A37042:727
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.
3. We say therefore, that union would not be suspended1 upon satisfaction in this, but rather union would be pressed, that satisfaction in this may be attained; because satisfaction in this cannot be expected till there be mutual confidence of one another's integrity: and till there be some walking together, and some further evidence of the sincerity of each other in the main business, this mutual confidence cannot be expected: and again, this cannot be obtained without an union, and so consequently union would be laid as a foundation for attaining of satisfaction even in this.
3. We say therefore, that union would not be suspended1 upon satisfaction in this, but rather union would be pressed, that satisfaction in this may be attained; because satisfaction in this cannot be expected till there be mutuall confidence of one anothers integrity: and till there be some walking together, and some further evidence of the sincerity of each other in the main businesse, this mutuall confidence cannot be expected: and again, this cannot be obtained without an union, and so consequently union would be laid as a foundation for attaining of satisfaction even in this.
- 1Union rather to be followed that satisfaction herein may be had.
4. It would be considered, that oftentimes such apprehensions of extremities, which are imputed to honest and zealous men, are most groundless; but there being something in them as men, it is conceived on the other hand, because of secretly entertained jealousy, ⟨p. 404⟩to be much more. There was nothing more cast up to the Orthodox by the Novatians and Donatists, than that they were defective in this, in admitting to, and retaining in the Ministry, men that were corrupt, Yet after many trials they were never able to prove what they alleged upon some eminent persons when it came to trial, even when such things were generally accounted true amongst them. This would