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

And though possibly it be not in all cases attainable, because the fault may be upon one side, who possibly will not act unitedly with others, yet is this still to be endeavoured, and every opportunity to be taken hold of for promoting of the same.¹

1. 1Union a thing attainable among Orthodox Divines.

The second ground which we suppose, is this, That as union is ever a duty, So, we conceive, if men interested will do their duty, there can be no division ⟨p. 317⟩amongst Orthodox Divines or Ministers, but it is possible also to compose it, and union is a thing attainable. For, 1. We are not speaking of composing divisions that are stated upon the fundamental things; nor are we speaking of removing all differences, as if all men were to be one in judgment in every point of Truth; there may be difference where there is no division, as hath been said. Nor, 3. when we speak of mens doing their duty, do we mean a full up-coming of every thing in knowledge and practice, and that in a sanctified manner, though that ought to be endeavoured; but it looketh principally to the doing of duty in reference to this particular (if it may be called so) of attaining union, a great part whereof doth consist in outward obvious things, which do neither require simply sanctification in the person (though in it self most desirable) nor perfection in the degree, some whereof we may afterward mention; so that the meaning is, if we consider union in it self, without respect to mens corruptions, (which will make the least thing impossible when they are in exercise) it is a thing possible, according to the acknowledged principles, that sober, orthodox men usually walk by, as experience hath often proven, and reason doth demonstrate in the particulars afterward to be instanced. And this consideration ought the more pressingly to stir up the endeavour of this duty, although oftentimes through mens corruption it hath been frustrated.