A37042:235
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.
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.
2. Suppose there hath been some Sentence binding or shuting out the person formerly, in that case, we conceive, speaking in publick 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.
There may be also other cases, as suppose one hath been carried away with error, which he hath frequently vented before men, or in some such case where it may be edifying to have it from the parties own mouth, especially if the person be in such a frame, or of such ability, as by so doing he may edify. But this is to be decided by the prudence of the overseers.
There may be also other cases, as suppose one hath been carried away with error, which he hath frequently vented before men, or in some such case where it may be edifying to have it from the parties own mouth, especially if the person be in such a frame, or of such ability, as by so doing he may edifie. But this is to be decided by the prudence of the overseers.
If it be asked again, how is he to be accounted of1 after this rebuke? We answer, Even as by some competent continuance of time, he doth discover the seriousness, or unseriousness of his profession, So that if he relapse, he is the more inexcusable, and to be proceeded with in due manner: but if he take up himself, and carry to the view of others seriously, he is not to be accounted as scandalous, because it cannot be said, that he hath refused to hear the Church in that public admonition: and a public rebuke doth not of it self bind any and shut them out as scandalous, (yea, it giveth not ground for it, if obstinacy followeth not) but if it be hearkened unto, and received, it doth prevent that, it being a right satisfying