A37042:676
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.
And we see in the primitive times, even after Bishops and Patriarchs were brought in into the Church, that still the supreme Government, whereby union was entertained, did reside in a mutual co-ordination, and combination, even of such Bishops, Metropolitans, Patriarchs, &c. acting in an united and joint way: whereby manifestly it appeareth, that such a Government as is to be united into, must be extensive unto the body, at least be in capacity so to be extended, and it must be in a coordination and consociation of many Church officers together; and that such subordinations as mar this coordination and equality, must be swallowed up, ere there can be an united Government for the preservation of the union of the Church, because the supreme Government and decision must be in many; and many of different degrees and places, cannot be so one as these who are of the same order, to speak so.
And we see in the primitive times, even after Bishops and Patriarchs were brought in into the Church, that still the supream Government, whereby union was entertained, did reside in a mutual co-ordination, and combination, even of such Bishops, Metrapolitans, Patriarchs, &c. acting in an united and joynt way: whereby manifestly it appeareth, that such a Government as is to be united into, must be extensive unto the body, at least be in capacity so to be extended, and it must be in a coordination and consociation of many Church officers together; and that such subordinations as mar this coordination and equality, must be swallowed up, ere there can be an united Government for the preservation of the union of the Church, because the supream Government and decision must be in many; and many of different degrees and places, cannot be so one as these who are of the same order, to speak so.
Yet we think, that where such an union cannot be had in Government, men that have liberty, without entanglement to their own consciences, to follow their duty, ought to do it with all tender respect to the edification and union of the Church wherein they live, and to make the best of their particular case that may be for that end. But seeing the wisdom and goodness of God hath made it our lot in this Land, to live under a Government, to which the abovementioned characters do well agree; it is hopeful, if as