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

And he doth upbraid that principle of the Donatists in the case of one Primianus, who was refused to be restored ⟨p. 328⟩by an after Council of theirs, because a former pretended Synod of their own had deposed him, alleging, and abusing that word of the Apostles for that end, Gal. 2. If I again build what I have destroyed, then am I found a transgressor; and he doth more commend the practice of Pretextatus and Felicianus, who being condemned (it is like unjustly) by three hundred and eighteen Bishops, yet did, (saith he) for concords sake, return and join with these who did condemn them; and by them were without all loss or diminution of their honour, received into fellowship. And wat ever may be in the justice or injustice of any of these former deeds, upon the matter, yet doth he only make use of them, to show what condescension ought to be in such cases for peace, both upon the part of Judicatories and particular persons, how ever the matter doth appear unto them; for he condemneth not the rejecting of Primianus because he was unjustly Sentenced, but because there was not due respect had to the Churches peace; nor doth he commend the Spanish Bishops for recalling an unjust Sentence, which ought to be done for Justice sake; but that (though it is no question they did think it just) they did condescend to remove it for preventing of a Schism, when they saw their deed dissatisfying to others. And it is so in the other case also, it is these mens submission to these that condemned them, as it evidences respect to concord, and not as considering any equity of the Sentence which is commended by him; this is in what he writeth contra Epistolam Parmeniani. lib. 1. cap. 2 3, 4 &c.

And he doth upbraid that principle of the Donatists in the case of one Primianus, who was refused to be restored ⟨p. 328⟩by an after Councell of theirs, because a former pretended Synod of their own had deposed him, alleaging, and abusing that word of the Apostles for that end, Gal. 2. If I again build what I have destroyed, then am I found a transgressour; and he doth more commend the practice of Pretextatus and Felicianus, who being condemned (it is like unjustly) by three hundreth and eighteen Bishops, yet did, (saith he) for concords sake, return and joyn with these who did condemn them; and by them were without all losse or diminution of their honour, received into fellowship. And wat ever may be in the justice or injustice of any of these former deeds, upon the matter, yet doth he only make use of them, to shew what condescension ought to be in such cases for peace, both upon the part of Judicatories and particular persons, how ever the matter doth appear unto them; for he condemneth not the rejecting of Primianus because he was unjustly Sentenced, but because there was not due respect had to the Churches peace; nor doth he commend the Spanish Bishops for recalling an unjust Sentence, which ought to be done for Justice sake; but that (though it is no qustion they did think it just) they did condescend to remove it for preventing of a Schism, when they saw their deed dissatisfying to others. And it is so in the other case also, it is these mens submission to these that condemned them, as it evidences respect to concord, and not as considering any equity of the Sentence which is commended by him; this is in what he writeth contra Epistolam Parmeniani. lib. 1. cap. 2 3, 4 &c.