A37042:525
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.
And, first, Heresy, is some error in doctrine, and1 that especially in fundamental doctrine, followed with pertinacie, and endeavour to propagate the ⟨p. 273⟩same. Again, Schism may be where no heresy in doctrine is, but is a breaking of the union of the Church, and that communion which ought to be amongst the Members thereof, and is either in Government or Worship. As, first, in Government, when the common Government, whereto all ought to be subject, is rent, and a Government distinct, set up. This may be, either when the Government is altered▪ as, suppose some should set up Episcopacy in opposition2 to Presbytery, yet keeping still the fundamental truths; Or it may be, where the same Government is acknowledged, but there be difference concerning the persons to whom the power doth belong; so, sometimes men have acknowledged Popery, yet followed diverse Popes; So often, Sectaries have not disclaimed Councils and Bishops, but have set up their own, and refused subjection to these to whom it belonged. The first kind implieth a doctrinal error concerning Government; The second may consist with the same principles of Government, but differeth in the application of them, and becometh a schism, when men act accordingly in acknowledging diverse supreme Independent Governments: Because so, when there ought to be but one Church, it becometh, as it were, two: and this is exclaimed against, and regretted by the Fathers, under the expression of erecting altar contra altar, that is, altar against altar, whenas the Lord allowed but one, even in reference to His own worship. 2. Schism may be in worship, that is, when, it may be, both the same Doctrine and Government is acknowledged, yet there is not communion kept in Church ordinances, as in Prayer, Word and Sacraments; but a separate way of going about these is followed. It seemeth, that this was in part the schism of the Corinthians (whatever was the rise thereof) that they had a divided way of communicating, and of going about other duties, and other Ordinances, as may be ⟨p. 274⟩gathered from 1 Cor. 11. 18, 19, 20, 21