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

Thirdly, It is a time also of great mercies; We are afflicted, but not forsaken; and mercies should sweeten our spirits. This Summer hath been a continued miracle of mercies; if our agreeing together, our love to one another were now beyond the expectation of all men, as Gods mercies to us have been beyond, and above all expectation, even such a fruit of mercies would be the greatest mercy of all. But if instead of being sweetened by mercies we are the more embittered one against another, how great is this sin? If we shall take occasion from our victories ⟨p. 213⟩at Naseby, Taunton, Bridgewater, Sherburne, Bristol, to seek to drive out of the Kingdom thousands of godly men whom God used as instruments of so great mercy to us; will not this be sin unto us? God brought us indeed into a wilderness, but he hath there spoke comfortably to us; our wilderness is our way to Canaan. It was the charge of Joseph to his brethren, Gen. 45. 24. when they were going from Egypt to Canaan, See that ye fall not out by the way: We hope God is leading us to Canaan, oh that we could see Christ looking upon us, and charging us, saying, See that you fall not out by the way, do not grudge one against another, let not one say, You are the cause of our trouble, and another say, Nay, but you are the cause of our trouble; let every one charge his own heart, let every man fall out with his own sin as much as he will, but let not brethren fall out by the way.

Thirdly, It is a time also of great mercies; We are afflicted, but not forsaken; and mercies should sweeten our spirits. This Summer hath been a continued miracle of mercies; if our agreeing together, our love to one another were now beyond the expectation of all men, as Gods mercies to us have been beyond, and above all expectation, even such a fruit of mercies would be the greatest mercy of all. But if instead of being sweetned by mercies we are the more imbittered one against another, how great is this sinne? If we shall take occasion from our victories ⟨p. 213⟩at Nazeby, Taunton, Bridgewater, Sherburne, Bristol, to seek to drive out of the Kingdome thousands of godly men whom God used as instruments of so great mercy to us; will not this be sin unto us? God brought us indeed into a wildernesse, but he hath there spoke comfortably to us; our wildernesse is our way to Canaan. It was the charge of Joseph to his brethren,