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

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.

3. The nature of Church-communion doth confirm this: because such influence hath the scandalousnesse 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 graciousnesse of one cannot sanctifie 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 sanctifie 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 threatning 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 conjugall 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 usemaking of Gods Ordinance of marriage) much more may it be here: this last might be a distinct argument of it self.