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

This you know was the practice of former times, whatsoever evil any forward Professor was guilty of, that was cast upon all, they are all thus; Do you not see that Hypocrites they are? whatsoever their shows be, yet if they have opportunity they will be as vile as any men; enough may be found against the best of them all, if they were narrowly watched; this is their way, they are a company of dissemblers: Such kind of imputations are carried upon the miscarriage of any one, upon all, on purpose to enrage the people against them: We accounted this hard dealing heretofore, let us not now be guilty of such things our selves.

THis you know was the practice of former times, whatsoever evill any forward Professour was guilty of, that was cast upon all, they are all thus; Doe you not see that Hypocrites they are? whatsoever their shewes be, yet if they have opportunity they will be as vile as any men; enough may be found against the best of them all, if they were narrowly watched; this is their way, they are a company of dissemblers: Such kinde of imputations are carryed upon the miscarriage of any one, upon all, on purpose to enrage the people against them: We accounted this hard dealing heretofore, let us not now be guilty of such things our selves.

Some such practice it is like there was amongst the Corinthians, when that foul fact of the incestuous person brake forth, some of them were puffed up, so the Apostle chargeth them; it is a very strange charge that any should be puffed up upon such a thing as that; what was there in it to occasion puffing up? The Answer is this, It is clear there were great divisions in Corinth, some sided one way, some another; now one of them who was of such a side, fell into this foul and scandalous sin, upon that the other side thought they had an advantage against the whole party, and this puffed them up; nay do you not see what one of them hath done? you may by him see what kind of men they are; this made the whole party low in their eyes; they cast the contempt of this one upon all that were associated with him in such a way differing from others: This could not but widen the divisions amongst them.

Some such practice it is like there was amonst the Corinthians, when that foule fact of the incestuous person brake forth, some of them were puffed up, so the Apostle chargeth them; it is a very strange charge that any should be puffed up upon such a thing as that; what was there in it to occasion puffing up? The Answer is this, It is cleare there were great divisions in Corinth, some sided one way, some onother; now one of them who was of such a side, fell into this foule and scandalous sinne, upon that the other side thought they had an advantage against the whole party, and this puffed them up; nay doe you not see what one of them hath done? you may by him see what kinde of men they are; this made the whole party low in their eyes; they cast the contempt of this one upon all that were associated with him in such a way differing from others: This could not but widen the divisions amongst them.