A37042:343
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.
There are some reasons that are more general, and others more particular and useful in the consideration of them for practice; that we may not be ignorant of the devils devices, we shall insist most in these, all of them may be drawn to three heads. 1. The Lords over-ruling, holy, just and wise (though often secret) way of punishing mens ingratitude. 2. There is something in the devils way of carrying on the tentation. 3. There is something in the distemper of Churches and persons to be considered: Which three, being put together, will make it not seem strange that the most gross and absurd error prevail. For the first, The Lord hath an over-ruling hand in such a design, which is partly, to try his own, therefore heresies must be, 1 Cor. 11. 19. partly, to punish the generation of ungrate hypocrites, who receive not the love of the truth, as it is, 2 Thess. 2. in both which he is to be glorified, either in his grace, or justice, or both: Now these being the Lords designs, the absurder that the error be, it attaineth his end the better; and appeareth to be the more judicial like, as by comparing, Isa. 44. 18, 19. and Rom. 1. 21, 25, 28, &c. and 2 Thes. 2. 10, 11, 12. is clear. All which places speak not only of the most gross spiritual abominations, but of the Lords judicial hand therein.
There are some reasons that are more generall, and others more particular and usefull in the consideration of them for practice; that we may not be ignorant of the devils devices, we shall insist most in these, all of them may be drawn to three heads. 1. The Lords over-ruling, holy, just and wise (though often secret) way of punishing mens ingratitude. 2. There is something in the devils way of carrying on the tentation. 3. There is something in the distemper of Churches and persons to be considered: Which three, being put together, will make it not seem strange that the most grosse and absurd errour prevail. For the first, The Lord hath an over-ruling hand in such a design, which is partly, to try his own, therefore heresies must be,