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

For the first, Can it but be thought strange that delusion¹ should come to this height so soon: and it may make all to tremble at the impetuousness thereof, 1. It is a most foul absurd error, this of the Nicolaitans, even against natures light. 2. It spreadeth and increaseth in several persons and Churches: and Church story doth show that it abounded, and no less is insinuated in these Epistles. 3. That it spreadeth not only among heathens, but in the Church, and among Christs Servants, who are seduced therewith; which showeth, that even some of note were carried away with it. 4. This is in the Churches most pure times, some of the Apostles (at least John) being yet alive when this was vented. 5. It is carried-on by despicable instruments in comparison of others, a woman calling her self a prophetess, some fellows calling themselves Apostles and new lights, that men would think, should rather have been counted distracted, than to have been so reverenced. 6. This is done against the testimony of their own faithful Ministers, and in such Churches where God had witnesses keeping themselves from that evil, yea, where many Professors were in that respect pure, yet others are following that error, receiving and reverencing these seducers more than any faithful Pastors. 7. This is done where there neither wanted light nor authority to convince them; for, no question, both were, as may be gathered from the trial of these in Ephesus; yea, John writeth from the Lords own mouth to confute them; and though there could be no exception against the application of his Doctrine, yet it was adhered to for many years after that. 8. John or some other Apostle was the instrument to convert them from Paganism to Christianity, yet, now can he not recover them from a foul error in Christianity when they are bewitched therewith: and though ⟨p. 159⟩no question his authority and arguments had less weight with them now than before they were Christians; yet what can be thought of more force for their conviction and reclaiming, than these considerations? The like was often Paul's case, who at first had an easy work with people, when they were heathens, in comparison of what he had with the same when they became Christians, and tainted with false doctrine, or listeners to corrupt teachers, as in the Epistles to the Corinthians and Galatians is clear. Which doth show, 1.

For the first, Can it but be thought strange that delusion