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

Asser. 3. Upon supposition that the defect be true, yet private professors are to continue in the discharge of the duties of their stations, and not to separate from the Communion of the Church, but to count ⟨p. 129⟩themselves exonerated in holding fast their own integrity. It's true, it cannot but be heavy to those that are tender, and, if it become scandalously excessive, may give occasion to them to depart and go where that Ordinance of Discipline is more vigorous; and concerning that, there is no question, it being done in due manner; Yet, I say, that that can be no ground for withdrawing from the Ordinances of Christ, as if they or their consciences were polluted by the presence of such others. For, 1. That there were such defects in the Church of the Jews, cannot be denied, and particularly doth appear in the instance of Ely's sons, who made the Ordinances of the Lord contemptible with their miscarriages; yet that either it was allowable to the people to withdraw, or faulty to join in the Ordinances, can no way be made out. If it be said, there was but one Church then, Therefore none could separate from the Ordinances in it? Answ. 1. This doth confirm what is said, to wit, that the joining of scandalous persons in Ordinances doth not pollute them to others; for if so, the Lord had not laid such a necessity upon those that were tender, that they behoved to partake of polluted Ordinances, or to have none; and if it did not pollute them then, some reason would be given that doth evidence it now to do so. 2. If there be an unity of the Church now, as well as then, then the consequence must be good; because, so where ever folks communicate, those many that communicate any where, are one bread, and one body, as the Apostle speaketh, 1 Cor. 10. 17. compared with chap 12, 13. And so by communicating any where, we declare our selves to be of the same visible Church and politic body, with those who communicate elsewhere, even as by Baptism we are baptized into one Church, and into communion with all the members of the body any where. And therefore, if this be considered, it will not be enough to eschew pollution (if the objection ⟨p. 130⟩be true and well grounded) to separate from one Society, or one particular Congregation, except there be a separation from the whole visible Church;