A37042:454
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.
2. Where this partial success is of the first sort, We conceive it may be sufficient to sist process for a time; and to continue the persons under means within the Church, so long as they contradict not their profession; yet it is not sufficient to give them free access to all Church-privileges, as if the scandal were fully removed.
2. Where this partiall successe is of the first sort, We conceive it may be sufficient to sist processe for a time; and to continue the persons under means within the Church, so long as they contradict not their profession; yet it is not sufficient to give them free accesse to all Church-priviledges, as if the scandal were fully removed.
3. Where that satisfaction is but of the last kind, that is, mocking and dissembled, We say, that though it may put a Church-judicatory to try the evidences of this dissimulation, and during that time possibly to stop a little their proceeding; yet ought it not to mar the drawing forth of the Sentence, lest there be an accession to the hurt which is intended to the Church by that dissembler: And here we are to apply both the reasons against, and characters of, dissimulation, which were spoken to on practical offences.
3. Where that satisfaction is but of the last kind, that is, mocking and dissembled, We say, that though it may put a Church-judicatory to try the evidences of this dissimulation, and during that time possibly to stop a little their proceeding; yet ought it not to mar the drawing forth of the Sentence, lest there be an accession to the hurt which is intended to the Church by that dissembler: And here we are to apply both the reasons against, and characters of, dissimulation, which were spoken to on practicall offences.
4. If there be no seeming satisfaction at all, then after admonitions given, the person despising the same is to be rejected, as one that is infectious and unfit to have communion in the Church, or the benefit of any Church-privilege and Ordinance: And, in a word, to be, for his scandal, and obstinacy against Christs Ordinances, declared to be Excommunicate, and cast out of His visible Kingdom, as an out-law to the same; Which is to be done with such gravity, weightiness, sympathy and authority, as it may look like the Ordinance of Christ, and have an impression of His dread and Majesty upon all that are witnesses thereof.