A37042:265
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.
And if they do, then there is acces•e to convince them, by an appeal to a superior Court, which in that case is a duty. If it be said that their failing and neglect▪ is▪ in some covered manner, so carried-on as there is no access to such legal complaints. Answ. 1. We suppose if the things be that gross, and the fact so clear and frequent, as that there be just ground to complain then there will be also access to such a proof. 2. If it be so carried and not owned, then it may be their sin before God; but it is not to be accounted a proper Church-offence in the sense before-mentioned, seeing they could not be convinced judicially even before the most impartial Judge. And as in such a case we cannot account a private brother ecclesiastically scandalous, although the general strain of his way may be dissatisfying to us, So ought we not to account this; for, there is a great difference, betwixt that which may be offensive to a persons private discretion, and put him possibly in a christian way to desire satisfaction, and that which is to be noised as a public Church-scandal.
And if they do, then there is acces•e to convince them, by an appeal to a superiour Court, which in that case is a duty. If it be said that their failing and neglect▪ is▪ in some covered manner, so carried-on as there is no accesse to such legal complaints. Answ. 1. We suppose if the things be that grosse, and the fact so clear and frequent, as that there be just ground to complain then there will be also accesse to such a proof. 2. If it be so carried and not owned, then it may be their sin before God; but it is not to be accounted a proper Church-offence in the sense before-m•ntioned, seing they could not be convinced judicially even before the most impartial Judge. And as in such a case we cannot account a private brother ecclesiastically scandalous, although the general strain of his way may be dissatisfying to us, So ought we not to account this; for, there is a great difference, betwixt that which may be offensive to a persons private discretion, and put him possibly in a christian way to desire satisfaction, and that which is to be noised as a publick Church-scandall.