A37042:581
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.
By this also they are disposed to hear and receive reports and mis-informations concerning their opponents; whereby they come verily to believe, that they are even in all other things, and in their very ends and designs, most gross. And, I suppose, that beside the instances formerly given in all these respects, the differences that arose first betwixt Luther and Carolostadius, and afterward betwixt him and such as followed him on the one side, and Zuinglius, Calvin and others upon the other side, do fully demonstrate this; How little were these beginnings at first, and yet how were even the smallest differences aggreged, and the persons differing mistaken, even before these differences came to the height which they are at? And we may observe also, that this mistake of mens persons and actions, and bitterness that followeth thereupon, is most ordinarily discernible to be upon that side, where there is least to be said in conscience and equity for the defence thereof.
By this also they are disposed to hear and receive reports and mis-informations concerning their opponents; whereby they come verily to believe, that they are even in all other things, and in their very ends and designs, most grosse. And, I suppose, that beside the instances formerly given in all these respects, the differences that arose first betwixt Luther and Carolostadius, and afterward betwixt him and such as followed him on the one side, and Zuinglius, Calvin and others upon the other side, do fully demonstrate this; How little were these beginnings at first, and yet how were even the smallest differences aggreged, and the persons differing mistaken, even before these differences came to the height which they are at? And we may observe also, that this mistake of mens persons and actions, and bitternesse that followeth thereupon, is most ordinarily discernable to be upon that side, where there is least to be said in conscience and equity for the defence thereof.
4. Add to these a conviction of singleness, that1 persons may seem to themselves to have in all the former steps, wherein there may be no positive, corrupt end proposed, nor any palpable dissimulation in their professions, entertained or approven by them: but as they have some confidence of the equity of their side; so may there be an apprehended testimony of their own singleness in the following thereof: and there is a great strength in the tentation to continue division,