A30587:927
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.
Thirdly, let these divisions confirm us in the main, and settle us there more then ever; for do we not see that those many sorts of men who are divided, who oppose one another much, yet they all join in the things of the greatest consequence, they all witness against the common enemy? This, says Nazianzen, is the greatest argument of the truth, that it is not overcome by time, neither can enmity one against another put out that little spark of the love of it that is in us, &c. If a mans house stands after many shakings of strong winds, he concludes the foundation ⟨p. 249⟩is good, this satisfies him, though some tiles be shaken off.
Thirdly, let these divisions confirme us in the maine, and settle us there more then ever; for do we not see that those many sorts of men who are divided, who oppose one another much, yet they all joyn in the things of the greatest consequence, they all witnesse against the common enemy? This, sayes Nazianzen, is the greatest argument of the truth, that it is not overcome by time, neither can enmity one against another put out that little sparke of the love of it that is in us, &c. If a mans house stands after many shakings of strong windes, he concludes the foundation ⟨p. 249⟩is good, this satisfies him, though some tiles be shaken off.
Fourthly, let us bless God who hath carried on the work §4of Reformation thus far, notwithstanding our divisions; we were afraid that these differences, not so much between the good and bad, but between the good and good, would have undone all, and yet behold the Lord beyond our thoughts, how infinitely beyond our deserts, hath carried on the work hitherto, so as it gets ground, though it be not so speedily brought to an issue as we would have it.