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

If it be said that another Church of more pure members is to be gathered, in which persons in such cases are to join for obtaining of pure Ordinances; Then we ask further, What if such a Congregation cannot be had? Then, what is duty in that case? Is there a necessity of living without a visible Church-state, wanting all Church-ordinances to our selves, and Baptism to our children? What can be the fruit of that? Is it not a more uncontrovertible hazard to put our selves without all communion of Church ordinances, than to enjoy them where they are pure, though some joint partakers be offensive? Is not the other the way to make our children heathens, and for ever to be without Baptism, seeing warrantably they cannot be entered where we cannot a bide? Doth not this also make way to make all the Ordinances contemptible, and to be undervalued by the profane, seeing such persons do so contentedly live without them?

If it be said that another Church of more pure members is to be gathered, in which persons in such cases are to joyn for obtaining of pure Ordinances; Then we ask further, What if such a Congregation cannot be had? Then, what is duty in that case? Is there a necessity of living without a visible Church-state, wanting all Church-ordinances to our selves, and Baptism to our children? What can be the fruit of that? Is it not a more uncontrovertible hazard to put our selves without all communion of Churchordinances, than to enjoy them where they are pure, though some joynt partakers be offensive? Is not the other the way to make our children heathens, and for ever to be without Baptism, seing warrantably they cannot be entered where we cannot a bide? Doth not this also make way to make all the Ordinances contemptible, and to be undervalued by the profane, seing such persons do so conten•edly live without them?

Further, we ask▪ What if other persons and we cannot agree upon joint members; for, if it be left to mens particular discerning, that rule is uncertain and various, being involved in many difficulties, as was formerly hinted: in that case, either there must be no separated Church, or diverse separated Churches, according to the latitude of diverse persons charity. This being certain, that one will think a person scandalous, which another doth not esteem so; and one will approve that, which another will condemn.