A37042:775
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.
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.
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 mutuall bonds, for the establishing and confirming of union.
4. It is▪ when some of the Ordinances, especially the Ordinance of Government, is questioned, or when they are despised, and someway made contemptible before men: in such cases, for respect to the Ordinances of Christ, men ought to condescend to the uttermost, and to endeavour the recovery of the Ordinances of Christ to their former beauty, which is impossible to be attained without this; because division maketh all to appear contemptible.
5. It is, when there seemeth to be some special nick, or choke, or crisis (to speak so) that is, When, if there be not present uniting and gripping, in all probability, the division and breach will grow greater and wider and be more difficultly removable. In such a case men ought to stretch themselves with all the moderation that is possible (as Calvins expression is) if they may now, at least, through Gods good hand upon them, come to some agreement, and taking grip (to say so) while it is possible. And if each of these alone, strongly press the study of union, even beyond what is ordinary; O how very strongly will all of them put together, press it! And how actively should men, zealous for God and His precious Ordinances, and tender of the edification of souls, bestir themselves to follow after peace in such a vehemently urging case?