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

CHAP. XIX.

The fifth Dividing Distemper (Rigidness;)¹ the sixth, Rashness, the seventh, Wilfulness; the eighth, Unconstancy.

The fifth Dividing Distemper (Rigidnesse;)¹ the sixth, Rashnesse, the seventh, Wilfulnesse; the eighth, Ʋnconstancy.

1. 1The 5. dividing distemper.

Rigid, harsh, sour, crabbed, rough-hewn spirits are unfit for union; there is no sweetness, no amiableness, no pleasingness in them, they please themselves in a rugged austereness, but are pleasing to none else in all their ways; they will abate nothing of their own, nor yield any thing to others: this is against the rule of the Apostle, Rom. 15. 1, 2, 3. We must not please our selves, but let every one please his Neighbour for his good to edification; and this, according to the example of Christ, who pleased not himself. This is the duty not of weak men only, who had need please others, because they have need of others, but ver. 1. those that are strong ought not to please themselves, but seek to please others: Men who are of austere spirits affecting a gravity which turns to a dull, sullen, sternness, they think it to be the commendations of the strength of their spirits, that they can carry themselves as they do towards others, seeking altogether content to themselves without any yieldableness to others; no, that is but lightness and weakness in men, they are of a more staid and strong temper then to do so: These men by their wisdom do very much sin against the wisdom of the holy Ghost in this Scripture; yea, and against the example of Jesus Christ, who as in his whole course manifested tenderness, gentleness, affableness, amiableness towards weak ones, who were infinitely beneath him, and here is set forth unto us to be one who pleased not himself, far from this rigid harsh temper: Those swords are not