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

And we are sure, that if any such like thing should be found in the Presbyterial way, it had been charged with tyranny, and encroaching on the place of the Magistrate long ere now: yet it may be (when it is well managed) no great corruption in a Church.

And we are sure, that if any such like thing should be found in the Presbyteriall way, it had been charged with tyrannie, and encroaching on the place of the Magistrate long ere now: yet it may be (when it is well managed) no great corruption in a Church.

A second sort of offences are such, as are of themselves gross and public; yet not atrocious, or aggreged with contempt, such as fornication, some acts ⟨p. 82⟩of drunkenness, and such like. The party▪ I say, not being obstinate, but seriously acknowledging his fault, and promising to abstain and amend, in that case there is no ground to proceed to the highest Censure, though there may be a public rebuke; yea, though their acknowledgement be not altogether satisfying; yet, if after the public rebuke, the person abstain these evils, and renew not the offence, the process is to close, and to proceed no further: Because, 1. In that case it cannot well be said, that he hath refused to hear the Church when that abstinence followeth. 2. The end of a public rebuke is not always to be an evidence of the persons full recovery, But, 1. to be a mean to recover him. 2. It is in it self a public acknowledgement of the fault▪ and a virtual engagement to abstain. And 3. it hath a warning force and certification with it for the party offending, if he continue in his offence: Now, if he continue not, it cannot be said that he hath incurred the certification, or made the rebuke altogether ineffectual: And therefore in such cases, a public rebuke being accepted. it putteth a close unto such processes: for, such public rebukes are not an exercising of the ke•s for letting-in any to the Church, that was not a member formerly; and therefore there is not such exactness required here, as in the first admission of heathens, yea, or in restoring of Excommunicate persons who have been bound and shut out, but it is the warning of a member to prevent his being cast out. Seeing therefore this rebuke louseth nothing, there can be o necessity alleged here of searching into his acknowledgements or profession; and we make no question, that offending persons being rebuked before all, and abstaining from such offences afterward, were still to be accounted Churchmembers, capable of all privileges, notwithstanding of the former offence.