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

Hence is the reason why Brethren being fallen out, it is so hard to convince either of them of any ill carriage, they are angry, & they think they do well to be angry, and all because their hearts are hardened. Jonah was in a pettish mood, his heart was hardened with it, let God himself come now to convince him, he stands it out, he will by no means acknowledge himself faulty; no, what he does he will justify, he does well to be angry.

Hence is the reason why Brethren being falne out, it is so hard to convince either of them of any ill carriage, they are angry, & they think they do well to be angry, and all because their hearts are hardened. Jonah was in a pettish mood, his heart was hardened with it, let God himself come now to convince him, he stands it out, he will by no meanes acknowledg himselfe faulty; no, what he does he will justifie, he does well to be angry.

Ninthly, there is much sin in them, for they are a means §9to keep off others from Gods ways; if this be their religion for men to quarrel one with another, I will have none of it: Carnal hearted men use to charge Religion with all the miscarriages of the Professors of it. You know what Saint Paul ⟨p. 206⟩says, 1 Cor. 14. If men speak with strange tongues, and there comes in one unlearned, will they not be to him as Barbarians, will they not say they are mad? Thus when the men of the world look upon those who profess Religion, and see their carriages, their ways strange, divided amongst themselves, will they not think them even mad people? I charge you, says the Church, Cant. 3. 5. by the Roes and by the Hinds, that you stir not up my Beloved till he please. This by some is interpreted thus, The Roes and Hinds are shy and fearful creatures, by them are signified such as are observers of the ways of the Church, and ready to take offence at any thing they see amiss in them, therefore I charge you, say those who are faithful, that you do nothing that may make any disturbance in the Church, whereby such as are observers of your ways shall be offended: If they see miscarriages in you, they will fly off, and of all miscarriages there are none more offensive to the lookers on, then wranglings and contendings; when they see this, they will conclude, Surely this is not the way of Christ.