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

3. We may gather, that no simply authoritative mean is the fit and only way of healing a rent Church: That is indeed the way of governing an united Church, but not the way of uniting a rent Church, especially a Church rent in particulars of ⟨p. 330⟩practice and government; because the remedy must be extensive to both sides, and in such cases, at least, as to these particulars, Authority usually is declined; and though it be unjustly declined possibly, yet when it is declined, it is unable to effectuate this end; and the remedy is to be applied, not as to what agreeth to a Church that is whole, but what agreeth to a Church in such a distemper; even as a sick body is to be nourished not always with the strongest and wholesomest meats which agree with such as are in health, but it is to be nourished with things suitable to its distemper, and are fit to cure it; yea, sometimes, with such things as may please the taste, when more healthful things are not admitted. Also when both judgments are to be informed, and affections are to be gained, there must be prudential and affectionate ways used for gaining these ends. Hence we see, that not only in Church-history, but in the Scriptures especially, the duty of union is more pressed by persuasions, entreaties, reasons to move to it, ills that follow the want thereof, and such like, than by an authoritative way, such as is used in the condemning of Heretics, and other scandalous persons. And indeed union hath such conjunction with the will and affections, that it must be persuaded and cannot be so commanded. And amongst such persons as are supposed to be in this difference, private and particular condescension is most becoming that respect which each ought to other.

3. We may gather, that no simply authoritative mean is the fit and only way of healing a rentChurch: That is indeed the way of governing an united Church, but not the way of uniting a rentChurch, especially a Church rent in particulars of ⟨p. 330⟩practice and government; because the remedy must be extensive to both sides, and in such cases, at least, as to these particulars, Authority usually is declined; and though it be unjustly declined possibly, yet when it is declined, it is unable to effectuate this end; and the remedy is to be applied, not as to what agreeth to a Church that is whole, but what agreeth to a Church in such a distemper; even as a sick body is to be nourished not alwayes with the strongest and wholesomest meats which agree with such as are in health, but it is to be nourished with things suitable to its distemper, and are fit to cure it; yea, sometimes, with such things as may please the taste, when more healthfull things are not admitted. Also when both judgments are to be informed, and affections are to be gained, there must be prudentiall and affectionat wayes used for gaining these ends. Hence we see, that not only in Church-history, but in the Scriptures especially, the duty of union is more pressed by perswasions, intreaties, reasons to move to it, ills that follow the want thereof, and such like, than by an authoritative way, such as is used in the condemning of Hereticks, and other scandalous persons. And indeed union hath such conjunction with the will and affections, that it must be perswaded and cannot be so commanded. And amongst such persons as are supposed to be in this difference, privat and particular condescension is most becoming that respect which each ought to other.