A37042:234
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal divided into four parts ... : in each of which there are not a few choice and useful questions, very shortly and satisfyingly discussed and cleared / by ... Mr. James Durham ... who being dead (by this) yet speaketh ; and published by John Carstares ... ; to which is prefixed an excellent preface of famous Mr. Blair ... ; together with a table of the contents of the several chapters of each part.
Edinburgh: printed by Christopher Higgins, 1659
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Yet there are two cases especially wherein we think this is expedient and necessary unto edification▪ 1. When either by the atrocity of some offence, or ⟨p. 111⟩continuance in contempt, a person▪ hath be• process towards Excommunication; or, when there is a relapse after a former rebuke: in such cases it is for the edification of the people, to know upon what grounds the Eldership doth fist from proceeding; And engagements publicly and explicitly taken on before a Congregation, are often more weighty to the person. And if there be a failing, there is the greater evidence against them for after proceeding.
Yet there are two cases especially wherein we think this is expedient and necessary unto edification▪ 1. When either by the attocity of some offence, or ⟨p. 111⟩continuance in contempt, a person▪ hath be• processe towards Excommunication; or, when there is a relapse after a former rebuke: in such cases it is for the edification of the people, to know upon what grounds the Eldership doth fist from proceeding; And engagements publickly and explicitly taken on before a Congregation, are often more weighty to the person. And if there be a failing, there is the greater evidence against them for after proceeding.
2. Suppose there hath been some Sentence binding or shutting out the person formerly, in that case, we conceive, speaking in public to be necessary for confirming the people in their love to him again, which was hazarded by his former evident fall; and an implicit accepting of a reproof is not sufficient in such a case.