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

1. When a Church is under external crosses and afflictions, and by Gods dispensation is cast into the ⟨p. 426⟩furnace; to be therein struggling and wrestling one with another, and, as if it were in the time of the Churches greatest peace and calm, to be contending for matters of such concernment, O how unsuitable is it! Though indeed condescending be called-for at any time, yet certainly▪ much more and in an especial manner at such a time. The judicious, and great Divine Calvin, doth, upon this account, exceedingly aggrege the divisions amongst some English in Frankford, who being banished in the days of Queen Mary for the same Religion, did even there contend for matters of little moment. This (saith he, Epist. 200.) was exceeding intempestiv•, or untimous, and exceeding offensive to the Church of Christ, and unbecoming their case: And although he utterly disapproved these ceremonies, as unbecoming the Church of Christ; Yet doth he (Epist. 206.) press moderation on both sides, using these words, Sicuti autem eos qui à vobis dissentiebant hortatus sum, ut qua possent moderatione inflecterent; ita mihi displicuit, nihil vicissima parte vestra recedi vel remitti, that is, As I did exhort these who were not of one mind with you, to stretch themselves with all possible moderation; So it did displease me, that there was upon the other hand by you, nothing ceded or remitted.

1. When a Church is under externall crosses and afflictions, and by Gods dispensation is cast into the ⟨p. 426⟩furnace; to be therein strugling and wrestling one with another, and, as if it were in the time of the Churches greatest peace and calm, to be contending for matters of such concernment, O how unsuitable is it! Though indeed condescending be called-for at any time, yet certainly▪ much more and in an especiall manner at such a time. The judicious, and great Divine Calvin, doth, upon this account, exceedingly aggrege the divisions amongst some English in Frankford, who being banished in the dayes of Queen Mary for the same Religion, did even there contend for matters of little moment. This (saith he, Epist. 200.) was exceeding intempestiv•, or untimous, and exceeding offensive to the Church of Christ, and unbecoming their case: And although he utterly disapproved these ceremonies, as unbecoming the Church of Christ; Yet doth he (Epist. 206.) presse moderation on both sides, using these words, Sicuti autem eos qui à vobis dissentiebant hortatus sum, ut qua possent moderatione inflecterent; ita mihi displicuit, nihil vicissima parte vestra recedi vel remitti, that is, As I did exhort these who were not of one mind with you, to stretch themselves with all possible moderation; So it did displease me, that there was upon the other hand by you, nothing ceded or remitted.