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

Some men whose calling is only to a private employment, yet having some gifts, and having used sometimes in their Families to take a Scripture, and speak something out of it; upon this they think it is a better thing to be exercised in preaching Gods word, then to fit in a shop all day, at some mean work, or selling out wares, therefore they think they are bound to give over their Callings, which they look at as too low, mean things, and be Preachers of the Word, not regarding those due ways that Christ would have men come into such an employment by. Although I do not think, but that ⟨p. 85⟩Tradesmen, who have good knowledge in the Scripture, and are gifted by God to speak the Word to people for their edification, when there is a want of able men, who have been all their lives preparing for such a work, and are set apart for it, rather then people should continue in ignorance, and so perish (if those who are able and fit to judg, shall judg them meet for such a work) they may be employed to make Christ known to them; yet for every man that takes himself to be a gifted man, and it may be is so judged, by some who are willing to flatter him, to take upon him of himself, or by the advice of two or three of his friends, to leave his other employment for the work of the Ministry, because that is a more noble and excellent work; this is not a way of God, but a way of confusion and disorder.

Some men whose calling is only to a private employment, yet having some gifts, and having used sometimes in their Families to take a Scripture, and speak something out of it; upon this they think it is a better thing to be exercised in preaching Gods word, then to fit in a shop all day, at some meane worke, or selling out wares, therefore they thinke they are bound to give over their Callings, which they look at as too low, mean things, and be Preachers of the Word, not regarding those due ways that Christ would have men come into such an employment by. Although I do not think, but that ⟨p. 85⟩Tradesmen, who have good knowledg in the Scripture, and are gifted by God to speak the Word to people for their edification, when there is a want of able men, who have been all their lives preparing for such a work, and are set apart for it, rather then people should continue in ignorance, and so perish (if those who are able and fit to judg, shal judg them meet for such a work) they may be employd to make Christ known to them; yet for every man that takes himself to be a gifted man, and it may be is so judged, by some who are willing to flatter him, to take upon him of himselfe, or by the advice of two or three of his friends, to leave his other employment for the work of the Ministry, because that is a more noble and excellent work; this is not a way of God, but a way of confusion and disorder.