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

This consideration might be enough to stop us in our divisions, and cause us to think of ways of joining. Plutarch in the forecited place, the life of Pelopidas, says, that the Poets write that the misfortune of Laius who was slain by his brother Oedipus, was the first original cause that the Thebans began to be in such love one with another, to join in that Holy Band before mentioned. If this were cause enough to take us off from our contentions, we have enough of this amongst us. The Lord be merciful to us.

This consideration might be enough to stop us in our divisions, and cause us to think of wayes of joyning. Plutarch in the forecited place, the life of Pelopidas, sayes, that the Poets write that the misfortune of Laias who was slaine by his brother Oedipus, was the first originall cause that the Thebans began to be in such love one with another, to joyn in that Holy Band before mentioned. If this were cause enough to take us off from our contentions, we have enough of this amongst us. The Lord be mercifull to us.

Fifthly, the misery of our contentions in the Civill State is such,§5 as if we be overcome, we are undone, for our outward condition, we and our posterity are made slaves; if we do prevail, yet there is sadness in our conquest. That is a miserable war, which is thus. The Civill Wars of the Romans were such, Nullos habitura triumphos, there was no triumph, but sadness even in the victory.

Fiftly, the misery of our contentions in the Civill State is such,§5 as if we be overcome, we are undone, for our outward condition, we and our posterity are made slaves; if we do prevaile, yet there is sadnesse in our conquest. That is a miserable war, which is thus. The Civill Wars of the Romans were such, Nullos habitura triumphos, there was no triumph, but sadnesse even in the victory.