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

3. In such cases when union is desired, men would abstain the propagating of their opinions in any purposed and public way. This is not to restrain a mans sober, christian and necessary vindicating of ⟨p. 350⟩himself in a due way. But, 1. All unnecessary¹ traffic that is principally for strengthening of a party. 2. Publishing in print, things to that purpose, when there is no conveniency for the Churches good. 3. Making motions in Judicatories that awakens siding. 4. Insisting thereon in public preaching. And, lastly, (When there is some necessity to speak or write on such things) all reflections and irritations, would be abstained; yea, it is fit that sometimes every word spoken, or written upon one side, should be past over by the other, without reply, for peaces sake. Because, 1. the broader such differences spread, they take the deeper root, and increase siding more amongst the people. 2. Because, they irritate more and keep off men from thinking of peace. 3. Because the memory of these things is ready to riffle mens minds, Therefore most eminent men have wished, that all Papers pro or contra in such differences might be buried; for, one difference begetteth another, and one paper draweth forth another, none being willing that his adversary should have the last word; and oftentimes papers propagate a controversy to a succeeding generation, to whom it had been good that many things had never been in writ. Also often, such writings prove edifying to few, and they but make Church-division the subject of more discourse, and Ministers to be the more contemptible; and do in themselves often involve many contradictions against one another, which readily are not possible to be cleared in matters of fact, and reflections one upon another; which derogateth exceedingly from the honour of the Ministry. It is marked of Constantine, that when at the Council of Nice, there were many opposite papers of differences amongst Bishops presented, he took them, and having gravely admonished the Bishops for their contending amongst themselves, would not have one of them read, but said, he would cover such infirmities ⟨p. 351⟩as they were bringing to light, by their contradictions, with his purple. This way also hath been followed for stopping of divisions in diverse reformed Churches.