A37042:683
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.
if more follow not, but that there may be access to an united Government whereby these suspicions may be put out of question, then it seemeth unsafe to mar that, and the fruit which may follow by the disputing of what is past.
if more follow not, but that there may be accesse to an united Government whereby these suspicions may be put out of question, then it seemeth unsafe to mar that, and the fruit which may follow by the disputing of what is past.
But more nearly to take notice of such a difference, we may consider it two ways. 1. As it implieth a1 difference in judgement. 2. As it inferreth a different practice. First, then, As it inferreth the difference of judgement, there ought certainly to be a forbearance, seeing such things are often involved with many difficulties and contradictions in matter of fact, ⟨p. 377⟩that it is not possible, by debating fully, to convince either party to assent to the other, especially where heat and prejudice hath someway fixed and preoccupied the judgement; and certainly, forbearance here cannot be inconsistent with the duty of Ministers, although there were not such a motive to persuade it. By forbearance we understand, 1. That none peremptorily press the other either to acknowledge the validity or nullity of such a constitution. 2. There would be a forbearance of public debating of it, or of any thing that may occasion the same, as pressing of the Acts thereof, if no other ground support the same, but the Authority of such a Synod. And we conceive in the by, this occasion may be prevented by a mutual condescending, or joint authoritative enacting, that such and such things, as possibly may be useful afterward, be of force to all, if not by the former constitution, yet by the present appointment, and so both may agree in the matter. 3. A condemning of others for approving or disapproving the former constitution, would be forborne; and seeing the question is so little and inconsiderable in it self, it would not be odiously aggreaged or insisted upon.