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

The second kind is of such determinations as have not only a doctrinal decision, but also some practical¹ consequents following thereupon: which we may again distinguish these ways. 1. They are either such consequents and practices as infer a division and opposition, or a diversity only▪ some consequents infer a division or separation. As suppose a Church Synod should enact, that no persons should keep communion with such as they judge not to be godly, nor join in Ordinances, nor so much as sit down with them; Or that no persons, thinking otherwayes, might lawfully be ordained Ministers, or admitted to that office, as sometimes appeareth, hath been determined in very numerous Synods of the Donatists. Indeed the standing of such Sentences in force, and having execution accordingly following them, are such, as there can be no union had upon such terms. Again, some practices imply no division in Worship, or Government, but only something which possibly is in it self unwarrantable, as that Act of rebaptizing was, which was determined and enacted by several Councils in Afric: which kind of determination may be considered either as peremptory, and exclusive, that is, allowing none to do otherwayes, or to be admitted to Ministry and Ordinances which should not engage to do so; Or moderated. so as though it held forth such a determination concerning the fact, yet doth not peremptorily press others beyond their own light. Of the first sort were the peremptory Acts of the West-church concerning Easter, ⟨p. 383⟩holy days and other ceremonies; Of the last, were these Acts of the Council of Afric concerning the rebaptizing of Schismatics wherein none were pressed beyond their own judgement.

The second kind is of such determinations as have not only a doctrinall decision, but also some practicall¹ consequents following thereupon: which we may again distinguish these wayes. 1. They are either such consequents and practices as infer a division and opposition, or a diversity only▪ some consequents infer a division or separation. As suppose a ChurchSynod should enact, that no persons should keep communion with such as they judge not to be godly, nor joyn in Ordinances, nor so much as sit down with them; Or that no persons, thinking otherwayes, might lawfully be ordained Ministers, or admitted to that office, as sometimes appeareth, hath been determined in very numerous Synods of the Donatists. Indeed the standing of such Sentences in force, and having execution accordingly following them, are such, as there can be no union had upon such tearms. Again, some practices imply no division in Worship, or Government, but only something which possibly is in it self unwarrantable, as that Act of rebaptizing was, which was determined and enacted by severall Councils in Africk: which kind of determination may be considered either as peremptory, and exclusive, that is, allowing none to do otherwayes, or to be admitted to Ministery and Ordinances which should not engage to do so; Or moderated. so as though it held forth such a determination concerning the fact, yet doth not peremptorily presse others beyond their own light. Of the first sort were the peremptory Acts of the West-church concerning Easter,