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

It is marked in that schism at Antioch, betwixt Miletius and Paulinus, who were both Orthodox, yet had they divided governments, and Congregations in the Church, because of different Ordinations which had kept them rent for some time; and although Miletius his ⟨p. 327⟩Ordination and entry was not so justifiable according to the Canons, as the others was; yet the parties tenacious upon either side being strong, there was access to settle it by no authoritative decision: wherefore it came to a treaty by means of these that were appointed Arbiters, that so union and communion in the Ordinances might be made up in that Church; at which conference Miletius overtured, that they might join together as Bishops to take care of one Flock while they lived, and after the death of either, he who survived should be only Bishop of the united Flock, unto whom one only should succeed to have charge of all, for preventing of division for the time to come; to which overture, Paulinus would not acquiesce, but stood to the formality of order without valuing the Churches peace, or proposing any just ground of exception against Miletius person or Doctrine; he, to wit, Paulinus was counted unworthy to govern such a Church, and removed therefrom, and the other as more worthy because of that his condescending, was therefore alone invested in the government thereof. 4. We will find them sometimes yield in all particulars that do not involve any consent unto, or approbation of what is wrong. It is marked by Augustine in his Writings against the Donatists, that sometimes Councils that have condemned men, have for peace without any satisfaction, again restored them upon after thoughts; and he marketh it as a great condescension of the Bishops of Spain, that they did so in the case of Osiu• when he was found innocent by the French: they did not (saith he) pertinaciously with animosity defend their former Sentences, lest they should fall in the sacrilege of a Schism, which doth exceed all wickedness; and with that humility, peace was kept, because (saith he) they had rather be against their own Sentences, than the unity of the Church.

It is marked in that schism at Antioch, betwixt Miletius and Paulinus, who were both Orthodox, yet had they divided governments, and Congregations in the Church, because of different Ordinations which had keeped them rent for some time; and although Miletius his ⟨p. 327⟩