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

Concerning what is past in such debated particulars we have spoken already, and, it seems, one of these three ways must be taken in reference thereunto. 1. Either by waving of these things (if they be such as may be waved) so that without insisting in them, they may be buried; or, by one parties ceding; or, by a mutual composure, they may be instantly settled. 2. If that cannot be, the union is not to be suspended¹ thereon, but some mutually may be appointed to labour in the same afterward, that with consent it may be brought to a point, which is not to be thought desperate, although it be not ended for the time. This way of mutual conferring is natural, as being an approven mean for composing of differences of any sort, in any place, at any time. 3. If that please² not, or attain not the end, the matter may be amicably referred to some acceptable to both, who may be trusted with the ultimate decision in such particulars: neither is this unbecoming Church-authority so to condescend, nor Ministers in such matters to be submissive. For, 1. it is no matter of doctrine wherein they are to decide, or wherein either party is to acquiesce, but it is in some particular practical thing. 2. The Submission is not in a difference betwixt a thing sinful and a thing lawful, but betwixt two things that are lawful, which of them comparatively is the most expedient to the Church in such a case; wherein I conceive, it were not implicit walking, though men should acquiesce in the judgment of some others in such things, more than in their own. 3. It would seem, that that advice of the Apostle's, 1 Cor. 6. (Is there not a wise man amongst you? &c.) is proposed in the general, to prevent all such strife and ⟨p. 413⟩contention, as doth bring scandal with it; and therefore ought not to be excluded in this case, seeing there is a gift of prudence and wisdom given unto the Church for the governing of her self, and is more eminently given to one than to another, even as the gift of knowledge is for doctrine; and therefore we conceive that in such cases, such may warrantably be trusted with such particulars, seeing it might be expected that they would endeavour to make the best thereof for the good of the Church.