A37042:354
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.
CHAP. V. How error may be known to be a judicial stroke. and why the Lord smiteth with it.
CHAP. V. How errour may be known to be a judiciall stroke. and why the Lord smiteth with it.
IT may be asked here, 1. How error may be known to be a judgement or judicial? And, 2. for what cause most ordinarily the Lord doth send such a judgment?
IT may be asked here, 1. How errour may be known to be a judgement or judiciall? And, 2. for what cause most ordinarily the Lord doth send such a judgment?
We cannot insist in every occurring Question; Yet to the first, We say, 1. there is no error or delusion, but may be well accounted penal and judicial, either as to the persons who fall therein, and vent the same, or as to others who may be infected therewith, (although it may be but a trial in reference to some) for, blindness of mind was a fruit and consequent of the fi•st sin, and followeth not only as a sin, but as a punishment upon all the children of Adams house. And therefore as in some respect, all following sins may be accounted punishments of the first, this may be so in a special manner. 2. Beside this general consideration, it is often the punishment of some special sins, and in some cases is more judicial and penal than in other cases, as may be gathered from these Characters. 1. When in the nature of it, it is very absurd and unreasonable, as is said, such as these delusions of the Nicolaitans were, because in such delusions the judgement of God doth especially appear, when they cannot be thought to be consequent in any reasonable way, or, to flow from common infirmity. 2. When the persons that vent it, are, in respect of their conversation, parts, place or profession, someway eminent, as was formerly cleared, because so the tentation seemeth to be armed of the Lord, which usually is not for nought. 3. When it is trysted with such a time and with such circumstances as hath been described; for, such things happen not by chance, but are ruled by providence. 4. When it breaketh in violently, and, it may be, carrieth away some whom men would not have suspected, that is judicial-like, when, as it were, the Dragon with his tail and subtlety, doth bring stars from heaven, and surprise some that thought themselves without the reach of such a tentation. 5. It may be known by the gifts (to speak so) of such as carry on the same; for, as in carrying on the work of the Gospel, the Lord doth furnish His Ministers, with