"Thus Bishop Davenant, in his rules for peace, writes, 'Those may not be cut off from communion with particular churchces who remain joined to the catholic church'" (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 97). … [Read more...]

"Many have hidden their eyes from those truths that would have kept them from conformity because they foresaw what said consequences would follow, if their consciences should not suffer them to conform" (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 94). … [Read more...]

"Men are naturally subject to sloth, and may not this principle [of coercion in conscience] suggest such a temptation as this? Why need we take care or pains to search into truths, to be able to convince gainsayers, to carry things with strength of Scripture and reason, seeing we … [Read more...]

"Though justice were to be managed by the most holy, wise, self-denying, and meek men upon the earth, yet there would be much danger in winding it up to the highest. For it is administered by men full of infirmities; there God will not have it strained too high. He will rather … [Read more...]

"Compulsion in such things as we are speaking of is to strain justice so high as to make it the peak of justice, which is the degeneration of it . . . If justice is wound up a peg too high it breaks" (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 83). … [Read more...]

"Some think all things should be suffered, and they are loose and cause divisions on the one hand. Others think nothing is to be suffered, and these are rigid and cause divisions on the other hand" (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 69). … [Read more...]

"If we have attained but to six, and our brethren have attained to seven, let us walk together lovingly to the six. If God shall later reveal the seventh (we will promise to pray and study in the meantime), we shall walk with them also. Why must it now be urged with violence, so … [Read more...]

"[W]e cannot be ignorant that there is a generation of men who are vexed when they hear how near their brethren come to them by way of agreement. It serves more to their advantage to have the distance wide. They would keep open the wounds, yea, widen them" (Burroughs, Irenicum, … [Read more...]

"If a man is proud and turbulent in his carriage, by that you may know the devil is rather in the will than in the conscience. Though an erroneous conscience may cause one to hold fast an error,yet it does not cause proud, scornful, turbulent behavior" (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. … [Read more...]