A37042:609
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.
1. In what may involve a man in sin, or in the approbation1 thereof in others, there is no condescending, but what length may warrantably be gone, even to the utmost border of duty, men ought to go for this end; so that nothing ought to be a stop or march in condescension, but this, I cannot do this and sin against God; otherwayes, one ought to be all things to others. This consideration will be more clear, by comparing it with the former Rules, and what afterward may be said.
- 1[…] there must be no condescending〈…〉 there must be no condescending
2. This condescension would be mutual upon1 both sides, that is, one party would not expect full submission from the other, for that is not union, but dominion; Hence the Apostle in his pressing of union in such cases, doth ordinarily pray, and obtest both sides. And seeing affection is the main ground of union, it is fit, there should be condescension for mutual testifying of respect each to other. This is also confirmed by an Epistle of Calvins to Mr. Knox (afterward cited) wherein he presseth that condescension be mutual for removing of a division that was in his Congregation at Frankford.
2. This condescension would be mutuall upon1 both sides, that is, one party would not expect full submission from the other, for that is not union, but dominion; Hence the Apostle in his pressing of union in such cases, doth ordinarily pray, and obtest both sides. And seing affection is the main ground of union, it is fit, there should be condescension for mutuall testifying of respect each to other. This is also confirmed by an Epistle of Calvines to Mr. Knox (afterward cited) wherein he presseth that condescension be mutuall for removing of a division that was in his Congregation at Frankford.