A37042:774
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 21: The grounds and motives of the desired union.
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.
The second case is, When a Church by division, is laid open to gross heretics, who wait the occasion of such a division, that they may make (as it were) an infall upon her. Division should be shunned at any time, but in such a case, union should be at any rate▪ of warrantable condescendency▪ purchased. In that difference between Eusebius and Basilius, at first it was sufficient to eschew division; for which end at Nazianzens desire, Basilius removed; but when the Arians were like to take advantage thereof, he did again return, and by his condescending made up a perfect union, thereby to stop the door against the inbreaking of error upon that people: Which fact is ever highly commended, even in respect of the seasonableness ⟨p. 427⟩thereof, in reference to that tentation.
The second case is, When a Church by division, is laid open to grosse hereticks, who wait the occasion of such a division, that they may make (as it were) an infall upon her. Division should be shunned at any time, but in such a case, union should be at any rate▪ of warrantable condescendency▪ purchased. In that difference between Eusebius and Basilius, at first it was sufficient to eschew division; for which end at Nazianzens desire, Basilius removed; but when the Arians were like to take advantage thereof, he did again return, and by his condescending made up a perfect union, thereby to stop the door against the inbreaking of errour upon that people: Which fact is ever highly commended, even in respect of the seasosonablnesse ⟨p. 427⟩thereof, in reference to that tentation.
3. A third case wherein union would especially be studied▪ is, When there is little help from without, to the sustaining of the Government and order of the Church; but men in that respect, have and take liberty to act as they will: because then union is the only wall, and if that fall, there is nothing to guard Hence it is, that necessity, especially in such a case, hath made men think upon associations and mutual bonds, for the establishing and confirming of union.