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

2. This defect is to be observed in several of the Primitive Churches, as we may particularly see in the second and third Chapters of the Revelation, yet it is never found that any upon that account did withdraw or were reproved for not doing so, even when the Officers were reproved for defect: Yea, on the contrary, these who kept themselves pure from these Scandals, though continuing in that communion, are commended and approven, and exhorted to continue as formerly. Now, if continuing in communion in such a case be of it self sinful, and personal integrity be not sufficient to professors where the defect is sinful to the Officers, even though in other personal ⟨p. 131⟩things and duties of their stations they were approvable, How can it be thought that the faithful and true Witness should so sharply reprove the one, and so fully approve the other at the same time?

2. This defect is to be observed in severall of the Primitive Churches, as we may particularly see in the second and third Chapters of the Revelation, yet it is never found that any upon that account did withdraw or were reproved for not doing so, even when the Officers were reproved for defect: Yea, on the contrary, these who keeped themselves pure from these Scandals, though continuing in that communion, are commended and approven, and exhorted to continue as formerly. Now, if coutinuing in communion in such a case be of it self sinfull, and personall integrity be not sufficient to professours where the defect is sinfull to the Officers, even though in other personall ⟨p. 131⟩things and duties of their stations they were approveable, How can it be thought that the faithfull and true Witnesse should so sharply reprove the one, and so fully approve the other at the same time?

3. The nature of Church-communion doth confirm this: because such influence hath the scandalousness of one to make another guilty, as the approven conversation of the other hath to make the Ordinances profitable to him that is scandalous, for we can no otherwise partake of the evil than of the good of another in Church-communion; But it is clear, that the graciousness of one cannot sanctify an Ordinance to one that is profane; and therefore the profanity of one cannot pollute the Ordinance to one that is tender. And, as he that examineth himself, partaketh worthily in respect of himself and his own condition, but doth not sanctify communicating to another; So, he that partaketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, and not to another: and for that cause, is both the precept and the threatening bounded, Let a man examine himself, &c. For, he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself; for, upon doing or omitting of duty in himself, doth follow worthy, or unworthy communicating to him. And if in the most near conjugal fellowship, the company of a profane Husband may be sanctified to a gracious Wife, even when hers is unsanctified to him, (because that dependeth upon the persons own qualification and way of use making of Gods Ordinance of marriage) much more may it be here: this last might be a distinct argument of it self.