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

3. Their duty may be looked upon in reference to others, wherein they may and ought to extend themselves for preventing the spreading of the infection amongst these that are clean, by such like means, As, 1. by their example, to show themselves zealous against that ill, and to abhor the questioning and disputing of the truth; thus the example of a Magistrate is often of much weight, yet car• it not be accounted any coaction. 2. They ought to endeavour to have faithful and honest Ministers, who by their diligence and oversight may exceedingly conduce to the confirming of these that stand, and to the preventing of more hurt. 3. They may and ought to countenance ⟨p. 251⟩and strengthen such as are faithful, whether among Ministers or people, which often hath no little influence upon the disappointing of seducers: thus it is said, 2 Chron. 30. 22. that for promoving of Reformation, Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the Lord: which is added, to show that by this encouraging of honest and faithful Ministers beyond others, he did design the thriving of the work in their hands, both by heartening them to be zealous in it, and also by making them to have the more weight with others: this is also marked of Constantine and other good Emperors, that zealous and faithful Ministers were particularly taken notice of, and honoured by them, beyond others. 4. They may and ought to employ and make use of some fit instruments for the preventing of seduction, and may provide such as may be set apart for studying such controversies, and confuting of such errors, that the truth may be the more clear. 5. They may and ought to endeavour according to their place, the composure and allayment of all the lesser and more petty differences and heart-burnings that may be found amongst these that are, in the main, one for truth; for often (as was said) a vehement spirit of error and delusion is trysted with heart-burnings, divisions and offences in the Church, and amongst the Officers thereof: there were petty contests in Corinth, biting and devouring one of another in Galatia, trysted with the harmony that was amongst the followers of the seducers:

3. Their duty may be looked upon in reference to others, wherein they may and ought to extend themselves for preventing the spreading of the infection amongst these that are clean, by such like means, As, 1. by their example, to show themselves zealous against that ill, and to abhor the questioning and disputing of the truth; thus the example of a Magistrate is often of much weight, yet car it not be accounted any coaction. 2. They ought to endeavour to have faithfull and honest Ministers, who by their diligence and oversight may exceedingly conduce to the confirming of these that stand, and to the preventing of more hurt. 3. They may and ought to countenance