A30587:882
Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…
Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and evils of them : with cautions that we may not be hurt by them, and endeavours to heal them / by Jeremiah Burroughs.Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and evils of them : with cautions that we may not be hurt by them, and endeavours to heal them / by Jeremiah Burroughes.
London: printed for Robert Dawlman, 1653
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But you will say, How can we do less but account it a very strange thing, that those who fear God should be thus divided? that dogs should snarl one at another, is no marvel: but that sheep, that those who are godly should do thus, this we cannot but wonder at: for what reason can there be given for it, yea what show of reason can there be imagined?
But you will say, How can we do lesse but account it a very strange thing, that those who fear God should be thus divided? that dogs should snarle one at another, is no marvaile: but that sheep, that those who are godly should do thus, this we cannot but wonder at: for what reason can there be given for it, yea what shew of reason can there be imagined?
If we consider of things wisely,1 we have no such cause to wonder that godly men in this their estate of imperfection should differ so much one from another as they do; For
- 1Answ. Reasons why godly men differ so much one from another.
First, every godly man prizes and seeks after knowledge; ⟨p. 238⟩§1others mind little but their profit and pleasure; they trouble not themselves about the knowing the things of God, except ambition puts them upon it; they care not which way truths go: But the Godly man prizes every truth at a high rate, worth the contending for, to the uttermost, rather then to deny it or lose it. In the dark, all colours be alike, but in the light they appear diverse. While the Egyptians were in the dark, they all sate still, but they moved with various motions when the light brake out upon them: when men discuss things, and desire to see farther into them, it is impossible, considering the weaknesses of the best, and the variety of mens apprehensions, but there must needs be much difference in mens judgements, & then considering that every thing they apprehend to be a truth, their consciences are engaged in it, at least thus far, that they must not deny it for a world; this puts mens spirits at distance, although both be godly, both love the truth equally.