A37042:160
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. II. Concerning what order is to be kept in the following of public Scandals.
CHAP. II. Concerning what order is to be keeped in the following of publick Scandals.
The second thing, to wit what order and manner is to be observed in the following of public Scandal▪ is not easily determinable, there being such variety of cases in which the Lord exerciseth the prudence and wisdom of his Church-officers: and indeed the gift of Government (to speak so) doth especially kith in the right managing of Discipline, in reference to the several humours and constitutions (to say so) which men have to do with. For, as in bodily diseases the same cure is not for the same disease in all constitutions and seasons, and as Ministers in their Doctrine are to press the same things in diverse manners, upon diverse auditories; So this cure of discipline, is not to be applied equally unto all persons; nay, not to such as are in the same offences. For, that which would scarce humble one, may crush another; and that which might edify one, might be stumbling to another, of another temper. Therefore we suppose there is no peremptory determining of rules for cases here, but necessarily the manner of procedure in the application of rules, is to be left to the prudence and conscientiousness of Church officers, according to the particular circumstantiate case. Yet we may lay down these generals▪
THe second thing, to wit what order and manner is to be observed in the following of publick Scandal▪ is not easily determinable, there being such variety of cases in which the Lord exerciseth the prudence and wisdom of his Church-officers: and indeed the gift of Government (to speak so) doth especially kyth in the right managing of Discipline, in reference to the severall humours and constitutions (to say so) which men have to do with. For, as in bodily diseases the same cure is not for the same disease in all constitutions and seasons, and as Ministers in their Doctrine are to presse the same things in diverse manners, upon diverse auditories; So this cure of discipline, is not to be applied equally unto all persons; nay, not to such as are in the same offences. For, that which would scarce humble one, may crush another; and that which might edifie one, might be stumbling to another, of another temper. Therefore we suppose there is no peremptor determining of rules for cases here, but necessarily the manner of procedor in the application of rules, is to be left to the prudence and conscienciousnesse of Churchofficers, according to the particular circumstantiate case. Yet we may lay down these generals