A37042:78
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.
7. As sins are distinguished in sins of omission1 and commission; So offences may be distinguished also: for, some give offence when they swear, pray irreverently, &c. others, when there is no seeming respect to prayer at all, in the very form; for this fostereth profanity as the other doth: And for this Daniel will open his window, lest he should be thought to have forborne prayer: and this offence of omission, or omissive offence, is not guarded against only by doing what is duty, except there be also a doing of it so as conveniently, and as becomes it may be known to be done, as in the former instance: and this, Rev. 6. 9. is called the holding of the Testimony; and it is this mainly that is edifying to others, when the light of holiness doth shine; and when that is veiled, others in so far have darkness to walk in, and so it is as to them an occasion to stumble, because they hold not forth the light unto them; but still this is to be done without affectation or ostentation, lest a new offence should follow thereupon.
7. As sins are distinguished in sins of omission1 and commission; So offences may be distinguished also: for, some give offence when they swear, pray irreverently, &c. others, when there is no seeming respect to prayer at all, in the very form; for this fostereth profanity as the other doth: And for this Daniel will open his window, lest he should be thought to have forborn prayer: and this offence of omission, or omissive offence, is not guarded against only by doing what is duty, except there be also a doing of it so as conveniently, and as becomes it may be known to be done, as in the former instance: and this, Rev. 6. 9. is called the holding of the Testimony; and it is this mainly that is edifying to others, when the light of holinesse doth shine; and when that is vailed, others in so far have darkness to walk in, and so it is as to them an occasion to stumble, because they hold not forth the light unto them; but still this is to be done without affectation or ostentation, lest a new offence should follow thereupon.
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