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

3. That which ought to satisfy a Brother in private, or after his taking of two or three witnesses with him, and which may be accounted a hearing of a private admonition; that sort of repentance ought to be satisfying to the Church-officers: Because, tell the Church, succeedeth to the contempt of private admonition, and therefore they are to obtain by their interposing of authoritative rebukes, what the other did not obtain, and so they are to rest satisfied when that is obtained, as the gradation, Matth. 18. is clear, hearing of the Church, being in respect of the effects, that same which hearing of the private admonitions is, to wit, the obtaining of satisfaction. But the former is true, to wit, a Brother ought to rest satisfied with such a sober serious profession and acknowledgement as giveth him ground to judge him really affected for his offending, and under a purpose to abstain and amend for the time to come: and who will say, that a Brother in such a case can rationally complain of an other, as not having had his admonition? So, neither can the Church proceed further, when her admonition hath that weight, seeing there had been ⟨p. 102⟩no […] for her judicially to have admonished, if so much had formerly been obtained: and if it may be said, that such a private admonition so successful, did gain the offending Brother, Is not that same to be said of the Churches admonition having that success? and when he is gained, are not they to rest satisfied? and yet we suppose, that none will say, that by gaining in that place, real conversion is intended, and that a private Brother should insist to the uttermost, till he be satisfied in that.

3. That which ought to satisfie a Brother in private, or after his taking of two or three witnesses with him, and which may be accounted a hearing of a private admonition; that sort of repentance ought to be satisfying to the Church-officers: Because, tell the Church, succeedeth to the contempt of private admonition, and therefore they are to obtain by their interposing of authoritative rebukes, what the other did not obtain, and so they are to rest satisfied when that is obtained, as the gradation, Matth. 18. is clear, hearing of the Church, being in respect of the effects, that same which hearing of the private admonitions is, to wit, the obtaining of satisfaction. But the former is true, to wit, a Brother ought to rest satisfied with such a sober serious profession and acknowledgement as giveth him ground to judge him really affected for his offending, and under a purpose to abstain and amend for the time to come: and who will say, that a Brother in such a case can rationally complain of an other, as not having had his admonition? So, neither can the Church proceed further, when her admonition hath that weight, seing there had been