The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…

2. People would be seriously affected with the falling or hazard of the falling of any they hear of, as being touched with zeal for God, and sympathy with them, and for this cause, would humble themselves ⟨p. 259⟩before God to deprecate that stroke and plague as they would do sword, famine or pestilence.

2. People would be seriously affected with the falling or hazard of the falling of any they hear of, as being touched with zeal for God, and sympathie with them, and for this cause, would humble themselves ⟨p. 259⟩before God to deprecate that stroak and plague as they would do sword, famine or pestilence.

3. People would try in what terms themselves are with God, and if things inwardly be in good case, if there be any guiltiness procuring, or disposing for the same plague, such as little love to the truth, little study of the knowledge of the truth, little zeal against error, or sympathy with infected Churches that are at a distance, laughing, it may be, at such things without any other use making thereof, little prayer for others, or exhorting or admonishing of them, (which is a mean for preventing of unsteadfastness) little endeavour, according to mens places, to have others instructed, or to have faithful▪ able, and godly Ministers for that end; but, it may be, on the contrary, much spiritual pride, self-conceitedness, tenaciousness, and addictedness to our own wills and opinions, prejudice at able and faithful Teachers, and readiness to hear every thing, and every person. These, and such like, may be tried, and when found, ought to be mourned for, as causes of humiliation to them for their accession to such a plague.

3. People would try in what tearms themselves are with God, and if things inwardly be in good case, if there be any guiltinesse procuring, or disposing for the same plague, such as little love to the truth, little study of the knowledge of the truth, little zeal against errour, or simpathy with infected Churches that are at a distance, laughing, it may be, at such things without any other use making thereof, little prayer for others, or exhorting or admonishing of them, (which is a mean for preventing of unstedfastnesse) little indeavour, according to mens places, to have others instructed, or to have faithfull able, and godly Ministers for that end; but, it may be, on the contrary, much spiritual pride, self-conceitednesse, tenaciousnesse, and addictednesse to our own wills and opinions, prejudice at able and faithful Teachers, and readinesse to hear every thing, and every person. These, and such like, may be tried, and when found, ought to be mourned for, as causes of humiliation to them for their accession to such a plague.