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

5. It is to be considered also, That zeal against such as are justly censurable, is most consistent with a spirit of union in the Church, as appeareth by the former instances of men most tender of union, and yet most zealous in this: yea, these two go together; ⟨p. 405⟩because zeal for the Churches edification, constraineth to union, and doth also press the removing of corrupt unfaithful Ministers, which, next to division in a Church, is the greatest plague of a Church. Therefore these things would be adverted, 1. That the purging of the Church of such, and the work of union, would be jointly respected, otherwayes if union be slighted, it will hazard the falling in too nearly with the schisms of the Novatians and Donatists, which have been so hurtful to the Church. 2. Union when it is¹ in competition with the deposing of some unfaithful men, and both cannot be obtained together, it ought to be preferred, as we see the Apostle doth, 2 Cor. 10. 6. who will not censure in such a case, lest he state a schism; for, the continuing of such in a Church, is indeed a hurt, seeing they are useless, and in a great part hurtful, yet so, honest Ministers may have access to do good beside them: but when schisms enter, the hurt thereof is more comprehensive, and they do render unuseful the Ministry both of good and bad. 3. It would be considered also, that the division being in the case supposed, where men are orthodox and pious on both sides, it is not so exceedingly to be feared, that either men, palpably corrupt in doctrine, or conversation, should be entertained upon the one side or that men useful in the Church, and blameless in their conversations, should be crushed upon the other. 4. It² would follow also, that union should be no prejudice to the ridding of the Church of corrupt Ministers, but that it should be studied where there is need, because it is a fruit of the same spirit (to be zealous against corrupt men) from which meekness and moderation toward these who are not such, do proceed; and therefore if there be any such object of zeal, as an unfaithful Minister, (as it is not like that ever the Church was, or shall be free of such) then ought men to bestir themselves faithfully in the removing of such. It is marked and commended in the Angel of Ephesus,