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

We are to raise our respects to men of learning and godliness thus high; but if we should go so high, as to give up our judgment and consciences to them, we should in honouring them, dishonour Christ, yea they would account themselves to be dishonoured.¹ Such as are truly godly and wise, do rather account it their honour to carry a loving respect to those who differ from them, then desire that men should, blindfold, before they see their grounds, follow them. Prelatical spirits indeed account it their honour to force men to be of their mind; it is their glory that they can say to the consciences of men, Bow down before us. A gracious spirit abhors the thought of such a tyranny. This to high raising respects due to learned, holy men, hath been very hurtful in the Church, prejudicial to the souls of men, but especially to the honour of Christ. I will give you an instance. Erasmus was no novice, yet how dangerously he was taken with this, will appear by a strange expression of his, in an Epistle he wrote to one Bilibaldus: How far the authority of the Church prevails with others, ⟨p. 91⟩I know not; but with me it hath that power, that I could be of the opinion with Arians and Pelagians, if the Church did but allow that which they taught. This you will say is a strange expression, coming from a learned man, and one too, not addicted to the Church that then was in that excess as others were; how then did this conceit prevail with men more weak, who gave up their consciences to others through their blind superstition?

We are to raise our respects to men of learning and godliness thus high; but if we should go so high, as to give up our judgment and consciences to them, we should in honouring them, dishonour Christ, yea they would account themselves to be dishonoured.¹ Such as are truly godly and wise, do rather account it their honor to carry a loving respect to those who differ from them, then desire that men should, blindfold, before they see their grounds, follow them. Prelaticall spirits indeed account it their honour to force men to be of their mind; it is their glory that they can say to the consciences of men, Bow down before us. A gracious spirit abhors the thought of such a tyranny. This to high raising respects due to learned, holy men, hath been very hurtfull in the Church, prejudicial to the souls of men, but especially to the honour of Christ. I will give you an instance. Erasmus was no novice, yet how dangerously he was taken with this, will appear by a strange expression of his, in an Epistle hee wrote to one Bilibaldus: How far the authority of the Church prevails with others,