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

Therefore, in the second place, we said that some offences not very public in respect of the fact, yet may, by some concurring circumstances, be such as the bringing of them in public, may be necessary for the edifying of the Church at such a time, then that way is to be taken; As suppose, 1. that such a sin is in some places scarce counted a sin; Or, 2. if it be secretly and frequently in use among others; Or, 3. if the person found guilty be generally suspected of loose and untender walking in such things, although particulars be not public; Or▪ 4. if they be under false pretexts of tenderness, ready to seduce others to something sinful, or in the like cases. In which, though the fact be not so public, yet the scandal, or hazard, and the benefit of a rebuke are public; and therefore that way is to be followed, Because they are necessary for the edifying of the Church, which is the end wherefore public rebukes are appointed. The same may be said of atrocious horrible crimes, which being but known to few, yet are not to be, nor cannot be past with a mere private admonition, such as witchcraft, incest, &c. which are defiling sins, the bringing whereof in public doth honour God the avenger and discoverer of such works of darkness, suppose also, that the evidencing of somewhat, may serve to remove some former ⟨p. 116⟩prejudice, as if it had been thought that an innocent person had been father of such a child, or actor of such a murder; if God bring it about, that those who truly are guilty be discovered, it is not to be kept close, because it is the removing of a former stumbling-block, and may keep others from sinning in mis-judging an innocent, and it also glorifieth God whose wise way is to be observed in such dispensations.

Therefore, in the second place, we said that some offences not very publick in respect of the fact, yet may, by some concurring circumstances, be such as the bringing of them in publick, may be necessary for the edifying of the Church at such a time, then that way is to be taken; As suppose, 1. that such a sin is in some places scarce counted a sin; Or, 2. if it be secretly and frequently in use among others; Or, 3. if the person found guilty be generally suspected of loose and untender walking in such things, although particulars be not publick; Or▪ 4. if they be under false pretexts of tendernesse, ready to seduce others to something sinfull, or in the like cases. In which, though the fact be not so publick, yet the scandal, or hazard, and the benefit of a rebuke are publick; and therefore that way is to be followed, Because they are necessary for the edifying of the Church, which is the end wherefore publick rebuks are appointed. The same may be said of atrocious horrible crimes, which being but known to few, yet are not to be, nor cannot be past with a meer private admonition, such as witchcraft, incest, &c. which are defiling sins, the bringing whereof in publick doth honour God the avenger and discoverer of such works of darknesse, suppose also, that the evidencing of somewhat, may serve to remove some former