A37042:629
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 8: Some preparatory endeavours for uniting.
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.
3. Ministers and others would soberly retire to1 take a view of their own spiritual condition, and see if they have kept their own vineyard: and particularly, before the Lord, put themselves to these. 1. How union with him hath been prized, and if there hath been studying to be, and abide, in Christ, and to keep themselves in the love of God. 2. If there be any ground of quarrel in the present strain or by gone practice, that might have influence to provoke the Lord to smite them in the general. Or, 3. and especially, If by their negligence and unfaithfulness, imprudency, heat, passion, tenaciousness, addictedness to other men, and too much loathness to displease them, prejudice at, and uncharitableness ⟨p. 338⟩unto others, or the like, they have been any way accessory to the bringing in of this evil; for which cause they would take a view both of the sins that procure it, and the evils which do dispose for it, and increase it, (which were formerly mentioned) and would be impartial and through in this; for, it is preposterous for men to meddle in removing public differences, while they know not how it standeth with themselves.
3. Ministers and others would sobe•ly retire to1 take a view of their own spirituall condition, and see if they have keeped their own vineyard: and particularly, before the Lord, put themselves to these. 1. How union with him hath been prized, and if there hath been studying to be, and abide, in Christ, and to keep themselves in the love of God. 2. If there be any ground of quarrell in the present strain or by gone practice, that might have influence to provoke the Lord to smite them in the generall. Or, 3. and especially, If by their negligence and unfaithfulnesse, imprudency, heat, passion, tenaciousnesse, addictednesse to other men, and too much loathnesse to displease them, prejudice at, and uncharitablnesse ⟨p. 338⟩unto others, or the like, they have been any way accessory to the bringing in of this evil; for which cause they would take a view both of the sins that procure it, and the evils which do dispose for it, and increase it, (which were formerly mentioned) and would be impartiall and through in this; for, it is preposterous for men to meddle in removing publick differences, while they know not how it standeth with themselves.