A30587:570
Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…
Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and evils of them : with cautions that we may not be hurt by them, and endeavours to heal them / by Jeremiah Burroughs.Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and evils of them : with cautions that we may not be hurt by them, and endeavours to heal them / by Jeremiah Burroughes.
London: printed for Robert Dawlman, 1653
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. XX.
The ninth dividing Distemper,1 A spirit of jealousy. The tenth, A spirit of contention. The eleventh, Covetousness. The twelfth, Falseness.
The ninth dividing Distemper,1 A spirit of jealousie. The tenth, A spirit of contention. The eleventh, Covetousnesse. The twelfth, Falsenesse.
- 1The ninth distemper.
Envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 1 Tim. 6. 4. Strife and evil surmisings are near of kin. If contentious men can get nothing against their brethren, they will surmise there is something; if they can find nothing in their actions to judge, they will judg their hearts; if there be nothing above-board, they will think there may be something under-board;1 & from thinking there may be something, they will think it is very likely there is something; and from likely there is, they will conclude there is, Surely there is some plot working. But this is against the law of Love, for it thinketh no evil; all the good that they see in their Brethren, is blasted by their suspicion of evil. Love would teach us rather by what appears to judg the best of what appears not,2 then by what appears not to judg the worst of what appears. Suspicion is like some jelly stuff that is got between the joints; if the bone be out of joint, and any jelly be got in, though it be but a little soft stuff, it will hinder the setting of the bone. I confess in these times, because we have been so extremely deceived in those who have been used in public place, in whom we so much confided, there is a great deal of reason that we should be very wary of men, and believe (till we have very good grounds of confidence) with trembling. I remember Melchior Adam in the life of Bucholcerus, tells of a witty counsel of his to his friend Hubnerus, who being to go to the Court to teach the Prince Electors children, at their parting, I will give you, says he, one profitable rule for your whole life, he listening what it should be: I commend (saith he) to you the faith of the Devils: At which Hubnerus wondering, Take heed (says he) how you trust any at the Court, believe their promises but warily, but with fear; you may fear they will never come to any thing. But in the mean time while we are thus fearful of one another, while we cannot trust one another, we cannot join one with another. I have read of Cambyses,