be no knowing man, more then ordinary. Take heed of this vanity of spirit in the holding forth of truth, especially when in public you speak of Gods truths, speak of them with reverence of the name of the great God, as the Oracles of God, clearly, plainly, not in obscure, uncouth, unknown expressions, as the Oracles of the Idols were wont to be delivered in.