A37042:391
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
Part 3 › Chapter 7: What is called-for as duty in such a case.
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 whatever humane prudence and carnal fainting would suggest concerning such a way, as that it were fittest to deal with persons, in such a distemper, no otherwayes than absolutely to forbear them, at least, so far as relateth to th•se distempers as such; yet it is clear, this is not Gods Ordinance so to do, nor the remedy that is by Him appointed: And therefore there is no promise by which we may expect a blessing to it, although sometimes the Lord, who is absolutely Sovereign, may condescend without any means, to dry up and bound a flood of error, even when men are guilty of forbearing: The effect is not to be attributed to mens sinful forbearance, but to Gods gracious condescendence.
And whatever humane prudence and carnal fainting would suggest concerning such a way, as that it were fittest to deal with persons, in such a distemper, no otherwayes than absolutely to forbear them, at least, so far as relateth to th•se distempers as such; yet it is clear, this is not Gods Ordinance so to do, nor the remedy that is by Him appointed: And therefore there is no promise by which we may expect a blessing to it, although sometimes the Lord, who is absolu•ely Soveraign, may condescend without any means, to dry up and bound a floud of errour, even when men are guilty of forbearing: The effect is not to be attributed to mens sinfull forbearance, but to Gods gracious condescendence.
Assert. 2. We say on the other hand, That an indifferent,1 rigid, equal pursuing, or not enduring of every thing that is an error, or of every person who may be in some measure tainted, is not the suitable remedy or duty that is called-for in reference to such a case. For, as neither all errors, nor all persons are alike, So neither is the same way at all times to be followed, because, what may be edifying in one case, may be destructive in another. And as therefore there is prudent difference to be made, in reference to scandals in practice, and persons in respect of different scandals, yea, even of different tempers are diversly to be dealt with, So is it also to be here.