A30587:641
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.
Secondly, yet where these causes are not, but men may communicate §2without sin, professing the truth, and enjoy all ordinances, as the freemen of Christ. Men must not separate from a Church, though there be corruption in it, to gather into a new Church which may be more pure, and in some respects more comfortable. First, because we never find the Saints in Scripture separating or raising Churches in such a case: and secondly, There would be no continuance in Church fellowship, if this were admitted: for what Church is so pure, and hath all things so comfortable, but within a while another Church will be more pure, and some things will be more comfortable there? The general peace of the Church should be more regarded by us, then some comfortable accommodations to our selves.
Secondly, yet where these causes are not, but men may communicate §2without sinne, professing the truth, and enjoy all ordinances, as the freemen of Christ. Men must not seperate from a Church, though there be corruption in it, to gather into a new Church which may be more pure, and in some respects more comfortable. First, because we never finde the Saints in Scripture seperating or raising Churches in such a case: and secondly, There would be no continuance in Church fellowship, if this were admitted: for what Church is so pure, and hath all things so comfortable, but within a while another Church will be more pure, and some things will be more comfortable there? The generall peace of the Church should be more regarded by us, then some comfortable accommodations to our selves.
Thirdly, Although you cannot for the present communicate §3with the Church, in which you are, without sin, or bondage, yet you are not presently to withdraw, to gather into another, or to join with another, you are bound to give so much respect to the Church, as to continue with much long-suffering, to seek the good of that Church, to remove the sin that is upon it, with all good means you can. You must bear much with a brother, much more with a Church.