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

If a man doth a thing that he may do by virtue of two relations or either of them, it may be he thinks he stands in one of those relations which indeed he doth not, yet he doth the action by virtue of it in his own thoughts, in this he sins; but there is another relation wherein he stands, that is enough to warrant the action that he doth to be lawful. Now though he doth not intend the acting by this relation, the action may be sin to him, but not at all sin to those who join with him in it. If he will go upon a false ground, when he may go upon a true, let him look to it. I will join with him in that action as warranted for him to do by virtue of his second relation, which it may be he will not own himself.

If a man doth a thing that he may doe by vertue of two relations or either of them, it may be he thinks he stands in one of those relations which indeed he doth not, yet he doth the action by vertue of it in his owne thoughts, in this he sinnes; but there is another relation wherein he stands, that is enough to warrant the action that he doth to be lawfull. Now though he doth not intend the acting by this relation, the action may be sinne to him, but not at all sinne to those who joyne with him in it. If he will goe upon a false ground, when he may goe upon a true, let him looke to it. I will joyne with him in that action as warranted for him to doe by vertue of his second relation, which it may be he will not owne himselfe.

Take an instance in some other thing, and the case perhaps will be more clear.

Take an instance in some other thing, and the case perhaps will be more cleare.

Giving alms is a work that a man may do either by virtue of Church office, as a Deacon, or as a Christian whom God hath blessed in his estate, or betrusted with the distribution of what others betrust him with. Now suppose a man is in the place of a Deacon, he thinks himself to be in that office by a right call into it, and he gives out the alms of his Church by virtue of his call; but I am persuaded his call to that office is not right, he is not a true Deacon; yet if I be in want, I knowing that both he & those who have given him money to dispose, may and ought to distribute to those that are in need, by virtue of another relation, as men, as Christians, enabled by God, surely then I may receive alms from him lawfully, though his principle by which he gives them me is sin to him. I may communicate with him in this thing, though he acts by virtue of that office that he had no true call unto; why may I not as well communicate with a man in his gifts, though he acts thus sinfully himself?