“This is far enough for you to go in judging your brother: ‘Were I in his condition, should I do as he does, I should go against my light. I should act against my conscience.’ But therefore to conclude that he goes against his light, and acts dishonorably, is very sinful. Many carnal men think …
On Implicit Faith
“Such as are truly godly and wise rather account it their honor to carry a loving respect to those who differ from them than desire that men should follow them blindly before they see the grounds for doing so” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 131).
Contra Mundum
“The generality of men thought they did God good service in persecuting those who would not yield to the judgment of others who had a reputation for learning and piety. Those who were conscientious could not yield to their determinations, not seeing the truth of God in them, and this made the stir. While men …
Putting On Airs
“So there is much vanity in bringing forth old truths in novel and affected phrases, as if men desired to be thought to have found out some new thing that yet has not been or is very little known in the world, when indeed upon examination, when it is unclothed of its new expressions, it …
Denying or Affirming
“It is true that at no time and upon no occasion, though your life and all the lives in the world lay upon it, may you deny the least truth, but there may be a time when God does not require you to make profession of everything you believe to be a truth” (Burroughs, Irenicum, …
Disturbing the Disturbed
“Disturbing the corruptions of men who will oppose out of malice is not something to be greatly regarded. When Christ was told that the Pharisees were offended He cared not for it, but made a great matter of the offending of any of His little ones” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 114).
The Devil Loves to Fish in Troubled Waters
“It is a misfortune when men do not care what the divisions are, whether against good or against evil, if their turn may be served. This is abominable and cursed in that man who wishes for, or rejoices in, or seeks the continuance of, divisions for these base ends” (Burroughs, Irenicum, p. 104).
What’s In It for Them
“But it is a misfortune when men love division and desire the continuance of it, first, to maintain that which is evil, and, second, to aim at their own ends, not regarding what public mischiefs come so long as their own private advantages may be served. They do not care what house is on fire …
Applied Catholicity
“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).
Why Some Won’t Learn Anything New
“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).