EP I ST. IX. ~~ A How farre we maytravdlto, and converfewith Infidds, wit.h Heretikes, is a loo. gl demand and cannot be anfwered aron". I fee extremes on both hand•,and a path of truth bdwixt both ofnofmalllatitude. Firfi, I commend not this courfeto you; it is wdl, ifl allow i;. The earth is large, and truth bath ~mple DM1ini~ns; and thofc not incommodious, not unpleafant. To ~egle_Cl the ~a me bltflin~s wLthcompeten cy ofthe inferiour, for abundance of the mfenour, Without the mame, were a chmce unwife and unequall. While we are free, who would take ought butthe belt~ Whither goe you~ Have we not as remper~te a Sunne, as faire a Heaven? as fertile an Emh as rich a Sea, as fweet Comp:mwns ~ What Rand I on equahry ~.a firmer peace' a freer Gofpell, and happier government then ~he world can!l1ew you~ yet you ~uft goe : I give you allowance; but limited, and full ofcamions: like an inquiB fitive Officer, you mufi let me aslo:e,~vho,h~w,when,whlth.er,why,ho\~ Iong,and accordingly determ.ine. 'ro commumcate wtth them;n thelt falfe ~ervtces, \~ho w11l not fpirar,as imp1ous ~We lpeakeof converfing With men, not with 1dolames : CIvilly, not in Rehgion:not in \~orks ofdarkndfe,but bulindfe ofcommerce and common indifferencies. Fie on thofe Rimmonites, that plead an upright foule in a pro- !! rate body: Hypocrites, thatpr<rend a N41hanael in the s~in of a Nicodtmm. God hates thdr fccret halting,& will revengeit.Letgoe theirvices,and fpeak of their pet· fons:Thofe may be converfed with;not with familiaricy,nor with imirendfe; as men qualified,not as friends.Traflique is here allowed,not amity,nor friendlhip,bur peace. Pa11l will allowyou ro feaft at theirrable, nor ro frequent it: yet not this ro all. Chrillianity hath all fiaturesinit;allllrengrhs: children,and men,weaklings,Gianrs. For a C feeble ungrounded Chrillian,this verycompany is dangerous, fafc for the flrong and inflru6ted.Turne a ch1ld loofe into an Aporhecaries.lhop, or an Idiot, that gally-por which looks fairefi, !hall have hisfirfi hand, rho full of poyfonousdrugs: where the judicious would chufe the wholefomefl, led not by fenfe, but skill. Setledneffe in rho truth will caufe us to Irate & fcorne ridiculons impiety:and that bate will fettle us the more; where the unftaied may grow to ldfe difiike, and indanger his owne infeClion. He had need be a refolure Calth that lhouldgoe to feethe land ofCa»a.n; yet not fuch a one, upon every occafion: meere pleafure or curiality I dare nor allow in this adventure. Thecommand ofautbority,or neceffity oftraffiquc,I cannot rejeCt: Or ifafter fufficient prevention, defire to informe our I elves thorowly in a foraine Religion, or llate(efpecially for publike ufe)carry us abroad, I cenfure nor. In all matter ot dan. D ger, a calling is a good warrant; and it cannot waot perill to goe unfent : Neither is there fmall weight in the quality of the place, and continuance of the time. Ir is one cafe where the profellion ofour Religion is free, another where re!lrained; perhaps not without confiraintto idolatry: where we have meanes for our foules, and allowed Minifiery, the caufe mnft needs differ from a place of necelfary blind. nelfe,of peevilh fup1!1-llition.To palfe thorowan infeCted place is one thing, to dwell in it another : Each ofthefe give a new !late to the caufe, and•looke fur a diverfe aofwer. But as in all thefe outward a6tions, fo here,moft force(! confolfe)lies in the intention; which isable to give not toleration only, to our trJvell, but praife. To converfe with them without, but in a purpofeof their convedion, and with endevour to fetch them in, can be no other then an holy courfe:whereinthatthe Jefpits have bt!en E (by their owne fayihg)moreferviceable in their Indits & china;let them thank (after their nqmber and leilure) their lhdter of Spaint: the O)'porrunity ofwhofe patronage h~th preferred them to us; not their more forward defires. In lhorr, companying With mfidels may not be !imply condemned;who can hold fo, that fees Lot in S•J.m, ifra.t with the v£1ifptians,...Abraham and !{aa< with thei'\J...d~imt/<ehs!Roks among thornes,and pearles among muchmud;and1for.aii,Chrijlnmong Pllbt~&a/Js & Sinners! fo we neither be infeCled by them, nor they further mfeCled by our confirmation; nortbe weake Chriflian by us infeCted with offence; nor the Gofpell infe6ted with ~p~och, what danger can there be~ Ifneithec we, nor ibey,nor the ,veake, nor(which 1S h•g~ell)the name ofGod be wronged, who can complaine ~ You havemine opinion; d1fpofe now ofyour felfe as you dare: The earth is the Lords, and you are his; where[oever he fi1all find,you, b~ fure yo~ !ball find hilt! every where. D d To
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