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

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 ⟨p. 112⟩•rt of Christianity to admit of, and to improve a rebuke. Yet we think it incumbent to Church-judicatories, after some competent time, to enquire in the after carriage of such, and so accordingly to determine, whether they have satisfyingly accepted of the admonition or not. And that therefore the person so rebuked, ought to have such a Sentence before he can plead full admission to all privileges, if at the time his profession was not satisfying. This is useful for the persons behove, when he knoweth he is still to be looked upon in a special manner, as a sickly member of the body. And it is also agreeable to reason; for, if when a private person giveth an admonition he be to judge of the fruit of it, whether it be satisfying; and if the Church-judicatory, when they admonish judicially, be to weigh, whether the effects be satisfying or not: So by the like reason, when an admonition is publicly given, ought they to enquire what hath followed, and if that be satisfying or not.