A37042:564
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
Part 4 › Chapter 4: The causes why Division usually cometh to so great an height.
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.
WE may now enquire what be the causes why Divisions usually come to such a height, and are so difficulty removed, even amongst men that are affectioned in the work of Christ, and otherwayes sound, zealous, and sober; which is indeed strange, especially considering, that they do often see the evil, regrate it, and profess their desire of a remedy themselves? In answering to this, we are to look, 1. to the Lords sovereign hand even in this. 2. To what accession there is to it from those that differ. 3. To some occasional accidental causes that concur therein. 4. We may consider the strength of the tentation in respect of some other circumstances.
WE may now enquire what be the causes why Divisions usually come to such a height, and are so difficulty removed, even amongst men that are affectioned in the work of Christ, and otherwayes sound, zealous, and sober; which is indeed strange, especially considering, that they do often see the evil, regrate it, and professe their desire of a remedy themselves? In answering to this, we are to look, 1. to the Lords soveraign hand even in this. 2. To what accession there is to it from those that differ. 3. To some occasionall accidentall causes that concur therein. 4. We may consider the strength of the tentation in respect of some other circumstances.
1. That the Lord hath a Sovereign hand therein, cannot be denied, and that in these two respects, not1 to insist in all, 1. As it is a trial whereby both mens soundness and unsoundness have occasion to be manifested; This is asserted, 1 Cor. 11. as a reason of the necessity of schisms and divisions, as may be gathered by comparing, ver. 18, with 19. But this we insist not on▪ 2. The Lord hath a judicial hand2 in it, that is, as He ordereth divisions for the just chastisement and punishment of some, even as was ⟨p. 296⟩