A37046:418
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
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.
1. When such a scandal is not made known to them: Scandalous persons may be admitted, because they are not bound to look on them as such till discovered.
2. When such scandals cannot be made out judicially, though possibly they be true in themselves, they may, though against the inclination and affection of the admitters, be admitted yet not against their Conscience, because, that being a high ⟨p. 67⟩censure in Christs House, his Servants are not to walk arbitrarily (for that would bring confusion with it) but by Rules given them, whereof this is one, not to receive an accusation, but under two or three witnesses.
2. When such scandals cannot be made out judicially, though possibly they be true in themselves, they may, though against the inclination and affection of the admitters, be admitted yet not against their Conscience, because, that being a hig• ⟨p. 67⟩censure in Christs House, his Servants are not to walk arbitrarily (for that would bring confusion with it) but by Rules given them, whereof this is one, not to receive an accusation, but under two or three witnesses.
3. When by some circumstances it proveth not edifying, but rather hurtful to the Church, or the Persons concerned; As 1. when the scandal is in such a matter as is not expressly determined in the Word, but is by consequence to be deduced from it; as suppose it be meant such a point of truth as has Divines, that are godly, dissentient in it, or in such a practise (suppose perjury) as is evil indeed in it self; but, by deduction and consequence (which is not so clear) to be applied; or it is in such things as affect not a natural Conscience, as Fornication, Drunkenness, and Adultery, &c. do; or in such things as contradict not expressly any Truth: And 2 When the scandal of these sins is by universality become little among men, or there is not easy access, in an edifying way, to decide in them, or censure them; there is still a right and a wrong in these which a Minister in Doctrine may reprove, yet he may forbear a judicial sentence in such cases, as it seemeth Paul did with the Corinthians, amongst whom there were several sorts of Offenders. 1. Incestuous Fornicators, or such as sinned against Nature's light; these