A37042:111
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal divided into four parts ... : in each of which there are not a few choice and useful questions, very shortly and satisfyingly discussed and cleared / by ... Mr. James Durham ... who being dead (by this) yet speaketh ; and published by John Carstares ... ; to which is prefixed an excellent preface of famous Mr. Blair ... ; together with a table of the contents of the several chapters of each part.
Edinburgh: printed by Christopher Higgins, 1659
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. VII. Showing what the Scandal of the Pharisees or malicious is, and clearing several other important Questions.
CHAP. VII. Shewing what the Scandal of the Pharisees or malicious is, and clearing several other important Questions.
IF it be said, What then is it which is called the Scandal of the Pharisees or the malicious, which ought not to be respected? We answer, 1. In constructing any maliciously to take offence, there is great need of spiritualness, lest we account men malicious because of some particular difference from us or some other persons; even as from David's imprecations against his malicious enemies, we would not draw an example for regulating of our prayers, in reference to ⟨p. 30⟩our enemies. 2. There is need also here to take heed what spirit we be of in our accounting men to be such, as the Lord said to the Disciples, Luke 9. when they pretended Elijah example: for, to make a man malicious in taking offence in this respect, so as not to be regarded. 1. It must be a necessary duty that he offendeth at, even the best, as the Pharisees did at Christ's preaching of the Gospel. 2. It must not be out of ignorance or weakness that this offence is taken. 3. It must not arise from any personal or particular account, but from a man's being instrumental in furthering and advancing the Gospel, and so must be very sib to the sin against the holy Ghost, and therefore ought not to be pretended in our ordinary carriage.
IF it be said, What then is it which is called the Scandal of the Pharisees or the malicious, which ought not to be respected? We answer, 1. In constructing any maliciously to take offence, there is great need of spiritualnesse, lest we account men malicious because of some particular difference from us or some other persons; even as from David's imprecations against his malicious enemies, we would not draw an example for regulating of our prayers, in reference to