William Perkins (1558–1602) grew up in the aftermath of the Council of Trent, becoming a puritan and Cambridge theologian. Due to these roles, he had both a convictional and public ministry. One example of his public ministry appears in his polemical treatise called A Reformed Catholic which he published in 1597. In this literary treasure, he outlined how Reformed Catholics and the Roman Catholics differed in faith.

And in his preface, Perkins lays out his reasons for why he wrote the treatise. And although he wrote over 400 years ago, he offers us wisdom in an era that sustains polemics, controversy, and discernment blogging. By listening to this great divine, we can discern three contemporary rules for engaging in theological polemics.

First, state the truth and desire peace.

Conviction of truth does not preclude the desire to make peace. But political norms of left vs. right have created a cultural milieu in which two sides fight an eternal battle for domination. Yet Christian culture does not work like that. We speak the truth in love in order to persuade others of something more beautiful than political domination, more trust-worthy than the daily galvanizing of political parties, and more lasting than the fleeting news cycle.

To make the point, consider how Perkins defines his first goal in writing: “My purpose of penning this small discourse is threefold. The first is to confute all such politics as hold and maintain that our religion and that of the Roman Church differ not in substance and consequently that they may be reconciled: yet my meaning is not here to condemn and pacification [peace-making] that tends to persuade the Roman Church to our religion” (A Reformed Catholic, 905).

Perkins does not engage in theological subterfuge. He states upfront his view. He wants to clarify how protestant theology differs from the Roman Church. Because, as he notes, protestants and Romanists can not be reconciled while these differences exist. He does not smooth over real causes for the division. Nor does he pull punches. He seeks to define exactly where Rome taught falsely.

Yet he also desires “pacification.” And throughout his polemical work, his desire to win over his opponents through clear argumentation and a fair reading of his opponents resound clearly. And small wonder, Jesus did say, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Yet that did not prevent the Lord from calling out blind leaders who lead even blinder disciples into destruction. Peacemaking and truth go hand and hand.

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