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

It is clear from that order, Matth. 18 that when the person offending, doth accept of the admonition, there is no mention further to be made thereof; yea, it would not be so much as reported privately, if it be not otherwayes known. 4. If that private admonition prevail not, then is the person to take two or three with him before it come to the Church, and this is not to be done superficially, and for exoneration merely, but convincingly, and for the persons edification. Therefore we suppose, that this is not to be astricted to one time, either in private, or before these two or three: for, once speaking may be but little useful; and seeing the Church is to continue in dealing with the person before they give him over and proceed, and before they can account that he ⟨p. 73⟩heareth not them, So ought it to be in the preceding two steps, seeing the words are the same. Again, I say, this would be done convincingly, they would argue (as the word is) with the offending brother, and not rest satisfied with some passing word or admonition. Further, these two or three would be chosen, so as may be most fit for that purpose, and may have most weight with him, (we think some Elder, one at least, or two, were not unfit) and this would be done purposely, gravely and seriously, as the words, Take with thee, &c. import. All this is to proceed the bringing of a scandal to public, which is to sist here if this prevail. Whence, 5. also we may see, that every scandal which is known to two or three, is not to be accounted a public scandal, and at the first instant to be brought to the Church, because it is supposed, that these two or three may have knowledge of the same scandal, and yet may it warrantably never come to public, if the person hear them. It looketh unlike this way to bring scandals to public, wherein scarce two witnesses can be had. Indeed, after the fault noised and flagrant, and the presumption is great, and the party suspect like, such things are publicly to be taken notice of, though the proofs be not so pregnant. 6.

It is clear from that order, Matth. 18 that when the person offending, doth accept of the admonition, there is no mention further to be made thereof; yea, it would not be so much as reported privately, if it be not otherwayes known. 4. If that private admonition prevail not, then is the person to take two or three with him before it come to the Church, and this is not to be done superficially, and for exoneration meerly, but convincingly, and for the persons edification. Therefore we suppose, that this is not to be astricted to one time, either in private, or before these two or three: for, once speaking may be but little usefull; and seing the Church is to continue in dealing with the person before they give him over and proceed, and before they can account that he