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

Luther in one of his Epistles says, that there was no wickedness, no cruelty, that Zuinglius did not charge him with. And in another Epistle he complains that Corolostadius was more malicious against him then ever any of his enemies yet had been. And as for Oecolompadius, Luther was so provoked against him, as he called him the black Devil. We may see what strange corruptions are working-sometimes in the hearts of godly men.

Luther in one of his Epistles sayes, that there was no wickednesse, no cruelty, that Zuinglius did not charge him with. And in another Epistle he complains that Corolostadius was more malitious against him then ever any of his enemies yet had been. And as for Oecolompadius, Luther was so provoked against him, as he called him the black Devill. We may see what strange corruptions are working-sometimes in the hearts of godly men.

As for the many sects and rents in and presently after Luther's time, they would fill up a large volume to name them, with their several opinions and ways. There is one Schlusselburgius a Protestant Divine, that hath gathered the chief of them together in twelve or thirteen several Books that he wrote about them. There is not any one strange opinion amongst us now, but you shall find it amongst them in terminis, and that so prevailing as to get a strong party to join with it. Only I remember not that one that hath taken some, who though they acknowledge the Scripture, yet think there is no visible Church upon the earth. In after-times whosoever shall read Junius his Comment upon Psal. 122. will find the state of the Church in his time miserably distracted and distressed with contentions. I ⟨p. 237⟩cannot (says he): but be exceedingly moved,¹ when I think of these evils. What shall I do? Shall I hold my peace when the Devil has stirred up so great a perturbation, has kindled so great a fire? Certainly there is such a fire kindled in the Christian world, that unless God looks from heaven upon us, it will consume all: the minds of men are as hearths for this fire, upon which sin burns; the tongues of men, some are the bellows that blow this fire, others as fuel by which this fire burns more and more. That the tongue cannot do to blow up and down this fire, that virulent papers do, dung carts of virulent papers, that is his expression. Yea a great part of the Christian world at this time, seems to be rather like the place of the burning of dead bodies, then the house of Christs flock: are these Shepherds? are these the Sheep of Christ, whom I see to consume away in their miserable burning? Surely they are Shepherds still, they are the Sheep of Christ, and anointed ones still: but many of them in this horrible and deadly burning, remember not that they are Sheep or Shepherds. And thus he proceeds further in pouring forth his soul in most grievous complaints.