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

5. We conceive also, that it were not unfit in such cases (for a time at least) to have some designed by mutual consent, who might compose such occasional differences as possibly might arise; or, who at least might have so much power as to restrain and keep down the same from being a new ground of division ⟨p. 417⟩to the Church, or matter of great grief to any party. This is not to constitute a new Judicatory, but according to the light of nature to provide a mean for keeping up of order, and preventing of confusion, when, in respect of the present distemper of spirit, there is no possibility for attaining that end by the constituted Judicatory: Nature in such a case teaches all men to seek for order in every society, and it being supposed that there cannot be a joining in ordinary Judicatories without this, and that it might be attained with this, it's hard to think, that that is denied to the Church which agreeth to all other societies; or, that it can be said, that it is better to want union in Church-judicatories, than to have it so qualified. Sure some Churches would, and do think much to attain this length, as appeareth by the many voluntary associations which worthy men have been led unto, for the keeping of order, and attaining of some union, who are yet good friends to Church government; and the reason that warranteth them in their deed, to wit, the necessity of union and order in the Church, and the impossibility that there is of any further mean for attaining the same, will warrant this practice in the case supposed; for, the question is not simply, What is the best constituted Government of a Church in a good condition? but it is, Whether a Government with such a qualification, be better than no Government, or a divided Government, it being supposed that no other in the circumstantiate case can be attained?

5. We conceive also, that it were not unfit in such cases (for a time at least) to have some designed by mutual consent, who might compose such occasional differences as possibly might arise; or, who at least might have so much power as to restrain and keep down the same from being a new ground of division ⟨p. 417⟩to the Church, or matter of great grief to any party. This is not to constitute a new Judicatory, but according to the light of nature to provide a mean for keeping up of order, and preventing of confusion, when, in respect of the present distemper of spirit, there is no possibility for attaining that end by the constituted Judicatory: Nature in such a case teaches all men to seek for order in every society, and it being supposed that there cannot be a joyning in ordinary Judicatories without this, and that it might be attained with this, it's hard to think, that that is denied to the Church which agreeth to all other societies; or, that it can be said, that it is better to want union in Church-judicatories, than to have it so qualified. Sure some Churches would, and do think much to attain this length, as appeareth by the many voluntary associations which worthy men have been led unto, for the keeping of order, and attaining of some union, who are yet good friends to Churchgovernment; and the reason that warranteth them in their deed, to wit, the necessity of union and order in the Church, and the impossibility that there is of any further mean for attaining the same, will warrant this practice in the case supposed; for, the question is not simply, What is the best constituted Government of a Church in a good condition? but it is, Whether a Government with such a qualification, be better than no Government, or a divided Government, it being supposed that no other in the circumstantiat case can be attained?