A37042:785
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.
7. It would be considered, That if all that ever have written on this subject of old or late were consulted, that (for ought I know) it will be found that the condescension that they allow for attaining, and preserving of union in the Church, will be of a larger extent, than any thing in this case required; And, I suppose, hardly will it be found, that from such writings there will be a sticking allowed upon any such thing as is proposed. And will it be safe, at once to condemn so many?
8. The Reader may reflect on himself, and try what are his thoughts of former divisions, and if he doth not approve most ordinarily these that were most peaceable, and always these that in such a circumstantiated case did study condescendency; and if he doth not within himself judge, that it had been more for the Churches good, that such divisions had been removed upon such like terms, than that they should have been continued; and if there be not in his bosom a kind of indignation at the rigid drivers of such a division, whereby he may know and discern what is fit to be done in the present case, if he were as impartial in it, as in the other.
8. The Reader may reflect on himself, and try what are his thoughts of former divisions, and if he doth not approve most ordinarily these that were most peaceable, and alwayes these that in such a circumstantiated case did study condescendency; and if he doth not within himself judge, that it had been more for the Churches good, that such divisions had been removed upon such like tearms, than that they should have been continued; and if there be not in his bosome a kind of indignation at the rigid drivers of such a division, whereby he may know and discern what is fit to be done in the present case, if he were as impartiall in it, as in the other.
9. He may consider, If union be not made up upon such or the like terms; and if upon other terms