A37042:408
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.
WE begin now to speak particularly to the Church-officers duty, and what is called-for from them, especially from Ministers, which we may consider in a fourfold respect. 1. There is something called-for from the Minister in reference to God. 2, In reference to himself. 3. In reference to the Flock ⟨p. 210⟩and people who are not tainted, but, it may be, under the tentation. 4. In reference to these that are in the snare, especially the promoters of these evils.
WE begin now to speak particularly to the Church-officers duty, and what is called-for from them, especially from Ministers, which we may consider in a fourfold respect. 1. There is something called-for from the Minister in reference to God. 2, In reference to himself. 3. In reference to the Flock ⟨p. 210⟩and people who are not tainted, but, it may be, under the tentation. 4. In reference to these that are in the snare, especially the promotters of these evils.
The first two are interwoven almost, Therefore we shall speak of them together: and we say,
1. When such a tentation setteth on upon a people,1 and beginneth to infect or hazard the infection of a particular Flock, or of many together, (for, the hazard of one, is the hazard of many in such a case, as is said) the Minister would look first to God as the great over-ruler, even of these things that are evil in the Churches; and he would consider if things be in good case betwixt God and him, especially in respect of his Ministry; for, such an infection in a Flock is a prime stroke upon a Minister, because the spreading thereof threateneth the unchurching of that Church and blasting of his Ministry, as,