A37042:134
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.
6. At such a time folks would be much in the study and practice of the more necessary and material things, which come nearer the life and power of godliness. We see, when offences abounded in the primitive times, the Apostle withdraweth them from too much seriousness in more circumstantial things, to the working-out of their salvation in fear and trembling, Philip. 2. 12. for, experience telleth us, that offences rise most, yea cannot rise, but in things which may be done or forborne, as in eating, and such other things as troubled the primitive Church. We see also, that where there is most heat in these things, there is an overvaluing of them, and an undervaluing of faith, repentance, prayer, communion with God, &c. Hence it is, (Rom. 14. 17.) that the Apostle correcteth this fault, saying, The ⟨p. 44⟩Kingdom of Heaven (which is the Gospel in its power) doth not consist in meat and drink, that is, in the eating of, or abstaining from, such meats as were then disputable, much less in the disputes that were concerning them; but it consisteth in righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, that is, in material duties. Therefore he addeth, that he that serveth God in these (that is, righteousness and peace and the more material things) is accepted of God, and approved of men.▪ Which showeth, that they placed too much of religion in these extrinsic things, and in the mean time slighted the main. For, in necessary things there is no hazard of offending, and few usually offend at these.
6. At such a time folks would be much in the study and practice of the more necessary and materiall things, which come nearer the life and power of godlinesse. We see, when offences abounded in the primitive times, the Apostle withdraweth them from too much seriousnesse in more circumstantiall things, to the working-out of their salvation in fear and trembling, Philip. 2. 12. for, experience telleth us, that offences rise most, yea cannot rise, but in things which may be done or forborn, as in eating, and such other things as troubled the primitive Church. We see also, that where there is most heat in these things, there is an overvaluing of them, and an undervaluing of faith, repentance, prayer, communion with God, &c. Hence it is, (