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

2. Men would also look upon it as a snare; O¹ how many tentations have such divisions accompanying them, especially to Ministers; and also how many afflictions, crosses and reproaches, upon the back of these! Might it not make a Minister tremble to think upon the matter of divisions, that now beside all his former difficulties and straits, there is a snare and trial in every thing; in every Sermon that he preacheth it is thus, lest his own affection steal in for the zeal of God, to make him hotter and more vehement against those that oppose him in such things that are controverted, than he useth to be in things more nearly concerning to the glory of God, and lest by discovering his carnalnesse, he make his Ministry despicable before others, when he heareth he is in ⟨p. 337⟩hazard to be irritated by a contradiction; and though there be no contradiction, he is in hazard to lay the less weight upon what might be for his edification, because it is spoken by one who in such and such things differeth from him. When he is in any Judicatory, there is a tentation waiting on, by the least motion of such things, to discompose all, and make such meetings scandalous and burdensome; by this all conversing almost becometh heartless and comfortless, the most intimate brother is either suspicious, or suspected; all construction of mens ingenuity and sincerity in anything, are, for the most part, grounded upon mens interests, as if men after that had no conscience of sinning, there is a failing of sympathy amongst brethren, &c. And may not these and many such like, make Ministers circumspect in such a case, that they may be slow to speak to what may foment division, and wary in hazarding upon snares. Alas, it is unlike this, when men use more confidence and liberty in constructing, speaking and acting, and with less tenderness in times of division than at other times; and were men once impressed with the fear of sinning upon the occasions of divisions, they would be much more disposed for speaking of union.

2. Men would also look upon it as a snare; O¹ how many tentations have such divisions accompanying them, especally to Ministers; and also how many afflictions, crosses and reproaches, upon the back of these! Might it not make a Minister tremble to think upon the matter of divisions, that now beside all his former difficulties and straits, there is a snare and trial in every thing; in every Sermon that he preacheth it is thus, lest his own affection steal in for the zeal of God, to make him hoter and more vehement against those that oppose him in such things that are controverted, than he useth to be in things more nearly concerning to the glory of God, and lest by discovering his carnalnesse, he make his Ministery despicable before others, when he heareth he is in