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

CHAP. III. The height of evil that division bringeth.

Having now seen a little the rises of this evil▪ we may look to the height it hath come to from such beginnings: which we may consider in these steps. 1. It engendere• heat, strife and¹ contention; and in that respect, maketh men carnal, 1 Cor. 3. 2. It breedeth alienation in affection, and separateth these in fellowship that have been most intimate,² as if their companying together had lost that sweetness and refreshfulnesse that sometimes it had▪ and thereby even their Christian communion is interrupted; both those may be seen in that strange and hot contention, which came to this height betwixt ⟨p. 291⟩Paul and Barnabas, Act. 15. 3. It breedeth jealousy³ and suspicion of one another's actions and intentions, yea, it may be, of the sincerity of their state: it breedeth envy at one another's prosperity and respect, and maketh them less weighted with any cross or adversity that the other falleth into. Paul is suspected, not only by the false teachers, but even by the professors, to be an enemy to them, and not to be single in his designs amongst them: some have counted others hypocrites, as is before marked. 4. It bringeth forth violent and virulent expressions,⁴ and reflections upon each other, and greater heat almost is not to be found than amongst differing Divines, that yet do agree in the main. It is a wonder to read some of the expressions that are betwixt Jerome and Ruffin, and betwixt Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria, and Theophilus Bishop of Jerusalem, with many others; or to consider the sad regrates that Basilius, Gregorius Nazeanzenus, and others, have of these differences; something may be seen of it in the instance of Job and his friends. And what there is for the present amongst Orthodox Divines abroad, and in this Island, I fear, out of honour to the men, to mention them yet I suppose such things may be read in the Prefaces and Writings of the most eminent Divines, as may make the hearts of all to loath such divisions. 5. It hath come to that height, as