A37042:131
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
Part 1 › Chapter 8: Holding forth what is called-for when Offences abound.
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.
3. Folks would beware of despising or judging one another, but would •y all means endeavour the entertaining and confirming of love▪ which is in this respect the bond of perfection. The Apostle giveth this direction, Rom. 14. 3. Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth. He that eateth is the strong professor, who is through in the knowledge of what is right and what is wrong; It is the fault of such readily to condemn and despise the weaker who cannot go alongst with them. Again, he that eateth not, is the weak, who, wanting clearness in what the other is clear of, is ready to judge the other as an untender person, because he doth what he cannot ⟨p. 42⟩do. These evils are rise where offences abound, and are the oil which nourisheth them: for, if there were not pride and despising in some, and untendernesse and rash judging and jealousies in others that are weak, the plague that followeth offences would not be so great in the world. But these two are most directly opposite to the rule of charity that ought to be amongst Christians, both in guiding us in doing of our own acts, and in constructing and judging of the actions of others. And, in a word, love, that i• the fulfilling of the Law, is the fulfilling of this precept also. See 1 Joh. 2. 10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. Offences could neither be given not taken if love to our brethren were fresh.
3. Folks would beware of despising or judging one another, but would •y all means endeavour the entertaining and confirming of love▪ which is in this respect the bond of perfection. The Apostle giveth this direction, Rom. 14. 3. Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not, judge him that eateth. He that eateth is the strong professor, who is through in the knowledge of what is right and what is wrong; It is the fault of such readily to condemn and despise the weaker who cannot go alongst with them. Again, he that eateth not, is the weak, who, wanting clearnesse in what the other is clear of, is ready to judge the other as an untender person, because he doth what he cannot