The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…

4. We would beware of moving or fostering needless and perplexed disputings, these have ever proved exceeding hurtful to the Church, and proportionally wronged edification, as error and profanity have done. It is the Apostle's first direction, Rom. 14. 1. Him that is weak receive, but not to doubtful disputations; for such breed strife, and often waken carnalnesse in the contenders rather than pure zeal. And in this case, it is better for some to possess clearness in their own judgment, and to condescend in their practice to others, than by venting their judgment unseasonably, to confound others, that is the meaning of the word, Rom. 14. 22. Hast thou faith? that is, clearness in such a particular, have it to thy self, that is, make your own private use of it without troubling others with the same. And we will see, that this spirit of contention, and the abounding of offences, have ever been together in the Church. For certainly such contentions cannot but obstruct the growth of the weak, and grieve the strong, and stumble all. We conceive therefore, that at such a time it were more safe to abstain the wakening of new debates, raising of old, or using of new expressions, ⟨p. 43⟩than to hazard upon the offence which may follow upon mens mistaking of them, or taking advantage by them, which will be more hurtful than any advantage they can bring. We conceive also that it were fitter to overlook some mistakes in some Writings at such a time, than unnecessarily to table a debate on every thing that seemeth dissatisfying in the writings and expressions of others, which is become too common, and by this, professed enemies are let alone and have peace, and all the debates in the Church, are almost amongst men that agree in fundamentals, because of some lesser differences.

4. We would beware of moving or fostering needlesse and perplexed disputings, these have ever proved exceeding hurtfull to the Church, and proportionally wronged edification, as errour and prophanity have done. It is the Apostle's first direction, Rom. 14. 1. Him that is weak receive, but not to doubtfull disputations; for such breed strife, and often waken carnalnesse in the contenders rather than pure zeal. And in this case, it is better for some to possesse clearnesse in their own judgment, and to condescend in their practice to others, than by venting their judgment unseasonably, to confound others, that is the meaning of the word,