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

CHAP. XVI. The remedies of divisions, arising from misapplication of power in ordination of Ministers, and admitting to, or debarring from, communion.

The fourth matter of controversy in reference to Government, is usually some misapplication of that power, or what is apprehended to be so in some particular acts. As, 1. Ordaining such as were not thought to be worthy. 2. Deposing others (as was thought) unjustly. 3. Admitting unto, or debarring from communion without ground respectively, and such like cases. Upon the first ground arose the great schism of the Donatists, because of the Ordination of Caecilianus, esteemed by them to be a Traditor. Of such sort also were the schisms frequently at Antioch, Constantinople, Alexandria, and other places, because some were ordained to the dissatisfaction of others. And sometimes the dissatisfaction was well grounded; because the persons ordained, were not worthy: Sometimes it was groundless; But often it tended to double Ordination, and Separation in the¹ close. These things had need to be prevented, so as there be no just ground of dissatisfaction given by the Ordination of an unworthy man in such a time, nor any opposite Ordination to fix a schism; because these things are more difficulty removed, as hath been said: Yet supposing them to be, these generals may be proposed for healing of the same. 1. We will not find an Ordination easily counted to be null, even though done in a schism, as all the instances do clear; yea, the Orthodox stood not to account the Bishops and Presbyters ordained amongst the Donatists, to be such, because they had the essentials of Ordination, and were ordained by Church-officers. 2. We suppose it needful for peace, that there be no rigid sticking to have ⟨p. 396⟩some particular Ordinations rectified, to the prejudice of the Church in general, especially, where the unfitness or unworthiness of the person is not easily demonstrable. 3. It seemeth right and just, that no Ordination of such a kind should establish one that is unworthy in the Ministry: for, that is not to be dispensed with; although it be not a valid ground to keep up a division, where the removal of such a person cannot be attained: and the most unquestionable Ordination for the form, cannot make one a worthy Minister, who otherwayes is not a worthy person. In the conferences with the Donatists, the Catholics offered to quarrel the Ordination of none amongst them that otherwayes was worthy, nor to maintain any amongst themselves who were not worthy. 4.