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

The causes of our Divisions.

The principal cause from without, is the Devil, he seeks to keep his own kingdom free from divisions, but seeks nothing more then to cause divisions in the Kingdom of Christ. The Mahometans, who worship a cursed impostor: The Pagans, who worship the Sun, Moon, and Stars: The Egyptians, who worship Onions, Leeks, Cats and Dogs, never had such divisions amongst them as the worshippers of Jesus Christ have had, and have at this day amongst themselves; for all the former are the Devils kingdom, which he seeks to keep at peace; but he is that envious one who sows the seeds of division in the Kingdom of Christ; hence those who foment divisions amongst Christians are called Devils, 1 Tim. 3. 11. The wives of Deacons must not be slanderers:¹ The word may be translated Devils: women are most liable to the Devils temptations this way, because they are weak, and are in danger to run away with sudden apprehensions without due examination; and what can foment division more then slandering, so far as any, especially in the Church, hath a hand in causing or fomenting division, so far as she is a Devil in Scripture-language, the part of the Devil is acted by them. I remember Cajetan hath a note upon that place in the Gospel, where the devils being cast out of the man, who had a legion in him, prayed Christ that they might not go out of that region; why would they not go out of that region? says Cajetan; He gives this answer, The Devils have certain places to which they divide their work, such Devils to such a place for such a service, and such to another for another service; now these Devils were loath to be displaced of their region, though they were cast out of the man, having further work to do in that ⟨p. 13⟩place: If this be so, surely the Devils that are appointed to cause and foment divisions and dissentions above all regions, love to be in the region of Churches, for no where do divisions such hart as there, and at this time especially; for now the Devils see they cannot prevail to get men to their old superstitious vanities; but some reformation there will be, they now seek to mingle a perverse spirit of division amongst men, hoping they shall prevail here, though they could not hold their own in the former. God put enmity between Satan and the Saints, but it is the Devil that puts enmity between Saints and Saints.