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

To the Question then we answer that for full satisfaction, ⟨p. 94⟩so as to have access to all the privileges, there is requisite a sober, serious acknowledgement of the offence with the expression of an unfeigned-like purpose to walk inoffensively, especially in reference to these former offences; and where this is we say, it is sufficient. When we speak of a sober, serious acknowledgement, we speak of it as it standeth contradistinguished upon the one side from sincere grace; for, one may have this, and not have that: And, as upon the other side, it is distinguished, not only from gross contempt and profane mocking, but from gross dissimulation appearing to be such, or from carnal indifferency and unseriousness. By Divines, this is called moral seriousness, or sincerity, (as it is distinguished from that which is gracious) and usually is in subtle legal hypocrites, and sometimes may be in some gross persons in fits. It cannot be better expressed, than it is by the forementioned worthy Author Mr. Wood, part. 1. pag. •0▪ that is, That which is not openly and discernably simulate, histrionic, scenical, and hypocritical in that hypocrisy which is gross: but all circumstances being considered, by which ingenuity is estimate amongst men, giving credit one to another, there appeareth no reason why the man may not and ought not to be esteemed, as to the matter, to think and purpose as he speaketh from whatsoever habitual principle it doth proceed, viz▪ whether from a saving principle, or whether from a common operation of the spirit only, Thus far he.

To the Question then we answer that for full satisfaction, ⟨p. 94⟩so as to have accesse to all the priviledges, there is requisit a sober, serious acknowledgement of the offence with the expression of an unfeigned-like purpose to walk inoffensively, especially in reference to these former offences; and where this is we say, it is sufficient. When we speak of a sober, serious acknowledgement, we speak of it as it standeth contradistinguished upon the one side from sincere grace; for, one may have this, and not have that: And, as upon the other side, it is distinguished, not only from grosse contempt and profane mocking, but from grosse dissimulation appearing to be such, or from carnall indifferencie and unseriousnesse. By Divines, this is called morall seriousnesse, or sincerity, (as it is distinguished from that which is gracious) and usually is in subtile legall hypocrites, and sometimes may be in some grosse persons in fits. It cannot be better expressed, than it is by the forementioned worthy Author Mr. Wood, part. 1. pag. 0 that is, That which is not openly and discernably simulate, histrionick, scenicall, and hypocriticall in that hypocrisie which is grosse: but all circumstances being considered, by which ingenuity is estimate amongst men, giving credit one to another, there appeareth no reason why the man may not and ought not to be esteemed, as to the matter, to think and purpose as he speaketh from whatsoever habituall principle it doth proceed, viz whether from a saving principle, or whether from a common operation of the spirit only, Thus far he.