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

1. That such would consider the little usefulness¹ and weightiness, as to the main of edification that is in the thing controverted whatever way it be decided: For, 1. the declaring of such a Synod valid, or null, as to its constitution, doth not corrupt any point of Truth, nor bring-in any new Form of Government, nor alter any Rule concerning the Form agreed in; because the question is not in thesi, what is the form and rule according to which a Synod ought to be constituted? that is agreed upon: But the question is, Whether such a particular Synod be agreeable to such a Rule? and respect to the Rule makes the one that they cannot approve it, and the other that they cannot condemn it: And is it of great concernment to the main of the Churches edification to say it is so, or not, considering it abstractly, or supposing it should never be determined at all? 2. We say, That it is not of much concernment, even to Government, to say that such a particular Synod is right or wrong ⟨p. 376⟩constituted: for, though a Church cannot want Government, and that cannot be cast; yet a Church cannot lose much by questioning the constitution of one Synod, suppose rightly constituted, abstracting it from the consideration of its matter contained therein; and if its matter be warrantable, it hath weight in it self without such consideration of a constitution, if it be not warrantable, such a consideration of a lawfully constituted Synod cannot make it warrantable. Again, upon the other side, The counting of a particular Synod to be rightly constituted when it is not, cannot be of great hurt to the Church where the Rule is acknowledged. For, 1. It doth not alter the nature of the matter; Nor, 2. doth it alter the manner of constituting Assemblies, because one particular failing in misapplying the Rule cannot incapacitate a Church for all time to come to keep the same, especially if it be guarded that no precedent be drawn from that pattern, to bind any new sense upon the rule. 3. We say, that it would seem if any debate be such as decision may be forborne therein, this may be accounted of that nature, to wit, Whether such a particular Synod be rightly constituted, or not? because, if more corruption and inconvenience, that may be feared, follow, there are more material things to debate, and to differ upon;

1. That such would consider the little usefulnesse