Irenicum to the Lover of Truth and Peace, Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
The fourth dividing Principle, Diviſion is the beſt way to maintaine Dominion.
THis is Machiavels principle,The 4… dividing Principle▪ Divide & regna. When Diviſion is got into ſuch a Principle as hath not only in the bowels of it, that is ſomething to foment it by what may be drawn from it; but when the principle carries diviſion in the very face of it, not collaterally, or by conſequent avowing it, but directly & immediately juſtifying it, then it grows ſtrong indeed, who can ſtand before it? When this is brought down to the people, it is expreſſed by that Proverbiall ſpeech, It is good fiſhing in troubled waters. The diviſions of the times are our advantages. Some mens ends are beſt ſerved, when church and State are moſt divided. They never had ſuch comings in as now they have. It is true, it may be deſired that men in evil things ſhould not agree, that they may be like the witneſſes that came againſt Chriſt, who could not agree in their teſtimony. Paul caſt a bone of diſſention between the Phariſees and Sadduces.
But when men love diviſion, and deſire the continuance of it; Firſt, to maintain that which is evill; Secondly, to aime at their owne ends, not regarding what publike miſchiefes come, ſo their own private advantages may be ſerved; not caring what houſe be on fire, ſo their eggs may be roſted, if they may have ſome poor, pedling, private benefit by them.
3ly. Not caring what the diviſions are, whether againſt good, or againſt evill, ſo be it their turn may be ſerved: This is abominable, and curſed is that man that wiſhes for, or rejoyces in, or ſeeks the continuance of diviſions, for theſe baſe ends. Yea that man is not worthy to breath in ſo good a Land as England is, who would not willingly lay downe his his life to cure the preſent diviſions and diſtractions that are amongſt us, who would not deſire with Nazianzen, as formerly Jonah, to be caſt into the Sea himſelf, ſo be it all might be calm in the Publique? Oh cruell, hard-hearted man, who for his own private advantage is not ſenſible of the woful miſeries of Church and State, yea of that dreadfull diſhonour to the name of God, cauſed this day by our ſad diviſions, miſerable diſtractions… juſt it were that ſuch a man ſhould be ſeparated to evil, and that his name ſhould be blotted out from under heaven.
But if things were ſetled in Church and State, ſome men ſhould not have ſuch liberties as now they have, therefore they are willing enough to have our differences continued, their plot is to lengthen them out.
Firſt,Anſw. That which thou calleſt ſeeking to lengthen out diviſions, it may be God now accounts, and will another day call ſeeking after the neareſt union with himſelfe, and the firmeſt union of his Saints.
Secondly, the liberties theſe men ſeek for, are either evill or good; If evill, oh how dearly do they buy that which is evill, with bringing the guilt of all that evil that comes from our diviſions upon themſelves; you need not wiſh any enemy more evil upon his head then this; certainly ſuch a man hath load enough upon him.
But if thoſe liberties they ſeek be good, or but ſuppoſed by them to be ſo, why then ſhould they feare a right ſetling of things? what ever is good, can be no enemy unto good. That Scripture, Rom. 13. 3. is enough to keep their hearts from fearing, the right ordered power of authority, eſpecially from fearing it ſo farre, as by the feare of it, to be driven into ſuch a deſperate guilt of wickedneſſe as this is, to deſire or endeavour the continuance of ſuch publique miſchiefe for their own ends. Rulers, ſaith the Text, are not a terrour to good works, but to evil; wilt thou then not be afraid of their power? doe that which is good, and thou ſhalt have praiſe of the ſame. Surely then the power was as formidable to any thing a chriſtian heart could ſuppoſe good, as now any power is like to be that we have to deale with.
Thirdly, it is a ſign of a very poor, low, unworthy ſpirit, to think that any in whom thou haſt any perſwaſion there is any feare of God, or intereſt in Chriſt, ſhould have no higher thoughts for their ſupport and encouragement in what they conceive good according to the mind of Chriſt, but ſuch as the hopes or deſires of continuance of ſuch wofull evils in the diviſions of Church and State raiſeth in them, if they did believe that Chriſt took no more care of them then ſo, but left them to ſuch miſerable ſupports as theſe are, their condition were ſad indeed.
4ly. If ſuch baſeneſſe of ſpirit as this is, were ruling in them, which hath in it the malignity of all the dregs of an evil ſpirit, ſurely you would find it working in them in ſome other thing, ſave only in that wherein they differ from you. For certainly it is impoſſible but that man that is ſo left of God to ſuch dregs of evill, muſt needs break out to ſome other vile evils in a little time. It were ſtrange if ſuch horrid wickedneſſe of a mans heart ſhould break out in nothing elſe. The Lord therefore be Judg between his ſervants and thoſe men, yea thoſe men profeſſing godlineſſe, who have ſuch hard thoughts of them; and the Lord convince them of all their hard ſpeeches, and hard writings in this thing.