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

3. From this also it will appear, that Church-officers¹ ought with such tenderness, love and sympathy to walk in public Censures, as not only they may have a testimony in their own Consciences, but also that those who have offended, and others that observe their way, may also be convinced of the same; for, if this be not, what can their Censure gain? and if it be needful for a Minister in preaching, to study that, it is in some respect more necessary here: because ordinarily, men out of their corruption, are more ready to mistake mens intentions in this: and we conceive, that in this a Church-judicatories procedure, ought discernably to differ from a civil Court, ⟨p. 66⟩in that they are not only out of Justice censuring the party, with a respect to the common body, for whose good in some cases the most penitent member must be cut off, and cannot be reprieved, but as endeavouring the Churches freedom from offences, that the offending member may be thereby with all tenderness restored and cured; and in experience we see, that often Church-censures have weight, as they are constructed to proceed from love. And we conceive, that the following of these and such like directions, may have much influence for attaining of this. 1. That nothing be rashly and hastily brought to public, but that which is a convincing Scandal in it self, clear in the matter of fact, and also after private dealing with the person, and trial of his carriage afterward: if the scandal be not very gross and public▪ Hasty bringing to public, irritateth: and if a private admonition of Minister and Elders might gain a Brother, what needeth further? And by so doing, a person is convinced, that that Minister, or Elder, desireth his amendment, and on that condition to cover his offence. 2. There would be no rigid insisting in what is personal, in reference to any of the Judicatory, as suppose, they should sometimes get snarling answers, or unbecoming words, or be met with by irreverent carriage: in that case, there would be condescending, and what is offensive beside, would be insisted on, and these personal things forborne. It is true, the authority of the Ordinances would ever be kept up, yet that is not always done by a rigid prosecuting of personal reflections;

3. From this also it will appear, that Church-officers