James Durham’s On Scandal is an enduring tribute of the Scottish Second Reformation to that ancient confession, “I believe an holy catholic Church.” There is nothing quite like it, in its thorough, thoughtful, pastoral handling of how to prevent and remedy divisions within the Church, both at the personal and congregational level, as well as organizationally in the broader Visible Church. The following chapter (4.7), “General Grounds leading to Unity,” lays out the path for visible, organizational unity. And it breathes of that simple, Christian yearning for the full answer to our Lord’s prayer, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21).
Whole doctrine catholicity | “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners” (Song 6:10)?
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But now, it may be of more difficulty to speak particularly to what indeed is duty at such a time when a Church lies under rents and divisions. For, though the general be granted, yet often it is difficult to take up the particular cure, and yet more difficult singly to follow the same. It is still more easy to prescribe rules to others than to follow them ourselves, especially in such a case when spirits are in the heat and fervour of contention, whereby they are somewhat drunken with affection to their own side and prejudice at the others, and distracted as it were with a sort of madness in pursuing their adversaries, as that great and meek Divine Melancthon did express it, so that it is hard to get affections that are in such a temper captivated to the obedience of light.
And though we will not take upon us to be particular and satisfying in this, wishing and hoping that it may be more effectually done by some other, yet, having come this length, we shall, in an abstracted manner, consider some things in reference thereunto and endeavour to hold forth what we conceive to be duty, especially to the Ministers of the Gospel who have interest in such a Church; as also what may be required of others who may possibly think themselves less concerned therein. We shall keep this order: we shall lay down some general grounds, which we suppose as granted; we shall premit some preparatory endeavours agreeable to the same; we shall speak negatively to what ought not to be done, or ought to be forborn; positively to the healing means called-for in reference to several sorts of division, with some questions incident thereupon; and lastly, we shall consider the grounds that press the serious and condescending application of these or other healing means in such a case.
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West Port Experiment 