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

Hoc Ithacus velit, & magna mercentur Atridae.

We have often said that some who have kept at the Parliament have served the designs of the King and those about him better then they who were with him. Certainly those who foment divisions amongst us, do serve our enemies turn more then many that are with them. When in our contentions our spirits rise one against another, and we reproach one another, we do not consider, ¹says Nazianzen, how unsafe it is to put weapons into our enemies hands. Yea he thought in his time, though near thirteen hundred years since, the divisions of the Churches to be a great means to further and hasten the coming of Antichrist: for so he says in the same Oration before quoted, I verily fear lest Antichrist should come suddenly upon these our divisions, ²and lest he should take the advantage of these our offences and distempers to raise his power over us. Let those therefore who cry down Antichrist so much, cry down divisions also, lest they prove to serve the designs of Antichrist in a very great-measure, though they think not so.

We have often said that some who have kept at the Parliament have served the designes of the King and those about him better then they who were with him. Certainly those who foment divisions amongst us, do serve our enemies turne more then many that are with them. When in our contentions our spirits rise one against another, and we reproach one another, we do not consider, ¹sayes Nazianzen, how unsafe it is to put weapons into our enemies hands. Yea he thought in his time, though neer thirteen hundred yeers since, the divisions of the Churches to be a great means to further and hasten the comming of Antichrist: for so he sayes in the same Oration before quoted, I verily fear lest Antichrist should come sodainly upon these our divisions,