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

3. Even that party that seemeth to be rightest in¹ the matter, or to have authority on its side, or to have countenance from others, ought yet to condescend, yea in some things to be most condescending, because such are in some sort parents and strong; they ought therefore the more tenderly to bear and cover the infirmities of the weak: and because they are more sober and at themselves, they therefore ought to carry the more seriously toward others, whom they suppose to be in a distemper, and not to be equally gross in handling the tender things of the Church, ⟨p. 326⟩whereof union is a main one: And considering that² authority is given for edification, it is not unsuitable for it to condescend for attaining its end; for which cause we find often Paul, laying by his authority in such cases, and entreating and wooing, as it were, even the meanest dissenters, in this matter of union, as we see him, Phil. 4. beseeching Evodias and Synti•he (who were it is like but very private persons) to be of one mind. And in ancient times we will find, 1. sometimes the innocent party ceding and condescending, as in the case betwixt Basilius and Eusebius at Caesarea: Basilius, though having the best side, and of greatest account, yet did first cede, by withdrawing for the peace of the Church; and afterward, for the good thereof, to wit, the preventing of its being tainted by the Arian heresy, he did return, and condescend to be subject to him who was in competition with him, which tended exceedingly to the good of that Church, to the removing of that Schism, and the great praise and commendation of his zeal and singleness. 2. We find that oftentimes the most tender and sincere, and these who were upon the right side, have been most condescending, and oftentimes³ these who did the wrong (such as it was) were most averse from condescension, as in all the Schisms that have arisen upon frivolous grounds will appear. 3. These who condescended most in such things, have ever been thought the greatest friends to the Church, even sometimes when they have been deepest in the rise of the Schism, and when their side was not so justifiable as the other, yet by condescending they have commended themselves more to the Churches friends than their opposites.