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

5. If communion with profane persons that are such to our knowledge be sinful, and polluteth Ordinances, Then these things may be enquired, which will infer diverse absurdities, 1. Ought persons to try all those that they keep communion with, whether they be profane or […]? For, if any profane person be in that communion which they might have known if they had tried, then their ignorance cannot excuse. 2. It may be enquired, what degree of trial and search doth sufficiently exonerate, because possibly a further trial might have discovered some to be profane? 3. It may be enquired, what evidences may demonstrate persons to be scandalous, and make them to be so accounted of? If only something seen ⟨p. 133⟩by themselves, or if something reported by others; and that whether it be judicially made out or only asserted? and how many's report is to be taken for proof; or if any that be so reported of, be so to be accounted? 4. What sort of scandals are to be enquired-in to make a person such as polluteth the Ordinances? If it be any kind of scandal, or but scandals of such a nature? If one scandal be sufficient, or if the•e must be many? and how many are to be laid weight upon in this? and some satisfying grounds how, and where to fix the difference, are to be laid down? 5. It may be asked, if one scandalous person alone doth pollute the Ordinances? or if there must be moe? and if so, How many? 6. Suppose such a scandal were known to us alone, charity, and Christs command do say, it is not to be published; conscience saith in that case, the Ordinance is polluted, time straits either to communicate doubtingly, or with offence to abstain and hide the cause, or contrary to charity to signify the same. These and many such like things are requisite to satisfy one, upon this supposition, that communion in such a case is sinful, Therefore it is not to be admitted.

5. If communion with profane persons that are such to our knowledge be sinfull, and polluteth Ordinances, Then these things may be enquired, which will inf•r diverse absurdities, 1. Ought persons to try all those that they keep communion with, whether they be profane or 〈…〉? For, if any profane person be in that communion which they might have known if they had tried, then their ignorance cannot excuse. 2. It may be enquired, what degree of triall and search doth sufficiently exoner, because possibly a further triall might have discovered some to be profane? 3. It may be enquired, what evidences may demonstrate persons to be scandalous, and make them to be so accounted of? If only something seen