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

IF it should be enquired, how this difference is to be made? or, how it may be known when without guilt there may be some forbearance, and when not? Answ. This is indeed difficult, and we will not undertake in particulars either to be satisfying or peremptory; yet we suppose the considering of these general Distinctions will be helpful, and the¹ application of them necessary, in this case. 1. We would distinguish betwixt some errors and scandals and others, and that both in respect of their grossness and evidence: for, some errors are, as Peter ⟨p. 202⟩calleth them, 2 Pet. 2. 1, 2. pernicious and damnable, as striking against the special Truths of the Word of God, or inferring gross practices with them, as this of the Nicolaitans did, and hazarding the souls of the maintainers of them, not as other sins of infirmity, but in respect of the principles which they imply; and of this sort are many both errors and practices. Again, Other things may be errors, that are contrary to Truth, but not destructive unto, nor altogether inconsistent with, the foundation, but such a thing, as possibly many true Saints may be taken with, and yet have access to God and may enter Heaven, although they should die in that opinion; of which sort are many things that are debated amongst orthodox Divines; and indeed there is nothing but it hath a truth or a falsehood in it, yet are not all of equal necessity and weight. Of the first sort was that error, which the false apostles endeavoured to bring-in, that is, the adding of the practice of the ceremonial Law to Christ in justification, and the mixing-in of works moral and ceremonial therein, as from the Epistle to the Romans and Galatians may be gathered. Of the second kind, was the debate for meats and other things, mentioned, Rom. 14. and in the Epistles to the Corinthians. Of the first, we say, there ought to be no tolerance, Therefore the Lord doth here reprove it; and in the Epistles to the Romans and Corinthians, Paul doth plainly and powerfully refute them and reprove them, even when it was exceeding ill taken, and they were ready to count him an enemy, because he told them the truth, Gal. 4. Yet will he not forbear, because a little leaven of that sort will leaven the whole lump, and hazard the making of his labour among them to be in vain.