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

1. That a man, continuing an Heretic, may and ought to be rejected and excommunicated as well as for any other gross Scandal: For, 1. the precept is plain in the place cited, A man that is an Heretic, reject; which must be a casting of him out from Church-communion, and a giving of him over in respect of the use of any further means for his edification, which is in effect, to account him as an Heathen man and a Publican, which is called, 1 Cor. 5. 13. a putting ⟨p. 234⟩away from amongst our selves a wicked person. 2. The example and precedent is clear, 1 Tim. 1. 20. 3. Where this is followed, it is commanded, as in Ephesus, Rev. 2. and where it is forborne, and corrupt teachers suffered to be in the Church, it is very sharply reproved, as in the Epistles to Pergamos and Thyatira. 4. The general grounds of Scandal and of Discipline against the same, and the reasons which enforce the exercise thereof in any case, have weight here. For, 1. It is scandalous exceedingly. 2. It is hurtful to the Church. 3. Discipline▪ and particularly that Sentence, is appointed for remedying the hurts of the Church, and the removing of offences from the same; which grounds have been formerly cleared, Therefore it palpably followeth, that this Sentence is to proceed against such: But for further clearing of this, there are some Questions to be answered here, As,

1. That a man, continuing an Heretick, may and ought to be rejected and excommunicated as well as for any other grosse Scandal: For, 1. the precept is plain in the place cited, A man that is an Heretick, reject; which must be a casting of him out from Church-communion, and a giving of him over in respect of the use of any further means for his edification, which is in effect, to account him as an Heathen man and a Publican, which is called, 1 Cor. 5. 13. a putting ⟨p. 234⟩away from amongst our selves a wicked person. 2. The example and precedent is clear,