A37042:445
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 11: Admonition is necessary, and how to be performed.
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.
3. It may be questioned, What if Magistrates in1 their place concur not, or, if the case so fall out, that they be displeased with the drawing▪forth of such a Sentence? Answ. This may require the more prudence, zeal and circumspectness, but ought not to ⟨p. 236⟩mar the progress: Because, 1. Excommunication is an Ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ for the edification of His Church, as Preaching and giving of the Sacraments are. 2. That same might have been asked in the primitive times when Paul did excommunicate, and when the Lord did reprove the want thereof. Revel. 2. There was then no concurrence of Civil Power. Yea, 3. in this case it seemeth most necessary; and the greatest enemies of Church-discipline do allow the Church to Sentence her members in such a case. 4. The weight of this Sentence doth not depend upon Civil Power, but upon Christ's Institution, Therefore the weight of it is to be laid here, whatever Civil Powers do. 5. We will find the primitive Fathers hazarding upon Martyrdom even in this very thing, So that when corrupt Emperors have inhibited them to excommunicate Arians and other Heretics, they have done it notwithstanding; and by designing whom they desired to have succeeding them in their places before they past the Sentence, did declare themselves ready to suffer, upon this account, any thing that might follow, and accordingly some of them have been immediately put to suffering.
3. It may be questioned, What if Magistrates in1 their place concur not, or, if the case so fall out, that they be displeased with the drawing▪forth of such a Sentence? Answ. This may require the more prudence, zeal and circumspectnesse, but ought not to ⟨p. 236⟩mar the progresse: Because, 1. Excommunication is an Ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ for the edification of His Church, as Preaching and giving of the Sacraments are. 2. That same might have been asked in the primitive times when Paul did excommunicate, and when the Lord did reprove the want thereof.