A37042:473
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.
3. This doth not give way to Magistrates to condemn and restrain what they think error, or what others think error; for Ministers that ought to reject Heretics, are not warranted to reject whom they account so, but who indeed are so; So is it here, it is what is indeed error▪ and who are indeed the teachers thereof, that the Magistrate is to restrain, as those who teach rebellion against the Lord.
3. This doth not give way to Magistrates to condemn and restrain what they think errour, or what others think errour; for Ministers that ought to reject Hereticks, are not warranted to reject whom they account so, but who indeed are so; So is it here, it is what is indeed errour▪ and who are indeed the teachers thereof, that the Magistrate is to restrain, as those who teach rebellion against the Lord.
We come then to consider what may be a Magistrates duty when seducing spirits assault the people under their charge, and what is obviously in their power to do for preventing of hurt by them, without insisting in any difficult or odious like case. Their duty also may be considered in a fourfold respect, as that of Ministers was. 1. It would be considered with respect to God, and so they ought to fear some stroke coming upon their people, and by looking to Him to endeavour to carry so in reference thereto, as they may be countable to Him: for, if it be a privilege for Magistrates in the Christian Church to have the honour of being nursing fathers therein, Isa. 49. 23. then it must be a great credit, mercy and satisfaction to them, to have their people or foster (to say so) the Church, flourishing and thriving upon their breasts; and if so, then the mis-thriving of the Church by unhealthsom milk of error should and will exceedingly affect them. And certainly that expression doth both show what a Magistrate's duty is, and how tenderly he ought to nourish the Church and preserve her from any thing that may hurt her, as also it showeth how nearly any thing that may hurt the Church, ought to touch and prick him.