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

IN the last place, the manner of proceeding in all this, is especially to be looked to, without which all the rest will be weightless. Therefore in all the procedure, the Church-officers especially would have a zealous, serious, grave and authoritative manner of carriage, having weight and authority in their least looks and words, with all gravity: For, can that admonition have weight with others, that appeareth not to have weight with those that give it? Or, can the scandalous be serious in hearing, when there is no conviction on them, that they are serious and affected that speak? Ministers therefore especially, as also Elders in their place, would endeavour seriously and zealously with all tenderness to the person, to express their indignation at, and abhorrency of such deeds; as it is commended in Ephesus, ver. 6. that they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. And certainly, a Court of Christs ought to look like Him, and like that business entrusted to them, and to have a different stamp from other Courts. And there is nothing that weakeneth the authority of a Sentence more than the want of this. For helping therefore to it, we propose, 1. That the conversations of such as take notice of Scandals in others, should be shining themselves, ⟨p. 77⟩There can be no weightiness without this; because the weight and authority that is to be studied here, is that which may be convincing to consciences, rather than compulsive to the outward man: and upon this ground, it is not the most honourable and rich that give Church-judicatories most authority, But those who are most shining and convincing in their carriage, particularly in reference to this trust: For, though outward place may gain more outward respect, yet this cannot but have more weight upon the conscience, which is especially to be affected by this Church-authority. 2. We would beware of founding this authority upon carnal grounds, or to lay the weight of it there, such as the power and authority of men; yea, or upon our own place, parts, or weight: and upon that account (as it were) to boast, rather than to persuade or convince. This sometimes may have weight as to some outward conformity, but doth ever lose more of its native weightiness: Therefore Ministers and Elders in the prosecuting of this, would lay the weight here, that it is Christ's Ordinance, and that they act in His Name. 3.

IN the last place, the manner of proceeding in all this, is especially to be looked to, without which all the rest will be weightlesse. Therefore in all the procedure, the Church-officers especially would have a zealous, serious, grave and authoritative manner of carriage, having weight and authority in their least looks and words, with all gravity: For, can that admonition have weight with others, that appeareth not to have weight with those that give it? Or, can the scandalous be serious in hearing, when there is no conviction on them, that they are serious and affected that speak? Ministers therefore especially, as also Elders in their place, would endeavour seriously and zealously with all tendernesse to the person, to expresse their indignation at, and abhorrency of such deeds; as it is commended in Ephesus, ver. 6. that they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. And certainly, a Court of Christs ought to look like Him, and like that businesse intrusted to them, and to have a different stamp from other Courts. And there is nothing that weakneth the authority of a Sentence more than the want of this. For helping therefore to it, we propose, 1. That the conversations of such as take notice of Scandals in others, should be shining themselves,