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

1. That men would remember, this is but one particular of many, that tend to the Churches good, (though indeed a main particular) and so ought not to be the rise of a division, nor of continuing thereof, to the marring of the Churches peace in other things, but men ought singly to do their duty, and therein to acquiesce, without partaking of the faults of others, whether it be by being defective, or by exceeding in that matter; and seeing there may be no corrupt design in either who may be upon these extremes, it would not be so highly aggreaged on either side.

1. That men would remember, this is but one particular of many, that tend to the Churches good, (though indeed a main particular) and so ought not to be the rise of a division, nor of continuing thereof, to the marring of the Churches peace in other things, but men ought singly to do their duty, and therein to acquiesce, without partaking of the faults of others, whether it be by being defective, or by exceeding in that mater; and seing there may be no corrupt design in either who may be upon these extreames, it would not be so highly aggreaged on either side.

2. We say, that as often difference in this, may ⟨p. 403⟩breed divisions; so again, divisions do occasion mens differing more in this: and it cannot be expected where division is, that men who are men and subject to be biassed, can be so single in receiving testimonies of the innocency of these that differ from them, or of the guiltiness of these that agree with them, as if there were no division at all: And again, it is impossible, that where there is a difference in some other thing, that men can think others differing from them so single and unbiased, as they suppose themselves to be, but are still ready to construct their differing from them in this to be occasioned from some former prejudice; for, as was said, division breedeth jealousy, suspicion, and distrust among men, and men are naturally inclined to suspect that others drive the design of strengthening themselves by the sentencing of such a person, whereby they are secretly induced, even unawares, to disappoint such a supposed unstreight end, which maketh them on both sides suspect every thing, dispute every thing, and readily reject every thing that cometh from the other.