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

Hasty bringing to public reproof, is constructed by many to be a seeking of their shame, ⟨p. 68⟩but when it is rare, and done in the order foresaid, and also with some reasons why a public rebuke in such a case is just and expedient, seeing other means have failed, and the condition of others calleth for that now, &c. it doth much allay that prejudice; for every man hath reason and a conscience, though many often want the exercise thereof. We find also public rebukes rare in Scripture: And although sometimes, a public appearing may be thought most edifying to the Congregation; Yet, 1. If they were very frequent, they would lose their weight. 2. One public rebuke in this manner▪ and order, will edify more than many otherwise: for, it is not the multitude of them that edifieth, but the convincingness of the manner of proceeding. And therefore we conceive it is never fit to multiply public rebukes, even supposing that scandals were multiplied, but that some should be pitched-on that might most convincingly edify, and that private dealing with others for conviction be made the more weighty, which also is the judgement of the great Augustine. 3. Peoples offending for the omitting of public rebukes, is, when the scandal thereof doth flow from this, that they conceive it to proceed from carelessness, negligence, partiality, or some such thing in the Officers, whereas, if by custom it shall be known to a people, that Officers are diligent observers of these things, and are not defective in dealing with scandalous persons for convincing of them, and do take this way as the most loving and tender mean of their •aining, such manner of proceeding will be more convincing and edifying▪ than if the thing were instantly brought to public; for, people generally approve of tenderness and condescending in Church-officers, as looking like love to the gaining of souls, and so lay much weight on their Censuring, even of others, when they see them, as it were, constrained thereto. And on the contrary, there is nothing more offensive to them ⟨p. 69⟩than when this tenderness is desiderated. It is to be guarded here, that this be not made a cloak to negligence and unfaithfulness; for, diligence and freedom is to be no less used with the parties, yea more, than if they were brought to public.