A30587:642
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.
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.
Thirdly, Although you cannot for the present communicate §3with the Church, in which you are, without sinne, or bondage, yet you are not presently to withdraw, to gather into another, or to joyne with another, you are bound to give so much respect to the Church, as to continue with much long-suffering, to seeke the good of that Church, to remove the sinne that is upon it, with all good meanes you can. You must beare much with a brother, much more with a Church.
Fourthly, If things were in that ordered and settled way, as §4they ought, there ought to be no gathering of any new Churches without consulting and advising with neighbour Churches, Christ would have all Churches unite themselves, and have conjunction one with another, being all of the same body of Christ: If then there be to be raised a new Sister Church, that expects and is to desire the benefit of Communion with the rest, there is all the reason in the world that the help, advice, and assistance of the other Churches should be made use of in the raising and ordering this Church that they are thus to own in the way of communion with them to whom they are to give the right hand of fellowship.
Fourthly, If things were in that ordered and settled way, as §4they ought, there ought to be no gathering of any new Churches without consulting and advising with neighbour Churches, Christ would have all Churches unite themselves, and have conjunction one with another, being all of the same body of Christ: If then there be to be raised a new Sister Church, that expects and is to desire the benefit of Communion with the rest, there is all the reason in the world that the helpe, advice, and assistance of the other Churches should be made use of in the raising and ordering this Church that they are thus to owne in the way of communion with them to whom they are to give the right hand of fellowship.