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

First, if a man should believe or do any thing before he sees §1some other grounds besides their judgments or examples, though the thing were in it self never so good, yet it would be sin to him. If indeed this were enough to answer Christ, Lord, I am a poor weak man, I cannot find out thy truths my self, therefore I seeing learned godly men to be of such a judgement, and doing such things, I thought it too much presumption for me to differ from them, therefore I also believed it to be true, and practised accordingly. This were an easy way for people to agree, and it might well be judged obstinacy to gainsay. But this account Christ will not take, for he tells us, Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin, and the judgments and practices of godly learned men, he never made to be the rule of faith.

First, if a man should believe or do any thing before he sees §1some other grounds besides their judgments or examples, though the thing were in it selfe never so good, yet it would be sin to him. If indeed this were enough to answer Christ, Lord, I am a poore weake man, I cannot find out thy truths my self, therefore I seeing learned godly men to be of such a judgement, and doing such things, I thought it too much presumption for mee to differ from them, therefore I also believed it to be true, and practised accordingly. This were an easie way for people to agree, and it might well be judged obstinacy to gainsay. But this account Christ will not take, for he tells us, Whatsoever is not of faith, is sinne, and the judgments and practices of godly learned men, he never made to be the rule of faith.

2ly. If God in revealing his mind to men, always did it §2according to the proportion of their gifts and graces, then it were too much boldness for any to differ from those who are most eminent; but experience tells us it is otherwise, as God causeth his rain to fall upon one field, and not upon another; and as the wind blows where it lists, so are the workings of the Spirit of God upon men. Although he reveals to all his Saints whatsoever is absolutely necessary to salvation, yet for other truths, a man of eminent parts shall know one, another of weaker shall know another. David was a man as eminent for parts, & was filled with the Spirit of God as much as Nathan, both in regard of Prophecy and godliness; yet sometimes that was revealed to Nathan, which was kept hid from David. When the Book of the Law was found, and read