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

5. If any thing be really doubted of, means would be used in a sober prudent way for attaining information, either by providing and reading of some fit Book, wherein often reasons are more deliberate and full, and may be more deliberately studied and digested than in a transient discourse; but in this, special respect would be had to a right choice, and for that cause the judgments of such as are sound and able to discern, would be followed in this; or, where God giveth occasion, it may be done in sober and christian conference with others of ability and integrity, especially with Ministers, who ought neither to decline, nor rashly misconstrue the same, but affectionately and tenderly to welcome any such sober persons, lest they be provoked to consult with others, who may prove Physicians of no value. In this, people would not express their doubts in all companies at random, nor to, or before, such as may possibly more easily take up the doubt, and with more difficulty be brought off; when therefore such a doubt is to be moved, the party and the time would be deliberately chosen, that men may be serious therein, and no doubt, would be moved for debate, but either such as the mover can himself loose, or in such company where he may expect to have it loosed.

5. If any thing be really doubted of, means would be used in a sober prudent way for attaining information, either by providing and reading of some fit Book, wherein often reasons are more deliberate and full, and may be more deliberately studied and digested than in a transient discourse; but in this, special respect would be had to a right choice, and for that cause the judgments of such as are sound and able to discern, would be followed in this; or, where God giveth occasion, it may be done in sober and christian conference with others of ability and integrity, especially with Ministers, who ought neither to decline, nor rashly misconstruct the same, but affectionatly and tenderly to welcom any such sober persons, lest they be provoked to consult with others, who may prove Physicians of no value. In this, people would not expresse their doubts in all companies at random, nor to, or before, such as may possibly more easily take up the doubt, and with more difficulty be brought off; when therefore such a doubt is to be moved, the party and the time would be deliberatly chosen, that men may be serious therein, and no doubt, would be moved for debate, but either such as the mover can himself loose, or in such company where he may expect to have it loosed.