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

Also, such looseness may overturn Ordinances, and set up abominations in the room thereof, remove all Ministry, Sacraments, Discipline and Preaching, and all upon pretext of conscience: such delusions have been in the world; and if by Magistrates connivance, they should overspread a Nation, so as there could be no remedy applied, would it be satisfying or comfortable to him (supposing him to have a conscience) to see his people under him in such a posture? What if under pretext of conscience, Magistracy should be denied to be an Ordinance of God, and he put therefrom, upon that account, that the people thought it unlawful to obey him? Would not readily his conscience say, That seeing he restrained not others from casting at these Ordinances, in which the honour of God, and good of souls were so much concerned, that it was just with God to permit them to cast at that Ordinance also, wherein he is so mainly concerned? And indeed, this hath not been unfrequently seen, that these who have begun to cast at Church-ordinances, have come at length (as if they had been thereto disposed by the former) to cast at ⟨p. 244⟩Civil Ordinances (to speak so) also; and what wonder is it, seeing there is no more clear warrant from God for the one than for the other?

Also, such loosnesse may overturn Ordinances, and set up abominations in the room thereof, remove all Ministery, Sacraments, Discipline and Preaching, and all upon pretext of conscience: such delusions have been in the world; and if by Magistrates connivance, they should overspread a Nation, so as there could be no remedy applied, would it be satisfying or comfortable to him (supposing him to have a conscience) to see his people under him in such a posture? What if under pretext of conscience, Magistracie should be denied to be an Ordinance of God, and he put therefrom, upon that account, that the people thought it unlawfull to obey him? Would not readily his conscience say, That seing he restrained not others from casting at these Ordinances, in which the honour of God, and good of souls were so much concerned, that it was just with God to permit them to cast at that Ordinance also, wherein he is so mainly concerned? And indeed, this hath not been unfrequently seen, that these who have begun to cast at Church-ordinances, have come at length (as if they had been thereto disposed by the former) to cast at ⟨p. 244⟩Civil Ordinances (to speak so) also; and what wonder is it, seing there is no more clear warrant from God for the one than for the other?