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

Sixthly, these divisions do grieve and offend our Brethren, this should not be a light matter to us, Christ accounts it a great ⟨p. 203⟩evil to offend one of his little ones: We may think it a little matter to give offence to some of Gods people who are poor and mean in the world, so long as we have the bravery of it, and the countenance of great men, no matter for them. But (friend) whatsoever slight thoughts thou hast of it, Christ thinks it a great matter; you may look upon them as under you, the times favour you more then them; but if you shall give them cause to go to God, to make their moans to him, of any ill usage they have had from you; Lord thou knowest I was for peace to the uttermost that I could, so far as I was able to see thy Word for my guide; but these who heretofore were as Brethren to me, now their spirits are estranged, their hearts are embittered, their words, their carriages are very grievous, and all because I cannot come up to what their opinions, their ways are; certainly this would prove very ill to you, regard it as lightly as you will; it may be when others carry themselves towards you otherwise then you expected, you vent your selves against them in quarrelling, in giving ill language, in vilifying and scorning, your strength runs out this way; but there are a generation of men, who being wronged, improve their strength in patient bearing, yet in making their moan to God in the exercise of faith, in committing their cause to him.

Sixthly, these divisions doe grieve and offend our Brethren, this should not be a light matter to us, Christ accounts it a great ⟨p. 203⟩evill to offend one of his little ones: We may thinke it a little matter to give offence to some of Gods people who are poore and meane in the world, so long as we have the bravery of it, and the countenance of great men, no matter for them. But (friend) whatsoever slight thoughts thou hast of it, Christ thinks it a great matter; you may look upon them as under you, the times favour you more then them; but if you shall give them cause to goe to God, to make their moanes to him, of any ill usage they have had from you; Lord thou knowest I was for peace to the uttermost that I could, so farre as I was able to see thy Word for my guide; but these who heretofore were as Brethren to me, now their spirits are estranged, their hearts are imbittered, their words, their carriages are very grievous, and all because I cannot come up to what their opinions, their ways are; certainly this would prove very ill to you, regard it as lightly as you will; it may be when others carry themselves towards you otherwise then you expected, you vent your selves against them in quarelling, in giving ill language, in vilifying and scorning, your strength runs out this way; but there are a generation of men, who being wronged, improve their strength in patient bearing, yet in making their moan to God in the exercise of faith, in committing their cause to him.