A30587:747
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, they hinder the freedom of a mans spirit, which a wise man sets a high price upon: the strength of many mens spirits is spent in contentions, they have no command of them to any thing else. When a man is once engaged in a contest, he knows not how to get off; Contention is a great snare to a man, ⟨p. 191⟩he wishes he had never meddled with it, he is weary of it, but knows not how to come off fairly. I have read of Francis the first, King of France, consulting with his Captains how to lead his Army over the Alps, into Italy, whether this way or that way; Amarill his Fool sprung out of a corner where he sate unseen, and bad them rather take care which way they should bring their Army out of Italy back again. It is easy for one to interest himself in quarrels, but the difficulty is to be disengaged from them when you are in.
Secondly, they hinder the freedome of a mans spirit, which a wise man sets a high price upon: the strength of many mens spirits is spent in contentions, they have no command of them to any thing else. When a man is once engaged in a contest, he knows not how to get off; Contention is a great snare to a man, ⟨p. 191⟩he wishes he had never medled with it, he is weary of it, but knowes not how to come off fairely. I have read of Francis the first, King of France, consulting with his Captaines how to lead his Army over the Alpes, into Italy, whether this way or that way; Amarill his Foole sprung out of a corner where he sate unseene, and bad them rather take care which way they should bring their Army out of Italy back again. It is easie for one to interest himselfe in quarrels, but the difficulty is to be disengaged from them when you are in.
Thirdly, they hinder the good of the body; many men contending §3with their Brethren are so full of stomach, that they have no stomach, they hinder their sleep; men lye tossing up & down a great part of the night, sometimes whole nights, musing, plodding and contriving, how they may make their party good, what advantages they may get of those they contend with. Have the thoughts about the breach sin hath made between God and thy soul,