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

9. They would then be much and serious in the exercise of christian fellowship, observing or considering one another, provoking one another, and, as the word is, Heb. 10. 24. and 3. 12, 13. taking heed, lest there be amongst them an evil heart of unbelief, and lest any of them be hardened: but, exhort (saith he) one another daily, as the remedy of that. There is no time wherein christian fellowship is more called for, and wherein it may be more profitable, than at such a time, if it be rightly ordered and managed: I ⟨p. 262⟩say, rightly ordered and managed; for, often the pretext of christian fellowship is abused to the hatching and propagating of the most absurd opinions, when people turn light and frothy, taking up their time with vain janglings and diverting from the main scope, to wit, edification. These things are indeed to be shunned, but christian fellowship is not to be disclaimed, but wisely to be ordered in respect of the persons with whom, and occasions upon which it is used, and, in respect of the matter and duties insisted on, which is to be the confirming of themselves in some truth, faithful freedom in admonishing one another of what is wrong, serious endeavour to keep repentance, humility, self-denial, and the like graces, fresh; These and such like things are good and profitable to men, when gravely, singly, faithfully, tenderly and inoffensively followed.¹

9. They would then be much and serious in the exercise of christian fellowship, observing or considering one another, provoking one another, and, as the word is, Heb. 10. 24. and 3. 12, 13. taking heed, lest there be amongst them an evil heart of unbelief, and lest any of them be hardened: but, exhort (saith he) one another daily, as the remedy of that. There is no time wherein christian fellowship is more calledfor, and wherein it may be more profitable, than at such a time, if it be rightly ordered and managed: I ⟨p. 262⟩