A37042:644
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.
2. Men would eschew in such a case judicially to engage in such differences, either by passing decisions in these things pro or contra in Judicatories, or by1 censuring, or noting with any reproach such as differ from them. For, 1. that maketh the division the more difficultly removable in it self. And, 2. it engageth both sides the more, and proveth a let to retiring when men would, and heighteneth the difference exceedingly. In that difference that was between Cyprian and Stephanus, and other Bishops of Rome, concerning the rebaptizing of such as had been baptized by Heretics and Schismatics, It is marked that Stephanus did press the condemnation of it, did censure and refuse communion with such as joined with Cyprian in his opinion: On the contrary, Cyprian did indeed call Synods and decide, but neither pressed any man to his opinion or practice, nor Censured any that differed in such a matter; And because his carriage is so much commended by the Ancients, especially by Augustine, against the Donatists, not because he counted Cyprian right on the matter; for, he disclaimed that, and owned the contrary opinion; but because he carried in his opinion so tenderly to the Churches union and peace. We shall observe two or three passages of his, and of Augustine's concerning him. 1. In his Epistle ad Jubiannum, Haec rescripsimus, inquit, nemi• praescribentes aut praejudicantes quo minus unusquisque Episcoporum, quod putat faciat. Et ne quisquam pellendus à caeterorum ⟨p. 349⟩consortio videretur (dicit) nos quantum in nobis est propter haereticos cum collegis & Coepiscopis nostris non contendimus, cum quibus aivinam concordiam & pacem tenemus. Et Paulo post, Serventur (inquit) à nobis patienter & leniter charitas animi, collegii honor, vinculum fidei, concordia sacerdotii. Which words and many others are cited by Augustine de Baptismo, lib. 6. cap. 17. And in another place, when he hath cited this same last Sentence and other words, giving the reason which the Apostle hath, 1 Cor. 11. If any man will be contentious, we have no such custom, nor the Churches of God: after which a little, Augustine subjoineth this approbation of his carriage;
2. Men would eschew in such a case judicially to engage in such differences, either by passing decisions in these things pro or contra in Judicatories, or by