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

CHAP. IX. Holding forth what ought to be the carriage of Ministers when Offences abound.

15. The last direction is, That then Ministers in a special manner, are called to bestir themselves for draining this torrent of Offences, even as they are to set themselves against the abounding of sins. And indeed we know no mean fitter and more comprehensive for this end, than that Ministers cordially interpose for the removing thereof. For, this is a special end for which they are given to the Church, as was formerly said, and this is a special part of their charge, to watch over souls in reference to this. Hence we see, that the Apostle Paul doth not insist more in his public doctrine, or in his private carriage, upon any thing, than upon this, to wit, That the Church may be made and kept free of offences, as what hath been observed from him out of the Epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, &c. doth evince. Nor doth he with any kind of persons deal so much to restrain strifes, contentions, janglings about words, and such things which do gender offences, as in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus, charging them, that not only in reference to their own carriage, but, as Ministers of the Gospel, they would endeavour this in their charges; and there can be no reason of this, but because the matter is of such concernment to the Church, and because they by their stations have a ⟨p. 50⟩main influence either on the restraint or growth of scandals and offences. Yea, doth not the blessed Prince of Pastors Himself, often take notice of offences in His sermons? sometimes reproving them, sometimes showing the ill of them, and often purposely insisting in instructions for this very end, that His Disciples should not be offended, as Joh. 16. 1. and in His practice, condescending to prevent the offence, even of carnal men, Matth. 17. 27. and doth much insist on that doctrine, giving directions for preventing and removing thereof,