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

Whatever the Ministers carriage be, they lie in wait to traduce it, if he be more meek and familiar in his conversing, they say he is a carnal man, a friend and lover of sinners and corrupt men, as was said of our blessed Lord; if he be more austere in checking their faults or retired in shunning their company, he is called intolerable and devilishly proud, as was imputed to John; if he take wages or gifts, he is accounted greedy and covetous; if he refuse and abstain, it is expounded to be want of love and respect to them, as was also said of Paul when he continued firm in his former resolution, 2 Cor. 11. 10▪ 11. 8. They are usually counted proud, exalters of themselves above, and despisers of, the people, and to take too much on them to the prejudice of the Flock, whose liberty and privileges corrupt teachers ordinarily pretend to vindicate against Ministers tyrannous encroachments (as they say) This was pretended by Korah, Dathan, ⟨p. 186⟩and Abiram against Aaron, and was revived and followed in the primitive times by these corrupters, spoken of, Jude 11. 9. They endeavour to have the people suspecting the Ministers love to them, as 2 Cor. 11. 11. yea, that all his freedom to them, and his speaking against their faults and errors is bitterness, railing, and the like, which the Apostle toucheth, Gal. 4. 16. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 10. It is ordinary to charge Ministers with lightness and changeableness, and that therefore much weight is not to be laid on them, for, they think one thing this year, (say they) and alter the next, when yet, it may be, edification hath moved them in such a change; this hath been imputed to Paul, 2 Cor. 1. 17. purposedly to make his word to have little weight, and it is no marvel that that same way be followed in reference to others. For this end also, where there is any personal fault in a Minister, it is not past over but exceedingly aggreaged; yea, though it hath been in his youth, before his conversion or entry into the Ministry, it is not forgotten, if it may serve to defame the holy Calling: For preventing of this, it is required of Ministers, that they be of good report, even among those that are without; and it is like the false apostles spared not to upbraid Paul with his former conversation and persecution. 11.