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

and at the Council of Nice there was not only difference with Arians and other gross heretics, but also there were petty differences and contests amongst the Bishops and Confessors who stood for truth; and these differences are most advantageous to the spreading of error, and the removing thereof is a great bulwark against the same. It is marked of Constantine at that Council of Nice, that amongst other means which he used to suppress the ⟨p. 252⟩Arian heresy, he did most carefully endeavour the removing and burning of such differences and divisions, and by serious Oration pressed the oblivion of all such, that they might the more unitedly and with the less diversion be in capacity to oppose the common enemy. For certainly, when Ministers are armed one against another upon some less concerning, and more unprofitable debates, (as, alas! too much of them is in the Christian reformed-Church at this time) there cannot but be the less strength, zeal, and vigilancy against professed enemies in the most substantial things. 6. They may, and ought to interpose their Authority, for inhibiting the receiving and hearing, or conversing with known and manifest seducers: for, this is but to discharge, and thereby to preserve the people from running to their own hazard, even as men ought to be commanded to keep at distance with a place or person suspected to be infectious because of the Pestilence; neither could such a restraint be accounted any diminution of their just liberty, yea this were but a putting to of their sanction to the clear direction which the Lord layeth upon His people, and therefore there could be no hazard to miscarry in it, especially where the application to such and such persons, might be as clearly discernible from the Word as the duty is. 7. They might and ought to give their countenance unto, and join their Authority with, such ecclesiastic statutes, overtures, or means, as Church-judicatories or Officers might be about to make use of for this end in their places; and this can be no more prejudice to liberty, to countenance with their authority the Ordinance of Discipline, than to confirm by their Authority the Ordinance of preaching the Gospel. 8. They may and ought to preserve the Ordinances from being interrupted, and the administrators thereof from being reproached, and might justly censure these things when committed. 9.

and at the Councell of Nice there was not only difference with Arians and other grosse hereticks, but also there were petty differences and contests amongst the Bishops and Confessors who stood for truth; and these differences are most advantagious to the spreading of errour, and the removing thereof is a great bulwark against the same. It is marked of Constantine at that Councell of Nice, that amongst other means which he used to suppresse the