A37042:605
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.
otherwayes1 there will be many cases wherein it is impossible for a zealous Minister to have peace, whatever side he choose, yea, whether he do or forbear.
- 1When inconveniences are on all hands, what side is to be followed▪When inconveniencies are on all hands, what side is to be followed▪
If it be asked then, What way men may discern the side that is to be followed in such a case, when ⟨p. 323⟩inconveniences threaten on all hands? Answ. By these and such like ways. 1. It is to be looked, what side hath the most dangerous and destructive inconveniences. 2. What inconveniences are most certain and inevitable, and the greatest and most inevitable inconveniences are to be shunned, and men would not choose a certain hurt to eschew that which is uncertain. 3. It would be looked, what side duty lieth upon, or to what the command doth press; and although inconveniences seem to follow that, yet it is to be followed as most safe. Now, as to all these, union hath the advantage o division: Because, 1. it is a commanded mean tending to edification, which division is not. 2. Division hath no less nor fewer inconveniences following it, nor less destructive to the Church, than union in the case supposed; yea, schism is one of the greatest hurts that can come to an orthodox Church, it being next to heresy in Doctrine; and therefore no particular evil can be laid in the balance with it. 3. The ills of division are most inevitable, for the ills that follow union, through Gods blessing may be prevented, it is not impossible, but in the way of division it is, because it self is out of Gods way.
If it be asked then, What way men may discern the side that is to be followed in such a case, when