A30587:913
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.
First, Christ himself is the greatest offence to wicked men that ever was in the world: he is the stumbling stone and rock of offence, thousand thousands being offended at him miscarry everlastingly. Christ foreseeing how many would be offended at him, Mat. 11. 6. blesseth the man who shall not be offended. Some are offended at what they see in Christ; others apprehend whatsoever is in him to be most excellent and lovely, that which they cannot but defend and stand for to the death. He is disallowed of men, rejected by the builders, a stone of stumbling to them: but to the Saints the chief corner stone, elect, precious, ⟨p. 246⟩1 Pet. 2. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Such different apprehensions of Christ must needs divide men.
First, Christ himselfe is the greatest offence to wicked men that ever was in the world: he is the stumbling stone and rock of offence, thousand thousands being offended at him miscarry everlastingly. Christ foreseeing how many would be offended at him, Mat. 11. 6. blesseth the man who shall not be offended. Some are offended at what they see in Christ; others apprehend whatsoever is in him to be most excellent and lovely, that which they cannot but defend and stand for to the death. He is disallowed of men, rejected by the builders, a stone of stumbling to them: but to the Saints the chief corner stone, elect, precious, ⟨p. 246⟩1 Pet. 2. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Such different apprehensions of Christ must needs divide men.
2. Christ comes to make the greatest alteration that ever was or can be in the world, and do we not find that troubles accompany alterations, and above all alterations, alterations in government, and especially such a government as gives no composition, yields no compliance with any thing else? When Christ comes he brings his fan in his hand, he must have his floor throughly purged; he gathers his wheat into his garner, & severs the chaff to be burnt in unquenchable fire. If he comes thus, who shall abide his coming?