A30587:686
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.
It must be granted that CHRIST by what he ordered the Apostles to do,1 would have all Christians dwelling together, so far as they can, to unite into a body, but there is no such order of Christ, that all that dwell on the one side of the street should be of one body, and all on the other of another body: if they be more then can join into one spiritual corporation, they are bound to join into several, so as they may best, to their own and other Churches edification, and if they should fail in this, not joining in the best way that possible might be, their sin is against that edification that Christ requires, but not therefore the sin of Schism. Who ever they were that bounded Parishes, surely they did not so bound them to the greatest edification of the Church that possible might be, and yet who will say they were therefore Schismatics? But suppose you have joined with any company of Saints in a spiritual corporation, if you now shall uncharitably, unjustly, rashly, and violently break from communion with them, then you contract the guilt of Schism upon you.
It must be granted that CHRIST by what he ordered the Apostles to doe,1 would have all Christians dwelling together, so far as they can, to unite into a body, but there is no such order of Christ, that all that dwell on the one side of the street should be of one body, and all on the other of another body: if they be more then can joyn into one spirituall corporation, they are bound to joyne into severall, so as they may best, to their own and other Churches edification, and if they should fail in this, not joyning in the best way that possible might be, their sin is against that edification that Christ requires, but not therefore the sin of Schisme. Who ever they were that bounded Parishes, surely they did not so bound them to the greatest edification of the Church that possible might be, and yet who will say they were therefore Schismaticks? But suppose you have joyned with any company of Saints in a spirituall corporation, if you now shall uncharitably, unjustly, rashly, and violently break from communion with them, then you contract the guilt of Schisme upon you.
- 1Answ.