A37042:507
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. Yet even then prayer may be made for them; for, excommunication is no evidence, that a person hath sinned the sin against the holy Ghost; or, that their sin is a sin unto death, and their necessities, if they be in want, may and should be supplied, because they are men, and it is natural to supply such; they may be helped also against unjust violence, or from any personal hazard, if they fall in it; and as occasion offereth, folks may give a weighty serious word of admonition unto them, and such like, because by such means, the end of the Sentence and its weight are furthered, and not weakened.
3. Yet even then prayer may be made for them; for, excommunication is no evidence, that a person hath sinned the sin against the holy Ghost; or, that their sin is a sin unto death, and their necessities, if they be in want, may and should be supplied, because they are men, and it is naturall to supply such; they may be helped also against unjust violence, or from any personall hazard, if they fall in it; and as occasion offereth, folks may give a weighty serious word of admonition unto them, and such like, because by such means, the end of the Sentence and its weight are furthered, and not weakened.
4. These that are in natural relations, ought to walk in the duties of them, as Husbands and Wives, Parents and Children, Masters and Servants, Magistrates and Subjects, &c. for, what nature bindeth, the Church doth not loose.
4. These that are in naturall relations, ought to walk in the duties of them, as Husbands and Wives, Parents and Children, Masters and Servants, Magistrates and Subjects, &c. for, what nature bindeth, the Church doth not loose.
5. Men may follow civil business, as paying or exacting payment of debts, buying or selling, and may walk in such things as are requisite for humane fellowship and society, because, though Church Censures be to humble and shame men, by bearing in on them their sinfulness, yet it is not to undo them, and simply to take away a being from them.