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

But let us tend our work; these opportunities of service that now we have are too precious to give away to them, to be spent, to be lost upon them. How just were it with God to take these opportunities from us, to bring us again into such a condition as we should be glad of a days employment in public service, and then oh how would our consciences wring us, and grate upon us for such ill improvement of them, for such unworthy loss of them when we had them!

But let us tend our work; these opportunities of service that now we have are too pretious to give away to them, to be spent, to be lost upon them. How just were it with God to take these opportunities from us, to bring us againe into such a condition as we should be glad of a dayes imployment in publick service, and then oh how would our consciences wring us, and grate upon us for such ill improvement of them, for such unworthy losse of them when we had them!

5. This time is the time of the trial of our spirits. We never had such a time to try what spirit of love, what principles of union are in us, as now we have; and shall we now miscarry? May it not be justly thought that all our seeming love one to, & closing one with another formerly, was only for our own ends? Before we were all under oppression, or at least the fears of it, when we looked upon our selves as in the same condition. then the trial was not so much: but now there is some difference made in the condition of godly men. Some have the times smiling upon them more then others; now is the time of trial. The time of the trial of the spirit of Pharaohs Butler towards Joseph, was when he was out of prison, enjoying his preferment at the Court, & Joseph remained still in prison. Perhaps while they were fellow-prisoners he might tell Joseph that his heart did close much with him, and if he had any opportunity to be useful to him, oh what a happiness should he think it to himself! Surely it should be ⟨p. 215⟩improved for the good of Joseph to the uttermost. But when he was preferred, when he had respect amongst great ones, and Joseph still was kept low, then he is not the same man that he was when he was Josephs fellow-sufferer. Now he hath other things in his head: Joseph is forgotten by him. Where this evil is, be sure God will find it out: for it is an evil very grievous to his Spirit. Put these together, and it will appear that it is no time now to contend, whatsoever we do at other times. I remember I have read of Sir Francis Drake, having a dear friend of his slain by a bullet as he sate with him at supper, Ah says he, I could grieve for thee, but now is no time for me to let down my spirits. So when any shall do such things as might cause contention, do you speak to your own heart, Ah I find my anger stirred; I could contend, but now is no time for me to let my spirits rise in a contending way; these times call for peace and union, not for strife and debate. This is the 11. aggravation we are divided in such a time as this.