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

If it be asked then, What way men may discern the side that is to be followed in such a case, when ⟨p. 323⟩inconveniences threaten on all hands? Answ. By these and such like ways. 1. It is to be looked, what side hath the most dangerous and destructive inconveniences. 2. What inconveniences are most certain and inevitable, and the greatest and most inevitable inconveniences are to be shunned, and men would not choose a certain hurt to eschew that which is uncertain. 3. It would be looked, what side duty lieth upon, or to what the command doth press; and although inconveniences seem to follow that, yet it is to be followed as most safe. Now, as to all these, union hath the advantage o division: Because, 1. it is a commanded mean tending to edification, which division is not. 2. Division hath no less nor fewer inconveniences following it, nor less destructive to the Church, than union in the case supposed; yea, schism is one of the greatest hurts that can come to an orthodox Church, it being next to heresy in Doctrine; and therefore no particular evil can be laid in the balance with it. 3. The ills of division are most inevitable, for the ills that follow union, through Gods blessing may be prevented, it is not impossible, but in the way of division it is, because it self is out of Gods way.

If it be asked then, What way men may discern the side that is to be followed in such a case, when ⟨p. 323⟩inconveniencies threaten on all hands? Answ. By these and such like wayes. 1. It is to be looked, what side hath the most dangerous and destructive inconveniencies. 2. What inconveniencies are most certain and inevitable, and the greatest and most inevitable inconveniencies are to be shunned, and men would not choose a certain hurt to eschew that which is uncertain. 3. It would be looked, what side duty lieth upon, or to what the command doth presse; and although inconveniencies seem to follow that, yet it is to be followed as most safe. Now, as to all these, union hath the advantage o division: Because, 1. it is a commanded mean tending to edification, which division is not. 2. Division hath no lesse nor fewer inconveniencies following it, nor lesse destructive to the Church, than union in the case supposed; yea, schism is one of the greatest hurts that can come to an orthodox Church, it being next to heresie in Doctrine; and therefore no particular evil can be laid in the ballance with it. 3. The ills of division are most inevitable, for the ills that follow union, through Gods blessing may be prevented, it is not impossible, but in the way of division it is, because it self is out of Gods way.